VERSAILLES x 3

"most of the people who come to the court are persuaded that, to make their way there, they must show themselves everywhere, be absent as little possible at the king's lever, removal of the boots, and coucher, show themselves assiduously at the dinners of the royal family ... in short, must ceaselessly work at having themselves noticed."- so wrote a courtier at Versailles during Louis xiv's time

In a strategic move to maintain dominance over a fragmented and restless nobility, Louis XIV established Château de Versailles on the outskirts of Paris as his seat of power. Through decades of construction, architects, intrigue, the court was subjected to backbreaking curtsies, rigid protocols, closet size rat-infested quarters, and courtiers urinating in darkened corridors and stairways.

the Chateau view from the Orangerie

XIV had them right where he wanted them.

L'etat c'est.— Louis xiv

I am the State.

Perhaps he knew then, what we know today—that Versailles would be standing centuries after the Ancien Régime would fall.
Three new books, and no—there can never be enough— are testament to Louis XIV's vision.

VERSAILLES 
i

VERSAILLES THE GREAT AND HIDDEN SPLENDORS OF THE SUN KING'S PALACE  by Catherine Pegard, president of the Versailles supervisory board. Access to the palace by four photographers, Christopher Fouin, Thomas Garnier, Christian Miles, and Didier Saulnier, gives the reader a voyeur's laser focus into the rooms sans hundreds of 21st-century mere mortals milling about in sneakers and iPhones.

The grandeur of Versailles is on full display in the book, but it's the photographs that capture the intricate details of the chateau. that appeal to me most, and in this, the book excels.

detail of Hyacinth Rigaud's portrait of the King. The "of the moment" red heels were a fashion created by the King's more fashionable brother Philippe de France. Monsieur, as he was known, had been tripping through the butcher's district on his way back to Versailles and arrived with bloodstained heels. 

the Mercury Salon in detail,  

Louis xiv played cards here—amongst other things, on occasion a State Bedroom, and ultimately the room where he would lie in state.

Marie Antoinette's private library, not a reader, the books remained for the most part—untouched by the royal hand.

all images above are from VERSAILLES published by Vendome Press

ii

Author of FASHION AND VERSAILLES is a sumptuous new book written by Laurence Benaim who has written biographies about Saint Laurent, Marie Laure de Noailles, and Jean-Michel Frank in French, and two in-depth books about Christian Dior. Her new book traces Versailles as the place of the original dress code, and fashion police—Louis XIV.

The book is lavishly filled with fashion photographs amassed at Versailles, fashion inspired by Versailles, and the great portraits that emerged from life there. Besides being beautiful, we find such historic jewels as the creation of Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart's "innocent" frocks that were designed to conceal her pregnancies—Louis XIV fathered seven children with Athénaïs, aka Madame de Montespan.

Designers have long been inspired by the French courts. Rose Bertin, dressing Marie Antoinette, was perhaps the first fashion designer, created colors that reflected court life—cuisse de nymphe or "maidens thigh," certainly applicable to the dishabille state of many women bent on seductions at court.

Lagerfeld interprets Versailles Style, originally published in Vogue Paris, 1998.

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood interprets Fashion & Versailles

photograph by Jean-Marie Perier for Elle, 1994.

Always recognizable, the photographs of Deborah Turbeville's Unseen Versailles, convey the idea that Catherine Pegard, who wrote the first book here,  puts forward as the book opens, writing, "Versailles is where fashion finds new beginnings, always, etched as it is in the footsteps of the lovely ghosts that kindle the dreams of couturiers." Pegard, is the president of the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum, and National Estate of Versailles, writes the foreword to the book.

"Pompadours of the New World"- Laurence Benaim

Pale gray lace and pale pink roses trail from a gown by Pierre Balmain, 1953. 

Le Style Louis

Chanel Haute Couture, 1987-1988

iii

Last—but certainly not least, VERSAILLES A PRIVATE INVITATION looks at the chateau through an entirely different lens.
Firstly it's the lens of the great photographer Francis Hammond, and secondly, Hammond had carte blanche to each and every niche at Versailles. He also had access to the newly restored Cabinet de la Meridienne, the boudoir of Marie Antoinette, and the Salon d'Aurore. In addition to photographing these treasures, he had access to rare objet d'art not seen by the public.

Versailles' Clock Room

The copper rod in the floor to the window marks the Paris Meridian

Author Guillaume Picon gives readers inside access to family secrets using quotes from Marie Antionette's letters, first-hand accounts of visitors and courtiers of the palace in the eighteenth century, memoirs, and from classical literature. Readers certainly know how I do love a quote!
                     

The busts in the Gallery of Battles depict the great military leaders of France many who walked the halls of Versailles to pay homage to their King.

One of 67 staircases in the chateau

Each of these books is worth having all with unique perspectives. It's likely there will be another book on Versailles and another. I've 4 books on Versailles in my library already, not to mention several on various Kings, courts, and Queens. The books will go on, as will Versailles.
Unlike Rose Bertin's color temps perdu or lost time, something akin to a mist I'd guess, time is not lost at Versailles, but it does stand still.

