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JULY | PAGE 21 | 2014 Opposite page: Top: Cleverly orchestrated in the living area are tonal keepsake boxes, textures and shapes. Attending them, a pair of Barcelona chairs topped by zebra-print pillows. Bottom: Clair's daughter Slayton channels a ballerina on a Moroccan rug by Beni Ouarain — curls courtesy of outstanding DNA. This page: Top left: In the dining room, faux elephant tusks dramatically frame the walnut live-edge table, which is topped by a tangle of vintage faux antlers. Flos chandelier. Set of eight chrome Thonet dining chairs, sourced from Give & Take. Pearl Blocks cowhide rug from Neiman Marcus. Top right: Clair in a jumpsuit from Narciso Rodriguez, Lanvin necklace, Fendi belt, Miu Miu heels. Hair and makeup Kate Yancey. Above: Black-skull candle, part of the Modern Alchemy Burn & Sniff Candles line, from D.L. & Co. Collection of boxes from R+Y Augousti. Above right: An artful study in the master bedroom. "THERE IS A FEELING I GET IF I SEE SOMETHING THAT I WANT IN MY HOME; IT IS OFTEN SPORADIC AND ILLOGICAL, BUT SOMEHOW IT ALL WORKS." Tompkins also has a penchant for "burled wood and tusk-shaped ornaments and lamps. Some people find them too masculine, but they can work well in a lot of settings," she says. "I love it when clients are adventurous enough to let me use things like that, things that I choose for my own home … Many times they shy away from colors that are bold. In the end, they often opt for what they are most familiar with, and that works fine, too. After all, the space is theirs, and my role is to make something that works perfectly for them." Upstairs, the master suite adjoins an open area configured for her two children to get creative. This impeccably designed studio has clear racks for books and plenty of space for building teepees (one is present and ready for habitation) and deploying imaginative playtime extravaganzas. Son Rhett is only four months old, and daughter Slayton has yet to reach age four. Thanks to their mother's sense of space and understanding of childhood romps, their domain comes as close as humanly possible to fairy-tale perfection. Tompkins was the epitome of serenity when she answered the door with her daughter, who sported ringlets, a long navy skirt — and no top. (She's only three, after all.) The look was fun, slightly aboriginal and completely adorable. I pointed to a smooth stone atop the mailbox. "It's for the mailman," Tompkins said, confirming that I'd suspected. "So he knows when there's outgoing mail." Of course, it was — and how much more fun than a red metal flag. With two children and a husband, Tompkins has her hands full. But life in this house has a delectable — and universally irresistible — appeal. We should all be so fortunate. "Get The Party Started," indeed.