Happy Weekend

14 Saturday Aug 2010

Posted by Trish in Antiques, Interiors

≈ 24 Comments

Tags

grays

For those impatient readers….

the work crew…uhmmm….me…

is still working…

Husband and both kids on vacation …

so I’m occasionally slacking on the job

Here are some paint dabs to show you

which way the wind is blowing….

My final choice gray for the master bedroom is a mix I made

of Benjamin Moore White Heron and Pratt & Lambert Feather Gray…

closest out of bucket paint is Benjamin Moore Athena…

Benjamin Moore Olympic Mountains also good…

Essentially French by Josephine Ryan

photography Claire Richardson

Love all the movement and color fluctuation…

but eventually settled on soothing and calm…

I pulled out all my favorite bedding to make

sure whatever wall color I chose would be

able to adapt to a quick mood change..

from aquas and natural linens…

to a whole range of grays…

Even an inky graphite silk velvet quilted throw…

Neutral enough to be backstage to the outside garden, architectural salvage or

flea market finds, light enough to weather foggy weather and winter skies…

Enough color to embrace my antique barometer

so that it’s not floating unconnected on the wall…

but not so dark that it doesn’t stand out…

For MUCH more exciting goings on…

Mona of Providence Ltd Design is having a bookish give away

here

And Maryanne of Beadboard Country is having a trunk show and give away

here

Antique Whites

03 Saturday Apr 2010

Posted by Trish in Interiors

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Antique bed, Antique Fabric, antique French pelmets, French Antiques, French design, painted wall panels, Rough Luxe, stone staicase, Swedish style

Saturday morning…

Whether your lazily turning pages

in a cozy pelmet framed nook…

Or dashing about filling plastic eggs with jelly beans

and frosting cupcakes…

I’m wishing you a few moments of serenity…

Calm…

Bliss…

And, if its not asking too much…just a bit of sun

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tricia Guild On Color (1,2), Landiljike Stijl (3,4),

Vogue Houses, People, Gardens (Karl Lagerfeld) (5),

Veranda March ’06 (6)

The Valley of the River Loire

30 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by Trish in Interiors

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Château de la Roche Froissard, French Chateau, French Gardens, Gardens, Loire, People, Rachel Riley, Vogue Living Houses

Rachel Riley

Loire 2006

“The valley of the river Loire is wide and open as an ocean’s estuary.

Stately poplar, dappled by the water’s reflected silver light, line its

banks, creating a shimmering view that Monet might have painted.

Along the river’s bluffs cluster sleepy pale stone villages or tracts of

verdant parkland elegantly punctuated with stately medieval châteaux,

eighteenth-century gentihommeries, and prim Second Empire mansions

where legions of Madame Bovarys must have sighed away their lives. “

by Hamish Bowles (click for 1stdibs profile)

Words painting a picture in my mind…

François Halard photography

Vogue Living Houses, Gardens, People

They say that March comes in as a lion, goes out like a lamb…

Now that the growl of Winter is behind us, Spring is veritably

gamboling down our garden paths. I was struck by the pure

bliss in designer Rachel Riley‘s face…and of course

the roses nearly tumbling out of her full basket….

Château de la Roche Froissard

Texture and Textiles

19 Friday Mar 2010

Posted by Trish in France, Interiors

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

18th century lifestyle, Antique beds, Antique Fabric, French Antiques, French design, Lit a la Polonaise

Been busy with projects…

but thought you’d like a glimpse of

a lovely French chateau with touches

of spring color and gorgeous textiles…

Since I’m definitely into neutrals

I like to see what just a touch of

a fresh accent color will do

to tone on tone interiors….

Are frames out?

Perhaps it’s the insouciance of “barefooted” dark oil paintings

floating on an expanse of bare wall that makes this so appealing…

Love the simple homespun linen on the Louis XVI Chair…

Colefax and Fowler “arbre de vie” at top of bed…

Believe it or not…that’s an Ikea bed…with a bit of faux

paneling and aging….

I have been more textile obsessive than usual lately after dipping

into Wendy Lewis’s pool of over 1000 listings of antique and vintage

European textiles on Ebay here. If you look closely at this shot there

is a red toile piece above the bed…and striped floral fabric pinned to

the wall. Ironically, the chairs are “déshabillé” (undressed)…except for

their jute underlay. The bed is dressed with a boutis (French quilt) in

motifs inspired by les Indiennes de Nimes and flags de procession

chines rest on the headboard above each pillow…

Gorgeous from the tip of the ciel to the lit to the pale gray floor…

Thanks to Wendy I’ve also become pelmet obsessed…

Usually used as decorative valances poised atop windows…

Love scalloped pelmets in a half circle at the ceiling to create

a bed crown, a ciel de lit. Now how difficult would that be?

