Some details of the Palace of Versailles and Petit Trianon through the eyes of the visitor (2024)
Palace of Versailles and Petit Trianon
Archives
Tignes
Alpine houses through the eyes of the hiker – Tignes, French Alps (2023)
Provence style
Provence style has a continuous popularity since years all over the world. Maybe it captures people with its calming effect.
It contains the essence of French country style. Houses were commonly built of freestone, they became the integral part of nature with their unplastered walls. There are shutters on windows, since the interiors have to be protected from strong sunshine. This makes the heavy curtains unnecessary, commonly only cotton voile curtains are on the windows. Frequently French doors are on the ground floor instead of windows. The patio has an outdoor room function. Since the weather is nicely warm, most of the meals are kept here also. The table is placed in the shadow of a pergola or a bigger tree.
The thick walls protect the house from extreme warming-up. Doors and windows are remained open, this way the cool breeze can blow through the inner rooms also. Walls have light painting. The floor is terracotta or stone paved in the community spaces and bathrooms, there are old wooden floor in the bedrooms. The mood is given by the shabby elegance of wooden furniture and old household objects. It is an important fact, that all of these are original pieces which served generations, so they weren’t made by paint-and-wear technique. They descend in the family or are flee market finds. They can be put on their place after a careful cleaning. Wrought iron accessories and small furniture are common also. These are frequently light colored (off-white, cream, green). The most significant furniture items in the kitchen are the sideboard cabinet, the huge solid wood table and the stone fireplace. Everything was made by hand all over the house from natural local materials. The domination of neutral colors is broken by muted shades (blues, greens, pinks and purples). Nature shows itself in the decoration also. Lavender is the first in the row of flowers, but wildflowers are beloved decorating elements as well.
Ask for help of an interior designer for creating Provence mood in your home.
My project 22.
Designed for a competition: retro interior design objects in a bachelor flat’s sitting room in Paris
Rococo
Rococo came to be in France at the beginning of the 18th century and was popular until the 1780s. The origin of the name is the word rocaille which is a mix of pebbles, cement and seashells. The new style was a kind of rebellion against the rigidity of Baroque. The nobles desired more free, playful and more decorated surroundings after the death of Louis XIV. It culminated under the reign of Louis XV., in which his lover, Madame Pompadour had a great role also.
Rococo is actually a decorating style. Everything was decorated with carvings and gypsum decors, mostly gilded. There were twisty vine scrolls, flower and fruit garlands, C and S volutes, shell motifs around pictures/mirrors, on furniture (especially on console tables, commodes and tables), on the walls of the rooms and also on the ceiling. Genres came in fashion in painting which reflected the idealized thoughts and desires of the nobles about the world (e.g. A. Watteau, F. Boucher). Slightly looser themes weren’t taboos anymore at all, not only mythological figures were depicted without clothes and/or in piquant settings. Toile de Jouy pattern visualized the pastoral idyll which was „born” in that time. Chinoiserie was an important part of Rococo also which brought the far Eastern culture in the royal courts. Furniture was lacquered, decorated with painted scenes, ormolu and inlays became popular. Colors were muted, white and pastel shades were fashionable. Thanks to the formation of the European porcelain producing, miniature statues and figures appeared. These were placed on the mantelpiece or console table as decorating elements. Their theme was joy or love. There were many lace trimmings, ribbons, bows and embroideries on the clothes, powdered wigs and gloves were important accessories. The institution of salon appeared where the chosen companionship gathered and lived a vivid intellectual life. Rococo style gave a special surrounding for this.
From today’s point of view, Rococo might be a bit „too much”. However, it can be replaced into today’s interiors also with holding in the amount of gildings and decorations and handling the main features as only examples. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.
TV2 interview
My interview by interior design series “Szépítők” of TV2 can be seen on this link. It starts right after the short introduction.
https://tv2.hu/musoraink/szepitok/245440_csokkentheto-a-lakashitel-osszege.html
Empire
Empire style was developed in France under the reign of Napoleon. The emperor wittingly created a style which marks his reign and contains the main features of ancient world-powers, referring to his own glory. It was spread all over Europe by his conquests.
Empire style is based on monumentality and luxury. It alloys ancient Greek and Roman architectural features with ancient Egyptian motifs, favors the more ornate ones from all of them. Corinthian columns dominate in the buildings. Big amount of gilding makes the sight imposing in the interiors, which is pared commonly with black (ebony, varnishing, marble), claret and bright dark blue. Furniture are covered with ormolu, the frame of seats is fully gilded, moreover the upholstery has yellow or gold color also. Out of fabrics, silk and damask became conspicuous.
Bays, olive-branch, N (Napoleon) and J (Josephine) letters, flower garlands, pitcher are repeated motifs. Frequently caryatides or winged animal figures hold the top of tables instead of legs. These decorations are common on dressers also. Mahogany was the most frequently used wooden material.
Walls were covered with heavy fabrics which were even pleated for a thicker effect. Their colors were commonly dark green, claret or dark blue. Beloved solution were the painted walls and the gilding of plastered ceiling. The edges and patterns of paneling was highlighted by gilding too. The base color of these was typically cream or off-white. The bottom of curtains reached the floor, they were made of heavy but lighter colored fabrics, richly pleated and decorated with golden fringes, tassels and trimmings.
You can also implement the feeling of luxury provided by Empire style in your home with the help of an interior designer.
Louis-styles
The interior design styles of the era between 1610 and 1793 in France are called Louis-styles after the four reigning kings.
