EMPIRE FURNITURE

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.

Classic Empire Furniture can be seen through out her home. Empire furniture would be the ovious choice of furniture for Donatella and Giannni as it incorporates outstanding detail in carvings, in excuisite veneers, and gold details. The overall design of empire furniture is sexy and luxuriourous, interesting and rich!

Donatella Versace's Home with her Jack Russell Terrier Audrey

Donatella Versace's Home

Classic Empire Decorating. Donatella uses color in paintings, and floral arrangements to add interest.

Donatella Verace's Home

Giannni Versace's Late Home

“It is the house that really belongs to me, reflecting a mirror image of all that I am, for better of worse,” said Gianni Versace.

Classic Empire Pieces from the Late Giannni Versace's Home

Picture of Sotheby's who is prepareing the Auction of the interior of Versace's Lake Como Home. Gianni Versace has over 550 lots of furniture and art that went up for auction.

Sotheby's prepareing the Auction of the empire furnishings of Gianni Versace's home

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.

Among some of the important and oldest furniture in the White House are some the original furniture ordered by President Monroe from Parisian cabinet-maker Pierre-Antoine Bellangé after the fire of 1814. President Monroe ordered the French empire theme furniture in mahogany. The company, however, sent gilded pieces, which they believed were more appropriate for an official setting.

The suite consists of 53 pieces with crimson silk with laurel leaves and eagles in two shades of gold. {1 pier table, 2 sofas, 18 (open armchairs ) fauteuils , 2 bergères(enclosed arm chairs), 18 side chairs, 4 upholstered stools, 6 footstools, and 2 screens.} Unfortunately, much of the furniture was sold off as a way of acquiring new furniture. Some of the original pieces were reacquired during the Kennedys' push to collect original White House furnishings.

The Blue Room is located in the center of the State Floor of the White House where the President formally receives guests. The oval room was uniquely designed host formal receptions. As the presidents guests mingle, and form a circle around him, the president would stand in the center of the room to greet them. The concept of an oval room leaves no one stuck in a corner, and everyone has equal distance from the president.

White House Photo by Pete Souza ~ The Blue Room's Empire Furniture

The passage between the Blue Room and the Green Room, 2009

The White House's Blue Room Empire Furniture Picture Credit From The White House Blog

Blue Empire Sofa The White House

Mantel in the Blue Room of the White House with ormolu candlesticks and case clock with of a figure of Minerva by Pierrre-Philippe Thomire.

The Nixon redesign of the Blue Room in 1975

Blue Room In The White House. President Monroe redecorated the large oval room after the fire, he used the French Empire style, which is the current decor. The marble-top center table, that sits under the chandelier has been in the White House since it was purchased by President Monroe in 1817. This 19th-century chandelier is made of gilded-wood and cut glass, encircled with acanthus leaves.

The Monroe Bergère Chair & Blue Room Furniture

Michelle Obama Blue Room White House Portrait

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama return to the Blue Room with Paul and Janet Monti after presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to their son, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti

The American Empire sofa, Mr Obama is sitting on is upholstered in a silk of the same shade of red. The Red Room contains several pieces of furniture from the New York workshop of the French-born cabinetmaker Charles-Honore Lannuier. The furniture in the Red Room dates from the years 1810-1830.

The Red Room furniture has a nice combination of richly carved and finished woods with ormolu mounts. The furniture is very similar to those of the French pieces now in the Blue Room. Egyptian motifs were extensively used Empire furnishings in France following Napoleon's 1798-99 campaign in Egypt. These same designs were then adopted by cabinetmakers working in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Nancy Reagan in front of the Red Empire Sofa

Empire Furniture

Admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:53:48 +0000

Empire Furniture has a very masculine look with a tremendous amount of details. Todays furniture does not often feature the exquisite exotic woods of the empire furniture. If you love the Greek and Roman decorating styles, empire furniture is right up your alley. With most modern furniture there is more to be desired than a plain piece of furniture. Empire styles combine the classical brass motifs giving you the interest in the ornate details but also the modern masculine clean lines in one furniture piece. Today nothing compares to the noble and exquisite looks of the empire period. Many furniture manufactures produce furniture in mass quantities, and often don't spend the time in the details. With empire furniture you often get the best wood, the best ornate hardware, hand carved designs, and ornate gold gilding, which adds up to a furniture piece being a piece of art than just a regular side table.

