Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's apartment is decorated in a minimalist style with gleaming hard wood floors, stark white walls, and sleek furniture. For her colorful accents, Julia has chosen pieces of art and orchids. These gorgeous perennial plants are members of the Orchidaceae family and their flamboyant flowers are usually composed of three petals with the petal in the middle being unique in color and shape, enlarged to look almost like a lip. Julia's orchid pictured above is of the Phalaenopsis species. While researching, I was interested to learn that vanilla extract derives from a genus of orchid. Visit the Orchids Wiki to learn more about these delicate and fascinating beauties.

Photograph of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's orchid © 2009 Todd Selby. All Rights Reserved.