BE BACK SOON!

{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.

NEW BLOG SERIES {STAY TUNED!}

PS. Have a wonderful Tuesday! 

COLOR CRAVING {NEON}

I have been noticing a lot of neon lately, and although I am very sure this will be a short lived trend, I think by adding some neon to your home could be a fun way to change things up a bit. I am seeing neon in almost anything, from beauty trends, to fashion and interiors.  I do have to admit, I was a little shocked with the color intensity; however, the more I think about it I feel it's beginning to grow on me. I am a fan. So how do you use neon in your home? Let me show you how!

Think bright and bold!  

When using such bright and intense colors, it's best to remember that less is more. Use neon in accent pieces for the biggest impact. It will give off a more sophisticated look. 

Bring some fun into a traditional room by changing drapes and pillows.

A fun idea for summer dinner parties!  

Remember, less is more. 

I love how an old side table gets a new look with a little paint. 

Sometimes it's the smaller details that make the biggest impact. This would be a great and fairly easy DIY project! 

Do you think you could go as bold as this? 

Personally I love it. I think it's a very fun idea. 

SOME INTERIOR DESIGN EYE CANDY

It always feels so great to come home to a cool, air-conditioned house and plop down on a sofa in the backyard! Today was another busy day in the Stiles Fischer studio, however I am happy to be home in my own studio dealing with my own projects right now. Busy days are pretty normal for me, however I think it was the heat that made the day seem so long and tiring.  I was in San Juan and Dana Point today, looking for the perfect finishing pieces for a house that I have worked on with my boss, Nathan Fischer. After a successful four hours of running around store after store, and fighting the heat, I am ready to relax on the patio with a bag of Swedish Fish that I just picked up.

One store I went into today, that I wanted to share with you, is called Whim. Located at 31831 Camino Capistrano, it's tucked away in the historical mission district of San Juan Capistrano, CA. It is a lovely store for furniture, decor, and home accessories. Whim has been one of my favorite stores for unique decor for a few years now. The designers which own the store are also very friendly. I usually talk to them for quite a bit whenever I pop by... There's always something new in the showroom, and you never know what design ideas they have up their sleeves to share. If you're ever in San Juan, I highly recommend poping by. It's completely "interior design eye candy".

Sorry there aren't many photos of the showrooms inside. The store has a strict no
photography policy.









Now I am regretting all the Swedish Fish I just ate...

STYLING A BOOKCASE

Today at work, one of my tasks included filling a bookcase for a client, to finish off the room. Sounds much easier than it actually is. I mean, how do you style a bookshelf, artfully and tastefully? What do you fill it with, besides the obvious being books.

Three main points to keep in mind:

-Less is more
-Just because it's a bookcase doesn't mean you only have to use books. Get creative, with baskets, flowers, and art.
-Use statement pieces to out bring pops of color.

Here are some well styled bookcases to help you get inspired!

Group books by color.

Remember: Less is more. 

I posted the above picture because I love the black and white chevron wallpaper used in the bookshelf. I think it really makes a statement!

Bring on the color! 

Maybe this post will inspire you to rethink some of your bookshelves. 

Have a great Monday, and as always...