FRENCH STYLE

Upholstered French Settees

Admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:25:27 +0000

White Upholstered French Louis XV Settee

This absolutely classy settee shows you how stunning a white piece of furniture can be in your home. We have recently upholstered our Louis XV settee with a brown and cream ticking, and it turned out terrific! We finished the carved details in gold using a gold leaf pen, and our settee looks the very best it has ever looked before.

White upholstery can be daunting with pets and kids, but there are ways around having white furniture without having it ruined in a months time. One practical way of having lighter colored fabrics in your home is to create an additional seat cover with the same fabric. When guests come, or your kids, animals and guests sit on your furniture, there is no anxiety that your upholstery will get stained. Your seat cover can easily be thrown in the wash every two weeks for keeping it fresh. White also is a great choice, because it can be bleached where as other fabrics would be faded with so many washes over time. When you order, order enough for two slip covers. Louis XV and Louis XVI settees are timeless compared to our modern sofas. This stunning white upholstered French Louis XV Settee was featured on the Bastion & Lark Blog

Decorating With Pastels For A French Styled Home

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:09:46 +0000

Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 Ad Campaign Preview - Daria Strokous

Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2012 Ad Campaign Starring Daria Strokous, Kati Nescher was full of soft muted colors in the pastel tones. Pastels are perfect for someone who wants a home that is vibrant. Pastels really allow you to push color into your home while at the same time be restrained.

French Baroque Chair In Pink With A Gilt Wood Frame Very Pastel

French Baroque Chair In Pink With A Gilt Wood Frame Very Pastel

Louis XV Style Gilt Rococo Parlor Suite From Nadeau Auction

Pair of carved gilt Louis XV style armchairs From Nadeaus Auction

Pair of carved gilt Louis XV style armchairs From Nadeaus Auction

If you truly love the luxury side of 18th century France, and adore anything to do with Marie Antoinette, you will love yourself for choosing this color palette.

Try working with the color wheel when deciding on the fabric for your chairs. Velvet can be extremely rich and vibrant for French furniture. The orange chairs above, would be ideally paired with coral, or a lighter pastel orange. Or having a settee in a lighter mint green, and choosing a coordinating pastel green for two accent chairs would be very striking.

The Louis XV style gilt Rococo parlor suite comprising of love seat, armchair, side chair use one pastel color- that being pink and combine it with two other neutral colors. This makes it very easy to decorate with pastels.

French Painted Louis XV Chest in Blue - Decorating With Pastels

French Painted Louis XV Chest in Blue - Decorating With Pastels From FRench Madame Blog

Adding color doesn't mean your house has to be fluorescent. There is a number of ways to go about decorating with this style.

1. Paint your furniture a pastel color, and accent with with gilt furniture ormolu such as the chest above. The gold ormolu showcases the color quite nice and causes it to appear very high end than your regular run of the mill shabby chic painted cottage furniture. Adding the gold furniture accents really makes your piece look like a million dollar gold cocktail ring.

2. Add pastels in with your upholstery. If you are not talented at upholstery, try a simple chair seat. Replace your dining room chair seats with fabric more of your liking and the particular period style you love.

In this post I list some of my best tips for upholstery supplies. Over the years I have had my fair share of mistakes, and I even make mistakes today, but I have saved a boat load of money over the years painting and doing my own upholstery.

3. Try sewing some throw pillows for your sofa, chairs and beds. This is a very simple way of adding vibrant colors of the exact shade of your liking. If you don't know how to do the cording, simply sew a box inside out, and leave an opening for stuffing, and sew it shut. It can be as complicated or as easy as you desire.

4. PAINT! One simple and easy way of getting color into your home is through paint. Consider stenciling your walls. You may not want something so bold, and it doesn't have to be. Stenciling can add some detail to your walls, and it doesn't have to be out there, punchy and in your face. Consider cream, and light yellow, which would make a perfect backdrop for gilt ornate french paintings.

In this picture, you can see they framed a wall with a pastel orange, and it can be a way of fooling the eye that you have molding. Get the classic french molding look with painting boxes of color on your wall. You can showcase your chairs, sideboard, or bombe chest inside the box.

5. Create hand made art for your walls. It doesn't have to be complicated. I hate to degrade this art piece, but you can create fabulous art with just tape and paint. Choose the shade of paint you want, buy the sample size and create a piece of art that ties in the color of the upholstery you have decided to run with.

6. Layer in accessories that you can paint. One week I decided to paint my waste basket in my bathroom a baby blue, and added ring ornate gold hardware to either side of the basket. Look at this picture of vases worth thousands, get the look by being creative.

Consider taking old vintage lamp bases, and throw away the lamp but keep the brass base and pair it up with an oversized bowl, and make a beautiful floral arrangement out of it. I did this with a lamp, and an old vase.

