Tea at Trianon: Blue Living Rooms

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

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Blue Living Rooms

From Shabby Fufu:

Blue is a color that evokes feelings of serenity and luxury. It can make a room modern and striking or serene and delicate. Blue can accentuate light and openness or create a moody and mysterious feel. It all depends on what shade you chose and how you use it. Blue can adapt to any style and is easy to work with. It pairs beautifully with other colors but you can mix different shades of blue together, and the result will always be a fabulous one. And that’s why blue is one of my favorite colors, especially when it comes to home decor.... In the traditional style, the use of clean lines and a neutral color palette conveys an air of elegance and sophistication, making blue an ideal choice to add a modern twist. If you don’t want to paint walls, paint your furniture! Look at the lovely example of this San Francisco home, where the bookshelves were painted in a subtle Shadow Blue hue that plays beautifully with the formal set up but gives it a modern edge. (Read more.)