Hmmmm……

From my Red Burnished Neutrals post here

Again…mostly neutral

with that stand-out color accent….

I’m not really a red person….

but when I look at this I want to be!!!

Gorgeous antique toile pelmets available here.

Toile fabric “papering” niche…

looks like the demi-lune table is

set into an open armoire…

Blogs just can’t do horizontal as well as an in your lap,

two page magazine spread. This view is just stunning….

Whimsical dog portraits on either side of the

rough-hewn door frame…fantastic symmetry

Campagne Decoration

Jan/Feb ’10

Interior decorator Catherine-Hélène Frei

Photos Marie-José Jarry

Artist’s Blue

28 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by Trish in Interiors

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

18th century lifestyle, aqua-blue, blue

The c. 1820 aqua blue painted stucco dining room and original chandelier at Schloss Damtschach,

Countess Brigette-Orsini-Rosenberg’s home in Carinthia, near the Austrian/Italian border…

Sometimes all it takes is one stunning photo for me to choose a magazine off the rack…

This photo in last month’s World of Interiors had sparkle and shimmer, the light

growing across the page from shadows on the left, the chandelier appearing to

scintillate as if deftly executed by an impressionist painter…

The still life on the table could have been imagined on a painter’s easel…

Cropped from original photo…

The blues glowing like an Opaline treasure…

Antique Palais Royal blue Opaline and gold box

World Rarities at Ruby Lane

Antique porcelain service from late 18th century…

Chairs upholstered in same fabric that backs vitrine

Little Girl in a Blue Armchair

c. 1878

Mary Cassat

The World of Interiors November ’09

London based photographer Fritz von der Schulenburg

click link for more of his work

Sydney Harbour Paint Company

Lime wash paints

If ever I need inspiration and gorgeous color, as rich as any artist’s palette,

The World of Interiors delivers. With thick, glossy pages saturated with color,

complex and historical interiors, it’s an archival magazine. So far I

just cherry pick my favorite issues, and hold onto them forever.

Back in the Kitchen

14 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by Trish in Interiors, Joie de Vivre

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Astier de Villatte, Holiday desserts, Kitchen style, Limewash paints, Rough Luxe

White Chocolate Tiramisù Trifle with Spiced Pears

No calories if you just stare at it….

Bon Appétite via Epicurious here

Thank you to all my kind readers

and supportive fellow bloggers…

You’ve gotten me in the mood to roll up

my sleeves and get in the kitchen again…

Hope you all are enjoying the

sights, smells and tastes of a wonderful

holiday season

Still working on my kitchen fireplace. Originally all brick, I had plastered the grooves,

put a few top coats of plaster, and had a professional apply the final skim coat.

I had had the Sydney Harbour Paint Company pamphlet saved for years…

always wanting to try limewash paint…

When I saw Jermaine’s French Kissed post here , I realized she had used the same

product! Serendipity! Emboldened by Jermaine’s success, and encouragement, I tried

3 separate products: Distemper, Interno Limewash, and Limewash…

Each in a separate color: Elegance, Pumice, Grey Pepper…

Very happy with the result…still need to add a little architectural heft

but I like the almost Belgian simplicity so far….

The gray tones pick up the rough accent piece

in the smooth limestone floor…

I like to add elements slowly

as I find them…

waiting for the perfect piece of architectural treasure.

Let me know if any of you dare try the Tiramisù Trifle…

Trish

Cool and Calm Christmas

30 Monday Nov 2009

Posted by Trish in Interiors, Joie de Vivre

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

aqua tones, British Country house kitchen, chocolate recipes, Christmas with teal tones, Gosford Park, quilted toile

Cool teal tones wash over every surface in the butler’s pantry

of “Swan House” in Atlanta, massive covered silver platter …

This has such an “Upstairs Downstairs” look about it,

very “Gosford Park”…

If you haven’t already seen this film, its kitchen scenes are my favorite…

You’ll want to soak up every “British Country Manor” interior feature…

and then scurry down to your scullery to order your cooking staff to

whip up these gratifying doses of high grade chocolate. Or if you’ve

benevolently given the staff a few days off, try it yourself.