This vase would be just amazing spray painted a pastel color. You first would have to prime the vase using an oil based primer, and then you can use what ever you wanted over the top. Pair this with a very ornate brass lamp base to give it that high end french look.

You can prime the bowl with an oil primer, and paint it the color of your choosing. Here you have a centerpiece worth thousands of dollars, which you can replicate out of old lamp parts and an oversized bowl such as this. Paint the outside of the bowl and place it on an ornate gold leaf base.

Porcelain Colored Vase with Hand-painted Design and Brass Handles

Asian Imari design- Hand painted Oriental Vase

Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Tung Chi Vase - Landscape

Adding a bit of soft color and working with the pastel tones will allow you to have a soft touch to your home that you will absolutely adore. For most people making the leap into the soft pinks, light blues and cornflower yellows causes them to second guess them-self, because most people choose gray or beige. Make your house your own, and go with what you love, not what everyone else expects. Have a home uniquely YOU!

Mulberry Spring 2012 Ad Campaign Preview - Lindsey Wixson

Bright Pastel French Furniture By Euro Antics

Simply Stunning Pastel Painted French Furniture By Euro Antics

Rope Twisted Gilt Furniture

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:37:05 +0000

Armchair, ca. 1860, French, Gilded wood, upholstered in modern green tufted velvet (1998.382)

Armchair, ca. 1860, French, Gilded wood, -Green tufted velvet (1998.382) From The METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

While the illusion of twisted and knotted rope, which is associated with the work of the Parisian upholsterer A. M. E. Fournier, is indicative of the mid-nineteenth-century's flair for novelty, the chair's curvilinear outline is characteristic of the Rococo Revival. The voluminous tufted upholstery, which was complementary to the popular style.

Upholstery springs, first employed in the eighteenth century for carriages and gymnastic chairs, came into more general use in the 1820s, making seating furniture more comfortable. By the third quarter of the nineteenth century, the art of the upholsterer rivaled that of the cabinetmaker, as evidenced at the 1867 International Exhibition, where the majority of exhibitors of fine quality cabinet furniture, such as Jeanselme and Fourdinois, also described themselves as upholsterers. A set of stools of similar design designed by Fournier is at the Château de Compiègne and inspired the Baccarat glass factory to manufacture glass seats in this style.

Italian Carved and Gilt Wood Rope Stool

Twisted Rope Round Ottoman

Design Toscano sells a wonderful tufted upholstered roped ottoman that has a ton of potential for being a very high end piece in your home. While it may not be the typical french look, it can be re-upholstered if you don't like the look of leather. Consider a high end colored velvet with a gilt gold leafed frame . If you like the look Design Toscano sells this ottoman for $249

French Style Manor Houses

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:31:02 +0000

French Style Château d'Artigny From Helico Mag

A magnificent 18th century style edifice built by the famous perfume creator, François Coty. Its shining white stone is set off perfectly by the green of the 50 acre park surrounding it. 143 miles from Paris, 6 miles south of Tours and 1 mile from Montbazon. Surrounded by a 50 acre park, an elegant French garden in front of it, the château overlooks the valley of the Indre and the Touraine plain.

The Château d’Artigny has sixty-one rooms and two apartments between the château, the Pavillion d'Ariane (50 metres across from the château), the Hunting Lodge (600 metres) and the Port-Moulin (on the river bank, 800 metres). It also has two dining-rooms and three lounges (Régence, Rotonde and Royal). For leisure activities, the Château d’Artigny has two tennis courts, I-hole pitch & putt practice green, signposted walks in the 50-acre park, open-air heated swimming-pool, pool house with sauna, spa, fitness room, bowls, table-tennis, cycling, fishing.

French Style Château d'Artigny From Helico Mag

French Style Château d'Artigny From Helico Mag

French Style- Chateau d'Artigny

Chateau d'Artigny From Touraine Loire Valley

French Style Chateau D'Artigny

Chateau D'Artigny From Fil Frank

A trip to France is not complete without a visit to the Loire Valley, the fertile playground of 16th- and 17th-century monarchs, overflowing with châteaux rising from the vineyards around the mighty Loire River. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the “Valley of Kings” is the most opulent of French tourist destinations. The region is rich with architectural treasures such as the Château de Chambord, so grand in scale that the Venetian ambassador, Girolamo Lippomano, was utterly dazzled upon seeing it in 1577 and wrote that his coterie “departed thence amaz'd, nay, open-mouth'd...” The extravagance of Chambord inspires gasps, and the gardens at Villandry and river-spanning perch of Chenonceauare likewise impressive.

