Home Sweet Home

Greetings! If you have been reading Paris Atelier you will know that I dream/ache to buy our own little slice of French property. I came very close this last year to making that dream a reality, but it did not happen {yet}. I have not given up the dream. When my husband and I are retired and our son has grown up I vow to be  living the dream in France! So today as I was looking at apartments in Paris, as I do every morning with tea. I just happened upon this little gem in Versailles. It could be my own personal Petite Trianon. This is not in our price range but a girl can dream. It took my breath away! Enjoy! 

This amazing mid nineteenth century home directly overlooks the Parc of Versailles and is offered by Sotheby's.

A simple addition of chandeliers dripping in Crystal and this could be my home!  

10 bedrooms, 10,807 square feet, a spa/hot tub, private gym, and indoor pool, a sauna, & hammam. Yes, I would say that is livable ;)

The outside has a guest house, an orchard, a well to water with, and a garden shelter. 

Did I mention that the home sits right in front of the Chateau? I can only imagine who has lived here and the soirées that these walls have seen.

Like A Rare Pearl...Le Boudoir Turc

This book, if you can find it, is gorgeous! I highly recommend this with a cup of tea and some smelling salts, you may faint over the splendor captured in this read!

Fontainebleau is such a beautiful place to visit. My favorite portion of this grand and fabulous chateau (aside from that breathtaking and famous staircase) would have to be Marie Antoinette's' gem...her Turkish boudoir. This has always been one of my faves :) I had read about it before but seeing it in person is stunning. You cannot really get from the photos the effect of the pearlized walls and the very intimate and personal feeling of the boudoir.

Note the MA initials painted by Rousseau

A place of refuge of an unequalled luxury, located above the Queen’s own boudoir, the boudoir turc is one of the Château’s secret most beautiful places.

All I see in this photo is that stunning chandy!

Under a ceiling painted like the heavens inhabited by cherubs and angels, the eight-sided room is decorated in silvery hues making you feel like you are inside of a pearl or standing on the edge of a cloud.

The decoration consists of woodwork painted and carved with Turkish themes. In 1777, Queen Marie-Antoinette commissioned architect Richard Mique to design the boudoir. She commissioned artisans like Barthelemy, Rousseau, Roland, Toutefois, and Riesener et Jacob. Subsequently, it was used as a private bedroom by empress Joséphine and later by empress Marie-Louise. The furniture created for the boudoir has been entirely preserved. Miraculously surviving the Revolution.

The room includes sumptuous fabrics, such as gold lamé velvet, gold strip taffeta, gold embroidered silk, embroidered muslin, as well as soft furnishings and golden fringes.

The famous desk (above) is truly a work of art and one of a kind. Made by Riesener, ébéniste ordinaire du roi, of bronze and mother-of-pearl. The desk and side table are in their original places. A wonder to behold!

I wish I had a photo of the ironwork and details of the window fittings and flourished grills surrounding the windows. It is said that Louis himself made these for Marie Antoinette and they are beautiful. Painted in a brilliant deep Blue hue gilded with Gold.

Another great book that shows a snippet from this pearl wonder of a boudoir is Le Lieux de La Riene by Boyer & Halard, it is in French but I believe there is a translated version out there. It has wonderful images.

A small bit of beauty for your day today! Left for us by a legendary woman with exceptional taste! Have a great Tuesday!

A Dream in Couture

Emily Blunt (from the Devil Wears Prada) dazzles in this photo shoot from the May issue of Vanity Fair. I've always been a huge fan of her and her films but this shoot takes the cake!

This shoot is in anticipation of her new film where she plays the young Queen Victoria. I can't wait to see this British costume drama focusing on the early years of the monarch's reign and her romance with Prince Albert

I love everything about these images...so pretty!

The couture is dreamy *sigh*...

The palette and the sets are just gorgeous...

Emily Blunt in Dior Haute Couture, photographed in Le Raincy, outside Paris


I'll leave you with these images for now, have a beautiful and inspired day! My next post is on Modern Marie, I found some great pics for you! I can't wait :)

xoxo

Judith~

Diane De Poitiers

Photo via Wikipedia

Her early life...

Diane de Poitiers was born Sept. 3, 1499 in the château de Saint-Vallier, in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. At the age of 15, she married a man 39 years older, Louis de Brézé, seigneur d'Anet and had two daughters with him. Louis de Brézé died in 1531 in Anet (it's just beautiful, I can't wait to do a post o it), Diane took up black as her main colour of dress for the rest of her life, adding later some white and grey. Her shrewd knowledge in financial matters and legal issues became apparent after his death as she fought to retain her late husband’s title of "sénéchale de Normandie" which she accomplished.

She was a wonderful hunter and sportswoman and it is recorded that she kept a very fit body and stunning good looks well into her late years.

Portrait hanging at Chenonceau

Her life with Henri...

She was appointed to head the royal nursery. It is here that young eight year old Henri (son of Francois I) grew attached to Diane. Having lost his mother, Diane was his sole source of comfort and love. As the years progressed Henri fell madly in love Diane, nearly 20 years older than him . Henri was only 14 at the time and he made his devotion to the new widow clear.They were not lovers yet but this chivalrous admiration would grow into one of the most powerful love affairs of the age.

In 1533 Henry was married to the daughter of a Florentine merchant, Catherine de Medici. Poor Catherine with her plan face could not hold a candle to the beautiful Diane de Poitiers or her bond with Henri. Diane would play a huge role in their marriage, overseeing their households, royal children and even state of affairs. Through it all Catherine smiled plotted, waiting for the right time to strike down her enemy.

