MODERN SAFARI: African prints and sunset shades complement the stampede of animal prints in home décor. In the foreground: Kuttara salad plate ($21.95) is from Crate & Barrel. Dark bamboo flatware ($2.49 per piece) and printed matchstick place mat ($3.99) are from Cost Plus World Market. Liana print napkin ($4.95) is from Crate & Barrel; horn napkin ring ($1.99) and orange bead napkin ring ($2.99) are from Cost Plus. Candle ($9.99) and pillar stand ($3.99) are from Cost Plus; they stand on a square Kava plate ($19.95) from Crate & Barrel. In the background: Wood ring sculpture ($24) is from West Elm. Mahogany Tazzo bowl from Crate & Barrel ($34.95) sits on a table runner ($19) from West Elm. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)
GOLD STANDARDS: The most opulent metal gets a Gucci twist with rope and chain patterns and a framed photo serving as a place card. From top left: Crystal candlestick ($4.99) and gold glitter artichoke finial ($8.99) are from Ross. Brass rope candle pillar and candelabrum ($39 each) are at West Elm. Gold-rimmed Versailles goblet ($9.99 for four) is from Ross. Chain picture frame ($19) and square plate ($7) are from West Elm. Gold-rimmed dinner plate ($14.95) is from Crate & Barrel. Gold rope glass charger ($4.99) is at Ross. Chilewich basket-weave place mat ($12.95) is at Sur La Table. Gold base martini glass ($4.99) is at Cost Plus World Market. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)
WORLD TRAVELER: Colors and patterns of Morocco, Turkey and India are a departure from autumns usual palette. Tracy Porters ceramic elephant bowl ($130) is at Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal in Santa Monica. Glass star lantern ($9.99) and elephant teapot ($12.99) are at Cost Plus World Market. Hand-painted Turkish bowl ($25) is from Distant in L.A. Beaded votive-candle holder ($4.99) sits on a salad plate ($4.99), both from Cost Plus. Bordered napkin ($3.95) and glass charger ($9.95) are from Crate & Barrel. Embroidered Turkish hand towel used as a napkin ($34.95) and hand-painted butterfly bowl ($25) are from Distant. Striped cocktail napkins ($42 for a set of eight) are at Zero Minus Plus. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)
LOUNGE LIZARD: Goth-rock lovers may appreciate the candelabrum ($29.95), green lizard tray ($29.95), skull print salad plate ($9.95) and silver snake charger ($5.95) from Z Gallerie. The black glitter melamine dish under the skull plate ($1.79) is from Target. In the lower right hand corner, a black faux crocodile place mat ($4.99) from Target is topped with a square snake plate ($6) from West Elm, a round cobra plate ($6) from Urban Outfitters and a green bamboo candlestick ($6.99) from Cost Plus World Market. On the left, a crocodile stamped metal tray ($34.95) and crystal-trimmed black lacquer tray ($9.95) are from Z Gallerie. Polka-dot napkins ($2.99 each) are from World Market, and the snakeskin napkin rings ($40 for a set of four) are from Zero Minus Plus. The rattler striped dipping bowl ($2.99) and shot glasses ($1.49 each) are from World Market. The crocodile-patterned shoulder vase ($6.99) is from Ross. (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)