Luckily, painter William Gordon, who has worked with Devine for years, had traveled to India and photographed the interior of the Taj Mahal. He pulled the photos from his file, and together, he and Devine created the design: a central blue medallion -- or oculus -- meant to evoke the sky, surrounded by smaller medallions and corner pieces painted in rose, which contain vines and flowers.

Part of what's striking about the mural is that it appears to date from the same historical period as the study's antique furnishings. Gordon "aged" the colors by painting the base coat with Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® flat enamel,

which offers a flat finish with a slight sheen, then covering it with Sherwin-Williams Illusion® Glaze tinted various shades.

These days, the view of the study's ceiling from the Gunasekeras' foyer isn't a blank white canvas, but a rich classical painting.

"A painted ceiling is high impact," Devine says. "In a room that lacks interesting architectural details, it's a way of adding interest."