Chateua d'Anet photo from Architect design

I had no idea but, Diane was actually Catherine's older cousin.

When Henri became Henri II, King of France Diane became his Queen in everything but name. She encouraged him to visit his wife's bed because heirs were necessary and when Catherine became pregnant (she had 10 children with him), he resumed sharing his bed with only Diane. Everyone at court knew that Diane controlled the crown. Diane had an extreme intellect and a political astuteness to the point that the King trusted her to write many of his official letters and they even signed them jointly with the one name: HenriDiane., when Pope Paul III sent the new Queen Catherine the "Golden Rose," he was sure to send the King's mistress a pearl necklace as well.

Henry's monogram was a stylized 'H' and 'D'; governed his children, arranged the marriage between his son Francis and Mary Queen of Scots; and was entrusted with the Crown Jewels of France (oh dear, take the husband but at least leave poor Catherine the jewels!) He had the Chateau d'Anet built for her, and gave her the Chateau at Chenonceaux, much to the horror of Catherine who had desperately wanted it for herself. Naturally, this did not sit well with the real Queen, who really loved her husband, and the two women hated each other beyond belief!

Chenonceau ~ A view from Diane's gardens Photo via official Chenonceau site

In 1559, Henry was critically wounded in a jousting tournament and Catherine de Medici finally had a chance for her revenge. The king called out repeatedly for his love Diane and Catherine refused to allow her to see him. Upon his death, Diane was not allowed to the funeral. Immediately after, Catherine banished Diane from Chenonceaux to the Chateau Chaumont. She stayed there only a short time and lived out her remaining years in her chateau in Anet. She died on April 22, 1566 she was 67 years old. During the French Revolution, her tomb was opened and her remains thrown into a mass grave.

Photo from dianedepoitiers This is a great site written by one of her descendants. Here you can read her will and love letters

She had many residences this one in Cour de Rohn, located on the Rue de Jardinet, just off Boulevard St Germain-des-Pres. is still standing today.

Have a wonderful day My friends, until tomorrow!

Home Sweet Home

Bonjour my friends! I don't know if I've been cooped up too long (from being sick) or it's been so long since I've been back to France, or what, but I have an overwhelming desire to sell everything we have, pack up the family, and just move to France. I'm not kidding, I am seriously thinking about it! It's always been my dream to live there.

When I was in college, I went to Paris to study for a semester through my school and I fell in love with the people, the culture, the beauty, the way of life. I didn't come home for three years (except for holidays and such). Then, I had to come home for family reasons and had the opportunity to go back 5 years ago with a great job opportunity but my Mother had just passed away and I just couldn't leave my Dad alone. So, now what...I found this great place :) It's only a dream but what a lovely dream!
The floors are spectacular and the walls are amazing!

My mind is racing with all I can do to this room.

Hmmmm, this place reminds me of somewhere else....

Oh! The parties we could have here!

Just imagine the ladies coming down in their ballgowns!

Taking tea with the girls in here...

That's it, I'm officially in love with this jewel!

Just beautiful! Someday, I just know it! For now it's fun to dream :)

If These Walls Had Ears!

I don't know these people but they can jump high &have fun in the cold,

I'm booking my next trip with them! I'll take Paris even in this storm, it's pure magic! Photo from USA Today all other photos via Flickr

Bonjour! I just heard that the Eiffel tower had to close today because of the snow brought in from the big storm they are having. Brrr...the pictures look icy, it's currently -7 C. My husband found this great web site http://www.paris-live.com/ and we watched the sun rise in Paris together just now! Not quite as romantic as being there but pretty darn romantic for being in our jammies and sitting at the computer! Okay, now for my regular post...

The Walls of Versailles, if only these walls could talk!

Vernis style wall

These are all examples of the walls found in Versailles

The wall hangings are changed with the seasons. Many of them are original and many of them have been carefully reconstructed from shreds and pieces of the originals using the exact same techniques and occasionally even using the same manufacturer that they used so long ago!

In the Gardens

The writing is on the wall! Incredible

The King's chamber

Along the water

When the revolutionaries stormed Versailles they were said to be looking to for the walls made of Gold and Diamonds, they might not have found Diamonds but Gold indeed!

I remember trying to count how many different kinds of marble there was around the chateau! That's just crazy there are way too many to count. The colors of the marble are exquisite.

This is my favorite

I am in awe, even the arches are made of marble. It makes me wish we could see the original Trianon they called the "Porcelain Trianon"

What a contrast from the opulence inside but still so perfect and beautiful

I remember seeing these, the whole room is lined with them and each panel has a different theme (all just gorgeous), however, I cannot recall the room they lined. I do know there is a story here (I will do some research). I love this color.

The best part about the walls in Versailles is that many are actually secret doorway! For example in the library there is a bookcase (faux) that opens to reveal a hidden doorway and of course we all know of the Queens escape through the hidden door in her bedroom.

A closer picture of the wallcovering. I think I am going to try to hang silk wallcovering in my Powder Room. Growing up the walls in my Mom's bathroom were done in a beautiful Grey textured Silk (almost like Raw Silk but not quite). It was so pretty and reminded me of the walls in Versailles, so opulent, and in a bathroom!?!

The wife of the Dauphin's apartment, notice the Parrot so chic for the time period.

If you have any info or great stories about the walls in Versailles I would love to hear about it!

Well, I could go on for days with these walls and more so I have to stop myself here. More tomorrow, I hope you enjoyed it!

Bisou Mon Amis!