The President’s Desk

The President’s desk, also known as the Resolute desk, was built from timbers of a British exploration ship named HMS Resolute. The desk was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford Hayes in 1879. According to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston:

“The ship was purchased, fitted out and sent to England as a gift to HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA by the PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES as a token of goodwill & friendship. This table was made from her timbers when she was broken up, and is presented by the QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness which dictated the offer of the gift of the RESOLUTE.”

Many American Presidents have used this desk in the White House’ Oval Office, including Presidents Kennedy, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and President Obama.

The famous photo of President Kennedy and his son John Jr. at the Oval Office

All fabrics by Scalamandré

President's Clinton mementos on a table behind the Resolute desk

Photo 1 courtesy of LIFE, Remembering Jackie
Photo 2, 3 courtesy of House Beautiful March 1994, photography Oberto Gili

The Love Letter

In this hurried digital age, with BlackBerry phones, texting, and emails, the art of writing letters got lost somehow.

Nothing can replace the ritual of opening a love letter, from noticing the beautiful penmanship of the writer and reading the heartfelt words to keeping the treasured letter in a safe place. That is why many of the old masters sought to express and capture this moment in paintings.

Today I’ll leave you with various romantic portraits titled The Love Letter.
Wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.

Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Jacob Ochtervelt

Francois Boucher

Carl Spitzweg

Johannes Vermeer

Pierre Frey 2010

The French luxury design house Pierre Frey is a company that has been well recognized for seventy-five years for its quality and elegance. Pierre Frey is famous for its luxury collection of fabrics and wallpaper, in addition to its furniture, tableware, lamps and home accessories. It caters to different tastes, both traditional and modern.
Pierre Frey recently introduced the remarkable spring 2010 fabric collection. Enjoy.

Pierre Frey Spring Collection 2010 from Pierre FREY on Vimeo.


Image courtesy of Pierre Frey's site

Isn’t It Romantic

When I think of romantic interiors, pretty rooms and gentle colors come to mind. Some people love subtle colors; others think of warmer colors such as a warm red and green.

Interpretation of romance differs with each person, but each interpretation has one thing in common and that is the uniqueness and the feel that it gives, whether it’s through flowers, lace, candles, patterned fabrics, painted ceilings, or classic furniture.

Scandinavians are well known for their soft painted furniture. Scandinavian cabinetmakers were influenced by French and English style, but they put their stamp on it by creating soft curved furniture made of soft woods such as pine, which led to lightly colored furniture. Aside from using mostly painted furniture, to combat their long dark hours of winter, they also used mirrored sconces to add reflection to their interiors.

Romantic Swedish interiors

Diane Burn design who's famous for her romantic rooms

The grand style of Jacques Garcia

The four poster bed, sheer fabrics, floral carpet,and antique furniture,all create a romantic bedroom  
Photo 1, 2 courtesy of House Beautiful, designers Kartin Cargill & Carol Glasser
Photo 3 courtesy of Architectural Digest, designer Diane Burn
Photo 4 designer Jacques Garcia, photography Andreas Von Einsiedel
Photo 5, 8 Simply Romantic Decorating,photography by Rory Earnshaw
Photo 6 courtesy of House Beautiful, designer Erin Martin, photography Dominique Volliron
Photo 7, 9 Romantic Style

Winter Hibernation

Here we go again! Washington DC is under another snow blizzard, now a blanket of 20-30 inches. Days like this, I wish I had a fireplace in my house, where I could sit in front of a roaring fire. The idea seems magical and romantic.

Centuries ago, the fireplace used to be built from stone or brick, usually situated in the middle of the room, where it was used for heating and cooking. Later the fireplace was placed against a wall where the smoke could go upward to a chimney.

In the late eighteen century, the French designed occasional tables, which were built to be used near the fire. These tables had fire screens, which displayed needlework or textiles to protect the legs of whoever is sitting in front of the fireplace.

1stdibs

Fireplaces come in different styles and sizes; each style brings its own character with it. It can be the focal point of any room, where the whole floor plan of the space will revolve around it.

Here are some of rooms with fireplace- each brings its own charm into the space. Which one is your favorite?

An old watchmaker's sign hung above the cross beam

A Mediterranean style custom -made mantel

A stone fireplace In a French chateaux

Photo 1 courtesy of House Beautiful, photography Dominique Vorillon
Photo 2 courtesy of House Beautiful, designer Mallory Marshall and James Light, photography William Walrdon
Photo 3 designer Brian Juhos, photography Andreas Von Einsiedel
Photo 4 courtesy of House Beautiful, photography Tim Street-Porter
Photo 5 The French Chateaux
Photo 6 photography Peter Jaquith

Relaxed Refinement

The color green represents nature, freshness and jealousy. In interiors, designers have always looked for inspiration in nature. Since green is a calming color, different variations of it have always been brought into interiors.

The bedroom is a private space where you need to feel at ease. Designers often use the combination of chartreuse, apple green, and creme for a soft color scheme. To achieve the desired subtle effect, it's best to use cool colors that will give you a sense of calmness and relaxation.

 
Photo 1 courtesy of Veranda, designer Mary Douglas Drysdale, photography Ron Blunt
Photo 2 courtesy of House & Garden, designer Alessandra Branca, photography Melanie Acevedo
Photo 3 courtesy of Veranda, designer Piero Catellini, photography Jacques Dirand
Photo 4 Southern Accents on color, photography Tria Giovan
Photo 5 designer Alessandra Branca, Photography Thibault Jeanson

Embroidery Art

Embroidery is a form of needlework that could be created by hand or by machine; it uses different stitches of colored yarns to create a decorative pattern or design on a base fabric. People frame embroidered patterns, use them to cover decorative pillows, or use them as tabletop accessories. Embroidery can be found on boxes, pouches, beddings, as well as in fashion.

Chelsea Textiles is famous for its embroidered fabrics. The company was involved in recreating the embroidery that was made by Marie Antoinette for the reopening of The Wrightsman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

From the Embroidered Vines collection

Beaumont and Fletcher also create the most wonderful collection of embroidered fabrics. Their fabrics are inspired by museum textiles- the craftsmanship and the quality is impeccable.

Zola royal blue: hand embroidered fabric with antique silver threads

Salome: hand embroidered with strong Ottoman influences

Spitalfields: in gold silk

Photo 1 The Floral Home
Photo 2 Scalamndré, photography Dan Mayers
Photo 3 courtesy of Chelsea Textiles’ site
Photo 4, 5, 6 courtesy of Beaumont & Fletcher’s site