Empire Furniture Make Overs

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:48:43 +0000

Finding great antique furniture can be costly and rare to find, so often times when a reproduction furniture piece comes along that I can fix up to look like the real thing, I turn to appliques to dress up the furniture. Hardware can make a *great* piece even more *spectacular*. Ormolus are gilt-metal decorations that are nailed on to the furniture. Today you can also purchase moulds that you can reuse with plaster of Paris. Reproducing the Neoclassical looks of Robert Adam is quite simple today when you can produce dozens of plaster ornaments with one simple plastic mould. Laurel wreaths, rosettes and bell flowers are often my choice when I am dressing up chairs, beds and chests. They are well worth the investment. Check out some of the discounted Moulds here and here.

Marble Vases Seller Linda Horn

Walnut, fruitwood, kingwood, pine and bronze chest-of-drawers Seller L'Antiquaire &The Connoisseur

Pair Louis XVI Style Ormolu & Marble Urns. 19th C Seller Florian Papp

LAUREL LEAF ART ACCENT

Louis XVI Mahogany Bureau Plat. French Circa 1785 Florian Papp

Louis XVI Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Marble Top Cabinet Tyler Galleries

French Napoleon III Bronze Mounted Bluejohn Urn c.1850 Seller Guinevere

GOLD BOW ROSE BRANCH Ormolus

A Fine Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Tulipwood Commode by Rozier Seller Ms Antiques

ART FLOWER & BOW

Mr. van Empel Home Black Empire Chair

Architecture by William Hodgins

Classic Empire Napoleon Furniture and Decorating

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:46:39 +0000

Napoleon focused on a heavy use of symbols to convey the message of Napoleon's power. The designs were an inspiration of the Greek, Roman Period, but with bold colors, and costly elaborate design. The look was on a grand, massive scale with ornate decoration including ormolu with Egyptian influence. Lions, griffins and symbols references to Napoleon's reign were very common.

N A P O L E O N S T Y L E

Napoleon I of France 1769-1821

The Classic and Most Famous Napoleon Painting

Symbols of Power is a comprehensive look at Napoleon’s majestic Empire Style. No other ruler in the history of the world has been more aware of the capacity of symbolism to propagate power than Napoleon I. To present an image of power he supported programs of arts that proclaimed France the New Rome.

Symbols of Power contains superb photographs, many taken expressly for this volume, exhibit gorgeous objects decorated with a wealth of antique motifs—columns, arches, laurel wreathes, acanthus leaves, eagles, Egyptian hieroglyphs—created by master French furniture-makers, silversmiths, jewelers, and porcelain and textile manufacturers. Figures of Fame and Victory abound, and furniture, vases, porcelains, and even silverware display an antique style that projects the aura of imperial majesty.

Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800-1815

David Conradsen, assistant curator of decorative arts at the Saint Louis Art Museum, looks at a large porcelain vase at the exhibition at the museum called "Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800-1815" which took place in June of 2007. The show then headed to Boston and Paris.

Odile Nouvel-Kammerer, chief curator for Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris looks at a condiment container in the shape of a ship at an Art Museum exibit called "Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800-1815" The exhibition brought together 250 items, pieces of furniture, gold and silverware, ceramics, textiles and wallpaper at the great nave in the Decorative Arts Museum, providing visitors with a chance to discover the symbols of power during the reign of Napoleon.

