EMPIRE FURNITURE » Empire Chests

Donatella Versace’s Empire Furnishings

Admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:31:55 +0000

The versace brand has always incorportated luxurious patterns with great new styles while being overall sexy. "Boring " is not a word one would immediately associate with the name Versace. "Simplicity isn't either. In the Sept 09 issue of Style Magazine, they featured Donatella Versace's extravagant home in Milan where she owns 2 floors of an Italian Apartment furnished in esquisite empire furnishings. Ornate details and splashes of color can be seen through out her home as she incorporated interesting empire antiques with light colored ordimented boroque walls and pastel splashes of colors, in her paintings and through out her decorating. "But when I come home now, I want to feel serene. The height of luxury is to be comfortable in your own surroundings. And foir theat I need to see light and feel it all around me. Just because furniture is big and luxurious doesn't mean it has to look heavy. So I chose solid and pastel colors for my furniture." Her home entertains many guests, but only one area is off limits to the public and the various parties the throws, which is her own room, that is decked out in navy. "All are welcome except the the navy room upstairs" Her bedroom for ovious reasons should be kept private. "my secret place, where I watch my dvd's, and listen to music" She says "Fashion shows are public, my life is public, here I close the door and no one can come in. It is my treasure box. I wanted the colors rich that they would almost hide me." Her home is the supreme of luxury, and looking at her various furnishings, the empire pieces are some of the most beautiful in her home. Donatella adds color almost everywhere in her home, but she says the one color she doesn't like is "Beige" She then admits that she could possibly do a sofa in Beige, but would have to add some hot pink throw pillows. (Read More.....)

The White House’s Empire Furniture

Admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:00:32 +0000

Empire furniture followed the Neoclassical movement of Louis XVI in France. Empire themes stated in the early 19th century and was named after Napoleon who ruled France. Empire furniture can be found in every country which also developed their name fom this same reference. One of the most famous empire designed rooms is the Blue Room of the White House. During the Madison administration, architect Benjamin Latrobe designed a suite of classical-revival furniture for the room, but only some working drawings remain of the original room, as the furniture was destroyed in the fire of 1814. The room was reconstructed with French Empire furniture similar to how it did prior to the burning in 1814. (Read More.....)

Empire Style

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:44:43 +0000

The Empire Style was a style around the time period of 1804-1815. The Empire style was propaganda for the Emperor Napoléon I where he was able to present an image that sent off a message of power. One key to empire style is spare, noble, and massive. Its majesty lies in its imposing presence. Surfaces are flat and the corners are sharp. Moldings are non-existent. The small pieces of furniture for specific purposes became more rare. Some of the Empire Chests are grand! Often they feature the most stunning wood veneers which attracts most people to the empire looks. The Empire style is certainly very regal and sophisticated. (Read More.....)

Rich Wood Empire Chests and Dressers

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:39:09 +0000

Mahogany was often the wood of choice during 1804-1815. Either blond, dark, moiré, figured, or flame wood is found to be the prime choice when it came to furniture. It is interesting to note that after 1810, mahogany became unavailable because of the continental blockade and furniture makers were forced to use walnut, burled elm, beech, ash, boxwood, olivewood, maple, and rarely citronnier. (Read More.....)