Chateau d'Artigny From Grandeestapes

Salon du Restaurant Château d'Artigny

Salon du Restaurant Château d'Artigny

One of the grandest of all is Le Château d’Artigny, the ambitious dream of perfume magnate François Coty, constructed in the 20th century to rival the extravagance of castles from a bygone era. Lording over a 65-acre estate in the Indre Valley just south of Tours, Château d’Artigny is graced with marble statues, formal gardens and a trompe l'oeil fresco painted on the rotunda’s ceiling. It is owned by Grandes Etapes Françaises, a family-owned company responsible for 10 châteaux-hotels and four-star residences celebrated for their architectural and historic patrimony. Housed in the castle and outlying annexes, the 65 guest rooms and suites span five different categories from Standard Rooms to the palatial Junior Suites and Duplex Apartments. Request a Junior Suite with a terrace overlooking the perfectly landscaped grounds. There are two apartments with interconnecting rooms, perfect for a family. Surrounded by opulent furnishings in the gilded restaurant, your clients can tuck into locally caught fish, regional cheeses and meats like géline de Touraine. To complement the sophisticated dishes, your clients can choose a bottle of wine from the cellar, stacked with more than 20,000 bottles. The Château d’Artigny can arrange guided tours of the Loire vineyards and there are complimentary bikes available at the hotel, tennis courts, a pool and a small health and beauty center with a hammam, sauna and Jacuzzi. From Travel Agent Central

Chateau d'Artigny Dinner Room

Chateau d'Artigny Dinner Room

Pink Upholstered French Chairs

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:29:58 +0000

Armchair (bergère en cabriolet) (one of a pair), ca. 1760–70, Stamped by Claude-Louis Burgat (French), Carved and gilded beechwood (1982.60.89)

Armchair (bergère en cabriolet) (one of a pair), ca. 1760–70, Stamped by Claude-Louis Burgat (French), Carved and gilded beechwood
(1982.60.89) From The METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

Pink can look high end if you choose the right fabric and put some work into the frame of your french chair. A heavy weight satin would be recommended for upholstery, and you cannot go wrong with raw silk which tends to be strong. Raw silk is extremely beautiful and offers the richness and color of silk with a natural touch. As you can see gold frames are very rich against pink. Consider putting the extra work into your chair by gold leafing it.

This transitional armchair above combines the curvilinear design of the Rococo style with motifs that were widely used during the Neoclassical period, such as the continuous border of overlapping medallions on the arm supports and the guilloche pattern on the seat rails. The closed area between the arms and the seat, together with the concave back, classify it as a bergère en cabriolet, one of the new types of chair introduced during the eighteenth century that expressed the increasing interest in comfort and informality.

Vintage French Peach Satin Pink Chairs in A Lime Washed Frame- Unknown Dealer

Satin Upholstered French Chairs In a Coral Color Unknown Dealer

French Architecture

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:21:02 +0000

Landscape Near Chambery, Savoie, Rhone Alpes, France From All Posters

Landscape Near Chambery, Savoie, Rhone Alpes, France From All Posters

Chambery is a beautiful town in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. Chambéry is the birthplace and historic capital of Savoie. Throughout history, it has been both Italian and French. It lies in a valley in the Alps surrounded by the Bauges and Chartreuse mountain ranges and provides almost 360-degree views of the French Alps. To the north, it is bordered by Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France. Chambery has long been a "crossroads to the Alps" dating all the way back to the 11th century

Town of art and history in the heart of the Savoie, Chambery offers to its visitors highlights of houses in the old streets and by its listed historical buildings. Dominated by the castle of the dukes of Savoie, the Old Town of Chambery is one of the most remarkable old neighbourhoods in France.

Chambéry Savoie

Some example of tourist sites:

The Old Town
The Savoisien Museum
The Fine Arts Museum
The Jean Jacques Rousseau Museum « Les Charmettes »

As the birthplace and historic capital of Savoy, Chambery enjoys an important heritage and numerous accounts of its prestigious past. Discover the Castle of Dukes of Savoy, the chambery chimes, Saint François Cathedral, Notre Dame Church, Saint Peter de Lémenc Church, the Charles Dullin Theatre and the Boigne Castle.

The museum offers many artistically and historically valuable objects. It is one of the place to be seen in Chamberry because it recalls the particular history of Savoie.

Chateau Chambéry Savoie

Rare French Style Furniture

Admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:02:04 +0000

A MAGNIFICENT 19TH C BRONZE MOUNTED SEVRES CENTERPIECE

A 19th century French gilt bronze and porcelain "sevres" centerpiece $22,000.00

If you want to look at some really stunning French furniture, look no more than Arte Antiques & Fine Art Gallery on ebay, who are specialists in the antique world, among which to name are Decorative arts, Fine Art, and Furniture. They have been in business for many years and have a obvious passion for high end rare French antiques, many of which you would only see only at auction houses such as Sotherby's or museums featuring French antiques. Look through their impressive collection of valuable and rare French Styled antiques and gain an eye for some of the more highly sought after French antiques.

A 19th French Ormolu Mounted Vitrine by Francois Linke $75,000.00

A 19th French Ormolu Mounted Vitrine by Francois Linke

The shaped brèche violette marble top over an arched cornice, above a central bombé glazed door set with a foliate-cast ormolu frame and with similarly mounted glazed sides, the mirrored interior with pale-green silk damask-lined base and fitted with three adjustable glass shelves, the angles set with floral clasps, above a shaped apron with central 'crab' mount, on cabriole legs with acanthus-cast sabots, signed F. Linke to the top right clasp. Dimensions: H: 66.5" W:34.5" D:17"

A French Ormolu Mounted Desk by Francois Linke $45,000.000

A Superb 19th century French Louis XV style Marquetry & Parquetry Bronze Mounted Francois Linke Burea Plat. Signed: F. Linke on right bronze clasp. Beautifully decorated with floral marquetry design and parquetry cube design. The front drawer opens and has space to put your belongings. The front with 2 handles which open the same drawer. The back with a gilt-bronze acanthus relief. Standing on four cabriolet legs. Dimensions: H: 29" W" 38" D: 24"

A 19th c. French Two Tier Pastry Table $25,000.00

An Early 20th Century French Gilt-Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Two-Tier/Pastry Table. Signed on Bronze clasp. F. Linke Decorated with parquetry cube design on both tiers with four bronze clasps holding the top tier. Standing on four Cabriolet legs with bronze sabots. Dimensions: H: 37.5" W: 36"

19th C French Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Vitrin

A Very Fine and unusual 19th century French Gilt- Bronze Mounted Vitrine. $12,000.000 Stands on four cabriolet legs in the Louis XV style. Hand Painted on three sides with classical scenes. Gilt bronze mounted with "Rams Head" figurines on both front legs of the vitrine. The shape of the vitrine makes it significantly unusual and hard to find. Dimensions: 70" H 31" W 14" D

A 19th c. French Ormolu Mounted Empire Style Day Bed

A Very Fine 19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Gilt Bronze Mounted Day Bed. The out-swept sides using bronze swan molded figures.
The legs in empire style with winged lion bronze clasps and paw feet . Above a drop in seat and an anthem. US $11,000.00

A Pair of 19thC. French Sevres Hand Painted Vases

An attractive pair of 19th century gilt bronze French Sevres style hand painted
vases. US $6,290.00

French Style Interiors: Petit Trianon

Admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:26:49 +0000

French Style- Petit Trianon

The château of the Petit Trianon is a celebrated example of the transition from the Rococo style of the earlier part of the 18th century, to the more sober and refined, Neoclassical style of the 1760s and onward.

In 2008, the The Petit Trianon and the Pavillon Français reopened to the public after two years of restoration work. The idea was to recreate the place as it existed on the 6th of October 1789, when the royal family was forced by a mob of starving women to leave Versailles, never to return, and resettle into the Palace of the Tuileries in Paris. The overall restoration cost five million euros.

The Petit Trianon was built (1768) for the marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV. But she died before the end of the works and was replaced by, Madame Du Barry,
However today the Petit Trianon is closely associated with the person of queen Marie-Antoinette. She received the property from her husband king Louis XVI.

She used the house as her get away from the publics eye. Only she would know what it would be like with such high expectations and the constant quest to be perfect. She made it her intimate refuge from the pageantry of the court of Versailles. She had the Petit Trianon refurnished, redecorated and she refitted the gardens. The whole at a high cost. Little did Marie-Antoinette know that her retirement and the committed expenses were going to crystallize all criticisms against her palace. While isolating herself from the French nobility the Queen would find herself without her natural supports when the revolution burst out.

The Parisian mob did finally come to Versailles. On October 6th 1789, a mob marched on the palace and forced Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to travel to Paris to hear the grievances of a population suffering widespread economic distress and harboring a growing belief in their own right to wield power. It was one of the opening acts of the French Revolution. Eventually the Royal couple would lose their heads to the guillotine and France would become a Republic, with no need for royal residences.

A monarchy-with limited power-was restored in 1830, and Louis-Philippe, who reigned from 1830 to 1848, prevented the destruction of Versailles by donating his own money to convert it into a museum dedicated to the glory of France.

In the mid 20^th century, John D. Rockefeller was an important contributor to the restoration of Versailles. It remains today as a symbol of the wealth, extravagance and refinement of the monarchy.

The recent movie 'Marie Antoinette' by Sofia Coppola gives an idea of the very formal and extravagant life styles at Versailles just prior to the revolution.

The improvement started in 07 and finished in 2008 which encompassed several aspects, including restoring the original decorative elements, creating additional museum areas, refurbishing the entire set of technical facilities and repairing the
outer woodwork, steps as well as the East and West wings of the Petit Trianon.

At the request of the Établissement pubic de Versailles, Montres Breguet agreed to fund an additional phase of work. The latter has just been completed in June 2010, thereby setting the final touch to this operation. It involved cleaning the South façade, restoring the sentry boxes framing the gate of the entrance court, consolidating the forecourt walls, as well as mending the cobble-stoned or paved areas. With the new renovations, the servants quarters are now open to the public.

