They don’t make furniture the way they used to: beautiful and built to last in equal measure. That’s one conclusion to be drawn from a visit to the swanky antique furniture gallery Carlton Hobbs,

 carltonhobbs  where the world’s most discriminating designers shop for celebrity clients amidst shimmering chandeliers and other opulent oeuvres (some boldface names rumored to live with Carlton Hobbs furnishings are Madonna, Elton John, and Mick Jagger).

A fine example of the treasure at this temple of taste is an imposing neoclassical stool of partridge wood and gilt, circa 1800. Its seat is raised on two opposing sphinxes and two pierced, inverted anthemion which spring from a shaped, oval plinth above eight tapering, gilded feet. Flanking the seat are scrolling, down swept ends joined by turned arms.

This exquisite piece of museum-quality historical seating is priced at $85,000. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be lived with comfortably and casually - and to prove it, gallery director Stefanie Rinza had Lore Decorators

www.lore.qpg.com  cover the original cushion in  Crypton Suede  Lipstick. The sturdy, fitted slipcover sports a zipper for easy removal and laundering, yet looks every bit as elegant and regal as the original, fragile silk it came with.

Gamely demonstrating how family-friendly Crypton can make almost anything, even an irreplaceable antique, is Stefanie’s adorable son Alan Crockett.