A Day at Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte

A LOUIS XV portrait hangs over Chinese porcelains at the chateau

The history of any family home has a gravitational pull -as a voyeurist historian myself, nothing could be more unearthly than the story of VAUX LE VICOMTE. In lieu of a trip to the chateau, an elegant new book A DAY AT CHATEAU DE VAUX LE VICOMTE is an unerring journey itself. Written by brothers and fifth generation members of the de Vogue family, Alexandre, Jean Charles, and Ascanio de Vogue- the book is beautifully boxed in a jewel-like slipcase, petit in presentation-yet monumental in content.

The book chronicles the history of the chateau and includes quotes from letters and documents in the archives. Vaux Le Vicomte rivaled Versailles-much to the King's dismay, setting off a series of events-worthy of cinema. Movies have been made at the chateau, and about it-yet nothing touches the historic reality of the storied chateau and Le Notre gardens.

"AT SIX IN THE EVENING OF AUGUST 17, FOUQUET WAS KING OF FRANCE; BY TWO IN THE MORNING , HE WAS NOTHING." Voltaire, Le Siecle de Louis XIV

The Salon of the Muses

LE BRUN'S Triumphant of Fidelity on the ceiling of the Salon of the Muses.

There is a restaurant at the chateau-apropos of the castle's 17th century celebrity chef VATEL-continuing its culinary exquisite reputation. Recipes from Countess de Vogue are included in the book.

In the formal apartments of FOUQUET, the chateau's creator, a bust of Le Brun-the decorator of VAUX le VICOMTE presides over a table worthy of Vatel.

I am unsure whether the book will go into my library or on an old table where I keep my jewelry. The book, like the chateau so "intermingle the Beauties of Art with those of Nature, and so industriously to divertise all the ornaments of so goodly a place." (on the chateau- Mlle, de Seudery, CLELIA, An Excellent New Romance.)



~ A DAY AT CHATEAU DE VAUX LE VICOMTE
By Alexandre de Vogue, Jean-Charles de Vogue, and Ascanio de Vogue, Flammarion, 2015, Photographs by Bruno Ehrs. All photographs used with permission by Flammarion, Rizzoli.

"Madame Pompadour,"

actresses painted by Gainsborough, nymphs by Boucher-" Sarah Mower, of Vogue

 Yes, it's all True- I wasn't there-but I saw the Sun King too- 

 louis xiv, habillé en soleil

“I just wanted to concentrate on this idea of beauty,”Meadham Kirchhoff

Mower quote linked here-and in text, with the review and the collection of Meadham Kirchhoff

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What They Wore: a Wilde one, a Queen & a Dauphin

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Fashion is what one Wears. 

What is Unfashionable is What others wear. 

Oscar Wilde

Maria Theresa wife of Louis XIV, with her son, Dauphin Louis of France by Pierre Mignardca

what they Wore: Man to Man

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The point is, in fact,  Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday Life. 
I don't think you could do away with it. 

It would be like doing away with Civilization.
Bill Cunningham

Hyacinthe Rigaud, Louis XIV

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dollface

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 in the most delightful way- charming wallpapers in sophisticated quirky colors.

dollface in the color bessie below

& in phoebe

created by talent Peyton Turner and Brian Kaspr of Flat Vernacular

beastly guardians in lion

my personal favorite paper and colorway-

reminds me of the Elitis paper I used in one of my houses-

dandelion creatures in sunny valley

Louis XIV, painted by Hyacinthe Rigaud

yes it all started in 1701-

louis-louis 

in red heels

their Inspirations here
LINKS: elle decor here

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So Southern Redux Updated

 

One of the pure pleasures of getting older is working with my clients on project after project. A third project with this client; I am trying to actually remember our first meeting- I would just say -it seemed we had known one another forever. Any designer will admit, they have initial instincts about a project immediately at the first meeting. The connection you have that day is many times over- strengthened- but if that initial something isn't there-It probably will never be.

OUR first project involved selecting final touches for a living room and we added curtains in the dining room. NEXT, A small dining room became the SITTING ROOM and the clients created a large DINING ROOM to satisfy their love for entertaining -the lady of the house is a chef with some of the best secret recipes in the South. She makes it seem so simple- but that is the art of, is it not?

 the Tudor in question

with new lamps, rug and hanging light

Along with the room changes- an ADDITION- brought me back to the house.Other needs were pressing too- a growing family- the addition included a huge living dining area and a master suite upstairs. This project flew by.

LE FRUITIER

Our color palette by French painter Andre Beauchant

It was time for Updates.Pieces needed refining, Rugs needed adding, fine tuning in the Master bathroom- the list increased and we touched every room and had a wonderful time doing it.