The Petit Trianon is a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France. In this video they show the restauration of the Petit Trianon. You can see first hand some of the rooms being refinished and furniture being crated in order to work on the interior. It is interesting to see first hand what happens when the palace gets a facelift.

Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

French Style Decorating Ideas -Le Petit Trianon

On the first floor the Living room called "Salon de Compagnie", decorated with splendid woodworks carved by Guibert, is one of the most beautiful rooms of the castle. The first floor is the dining room which features finely carved boiseries (ornate and intricately carved wood paneling) that are without gilding (gold leaf) to complement the bleu Turquin (blue Italian marble) mantle The pieces of furniture are contemporary of Marie-Antoinette. Picture Credit Metis Linens Blog

French Style Interiors - Petit Trianon. Versailles

These lovely pictures are from Metis Linens Blog

French Style Interiors - Petit Trianon. Versailles

French Style Interiors - Petit Trianon. Versailles Pictures From PlnguinaMA's Flicker

An Attic Bedroom In The Petit Trianon

Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

Queen Marie Antoinette’s French Bedroom

Admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:42:17 +0000

Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

Here is a close up of one of the original chairs in the Queens bedroom. Bonnefoy du Plan oversaw the creation of the furniture pieces which featured carved and painted trellises, basketwork, floral forms and rustic garlands. The furniture is called “wheat-ear” furniture, so named for lily-of-the-valley, pine cones, and ears of wheat found in the design The third floor is known as the Mezzanine and was for the Queen’s staff. The room reminds me of classic Swedish Style. The Louis XVI furniture is known as the basis to much of the Gustavian style.

The comparison between the relatively modest room of the queen at the Petit Trianon and the royal apartments of the Palace of Versailles is striking. The small dimensions of the bed of the queen in her room at the Petit Trianon show well that here she lived as a single woman away off her royal husband.

It is known that Marie-Antoinette in her married life had known a humiliating experience. Louis XVI had been unable during 7 years to consummate the marriage. This was known in France as well from the royal courts of Europe.

The room is entirely authentic, the furniture of origin was found, repurchased and restored. It is refined furniture signed Georges Jacob. The clock of the Queen decorated with the two eagles of the house of Austria is back on its site.

Contiguous to this room is the cabinet “of the moving mirrors” who by means of a system of sliding slopes allowed the queen to shut her windows when she wanted to isolate herself

The Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

The Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette From PingulnaMA On Flicker

The Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

French Style- The Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

The Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

Private Apartment of Queen Marie Antoinette

In the fifteenth century, the ruins of Nero's Domus Aurea were discovered in Rome. The first explorers to enter the interior of this spectacular palace complex had the sensation of finding themselves in a series of grottoes, and this is why the fanciful frescoes and floor mosaics discovered there were called "grotesques." A fashionable form of ornamentation in ancient Rome, grotesques consist of loosely connected motifs, often incorporating human figures, birds, animals, and arranged around medallions filled with painted scenes. Fifteenth-century artists such as Perugino, Signorelli, Filippino Lippi, Mantegna copied the ancient Roman examples; the most famous use of the style was Raphael's Loggie in the Vatican Palace, which became immensely famous and influential all over Europe. This magnificently illustrated book covers the entire history of the grotesque in European art, from its Roman origins through the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century. It illuminates how grotesque decoration was transformed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries into arabesque, chinoiserie, and singeries, and how it continued in the nineteenth century, leading eventually to Art Nouveau. 250 color illustrations.

French Interiors:The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon

Admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:59:11 +0000

French Style The Petit Trianon

The Petit Trianon was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel by the order of Louis XV for his long-term mistress, Madame de Pompadour, and was constructed between 1762 and 1768. But Madame de Pompadour died four years before its completion. Upon his accession to the throne in 1774, the 20-year-old Louis XVI gave the château and its surrounding park to his 19-year-old Queen Marie Antoinette for her exclusive use and enjoyment. Marie longed to escape Louis and his court, and he gave her just the place.

This simple building located just a hundred meters of the palace of the Petit Trianon contains an oval room which was the private theatre of the Queen. It was built in 1780 by the architect Richard Mique. The little theatre features decorative pasteboard sculptures, with blue hangings and a gold-embroidered curtain. The stage is larger than the auditorium. The machinery is original from the period and the decoration is original although has been restored. Marie-Antoinette was always in search of entertainments and who liked to perform on scene.

Marie Antoinette would come to the Petit Trianon not only to escape the formality of court life, but also to shake off the burden of her royal responsibilities. At Versailles, she was under considerable pressure and judgement from both her family and the court, and the Petit Trianon was her place of ease and leisure where she could rest from those trials.

