Tea at Trianon: Kistchy Kitchens

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, January 24, 2024

Kistchy Kitchens

From Better Homes and Gardens:

The past few years have seen the rise of all things maximalist and eclectic in home trends, from dopamine decor to cottagecore, and according to Pinterest, that’s not set to change in 2024. According to the 2024 Pinterest Predicts report, kitschy kitchens—aka kitschens—are here to replace your refined dining area. The pinning platform found that search terms like “eclectic kitchen decor,” “kistchy kitchens,” and “eccentric kitchens” are trending, demonstrating the desire to bring some fun and nostalgia to a traditionally utilitarian space. With retro styles making a comeback across interior design, experts aren’t surprised that the kitchen is the next room to get the kitsch treatment. (Read more.)

What is a peninsula kitchen layout? From Homes and Gardens:

If you've been researching kitchen ideas for your next home project, you've probably come across the peninsula kitchen layout. This design is a classic – featuring a set of cabinets and a work surface that protrudes from a wall, it's essentially a thin island that's attached to the rest of the kitchen at one end.
Commonplace in smaller kitchens and dual-purpose spaces to create a visual divide, peninsula kitchens are becoming a go-to layout thanks to their versatility, and, let's not forget, they create the feel of a kitchen island in rooms that perhaps wouldn't suit that pretty space-reliant design.
If you're considering a peninsula kitchen in your own home but aren't sure if it's the right fit, we spoke to interior designers and kitchen experts to find out everything there is to know about this kitchen design style. (Read more.)

From Design Milk:

Danish brand Vipp, renowned for its 85-year tradition of metalwork and most notably their iconic trash bins, introduces their latest kitchen design that’s a perfect testament to the company’s legacy. Crafted with aluminum, the V3 kitchen is a modular masterpiece that seamlessly merges functionality with minimalist aesthetics, marking a new chapter in Vipp’s storied journey. Wrapped in naturally anodized aluminum, the freestanding modules boast vertically extruded profiles that gracefully curve, infusing a light elegance into the metallic landscape. Vipp CEO Kasper Egelund describes it as “a unique kitchen that feels like a sculptural piece on its own.” (Read more.)