Molten Chocolate Puddings

5 1/4 oz dark chocolate

3 1/2 oz unsalted butter

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup caster (superfine) sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

thick (double) cream to serve

Preheat the oven to 355°

Place the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat and stir until the chocolate is melted

and smooth. Place the eggs, yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until pale. Gently fold in flour

and chocolate mixture and spoon into 4 lightly greased 1-cup capacity ovenproof dishes. Bake

for 12-15 minutes or until the puddings are puffed. Top with the cream to serve. Serves 4.

These individual ramekins were purchased from

Sur la Table several years ago when I first tried this recipe…

You’ll want to get at the 8 ounce size. Incredible dessert.

Double Chocolate Cookies

4 1/4 oz dark chocolate, chopped

4 oz unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour, sifted

1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

9 3/4 oz dark chocolate, extra, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 320°

Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir

until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar for 8-10

minutes or until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat another 3-4

minutes. Stir the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and melted chocolate. Add the

extra chopped chocolate and stir to combine. Roll tablespoons of the mixture

into rounds. Place on baking trays lines with baking paper, allowing room for

the cookies to spread, and flatten slightly. Bake 10-12 minutes until slight cracks

have formed. Cool on wire racks. Makes 16.

Both recipes by Australian based author, food stylist, editor, Donna Hay

who will soon be launching an online shopping site…

Vintage wide teal silk ribbon on blue striped grain sack, scrap of discolored Bella Notte

quilted toile I over-dyed teal and backed with Belgian linen to make a extra long pillow.

This is the time of year I want to back away from the crowds, simplify, order the necessary

gifts online, pull out the recipe books and sewing machine…and stay calm.

Wishing you as much peace and joy, warmth and kindness

as humanly possible in this holiday season.

Southern Accents Nov-Dec ’06

Donna Hay magazine

Restoration in Tangier

18 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Trish in 18th century, Interiors

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

antique Tunisian tiles, historical restoration, Lime-washed walls, Roberto Peregalli, Tangier, Tunesia, World of Interiors

Stunning image of Dahlias being arranged in an 18th century Moroccan marble fountain

in the Tangier home of architect Roberto Peregalli. Roberto and his partner Laura

Sartori Rimini set about restoring and joining a derelict trio of houses while preserving

a sense of their history. Crate upon crate of 17th and 18th century Tunisian tiles

journeyed across the Pyrenees and Italy to be carried here in wheelbarrows through

the maze of Medina alleyways. Old doors, railings, windows, balustrades and hardware

were purchased on travels about Morocco, sojourns through Paris and London flea

markets. Roberto photo-documented the original 18th century walls, “It was necessary

for the contrast between the shiny surfaces of the glazed tiles and the diaphanous

surfaces of the lime-washed walls- with an inner light achieved by many layers of paint

-to be convincing, to be “right”, soft…” Italian painter Edvige Tamburini directed

the restoration of the walls, working to achieve the same colors, using the same

materials as the 18th century.

Tangier home of architect Roberto Peregalli

A French arm chair upholstered in petit point

is crowned by a northern Italian portrait, both from the 17th century

Absolutely incredible wall treatment...I could swim in this color, roll

onto my back and stare at the sky in this color…

Architect Roberto Peregalli's Tangier home

Victorian chairs surround the dining room table,

below copper lantern from the same period…

On the far wall, a panel of 18th century tiles from Fez

is flanked by two panels of 16th century tiles from Seville

Tangier home of architect Roberto Peregalli

Black and white antique marble tiles line the floor

of the L-shaped entrance, and are echoed among

the 18th century Tunisian tiles that decorate the dado.

Tangier home of architect Roberto Peregalli

A fragment of an antique Caucasian carpet hangs

from the first-floor gallery’s balustrade.

A huge skylight above floods the chamber with light

and suspends a great lantern by a double chain…

Tangier home of architect Roberto Peregalli

Antique double doors open out to to give a view of

the library and its early 19th century Italian bookcase.

Walls as painter’s canvas…truly inspirational.

The World of Interiors Nov ’09

Photography Roland Beaufre

18th century Swedish Style

11 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Trish in 18th century, Interiors, Rough Luxe

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

18th century style, Gustavian style, Lars Sjöberg, Regnaholm, Rococo, Swedish style

“What made the mansion so exciting was its very emptiness and the lack of objects.

Its décor and fixtures, such as tiled stoves, doors, mirrors and mural paintings, were of

the highest quality, however-this despite its location in the depths of the countryside.