Napoleon's Mechanical Desk ~Invented by Napoleon From Edgallardo.com

Chair from Napoléon’s personal Tuileries Office

Napoleon

Verninac-David

Painting by Robert Lefevre

Elisabeth Stroganoff

Boilly-Checkers

Round Napoleon style Marquetry Table

Sultane Antiques Centerbrook, Connecticut, United States

French Napoleon III Style

Sultane Antiques Centerbrook, Connecticut, United States

Napoleon III French Desk

Sultane Antiques Centerbrook, Connecticut, United States

Napoleon III BOULLE Table - Ablor Auctions

Richard Norton

Rolltop Desk French (Paris) about 1788 designed by Bernard Molitor

Napoleon III Walnut Desk 1stdibbs Paris

Napoleon III rosewood and ebonized desk Foxglove antiques

Napoleon III painted stool Habite LA

Napoleon III Black Lacquered Desk 1st dibbs Paris

French Black-Lacquered Jewel Box trianon antiques

French Antique Napoleon III Period Bookcase Jean Marc Fray

Chinoisorie Commode Napoleon III Kevin Stone

Painted- Gilded -Lacquered wood chest-of-drawers L'antiquaire

1880 French Napoleon III Occasional Writing Table antiques on Old Plank Road

1870 Monumental French Ebonized Napoleon III Bibliotheque antiques on Old Plank Road

1870 French Napoleon III Ebonized Writing Table w Bronze Trim Antiques on Old Plank Road

1870 French Napoleon III Ebonized Center Hall Table Antiques on Old Plank Road

Directoire Style

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:45:45 +0000

Empire Style was a result of Napoleon's reign in 1769 through 1821. It was the second phase of neoclassicism (which is also called "Directoire") which is simply a style engaged by the government during that time. The Empire style furniture is usually massive in scale and often has very severe look to the furniture, resulting in a heavy masculine look . Previous furniture styles (before this time) were slowly moving away from the heavy ordimented furniture to more simplier lines. Gradual change became apparent with simplier looks, but they still employed some intricate detail in the hardware. The Empire style often features the best wood veneers with metal gilts that adorn the furniture, leaving some fancy detail to balance out the sharp shapes of the furniture. The Empire look satisified the best of both worlds,- being that of some fancy ornate detail; simple shapes, and outstanding wood detail.

Pair of Consulat Period Cassolettes Seller Bagatelle

PAIR of Bronzed Urns on Marble Pedestals Seller Fireside Antiques

PAIR French Empire Bronze Urns. Circa 1840 Seller Florian Papp

Urn Seller Empire Antiques

Swedish Neo-classical Painted & Gilded Settee Seller Antiquario Villas & Cottages

Russian Empire Side Chairs Seller Marcoz

Russian Empire settee Seller Gerald Tomlin Antiques

Russian Empire Parcel-gilt and Mahogany Chairs Seller East & Orient Company

Russian 2nd Empire Mahogany Armchairs Seller Epoca

Napoleon III Period Bookcase Seller Jean Marc Fray

Mahogany Settee Seller Martell & Suffin Antiques

Granite Top Bronze Gueridon Table Seller Greenwich Living

EMPIRE TABLES D'OFFICIERS Seller Mallett London New York

Empire Style Stool with Lions' Heads Seller East & Orient Company

Empire Style Reverse Glass Top Coffee Table Seller C Bell

Empire Style Parcel Gilt Inlaid Dinner Table Seller Marcia Sherrill At Roland Antiques

Empire Style Chandelier in Lucite Seller Carlos De La Puente

Empire Stool By March

Empire Side Chair Black & Gold Lyre Swan Form Back Seller Marcia Sherrill at Roland Antiques

Empire Drop Leaf Table Seller East & Orient Company

Empire Center Table Seller Robuck Company Antiques

Empire Candelabras Seller Sutter Antiques

Empire Bergeres Seller Gerald Tomlin Antiques

Cast Metal Arm Chairs In Copper Lacquer With Centurion Relief Seller Assemblage

Beautiful Empire Sevres Urn Seller Empire Antiques

Antique French Empire tole tray. Seller Royal Antiques

A pair of painted bergeres Seller Daniel Barney

1940's Empire style chairs Seller John Gregory Studios

12-Candle Empire Chandelier Seller Bermingham & Co

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.

Belgian Royal collection Faulteuil Chair

Spanish Hall in Hradcany Castle in Prague

This spectacular empire side table features fabulous gilt orante details mixed with the beauty of wood and marble.

Empire Egyptian Curule X Frame Chairs

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:42:40 +0000

The Curule chair came about in Etruria (referred to in Greek texts as Tyrrhenia , now known as Tuscany) and was found on surviving Etruscan monuments to identify magistrates. Much earlier stools that were supported on a cross-frame are known from the New Kingdom of Egypt. Curule chairs were designed for the officials of the highest government dignitaries. It was originally made of ivory, without arms and it was usually inlaid with ivory and precious metals. It served a seat for the positioned in power, and later the emperor himself.