Baroque was half-baked and the effect of Renaissance was strong under Louis XIII. (1601-1643). That’s why the interiors were moderately decorated. Although furniture was richly carved, they were natural in color and large-scaled. Their architectural elements were determining. Chairs are upholstered, most of them are not folding. Louvre was the seat of the king by this time. Impact of Baroque began at the end of his reign.
Louis XIV., the Sun-king (1638-1715) was the lover of pomp. Baroque reached its peak under his reign. The aim was using the more decorating motifs, gildings and exotic materials in every fine arts. He had the castle of Versailles rebuilt to a world famous palace of the king. Boulle is the most known name in the field of furniture, he became famous by his marquetry. He used ormolu, tortoise shells, brass, noble woods by chance. Mansart created lasting in architecture. He is known by the roof type named after him. The beauty of the gardens were the works of Le Nôtre. The geometrically arranged flower beds, fountains, long promenades are spectacular even nowadays. The colorful frescos and murals of Versailles are the works of Le Brun.
Louis XV. (1710-1774) was the great-grandson of the Sun-king. Rococo is the style of his era which was marked by over-decorating, shell motifs, chinoiserie and feminine interior details. The fashion was dictated by his two famous lovers, Madame Pompadour and Madame Du Barry. Porcelain manufacturing started, the lace-manufactures and silk-weavers were sponsored for the most splendid fabrics which were matched with goods from abroad. The walls were covered by fabrics or wallpapers, furniture were lacquered and painted, the decorating C and S pieces were used inordinately.
The reign of Louis XVI. (1754-1793) was the era of Classicism. The ancient Roman buildings, sculptures and household objects found in excavation of Pompei had a big influence on the people of the age. The stifling over-decoration was followed by a more moderated style: the decoration elements of ancient times were used again, the shapes of furniture became clear, the lines straightened. Even dressing fashion turned to a more comfortable direction. Patterns and decorations of idealized country life were used on fabrics, porcelains and other household objects.
The revolution terminated Louis-styles and the ancient régime also. Several buildings, paintings, valuable statues, porcelains etc. were perished during the huddle and terror of years because of the intentional vandalism and fire-raising of the mob. These are lost forever for posterity.
Fortunately, enough sources and pictures remained for falling in love with any of the Louis-styles and for desiring to implement them at home. A good interior designer can help to realize this dream by refreshing and fitting it to the sizes of present flats/houses.
Toile pattern
„Toile de Jouy”, or shortly „Toile” pattern has a French origin. The word toile itself means linen and Jouy is the name of a small town at the East part of France. These type of fabric had produced there since the 18th century. „Toile de Jouy” means canvas from Jouy.
Patterns are printed in one color on the fabric. The base is generally white, or beige. The pattern is repetitive at the whole area of the textile. It displays mostly idyllic scenes, such as rococo noblemen dressed to shepherd or shepherdess, fishing, flower picking or picknick groups, surrounded by landscape and building parts. Colors used for the patterns are originally the black, dark blue and red, but there also were green, brown or pink versions. These fabrics were used to upholstering furniture, covering walls or curtains. The toile pattern itself can appear on wallpapers, porcelain sets, tablecloths and beddings, etc.
In the recent years, toile pattern became popular again and widely used in interior design. Colors are much more variant and vivid nowadays, designers pair practically any background color with any pattern color. The scenes remain bucolic and idyllic. In chinoiserie topic we can find Chinese related scenes instead of them.
The pattern itself is very versatile. Can be applied in country style and also in a baroque, elegant interior as well, or even in a child-room. The furniture and accessories will give the final view, we can emphasize it with choosing the color of the material.
If you love this pattern, but afraid of having it too dominant, or just want to realize a romantic and elegant atmosphere, ask help from an interior designer for planning.
French Renaissance
During the French Renaissance not only architectural and artistic works were outstanding, but the beauty of furnishing and comfort came into view also. This era is really hallmarked by two sovereigns: François I. (1494-1547) met the new trend following Gothic during his Italian campaigns. He immediately fell in love with the ornaments and anthropocentric vision. When he went home, he implemented these in France. Many Loire castles were built or rebuilt during his reign (e.g. Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry). He invited Leonardo Da Vinci in his court. Cathrine de Medici (1519-1589) was born is Florence and grew up in the heyday of Italian Renaissance. She took this love to France, where she got married with the future Henry II. As a regent she spent big amounts for furnishing castles, re-buildings (Louvre) and art treasures.
The three-dimensional effect is the characteristic of Renaissance living spaces: huge fireplaces, imposing marble staircases, big collective spaces. The stone walls were covered by richly patterned tapestries which protected partly against cold also. Beds had legs against the coldness of the floor and bugs, and they had canopy which provided not only the private area but protected against draught also. This time it was already common to welcome important guests in bed.
The first versions of wardrobes (dressoire, cabinets) appeared beside chests as main storages. These were richly carved, showing the wealth and rank of the owner also. Furniture had architectural forms: colonnade, arches, sill etc. Framed structure, marquetry, veneer and inlays were first used this time. Chairs could be fix or folding. Upholstery appeared (leather, velvet) which provided more comfortable seating. Tables are not take-apart anymore, they are sturdy and imposing pieces on columnar legs.
The court moved from one castle to another because the large household could be fed by a city and surroundings only for a limited time. In this case, all the furniture, tapestries, cutleries, wardrobes etc. were carried. Paris became the permanent seat of French kings at the end of the Renaissance (during the reign of Henry III. and IV.).
Interior of those times may seem to be a bit over-decorated and outdated from today’s standpoint. But the then feeling and creating artistic values can be implemented in modern surroundings also. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.