Since the Petit Trianon was by invitation only, none was permitted to enter the property without the Queen's express permission. It was said, not even Louis XVI, so you can imagine how many people felt left out, or perhaps excluded if they were not invited. This invitation only alienated the court nobility, and only the queen's "inner circle" were invited.

A house was designed to require as little interaction between guests and servants as possible. To that end, the table in was designed to be mechanically lowered and raised through the floorboards so that the servants below were left sight unseen.

French Style The Petit Trianon

Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles

Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles by Christain Duvernois, with photographs by François Halard.

Here is the publisher’s presentation:

Marie-Antoinette has been idolized as the height of eighteenth-century French style and vilified as the spark that ignited the French Revolution. This book departs from such traditional interpretations of the infamous queen’s reign and chooses to reflect on the humanistic aspects of her private realm.

To escape the formalities and royal obligations of Louis XVI’s court, Marie-Antoinette created a private realm of pleasure for herself at the Petit Trianon and Hameau, where she planted the first Anglo-Chinese garden; created a trysting grotto; a working farm; and revolutionized architecture and gardening trends for the century to come.

Marie-Antoinette’s entire private domain and its story are told in beautiful photographic detail by François Halard for the first time since its recent restoration and accompanied by well-researched texts by garden expert Christian Duvernois

The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon

Habitually Chic featured stunning photos of Belvedere in the park of the Petit Trianon, and shows the transition from the dominant Rococo style of the earlier part of the 18th century, to the more sober and refined, Neoclassical style of the 1760s and onward.

The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon From Curt Dude on Flicker

The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon

Consider stenciling your home with the classic stylings of a white background with Neoclassical motifs seen at the Petit Trianon. One very easy way of getting these pictures on the wall is by using an overhead projector. Books such as French Architectural Ornament details many of the motifs from Versailles, Fontainebleau and other Palaces which you can get transferred onto overhead projector paper at your local copy center.

French Interiors:The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon

French Interiors The Belvedere In The Park of the Petit Trianon

French Styled Commodes

Admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:53:29 +0000

French Styled Interiors Architectural Digest Russia Aug 2011

Architectural Digest Russia from Plum Siena's blog.

Architectural Digest Russia had some outstanding French styled pictures in their Aug 2011 issue. You can see this interior features very fine antiques and neoclassical chandeliers, and in later pictures they feature a stunning Louis XV styled Bombe chest. Bombe chests gained popularity in the French Regency period. After Louis XIV died in 1715, his five year old great grandson was crowned the king of France. At the time, Louis XV was too young to rule, so Phillipe d'Orleans, the nephew of the late Louis XIV, was named regent and ruled in his place. During this time, French furniture-makers created newer styles distinctfully different from the Louis XIV classical forms. Shapes became more bowed and round. The signature style through this time was the bombe commode. This chest had curves, and reminded them of the voluptuous curves of an elegant lady.

Often times these bombe chests were lacquered with chinoiserie decoration, or inlaid with exquisite woods. Chinese art was very popular through this time as trade with the orient became something new and fresh. Chinoiserie painted designs were very ornate and detailed which fit right in with the french style of that day. Bombe chests became crucial to the decor of every upscale home. When Louis XV ascended the throne, the curvaceous and opulent bombe chest was quite popular. Highly favored by Louis XV and his famous mistress, Madame de Pompadour, the bombe chest became all the rage in 1750's Paris.

A Louis XVI-style chest From Charles-Emile Moinat

A single distinctive piece, like this Louis XVI-style chest From Charles-Emile Moinat with ornate hardware, can add just a touch of drama to a neutral room.

A French Styled Commode Picture From A perfect Gray Blog

18th C. French Cabinet with Wonderful Detailing From Antiquarian Traders

French Styled Furniture - Architectural Digest Russia Aug 2011 French Commode

French Louis XV Style Inlaid Rosewood Marble Top Ormolu Commode Dresser Chest

French Louis XV Style Inlaid Rosewood Marble Top Ormolu Commode Dresser Chest From Antique Furniture on Ebay

French Louis XV Style Inlaid Rosewood Marble Top Ormolu Commode Dresser Chest

French Louis XV Style Inlaid Rosewood Marble Top Ormolu Commode Dresser Chest From Antique Furniture on Ebay

ANTIQUE FRENCH MINIATURE COMMODE SALESMAN SAMPLER BOX

Antique French Miniature Commode Salesman Sampler Box From Bee And Rooster on Ebay

French Commodes

Mantua Court Gowns

Admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:44:23 +0000

Ivory Silk Brocaded Gown

This richly brocaded ensemble illustrates the style of dress worn by women at court. Known as a mantua, the gown consists of a bodice with a train at the back. A very wide petticoat of matching silk completes the ensemble along with a triangle of silk known as a stomacher, in the centre front.