The proportions of the rooms and the views of water from each window were, and still are,

captivating. From the wide floorboards to the lack of central heating, the overwhelming

impression was of undestroyed 18th century. What rapidly became clear was that the

house would not work as a permanent residence, but a repository for dreams that

we could indulge in our leisure time. “

Lars Sjöberg’s account of his discovery and forty year careful restoration of

Regnaholm, an 18th century Swedish manor house. An art historian and

curator of the National Museum of Stockholm, and author of several books

on Swedish style, his account of the Regnaholm restoration is inspiring.

In the green drawing room the mirror is ornamented with roses around a pediment

in which two swans drink from a fountain. The gilded console table has a

painted glass imitation of Porphyry in its borders.

The pine floor in the drawing room features a star shaped oak inlay…

Late Gustavian sofa is decorated with green-painted griffins

and composition moldings glued to the wooden frame…

Lars has been painstaking in his removal of more contemporary wallpaper and paintfinishes

from the walls and wood detail that crept slowly over the original 18th century house.

On the death of an aristocrat, his belongings were inventoried by law, so Lars has been

able to surmise furniture holdings of the original dwellers and carefully approximate them.

Lars purchased the late Gustavian couches 20 years ago.

The pier glass’s ornaments were originally antique verdigris green, touched up

a century ago with gilding, and awaiting restoration to their original finish.

The blue and white rococo stove, made by Marieberg porcelain in Stockholm,

was moved from the reception room to the yellow drawing room in 1800…

Lar’s daughter Lovisa slept in this white and gold painted Gustavian bed

with red cotton canopy. The green rococo chair was made in the 1760’s by

Stockholm cabinetmaker Olof Holm. Oh, how I love this bed!

My post Circular Logic here has photos from Ekensberg, another one of Lars Sjöberg’s houses

and Greet of Belgian Pearls recently did a post on Ekensberg here

Beyond the beautiful photos, what intrigues me is the earnest love

and dedication to a piece of design history and the commitment

to preserve it, wall paper layer by wallpaper layer.

The World of Interiors June ’09

Text by Lars Sjöberg

Miguel Flores Vianna photography

Atelier in Istanbul

29 Thursday Oct 2009

Posted by Trish in 18th century, 19th century, Antiques, Interior Designer, Interiors, Rough Luxe

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Antiques, Architectural salvage, Belgian artist, Belgian design, Flea Market Style, Istanbul, Rough Luxe

“Tucked away in the maze of Istanbul’s cobbled alleys, the home/gallery of designer Asli Tunca and her husband Carl Vercauteren hardly trumpets its presence. But the quality of the couple’s restored European antiques and Ottoman-influenced bespoke furniture means that discerning clients always beat a path to their unmarked door.”

This is the home to which the stairs on the previous post belong. Notice the Dutch

Baroque Processional Frame tucked under stairs. The coffee table, their own design,

is inlaid with mother of pearl, horn and bone.

In the ground floor reception area, a pair of shellstone sphinxes bought

in Britain have faces modeled on Madame Pompadour.

The handcrafted staircase…took a nearly a year to complete

“They live and work in the Beyoglu district, an area north of the Golden Horn. Originally, it was a hunting ground for Roman and Byzantine nobility, their villas and lodges gradually populating the wooden hillsides that overlook Bosphorus. When the Ottoman Turks conquered Istanbul in 1453, they were eager to keep foreigners out of the sultan’s city, so Beyoglu, where ships stopped to load and unload their cargo, became the obvious place to accommodate them. The district became a thriving trading post for predominantly Genoese and Venetian merchants, and its increasing importance was marked by the creation of several embassies until, by the end of the 17^th century, Beyoglu was transformed into a colony of influential foreigners.”

Carl is a Belgian artist and metal sculptor whose focus is on designing and overseeing the creation of

locally made wood and metal furniture, and personally restores objects trouvés and antiques.

Asli buys antique fabrics to dye and rework into curtains, cushions and hangings, and to

upholster Carl’s sofas and chairs.

The medieval house has five floors,

It took the couple 3 years to restore it.

The top floor with its architectural features was perfect for Carl’s studio

and contains furniture and architectural salvage for inspiration.

The middle floors are the family’s living area. And the high ceiling ground floor is

ideal for showing furniture, thus is home and gallery combined.

Books and files in the chestnut- paneled library have been covered with

goatskin parchment and hand labeled on the spine.

