Sunday, April 7, 2019

Create A Cozy Old World Reading Space


Sure, a large home library is a wonderful luxury and you are incredibly blessed to have one. However, sometimes just to have a comfy chair and a good read in a cozy old world space where books are the main attraction......well that's just like Heaven on Earth.

The purpose of this blog post is to give you some ideas on how to create a cozy old world reading space in your home. You probably have a space begging to be turned into a reading nook. Hopefully this post will help you in creating a space that radiates the warmth and charm you read about in that last English novel.




Taking time for yourself to relax is so important. For those of you who define relaxation as a good book, why not turn an unused area of you home into a cozy old world reading space in which to take a break and have an adventure.

See if you can't come up with a nook, corner, or other small get away from the public areas of your house to create your own private literary space.


Create an intimate cozy old world style reading nook within a larger room. Maybe a corner that is a bit out of the way.

I like how the bookshelves divide this old world reading space from the dining room. The backs of the comfy chairs are presented to the rest of the room as if to say "private, do not disturb". I could definitely sit here and read to my heart's content.


Use you stair landing to create an entirely new space that meets a need in your household such as a cozy reading space.


Landings are usually overlooked but they can be great reading spaces. Most are large enough to accomodate a cozy chair and some shelving for books.

robert-hadley.tumblr.com

I love this cozy spot to read. Porteries are perfect for creating a private space. They can then be pulled back when you put down your book and come up for air.


If you want to create a cozy old world reading space but are short on square feet, a decorative screen can be your best friend. A room dividing screen will create a smaller intimate space and yet allow the room to flow.

via Pintrest

There are a few "must haves" when creating a cozy old world style reading space. First find yourself an extremely comfortable chair.


You know.....the kind you can curl up in and let all the tension disappear between the pages of a good book.


A chair is not always the answer though. Some of you might enjoy a daybed to read in.This cozy old world reading space beckons you to enter, relax, and lose yourself in a fabulous adventure.


Or maybe your idea of comfort involves a chaise lounge. My kind of wonderful colorful and cozy reading area complete with French chair and chaise.
Keep some plump comfortable pillows on hand in your old world style reading space so you can prop up, snuggle with, and get that warm, cozy feeling while you are adventuring.

Plus the pillows are there in case your cozy old world reading space becomes a much needed cat nap spot.


IF you can find it available!!!!

eyefordesign.com

Make sure your reading space has good lighting.


This great old world style reading space in an interior designed by Allesandra Branca, has the kind of lighting you need. I love the way the chair just snuggles back into the mini library surrounding the reader in volumes. 


Of course a sunny window is also perfect for reading. This cozy English style reading space has great lighting which makes it a pleasure to read. Plus it is so warm and inviting ......just begging you to relax a bit.




If you have available space, put a bookshelf near your reading nook so you can have your favorite titles close by.


In this old world reading nook the way to keep your reading list at arms length is by making a mini bookcase on your window sill. I like this!


Here is a cute idea if you are limited for space. A vintage steamer trunk can make a mini bookcase. This would be a cinch for some of you DIY pros.

via Pinterest

Another book case idea for a cozy reading space.


Also remember to have a throw handy for when it's a bit cool. A small tea table is also a plus for an old world reading space.

Designers Marshall Watson and Kate Reid


Choose colors that you find especially calming for your old world style reading space. That way you will feel cozy and relaxed.




Choose a big upholstered ottoman to place near your comfy chair so you can prop your feet up while you read.

via Pinterest

Use an ottoman to rest your feet or even to store books on. This piece of furniture never goes out of style.
via Pinterest

There are a lot of options when it comes to ottomans. Choose one that provides the utmost comfort while you read. Another plus is that with an ottoman you can bring in another simple touch of pattern to your decor.

Of course a window box is a great place to stake claim to as a cozy reading space in your home. Perfect with built in bookshelves.


Your reading space doesn't necessarily have to be for reading but can double as a cozy space to relax and unwind. 
Wherever your old world style reading space is........ make it your own!








