Mercurial

Via here

Goëss Apartment

These elaborate four rooms form a mere fraction of the Empress Maria Theresa’s summer house at Schönbrunn, known today as the Goëss Apartment. The very same Empress Maria Theresa, who was mother to 16 children, one of which was Marie Antoinette... (how pleasing for a dull and grey winter's day).

Via here (Photography by Fritz von der Schulenburg)

Surveying

the scene...

Via here

Weekend

I am sitting in bed with my computer on my lap. It is pitch dark outside and the wind is howling. I should really be up, preparing for the day and unpacking more boxes. I also have two large cats (half on top of me) affixing me to my spot. Every time I move the claws come out ever so slightly as a subtle warning. So, since I can't budge for the forseeable future, I leave you with gorgeousness to start your weekend...

PS: Does anyone know the source of the images? Found via Pinterest

Step into the Picture...

Came across these antique German photographer backdrops (circa 1900) during a binge through the blogosphere... vast and beautiful.

Via here 

Coming up for Air (Let the Room Breathe)...

I must admit that most of my cuckoo-ness (this past weekend) was self-induced. After offloading the burden of superfluous furniture, there were several 'holes' left in the decor (and dusty reminders of where each piece had once stood). So scramble did I, to rearrange. Oh, and also scrubbed my fingers to a nub. Carol Burnett-style. Now, the house looks so entirely different... the drawing room has nothing in it, besides one settee. But I am taking my cue from this particular Appartement Haussmannien in Paris... if the house has spectacular bones, one needs very little else. Less is so much more.

Via Loft Connexion

Through the Looking Glass (Number XIII)

The thirteenth in the Through the Looking Glass series of photographs...

Gigi Cifali / Absence of water (via Pinterest)

Curvatura

Curvatura... Italian for "how soon can I move in?"

 No details on these images, but all via here

It almost turns my head out of joint...

When surfing foreign websites, my most considerate computer politely offers to translate the text into English. I can't resist for sheer entertainment value...

It almost turns my head out of joint when you look at the ceilings of the Tessin Palace. A lavish pictorial world of Baroque is opening up. With the help of skilled restorers have cracks in the color disappeared and ceilings restored.

Lost in translation? Not at all. In fact, I think it just adds to the charm.

But I digress... the following images, showing details of the recently restored ceiling in the Palace of Nicodemus Tessin the Younger in Stockholm, speak for themselves. And, it tickles me that in the translation, the pre-restored condition of the ceiling is termed an 'injury'. It is a rather good credo with respect to rehabilitation, reclamation and preservation...

A piece of the parlor cornice

The Atrium

The Philosopher Diogenes

All images and research from here

Aftermath

While recognizing the unrelenting nature of a fire, there is something eerily beautiful about the layers of paint and plaster it leaves in its wake, exposing a structure's core and every vulnerability...

All photographs from Light Locations
(Top floor of Victorian house in London)

Peep Show: the Sequel (and Prequel)

(A quick synopsis of our bedroom renovation)

1865: Wallpaper merchant builds house.

1940-2000: Rooming house. Whorehouse. Flophouse. Meat-rack (nice!).

2005: Hapless, clueless South African couple purchase said property.

Week Two: Second floor tenant calls up landlady (AKA me). “So sorry to worry you, but the ceiling just fell in.”

Week Two and one day: Thankfully, no injuries or permanent concussion. Dodged ‘the-ceiling-just-fell-in’ bullet. Patch. Skim-coat. Repeat.

Day 68: Take occupancy of 2nd floor. Boiler takes final bow. Carbon monoxide escapes from every orifice. 4-yr old and I spend 9 hours in emergency room. House appears to be furious and is clearly trying to murder us (attempt #1).

Day 69: Bedroom steam-damaged walls remain pockmarked and decaying for 5 years. Inhale at own peril.

Month 10: Convince myself the room is Shabby Chic.

5 years later: Shabby Chic becomes intolerable (picture Grey Gardens).

2011: Sudden realization that original vision of creating an embellished Parisian-apartment look-a-like will obliterate budget.

2011 and then some: Slight change of scope. When prepping one wall, we discover original wallpaper in sepia tones – far from pristine but gorgeous. Room demands small semblance of decay for old time’s sake (see Palimpsest).

2011 and then some more: Inhale paint fumes all night. So worth it…

Detail of science project growing up the wall

Details and collection of French steel-cut shoe buckles

Looks nicer in this photograph than in reality

The previous, rather boring 'apartment cream' color on the walls

Detail of the mantel

Detail of 'what lay beneath'

David (painter) and I after the initial 'recapturing' of wallpaper (also, if you look at the light bulb in the reflection of the mirror, you can see the ceiling damage)

Warm grey for remainder of walls

Benjamin Moore Soot for bed backdrop

Photographs by Philippa Berrington-Blew and Craig Strydom

Photo of desk by Virginia Jarvis - Apartment Therapy

Château de Moissac-Bellevue, early 17th century

Dear Mr. God… it is me, Philippa. Just wanted to bring your attention to the Chateau for a mo (even though I know you are very busy with the floods in Australia). See, I really want it. Can we strike a deal? From now onwards, I won’t just talk to you on turbulent airplane trips over the Atlantic. I propose a more frequent correspondence, especially once I am shaving black truffles in the kitchen (see below). Just saying. Love Philippa.

(Chateau is available for photo shoots, seminars and private receptions)
All Photographs by:
Henri Del Olmo
Bernard Touillon
Patrick Van Robaeys

Château de Moissac-Bellevue

Contributor: Philippa Berrington-Blew