Interior Design by Scott Snyder Neoclassical Egyptian Roman Curule Chair Bench Stool

Cleopatra chair Red Fabric upholestry Ebay Seller louisxv2006

Cleopatra Vivien Leigh

CURULE BENCHES Seller Sydelle&Jay Livingston

Curule chairs

Austrian Biedermeier Curule Mahogany Bench. Circa 1820 Seller Florian Papp

Empire Egyptian Curule X Frame Chairs

Curule Bench Stool Chairs- Interior Design by Juan Pablo Molyneux

Roman Greek Empire Style

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:40:53 +0000

For more than a thousand years, the ancient Romans, Greeks had an eye for highly sophisticated architectural and decorative art forms that are widely admired today. Amazing frescoes, and stunning mosaics have been found in the ruins at Pompeii, Herculaneum, and in Rome itself. The excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 1800s had a huge impact on the decoration of various palaces in Naples, Venice and Milan. The ancient styles of stone, and marble, and outstanding art is often the key elements to these ancient styles.

The key to this decorating style is layering ornate details. Any person would be daunted with where to begin such a complex style, and where you want to begin is with one element that you love. Possibly you have a floor tile you are working in your design or it may be a particular vase you have been holding on to. Begin with one element and draw inspiration from that element with supportive colors and design in other pieces. You want to begin designing the bare room without the furnishings. Consider a pattern on the floors, and possibly some faux work on the walls. A stone, or venetian plaster would be fabulous. If you have a complex mural in mind, consider purchasing a overhead projector for a complex pattern you can trace and paint on the walls. The second stage of decorating your room is adding the furnishings, the vases, the throw pillows and the overall furniture to the room. Adding patterns in your fabrics will pull together your entire room. The key is to work in your favorite colors, and it is guaranteed to work. Check out our alternative site where you may consider some interesting architectural finds.

Chateau de Courances

Marble Floors at Medina Jumeirah

Photography by David O. Marlow

Empire Style Neoclassical, Roman Greek Inspiration Photography by Mary E. Nichols

Neoclassical Style Mary McDonald

Empire Secretary Desk Photography by Marina Faust

Orloff's farmhouse Country Living

Empire Styling Mudricks Photostream

Empire Desk - Photography by David O. Marlow

Interior Design by Juan Pablo Molyneux

Interior Design by Laura Hunt Prints

Neoclassical Roman Empire Inspiration Interior Design by Sandra Nunnerley

Stunning Empire Chest - Seller John Stephens

Roman Decor - Van Chaplin

Empire Table - Photography by David O. Marlow

Mudricks Photo Stream

Empire Table Interior Design by Sandra Nunnerley

Neoclassical Style - Mary McDonald

Photography by Marina Faust

Empire Bed - Photography by Mary E. Nichols

New York Social Diary Empire Chair

Mary McDonald

A Modern Take on using Empire Furniture- Home Beautiful

Empire Chaise

Empire Greek Roman Styling Mary McDonald

Interior Design by Juan Pablo Molyneux

Roman Greek Empire Style Interior Design by Juan Pablo Molyneux

Cleopatra chair Red Fabric upholestry Ebay Seller louisxv2006

Architecture by William Hodgins

Architectural Design by Peter Napolitano Interior Design by Thomas Britt

Empire Table

Empire Style Architectural Design by Peter Napolitano Interior Design by Thomas Britt

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.

Complex marquetry disappeared and was replaced by discreet inlay ornament. Fillets of blond wood, copper or steel were set into dark wood. Bronze fittings were the only ornaments on furniture, which is a testimony of the furniture quality comparied to todays common furniture finds. You will find on Empire Furniture the ornaments are often placed symmetrically on flat surfaces, as most empire styles are are entirely symmetrical in composition. The motifs on a piece's right and left generally correspond to one another in every detail. Marble tops are another element to the empire style and have found to have sharp corners and are most often gray or black.

Designer Ralph Lauren Dresses up this ad by combining the english plaid textiles with empire furniture and curvy french chairs. Styling the walls a bit different by hanging silk drapes on the wall and layering in gilt gold ornate antique frames. The chinoiserie detailed planter adds green to this dark elegant room.