Although considered stylish daywear in the early 18th century, the mantua had become very old-fashioned by the 1750s and was worn only for court dress. Wide hoops were beginning to go out of style, but kept their extreme width at court. To make up for its conservative cut, court dress was always made from the most fashionable as well as expensive fabrics and trimmings. This gown was made from an ivory silk brocaded pattern of stylised flowers and leaves. The motifs are accentuated by colours of the precious metal thread. Such a design is typical of French silk weavers and the fabric was probably imported as this gown was one worn in the English courts. English weavers copied French designs very closely.

Ivory Silk Brocaded Gown

Court Mantua Kensington Palace 1750-1760 From ArtFund

High End French Style Furniture

Admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:00:58 +0000

French Script Chest Of Drawers Commode Bombay Gorgeous Green And Gold From Ambiance Chateau On Ebay

Ebay can be a place to find one of a kind French furniture that you normally would find in specialty shops across the nation. Never before have we had available some of the most stunning antiques without leaving our home. For the decorator and collector alike, nothing could be more fun and convenient.

French Script Chest Of Drawers Commode Bombay Gorgeous Green And Gold From Ambiance Chateau On Ebay- Ambiance carries MOSTLY French Furniture, so do check out their store for one of a kind French pieces.

PAIR FRENCH LOUIS XVI PAINTED & GILT BERGERE CHAIRS Ebay Seller Urban Artifacts99

Louis XVI Painted Gilt Bergere Chairs Ebay Seller Urban Artifacts99

CONTINENTAL CARVED GILTWOOD AND PAINTED DAYBED Ebay Seller UrbanArtifacts99

BEST FRENCH CARVED GILDED DAYBED FULL SIZE BED EVER Ebay Seller CheBella99

French Carved Gilded Day Bed Full Size From Ebay Seller CheBella99

Urban Artifacts 99, CheBella99 and NoreServe 2 You are all from the same company which has been in the antique business for over 25 years and has a 20,000 square foot Antique Warehouse at 2702 Roberts Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19144. They always have wonderful French Antiques up on Ebay.

FRENCH DIRECTOIRE PAINTED UPHOLSTERED FULL SIZE BED Ebay Seller Urban Artifacts 99

LOOK at the fabric on this bed!! You can see the bed has been especially painted to coordinate with this exquisite fabric. This French Directoire Pained Upholstered bed is a grand example of the directoire french style. Seller Urban Artifacts 99, CheBella99 and NoreServe 2 You

RARE PAIR FRENCH LOUIS XVI PAINTED BURLAP BUDOIR CHAIRS Ebay Seller chebella99

RARE PAIR FRENCH LOUIS XVI PAINTED BURLAP BUDOIR CHAIRS Ebay Seller Urban Artifacts 99, CheBella99 and NoreServe 2 You are all from the same company.

French Louis XV Verde Marble Top Inlaid Wood From Noemanyc On Ebay

Antique Marble Italian Bronze French Chest Table Inlaid Ormolu Louis

Antique Marble Italian Bronze French Chest Table Inlaid Ormolu Louis IV Vintage From Welcome To Lighting Galleries

Louis XVI Tables

Admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:17:04 +0000

LOUIS XIV TABLE Reproduction Tortoise Shell Replica End Side Accent

Decorate With Darla is selling a stunning Louis XVI table that features a decorative replica tortoise shell faux finish. The finish isn't real tortoise shell, but simply a faux finish. The table is certainly a hard to find piece all on its own without having such an elaborate finish. This piece takes a 22 step process to look like genuine tortoise shell. Decorate With Darla is selling this exquisite piece for $847. Elle International also sells this piece at a little over 1k.

French Style Beds

Admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:25:19 +0000

A French Room in White - A French Bed Upholstered In Blue - Designer Unknown

This bed shines brightly in this white surrounding palette. An oval gilt sconce mirror hangs on the wall with matching blue tapered candles. The floors are painted an off white and a bed crown hangs from the ceiling with draped lace. This room has many antique touches, with a shining example of classic french neoclassical bed. For more of a century old feeling, match up the duvet cover and drapes with the upholstery on the bed for a classic look right out of the 18th century.

High End French Style Accessories

Admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:46:16 +0000

Antique French Louis XV Style Rosewood Cabinet Vitrine From Vintage Views Consignment And Consulting

Antique dealer Vintage Views Consignment And Consulting is one of the nation's largest online brokers of antiques, fine and decorative art, luxury goods and collectibles. You can also find their store on other online markets, including VandM, GoAntiques and Trocadero. If you are in the market for high end French Style furnishings and accessories, I would suggest to check out their inventory.

French Style Bombe Commodes

Admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:56:08 +0000

French Bombay Marble Top Cow Hyde Commode Dresser From Z Brothers Furniture

Z Brothers Furniture on ebay has a few really interesting bombe chests which are covered in cow's hide and snake skin. It looks like they have taken these curvy commodes and glued on these stylish fabrics for a unique look. I have been a follower of their furniture for some time, as they have excellent pricing and unique one of a kind pieces.

