Tea at Trianon: A Chic City Paradise

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

Friday, May 13, 2022

A Chic City Paradise

From Architectural Digest:

“I’m a collector,” asserts Jenna Chused, the interior designer behind Chused & Co. and a forager of vintage treasures. “I’ve been antiquing and going to yard sales since I was eleven.” Unsurprisingly, that skillset came in handy when decorating her own home—a charming Italianate town house nestled in Brooklyn’s leafy Fort Greene neighborhood. Chused, whose roster of clients includes actor Michelle Gomez, had selected the abode for its “expansive layout, 12-foot ceilings, clean lines, and gracious style.” Serendipitously, she finished the renovation six months before the start of the pandemic.
During the remodeling period, Chused relished making her own selections without having to wait on client approvals. Opening rooms up, moving fireplace mantels, and imbuing the space with an overall atmosphere of congenial elegance therefore proved to be relatively quick decisions. (Other renovations, such as adding windows in order to provide the structure with more natural light, weren’t so easy.)
One notable change is in the entryway, where Chused removed the original archway and replaced it with an older one. With its inset doors, the diameter of the area was thereby widened 18 inches. Transparent drapes and reflective oak floors only served to further lighten and brighten the ground floor interiors.
As for the furnishings, vintage chairs, custom sofas, and exquisite chandeliers help create a decidedly European feel. In the kitchen, Chused added open shelves in order to better present the house’s collectable items. But without a doubt, the high gloss burgundy lacquer and Lacanche range are the room’s two most show-stopping features. In the dining room, originally part of the kitchen, a Belgian tapestry is complemented by Angelo Mangiarotti dining chairs.
Despite these star attractions, Chused’s favorite room might just be the primary closet–turned–sitting room. Beautiful mural wallpaper by Anabo envelopes the interior, while a Flos Viscontea pendant light fixture, Cassina green velvet armchair, and sofa of Chused’s own design add to the cozy ambiance. In the primary bedroom, Chused had a chance to show off her flare for combining seemingly disparate elements. (Interestingly, the marble mantlepiece was taken from the now clean-lined and minimalist fireplace in the kitchen.) Elsewhere, a kids room is a cohesive rendition of streamlined colors and textures, alluding in part to Chused’s time spent working in fashion at Donna Karan. As the children play piano and Chused’s husband is a composer, a music room was practically a requirement.
Renovation long complete, decorating done, it’s clear that Chused has masterfully forged latitude and a lively sense of family life into a seemingly narrow town house. The definition of luxury in a city, it would seem. (Read more.)