A Fabulous Empire Side Table

A Neoclassical Chest Dresser Beautifully Decorated

Empire Ebonized Pear Wood Chest of Drawers Seller Savenkov Gallery

Painted Empire Chest By Canadian House and Home painted in a shabby cottage style. If you are interested in painting an empire chest, consider black or high regal colors such as bright deep red, or olive green, or navy. Empire chests don't look the greatest in white. White furniture needs more delicate looks to look right. To dress up your chest, add large bold ornate hardware, such as key mounts, and heavy handles or pulls.

Large second Empire Bureau-Plat Seller L' Antiquaire

A Neoclassical Chest Dresser Empire styled Photography by Billy Cunningham

An empire sidetable with striped wallpaper and damask wing chairs. The classic empire decorating that pulls this room together is the hunter green velet drapes, which is a typical color in empire decorating.

EMPIRE STYLE MARBLE TOP CHEST WITH SWANS Seller Ad Lib Antiques

Empire Roman Greek Decorating

Empire Mahogany Writing Table Seller Oliver Fleury Inc

Empire Roman Greek Decorating

Empire Mahogany Chest with Gilt Bronze Mounts Seller Nick Brock Antiques

Architectural Redesign by William B. Remick Interior Design by The Wiseman Group Empire Looks. Empire Furniture

Empire Mahogany Bronze Mounted Semanier Seller George N Antiques

Empire Style Architecture by William Hodgins

Empire Mahogany Commode Seller Daniel Barney

Interior Design by Mica Ertegun of MAC II Empire Decorating Elements

1920's Empire Style Nightstands France Seller Gio

Beautiful Empire Furniture

Empire Commode Dresser Chest Seller Paul Klienwald Art and Antiques

Interior Design by Scott Snyder Neoclassical
This outstanding room furnished in empire furniture is perfectly balanced by the dark wall colors, and flame mahogany empire bed. The white plaque featuring a bust gives balance to the room.
Empire Furniture~ Classic Empire Side Table

An Empire Side table with a Convex Gilt Wood Mirror

Petite Empire Console with Marble Top, France 19th century Seller William Word Fine Antiques

Klismos Chair

Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:54:13 +0000

The Klismos Chair is a luxuriourous chair developed by the ancient Greeks. The chair gained popularity by 500 BC as we often see illustrated on Greek pottery, and throughout the art at that time. The Klismos chair became popular again during the French Directoire, English Regency periods and throughout the American Empire styles.

I found these pair of chairs at an auction in Virginia. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them. I bought them for 5 dollars each! What a deal! I painted it so it would look like Walnut Burl. These chairs seem to be so hard to find, even though they reproduced them in the 50's during the regency period. If you do a search at ebay, look under Hollywood regency, as most people do not know the name of this particular chair. Just like anything else in particular it takes a little bit of digging and searching. I have another pair of chairs that I am making into a set of klismos chairs, and for the signature rounded back, I am using a circular pressed wood (which was at one time a barrel they used for shipping) which I am attaching to the back. With upholstery and faux painting, no one will know the difference! Check out my Faux Walnut Burl Painting post, and it will describe how I accomplished this painted look. Let me know what you think. ~Meranda You can Find all the pictures HERE.....

WOW! The nicest set I have seen! Baker Furniture Chairs Hollywood Regency Mid Century $700

Empire Furniture ~ The Beautiful Klismos Chair ~ Featured Painted

The Egyptian Empire Klismos Chair in a Swedish Style

Klismos Chair

Klismos Chair and French Chairs Interior Design by Mario Buatta

Klismos Chair By Councill

SWEDISH NEOCLASSIC KLISMO CHAIRS Seller Belvedere Antiques

Pair of Hollywood Regency Style Klismos Chairs Seller Nick Brock Antiques

1940's American Klismos chair Seller B4 20th Century Design

Klismos dining chairs Seller Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler Antiques

Klismos Chairs by Johan Tapp Seller Antiques Du Monde

Klismos Chair Seller Stephen Miller Siegel

Cast Aluminum Klismos Chair by Trimlin Seller Sutana

Neoclassical Swedish chair, c.1800 Veranda

Empire Furniture ~ Table

Veranda Featuring a Swedish room

Pair of Gustavian Style Armchairs Cupboards & Roses

Gustavian Armchair

A modern take on the Klismos Chair

Klismos Chair

Wisteria's Klismos Chair
A Neoclassical Empire Classic Decorating