 One of the fabrics used for the redux

 Here are some photographs of the results, With Notes, and a Footnote or two.

the MASTER SUITE

 I love the Master Suite. This space was added during Project III-a new Master Suite. We had established the wall color and the clients were still very happy with the choice.The carpet is new and it is one of those things we waited for over four months. The WALL color-a soft dove gray, the headboard and the two ottomans were selected for the bedroom when we decorated the first time. The new washed gray linen curtains with their antique look are on informal bamboo rods.

headboard fabric by Groves Brothers

curtain fabric

A much needed seating arrangement was added on a large wall along with a skirted table that once served as one of the bedside tables. An embroidered Lee Jofa fabric updates a french chair while other touches of yellow and camel were added to the room.

French chair fabric & Headboard fabric

My client found the pair of mercury glass lamps in a favorite antique store- custom gray silk drum shades give them a modern edge.

 I Love the gray ultrasuede french chaise dressed with a camel pashmina and Randolph and Hein silk pillows, all paired with a simple modern table and a decidedly 1940's wood and iron sconce.

The SITTING ROOM

Deep taupe walls are just as they were the first time I visited. SITTING ROOM Chairs are all in taupe with pink accents- A traditional camel back sofa in taupe and table skirt are from the first project. The curtains and shade were part of the original Dining Rooms decor. One of the french chairs is covered in an Indian sari the other pink and taupe fabric is by Vervain.

Sitting Room chair fabric detail

an Indian Sari fabric covers the french chair

an Indian Sari fabric covers this french chair

a cozy corner with old family slipper chairs covered in a J Robert Scott dragonfly print.
old gray and pink Kilim pillows add color to the taupe room,
just peeking out in the photograph is a Merida sisal rug

THE FOYER

The grayed taupe walls were hand finished by the client's sister when they had just moved in. New tall porcelain lamps enliven a very narrow console made from an old iron gate; Nest porcelain adds just a touch of color.

A richly detailed rug adds color and impact to the foyer. I am always in love with rugs when I start looking at them- I would take any of them home, this one is no exception.

A small sitting area in the Kitchen. The Fabrics- a Schumacher embroidery & club chairs covered in a Phillip Gorrivan Greek key inspired fabric. In the Kitchen, we took the dark cherry cabinets to a light grayed white and added new bar chairs and lighting. (Must get some photographs of this.)

THE SUNROOM

Vibrant green linen curtains cover all the windows and doors and are accented
with a great Greek Key bordered edge.

An old cane chair, and by the way, I love these 1920's cane pieces- is covered in a huge print by designer-Thomas Paul and and antique Empire ottoman is covered in a dralon Schumacher fabric.

 ottoman fabric detail

This room was once a porch off the dining room. We painted the brick a "dirty" shade of white and added the arched windows and doors. The original brick floor remains, the ceiling is painted an old shade of faded brown. Pieces from other areas were called on to serve along with a "odd pair"/meaning almost-but not quite/ of old Chinese tables. I purchased these for myself- where would they go? and why? They remained in the trusted hands of the clients- Until they decided to keep them. Some things just work out. These two pieces are perfect stacked on top of each other for catching papers and magazines.

THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM

aka the Everything Room

This room is THE Everything room- originally the ADDITION, now a well integrated part of the family. The Original design for this room created a Tudor Keeping Room- of sorts. It was time to lighten up. Deep brown painted woodwork was banished for a light color and the walls were lightened as well. The original half curtains in a Calvin brown woven "burlap" were retained- I love those curtains. A pair of new modern pendants were added overhead in the sitting area and over the dining table.

The comfort of leather never grows old- and the original pieces of leather purchased for the room stayed, along with an English style loveseat covered in a Brunschwig and Fils wide wale cord in a mustard.

 We added another comfortable chair in a green and taupe Phillip Gorrivan fabric-another variation on the Greek Key- and added old kilm pillows and pink Sunflower patterned pillows on the sofas.

Sunflowers pillow fabric- however we used the reverse side to get the mileage from the pink ground

ottoman detail- a woodgraining pattern

 
 

Old Louis XIV style chairs were slip covered in a vibrant paisley linen and flank a lime washed console made from reclaimed wood. More slip covered chairs surround the dining table.

A PINK BEDROOM, go here to see the room in detail.

Summer came and it is already waning, I hope to get some photographs of the porch and the patio, along with the Kitchen and some other details shots.

 We slipped up and ran out of time -when the family returns from their summer at the beach-I will stop by, say hello and who knows? We Do need to get new rugs on that staircase.

the original post ended here

updated -What happened last summer? A saltwater pool was added, porch and patio furniture was finished. I am now working on a project with this client where He assumes the role of Builder- and I- of Designer. A switch, but no less rewarding- I will share as things progress.

No- We still have not found the right runner for the Foyer Stair-
but, This will be the Summer.

 Loads of old wrought iron to refurbish for the  patio

My client's color palette moved out into the great outdoors for a Fall Supper Party and a Neighborhood Halloween Party by the pool last fall. I arranged Flowers  in tall bark urns- with full blown orange and yellow fall foliage and flowers towering to seven feet high.

I will photograph the porch very soon.
These things take time.