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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Decorating With Neoclassical Relief Sculptures


The relief sculpture has a long and  impressive history starting with the petroglyphs on the walls of caves. Stone buildings and pyramids created by the Egyptians and Assyrians were next to adopt this style of work, followed by bas-relief sculptures that were heavily dominant in Greek and Roman architecture. The Gothic period maintained this tradition which became popular in Romanesque churches to celebrate the lives of important religious events and figures. Use of the relief flourished under the Italian Renaissasince (1400-1600) thanks to Da Vinci, Cellini, Donatello and Michelangelo. The French got on board when Francis I invited Da Vinci, Francesco Primaticcio, and Cellini to work in France. They formed new style and a school of art, the School of Fontainebleau.

Advancing decorative architectural designs that drew inspiration from ancient antiquity, Neoclassicism began in Rome in the 18th Century. This art movement gained popularity and quickly spread over Europe. Today it 
 still continues to be one of the most embraced visual art styles in the world, especially in Italy and Europe as a whole.

The topic of this post is the relief sculpture which was one of the prevailing design elements of the time.The beauty of these pieces is how today they can be used eclectically. A piece can work with a variety of interior styles as you will see from the images below. If you have a yearning to include some neoclassical elements into your interior, I highly recommend investing in a relief sculpture.


18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta

Architectural millwork and visually stunning reliefs have always been associated with power, opulence, and good taste. Most people associate these with grand interiors. Hopefully this post will show you how to incorporate smaller versions of relief sculptures into your own old world or modern homes.

Michael Smith's elegant apartment.

Here is an example of how relief sculptures are lovely in a home that is not graced with awe inspiring architectural  details. In fact I love using architectural fragments in rooms such as these. I am warmed by the immediate old world elegance and sense of history they bring to a room.


Studio Peregalli Design Firm

Relief sculptures bring to mind a sense of antiquity when homes were luxuriously detailed.They are beautiful when used on walls that are textured in old world paint techniques like stucco or Venetian plaster. Today there are many textured paints and faux techniques to choose from. Or there are many paint colors that lend to an old world aesthetic. Just be selective and do your homework as to which colors are best.

Studio Peregalli Design Firm

Another picture of this gorgeous corridor saturated with reliefs. The frescoes, furnishings, and harlequin flooring just add to the perfection.

Relief sculpture is any work which projects from but which belongs to the wall, or other type of background surface, on which it is carved. Bas-relief has less depth to the faces and figures and projects only slightly from the background surface. High relief sculpture projects more from the background where the carving is sunk below the level of the surrounding surface.

Providence Ltd. Interior Design

Elegant bathroom with a touch of neoclassical in the form of a relief sculpture. A touch of architectural fragment adds so much old world charm.

Victoria Magazine

Relief sculptures with a music theme take center stage in this cute Euro-country bathroom. 


Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Whether you're looking to make a decorative statement with something grand or to fill an empty wall a relief sculpture is a good choice. This is part of our bedroom leading into my office. The area is predominately French but I like the addition on neoclassical elements thrown into the mix. I found the composite relief above the dresser at an antique mall in a nearby city.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I found this composite relief frieze at an estate sale and placed it atop an antique watchmaker's cabinet that sits on the desk in my office. In architecture the frieze (pronounced freeze) is a long narrow band of sculpture that runs along the main beam resting across the tops of columns of a Greek temple or other building. There are several companies making old world style composite reproductions at affordable prices.


Many lovely things bring warmth and charm to this old world style dining room but the relief sculpture brings the needed texture and depth that makes a room very interesting.

Alexa Hampton

The owners of this dining room can count on the relief sculptures to be conversation starters as they provide a unique feature to the room. They can be educational if you know the historical account of the sculpture.
atelierdecampagne.webs.com

A relief sculpture can be dressed up for use in formal interiors or they can create a relaxed elegant feel when displayed with other faded French antiques.


