His early work with the London architect John Soane led to such innovations here as a clever skylight over the dining-room sideboard, and a superb arching bridge connecting the front and rear foyers on the second floor.
Where we once used the same baubles and tree lights year in and year out which inevitably stopped working as soon as they were taken out of storage we now theme trees to suit our moods or to follow fashions, taking a page from store window displays like Ms. McCartney's and decked-out hotel foyers.