Tea at Trianon: Loft Design

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Loft Design

I do not care for contemporary design and decor as a rule but there are some good remodeling ideas that others might appreciate. From Dwell:

When Pam Williams, a former public library director in Portland, Oregon, decided to remodel her 1,075-square-foot loft with local firm Jessica Helgerson Interior Design, she fully committed to the process—she only gave a few directives, and she got rid of all her furniture so the firm would have a blank slate.
"She described the kind of home she’d like to live in along with a thoughtful note about her experience working with professionals and learning that the creative process really shines with trust," explains senior designer Mira Eng-Goetz. "We were really moved by this simple gesture." The team completely reimagined the home, weaving in plush textures, a serene, pink-hued palette, clever built-ins, and statement-making tile to update the industrial space. (Read more.)

From Vogue:

The first encounter between interior designer Jae Joo and the owners of this Brooklyn home — Jose Alvarez, co-founder of fragrance brand Abbott and his wife Brooke Hammel, who works in finance — happened five years ago. “They hired me to furnish their newly purchased loft remodeled by architecture firm MeldNYC,” remembers Joo, who helms Jae Joo Designs. “Since then, we have become good friends and watched each other go through numerous life changes, including a growing family for Jose and Brooke.” With the birth of their daughter Coco Isabel, the couple knew it was the right time to evolve their home: the desire to add a room for the baby was a catalyst for the renovation. The couple wanted to accommodate a nursery/guest suite without losing the charm of the loft, which had initially convinced Jose to purchase the apartment. (Read more.)