I love to see a relief sculpture tucked away somewhere unexpected in a Euro eclectic interior. Here is one over the doorway in the antiques and French-inspired interior of style icon Iris Apfel’s exuberant three-bedroom Park Avenue apartment....via Architectural Digest.

Another relief over the doorway in this beautiful classically designed interior in Dallas Texas.


Antique plaster bas-reliefs by Jean-Paul Aubé

Relief sculptures are the perfect accompaniment to French marble pieces and other antique furniture. This look is becoming more and more attractive to homeowners as we have seen a resurgence in luxury decor over recent years. Whether in a classical French space........

or a French country interior with marble topped table, a lovely relief sculpture adds an immediate taste of the old world .

Windsor Suite at the Ritz Carlton

Such a pretty room! The relief sculpture panel over the doorway is built into the millwork but you can achieve the same look by hanging one directly over the door. You can find them made from wood or a composite which is less expensive. You can find companies on line that make them.

Timothy Corrigan

This style of circular relief sculpture which became popular in Italy during the 15th century, is called a tondo and derives from the Italian rotondo, meaning round. 

Gianni Versace villa, Lake Como, via brillanteinteriors.blogspot.com
This neoclassical dining room draws on classic Greek and Roman art and architecture by featuring gilt, classical reliefs and opulent furnishings.



A vignette in the home of Howard Slatkin



Reliefs are also easily incorporated into the Swedish/Gustavian interior. Their "tondos" take on more of a cameo appearance.



During his reign, King Gustav III (1772-92) transformed Sweden’s image, setting a standard of style and a level of architectural and cultural sophistication never known before. The Gustavian home will usually have some elements of classical decor such as reliefs.

via Pinterest


In the master bedroom of a 17th-century Italian home by design firm Studio Peregalli, a painting is displayed above a neoclassical bas-relief cameo .The cameo is described as a small relief carving of a face, figure or scene. In Italian, the word itself, means to engrave. 

Studio-Peregalli

People usually think of jewelry when they think cameo but they can also be wall art.


I love the fabulous mix of paintings and reliefs that fill the wall of designer Stephen Shubel’s previous apartment in Paris.


A relief can be used in vignettes alongside other old world items to add a bit of neoclassical style.


Remember you don't always have to hang reliefs on the wall.....I like leaning them!


Aaaaaaah, the Notting Hill home of Master plaster caster Peter Hone and his fabulous collection of urns, busts, architectural fragments, and the topic of our blog.......relief sculptures. His 45 year old collection of over 3,000 casts was sold in 2016 at Christie's.


You may not be interested in wall to wall reliefs. I love the look of antiquity but I understand it is not for everybody.

Maybe only one piece of relief sculpture is your idea of perfection. Even one piece can really make a strong statement.

Robert Reeder Interiors

Elements of Neoclassical design are very much in use in homes today. If you want to create the look, search for refined and elegant pieces. Add beautiful chandeliers and other classic lighting as well as ornate mirrors, urns, columns, and reliefs. Accent with elements such as Greek key, scrolls, medallions, rosettes and lyre designs. Neoclassicism is all about rich but muted colours so look for fabrics and upholstery in moss greens, grayish blues, dusty pinks or terra cottas, toned down reds, browns, and crisp, classic creams and whites. Wide stripes were also popular during the period


Here a modern relief sculpture is used as part of the headboard. I think relief sculptures are a good fit for modern interiors.


Reliefs add interest to the walls of Darryl Carter's DC home.

Use art plaster reliefs to add elegance, history, and beauty to  your homes. Many reproductions are made to show age in the casting. If you want more patina there are tutorials on line to help you with the aging process.

Perfect image to show you how you can beautifully mix classic reliefs with other design styles.




Bring this ancient art form into your kitchen. It's a great place to bring some artistic flair.




And don't forget outdoor entertainment areas. Another great place to create distinctive style with some neoclassical ornamental pieces.


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