French Styled Beret Hats

Admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:47:28 +0000

Vogue - Featuring A French Styled Beret

I once landed a job, and later came to know by my boss is was because she thought the beret I wore to the interview was so chic. Almost everyone associates the beret hat with French style. In fact, the history shows that the beret can be traced back to the people living on both the French and Spanish sides of the Pyrenees Mountains. The beret hat was also banned during the Nazi occupation of France during World War II because it was associated with French nationalism. The modern beret is often associated with the military. The USA Green Berets, Black Berets, UN Blue Berets all wear berets, and who could forget revolutionary leader Che Guevara, who made the beret a worldwide symbol? The original beret was either navy blue or red, but today the beret is available in a wide array of colors, and fabrics. Monica Lewinsky made headlines when her connection with President Clinton became public, the media decided to promote the picture of her wearing a beret hugging the president. Beret hats have always been fashionable through the years, and they can be worn a variety of different ways. Military wear always seems to remain in style as the years pass. Many women turn to beret hats in the winter to cover their ears, as well as being recognized as being uniquely fashionable.

French Style Fashion Berets

Classic Military Beret in Tan with Edging

BLACK KNIT SOFT STRETCH TRADITIONAL TAMI BERET CAP HAT

Women's Throwback Knit Beret with Brim

Angora Wool Blend French Beret with Flower Accent Available in 6 colors

Wool Beret Featured in Candy Red

Louis XV Desks

Admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 19:09:13 +0000

Louis XV style swept France during the years of 1730-1775 and has remained popular ever since. Louis XV style has been known to have a soft appeal, often generous with its curves and delicate features. In fact, Louis XV furniture is known for its unbroken curves. Everything is curved, even the architecture. Louis XV desks are quite hard to find in any local area, which leads many people online to search them out. In the past, a kitchen table was where everyone gathered to eat, play games and learn. It was the most functional pieces of furniture of the typical family home, today it is the desk. With Internet strapped to everyone's hip, a nice desk is worth the investment.

I remember using plywood boxes as my end tables, leaving my home and living on my own at the age of 18, and as I have gotten older, my taste for furnishings have grown, and I have traded out my furniture along the way for antiques and reproductions.

French Louis XV Desk

Horchows desk features a hand-painted design that has the colors of red, black, and gold, all on a hardwood desk. The desk also has a resin swag detail on sides, as well on the three drawers. The hardware on this desk alone is quite pricy, and hard to find. The measurements of this grand desk are 51.5W x 26D x 32T.

Marie Antoinette Behind the Scences For Vogue Magazine

Admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:05:48 +0000

The famous Annie Leibovitz shoots Marie Antoinette, done for Vogue Magazine. This video is an excerpt from the DVD "Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens"

In her portraits for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, Annie Leibovitz has photographed a generation (and more) of rock stars, politicians, and supermodels.

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens, a documentary created by Leibovitz's sister Barbara, suggests that she might be somewhat overqualified for the job. Not that Leibovitz reflects too much on the business of photographing movie stars for a living. Her nomadic life suits her just fine, and might have come from a childhood spent as an Army brat, moving around the world every few years. Home movies give some of the flavor of Leibovitz's youth, and her arrival in San Francisco just as the Sixties counterculture (and Rolling Stone magazine) were getting underway is covered with old footage and new interviews with colleagues, including publisher Jann Wenner. It was a wild time (Wenner speaks of sending Leibovitz on tour with the Rolling Stones as though he were responsible for selling her into slavery), and it took its toll; the movie doesn't go into great detail, but a substance abuse problem and subsequent rehab is acknowledged and quickly forgotten. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards remember her warmly, in any case. Leibovitz's personal life is in the shadows, except for her relationship with writer Susan Sontag. The rest is a series of testimonials from admiring subjects (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Whoopi Goldberg) and some on-location stuff for Vanity Fair, including a shoot with George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Her working methods show someone with very specific ideas about what she wants, and a disarmingly blunt way of getting them. Perhaps the most memorable section of this American Masters program is the account of Leibovitz's photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, including a celebrated Rolling Stone cover of a naked Lennon embracing his wife, taken a few hours before Lennon's murder. That kind of work proves that in Leibovitz's world of portraiture, intimacy is everything. --Robert Horton

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens traces the arc of Annie's photographic life, her aspirations to artistry and the trajectory of her career. The film depicts the various phases that shaped her life including childhood, the tumultuous sixties, her transition from Rolling Stone to Vanity Fair magazine and later her most significant personal relationships including motherhood. The documentary's highlights center on interviews with her most famous subjects, mentors and colleagues, along with personal insight from Leibovitz herself, to reveal the evolution of inarguably one of today's most influential visual artists.