For more gorgeous photography visit their site Asli Tunca

Sources: World of Interiors June ’08

Karen Howes, photography Miguel Flores Vianna

House and Garden Oct. ’07

When I’m not dreaming of the 18th century…

12 Monday Oct 2009

Posted by Trish in Interiors

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Carolyn Quartemaine fabric, Home office, Stephen Shubel, Storage solutions, yellow ballroom striped curtains

I’m trying to figure out what color to paint my office walls. They are several shades

of blue on paneling. Love the yellow and cream Ballroom Stripe curtains. The

up to date desk has nifty features like a flip down key board drawer with segregated

storage. Love the mirror, painted it “zinc” and added a finial…set high enough for me

to imagine that its perched on a mansard roof line in Paris…the view out adjacent

windows is awash in morning sunshine, blessed by occasionally pink sunsets

over the surrounding hills…

The great thing about baskets is that they have a “meant to do that” look about them,

even if purchased over several years. Gray boxes with labels from The Container Store…

fraught with organizational possibilities. Binders above were throw outs my sister covered with

wrapping map and script paper. Black ribbon reads French to me.

Gathered up all my galvanized tin…it’s always easier on the eye to repeat containers

and all the odds and end can grouped. Sneaking in gratuitous shot of my daughter

Since she never looks at my blog (rolls eyes) this ought not to bother her…

Comfortable chair in the corner by the bookcase…

Was thinking of adding a bit of Carolyn Quartermaine script to the back of the

desk chairs…anything but white to the front…

Love the black, cream, white, gold, gray, yellow…

Post that most feels like the direction I’d like to go is Stephen Shubel in Paris here

I’m also seriously considering a gray toned French limestone floor…

and a multi framed sepia Turgo Plan de Paris map à la Pigtown Design here

Further discussed by Little Augury here

My home, part 1…

06 Tuesday Oct 2009

Posted by Trish in Flea Market Style, Gardens, Interiors, My home

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Flea Market Style, Garden, Lavender, Peonies

When we moved in 17 1/2 years ago with a three year old and infant,

our first priority was the yard…and living in an area beset, graced,

with deer…we quickly fenced the perimeter and found someone

to create stone columns, and then over the years, a series of

retaining walls.

The triangular shaped lot slopes up to the house…

and the house is actually built into the slope,

so that the master bedroom at the far left has its own

outdoor patio, and my little office at the right top

has a bird’s eye view of the surrounding

hillside…

This is the downside view of the original 1939 house…

set in beyond the grape trellis is a one car garage that

we use as a project room…and at it’s back my

husband has claimed a storage room for a wine cellar..

Up above is the living room from which this garden

view was snapped last spring…

Running the length below the house where the best sun is…

is my pride and joy, despite the weeds and a persistent gopher…

Behind the rows of lavender, on both sides are about 20 peony

plants, several espaliered apple trees and a dozen antique Bourbon

roses with wonderful French names. In Northern California

many people ice their peonies but I do my own gardening and

save myself as much effort as possible…

Practically edible beauty…

with so many plants, if we suffer through a nice cold winter

I can usually count on a 100 blooms…

Found this from a stone yard for @ $20 years ago…

love adding bits of architectural detritus amongst

the pretty living things…

This is a forest area below the garden…

I planted white Ice Wings narcissus and Spanish blue bells years ago

that come up in the spring, sometimes in the summer

we string our hammock between two oaks…

These zinc lanterns are my attempt to dog proof our entry

after the house was repainted last year…

Our German Shepard “Bronte” is over 13 years old…

Her name is a nod to the literary Bronte sisters..

and means thunder…which is appropriate in her case…

So…to be honest…there are usually 15 pairs of shoes

scattered about the entry…want to put a nice honed bull-nose

piece of Carrara marble on the table…

Hmm…I could go for gray here…any advice?

Immediately to the left off the entry is the kitchen…

I was thrilled when I found out the guys that did our retaining walls

would do the floor, laid out the limestone tiles, numbered them,

and hovered over every piece as it was installed..

added just a few pieces of a grayish stone tile to break it up…

Counters are Jerusalem Gold honed limestone,

Back-splash a marble mosaic…I wouldn’t let the installer put grout

over the joints because I thought he’d over do it…so yet

another thing I need to get around to doing…

We kept the original custom cabinets, and painted them antique ivory

with an aqua interior, added crown molding only to cabinets…

stainless steel appliances, work table…

A cozy corner in the kitchen…

To see the garden in the spring click here …

to be continued…

Trouvais

~ French interiors, rough luxe, flea market finds

Category Archives: Interiors

Happy Weekend

Antique Whites

The Valley of the River Loire

Texture and Textiles

Artist’s Blue

Back in the Kitchen

Cool and Calm Christmas

Restoration in Tangier

18th century Swedish Style

Atelier in Istanbul

When I’m not dreaming of the 18th century…

My home, part 1…

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