{RANDOMLY} INSPIRED BY VERSAILLES

Today, as I was flipping through some old school work and projects from FIDM, I  came across one French inspired project, which I remember pouring my heart into. This reminded me of my love for all things Rococo, and of course the famous Marie Antoinette. So after my findings, and burst of inspiration today, I thought I would share with you some interiors of Versailles, and maybe put a spark of inspiration in you.

*These incredible photos I found are from Architectural Digest, taken by photographer Francis Hammond, who was given unprecedented access to the palace of Versailles for the photos, which were for his new book.

Enjoy!

The graphic Marble Court dates from the reign of Louis XIII, who built the hunting lodge that eventually became a royal palace. Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart remodeled the court for Louis XIV.

 The Staircase of Provence, in the south wing, served the apartments of Louis XVI’s brother Louis-Stanislas, Comte de Provence (later Louis XVIII), and his Italian wife, the former Maria Giuseppina of Savoy.

 Several rooms whose doors line up to create a majestic sweep of interconnected spaces is called an enfilade;this one in the State Apartments is a stunning example.

 The 239.5-foot-long Hall of Mirrors was completed in 1684, after six years of construction. The ceilings are by Charles Le Brun and his studio artisans.

 The jewelry armoire at left, designed by Ferdinand Schwerdfeger for Marie Antoinette and decorated with bronzes by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, arrived at Versailles in 1787, two years before the start of the French Revolution.

Among Marie Antoinette’s collection of Japanese lacquer is a box in the shape of a puppy reclining on a table.

In 1770, this Viennese gueridon with a top made of petrified wood was presented to Marie Antoinette by her sister Maria Christina. 

After bathing, Louis XVI would rest on this lit á la polonaise, part of the furnishings in his bath at Château de Fontainebleau. The bed was made by theébéniste Jean-Baptiste Boulard. 

This gilded-walnut chair was delivered in 1769 for a lady-in-waiting to the Comtesse du Barry, Louis XV’s mistress. 

This copper cage adorned with porcelain flowers was home to Madame du Barry’s pet parrot. The bird was trained to say “La voilà la belle comtesse!” (There goes the lovely lady!) whenever she appeared. 

Ébéniste Georges Jacob made rustic-style furnishings for the Queen’s Bedchamber, their painted frames carved with climbing ivy and accented with pinecone finials. Sold in 1793 during the imprisonment of Marie Antoinette, some of the objects shown were returned to Versailles in 1945. 

Seen from the windows of Marie Antoinette’s bedchamber is the Temple of Love, built in 1778 after a design by architect Richard Mique. 

An interior view of the Great Stables. It is now the headquarters of the Academy of Equestrian Arts, founded in 2003 by the celebrated horse trainer Bartabas. 

Versailles’s citrus trees and tender shrubs spend winters in the orangerie. 

A view of the orangerie parterre, with the potted trees and shrubs set in decorative formation.