Something New, Something Old, Something French, Something Gold

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

In the course of my work, I find I go through phases. Some months, I find myself drawn to lots of bright fabrics and accessories – oranges and purples and pinks. Other times, I go through a phase of wanting to create very neutral spaces, in white, stone and ivory. These days, I have a new love: GOLD.

Bold and luxurious and almost indecently decadent, gold has a real wow factor to it when used in interiors. We’re not talking tacky glittery gold here, but gorgeous textured gold surfaces, dull gold finishes, and soft gold prints. It’s just a little bit showy but still oh-so-elegant…

(Source: Eclectic Revisited)

The foyer above is an extreme example of the use of gold, but I still love how the textured gold walls look, especially with the mirrored console. Such richness and depth! For my Houston interior design clients though, I tend to create more subtle gold tones, like in this kitchen I worked on last year. The stone in the kitchen backsplash had a lovely gold hue. See how the overall look is very ‘gold’ though the surfaces are mostly a warm cream color, and the extra glow is created with clever lighting?

Amitha Verma Designs

The wonderful thing about gold is how luxurious it looks. I adore using gold in the bedroom, for a truly ‘Parisian boudoir’ feel. Wouldn’t this bed heaped with gold cushions just make any girl feel like a queen?

(Source: French Interiors)

I often find that a subtly decorated space is instantly glamorized by the addition of touches of gold. This powder room I designed for a client was mostly decorated in shades of gray and blue, but the addition of a gold carved antique mirror really added a touch of style, I felt. I really love how the gold is echoed in the sheeny scrollwork of the faux finish on the walls too, and in the accents of the moldings on the vanity!

Amitha Verma Designs

In fact, gold mirrors and gold chandeliers are perfect accessories for just about any space – brightening up a foyer, finishing off a formal drawing room, even adding a touch of decadence to a bathroom. What do you think?

(Source: Veranda)

Posted in Wallcovering, antiques, bedroom, chairs/sofas, faux paint, foyer, kitchen, light fixtures, mirrors, tiles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Royal Pleasures & Design Treasures

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

French furniture is often characterized by period, depending on the King whose reign it was designed under. As you know one of my ultimate favorite styles is Louis XV style furniture, which was hugely influenced by not only the King, but his famous mistress Madame Pompadour as well…

Louis XV was a very lavish king – he loved the good life: fine food, fine wine, and fine women. He was notorious for his excesses and his numerous affairs, despite having a loving and faithful wife who bore him 11 children!

His most famous mistress was Madame Pompadour, originally a ‘commoner’ but a lady with great style and a good eye for design. Together they partied in her apartments at Versailles, surrounding themselves with interesting people and activities, all in the pursuit of pleasure!

A young Mozart being presented to Madame Pompadour (Source: Kunst Fur Alle)

There are reports that Madame Pompadour used all her wiles to keep the womanizing King by her side, including organizing orgies and other, lesser mistresses to keep him happy when she was too ill or too frail.

But aside from their passionate relationship, the pair helped to bring about a sort of revolution in interior design, moving away from straight lines and angular shapes, that would again reappear with neoclassicism, and more towards the Rococo style. Furniture became lighter, more carefree, less formal, smaller in scale, more organic and curvy. Floral motifs were very dominant. This is when we got all those amazing little French side tables. Asymmetry, C and S scrolls were the classic hallmarks of this period.

A front parlor with Rococo elements (Source: House Beautiful)

This style is still popular today and we can see many elements of the Rococo tradition in modern rooms. The contemporary parlor above features an elaborate Rococo chandelier and Louis XV chairs. These chairs are often seen covered in toile, which was also popular during this period. It’s said that the King’s love for the simple country life inspired his appreciation for the idyllic rustic imagery on traditional toile.

Sketch by Amitha Verma, carvings on a custom Louis XV sofa table.

I love when I get a chance to include Rococo inspired furnishings in my projects. Above, is a sketch of Louis XV inspired carvings for a custom sofa table for one of our interior design clients in Houston.

(Source: Anthropologie)

I adore this new take on Rococo style – organic embroidered fabric on a Louis XV inspired chair frame. And that mirror! It embodies all the sensuous curves and embellishments of the Rococo style without being old-fashioned – I love it!

Posted in Uncategorized, antiques, chairs/sofas, custom furniture, fabric, greatroom, mirrors | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment