DESIGN STORE

BOULLE WORK

2010-05-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Andre Charles Boulle was one of those artists who now and then in the history of a country's craftsmanship stand out as the initiator of some new process. His invention or method by which he beautified cabinet work by the introduction of foreign substances, was quite new—it was something that had not been thought of by any one else. This famous artist was a worker in ebony, gradually improving his work by inlays and clever coverings with ornaments of brass and other metals. His great success, however, was inlaid tortoiseshell, cut out and encrusted with arabesques, and ornaments of thin brass and white metal, many of which were elaborately engraved, as well as being inlaid. Boulle appears to have been a man of many abilities, for in royal patents granted to him in respect of his inventions and processes he is described as : " Architect, painter, carver in mosaic, artist in cabinet-work, craftsman in veneer, chaser and inlayer; and designer of figures." Briefly describing the most popular of his processes, it may be explained that his work in tortoiseshell and brass was effected by cutting the two substances together in fanciful fretwork, and then pressing the cut-through materials together, thus forming an inlay. After this process had been carried out the metallic portions of the inlay were surface-engraved, the graver's tool thus giving life to the object. Objects so decorated in some instances represented insects and animals, in others his ornament was merely decorative scroll-work or fanciful design. The colouring of Boulle work differs, sometimes it is brown, at others red or black, the colouring matter being placed under the tortoiseshell inlay.
Most of the Boulle pieces were very massive, such objects as commodes, bureaus, and desks being further enriched by the free use of handsome metal handles, and corner ornaments. Boulle also made smaller tables and cabinets for private houses, together with caskets, ink-stands, bookcases, and cupboards. He was an artist who was much copied, and connoisseurs are reminded that comparatively few of the pieces met with in dealers' shops, or coming under the hammer, were made by the great master or in his workshop. Some of his imitators used horn instead of tortoiseshell, adding blue or vermilion paint, until some of the work became extravagant and almost ludicrous. Inferior Boulle work was made up of the portions cut out of the metal and tortoiseshell sheets which had been first operated upon in the construction of the better pieces. The name given to this second quality by French artists was coutre partie, as distinct from the premiere partie, that consisting of the original fret or inlay. Many of the collectors' pieces which come into the market nowadays are found to be defective, and others have been indifferently repaired at an earlier date, such pieces being " restored " by those who have not had the experience of the original maker.
The finest and most reliable examples of Boulle work which may be inspected are those met with in the Wallace Collection, and the few very choice examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum, especially a Boulle cabinet in the Jones bequest, which is said to have cost its owner £5,000. One of the most beautiful examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum is the commode in the style of Bergin, bequeathed by the late Mrs Julia Bonnar. It was formerly in the possession of her father, Captain Charles Spencer Ricketts. The top of this beautiful commode is covered with brass and tortoiseshell inlays, enriched by the addition of mother-of-pearl and green and blue enamels. These are wrought into mythical designs in which Cupid and Psyche figure. In the Wallace Collection there are two cabinets of ebony with marqueterie of tortoiseshell and white metal on yellow metal, and mounts of gilt-bronze cast and chased after the style of the Louis XIV. period, but said to have been made by a skilful imitator in the reign of Louis XVI. There is also a cabinet of ebony and marqueterie of the same materials, in the metal being set a medallion of Henry IV., King of France. That cabinet is also of the style of Louis XIV., but probably made later. Another well-known example in Hertford House is a cabinet of ebony with panels decorated with floral designs in marqueterie of various woods ; the ornamental bands and plaques are in marqueterie of metal, ebony, and tortoise-shell. The style is closely allied to the earlier period of Louis XIII., but the tentative marqueterie work denotes a transition to the style of Louis XIV., and presents the curious characteristics of that peculiar work of the ebenisterie of Andre Charles Boulle. A prominent feature of this magnificent cabinet is the crowning decoration of gilt-bronze, consisting of a military trophy, in the centre of which is a medallion of Louis XIV. in his early manhood. In the same collection there is an armoire in ebony, also by Boulle. It is enriched with marqueterie of metal and tortoiseshell, the mounts of gilt bronze being cast and chased. The central ornament of the face of the armoire is a nymph and young satyr, at the sides being plaques in low relief, symbolising Summer and Autumn. Another piece of Boulle's work is a coffret de mariage (marriage casket) in ebony, standing on a base of the same wood. Both are decorated with the usual marqueterie and gilt bronze ornament. There is a second marriage chest in the collection, the special feature of which is the peculiar red tortoiseshell of the inlays.
Collectors need not be disheartened on account of the many fine pieces named as representative of the style, for minor examples are often rich in marqueterie and inlay, some of which are made up of bois du roi ("King wood "), the name given to a species of West Indian wood which is somewhat darker than mahogany.
It was when China and Japan had sent over their wonderful productions in lacquered wares that European connoisseurs became interested in this, to them, new art. As a natural consequence, cabinet-makers in France and afterwards in England commenced to manufacture the nearest approach to Oriental lacquer or varnished wares they were able to produce. To a large extent, they were successful, but they had to contend with the natural difficulties of producing a gum or lacquer to take the place of the Oriental lac which could only be applied under conditions which prevailed exclusively in the country where the trees from which the lac was obtained grew. The most celebrated exponents of European lacquer work, as applied to furniture and household furnishings, were the Martins, who about the middle of the eighteenth century produced some of their marvellous works of art in the " Royal Manufactory," the title given to their factories and cabinet works, one of which was in faubourg Saint Martin, another in the faubourg Saint Denis, and the third in the rue Saint Magloire. The French Dauphin purchased many cabinet specimens, and other members of the royal house of France added to the nation's treasures. Some of these choice examples are still stored at Versailles. The Martins were specially famous for their black lacquers, and they applied their special varnish, closely copying the Chinese, upon all kinds of metals and woods, as well as on leather and pasteboard.
In the reign of Louis XV. porcelain was evident everywhere, A room was considered incomplete unless filled with priceless china. It was a time when the potters of Saxony had discovered the art of making a hard paste like the Chinese. In the reign of Louis XVI. there were some 'additions to the furnishings of the palace. Then delicate paintings became evident, and Sevres porcelain was in the ascendent. Many of these delightful ceramics were introduced, harmonising with the rosewood veneers. The dead gilding of the bronzes incorporated in furniture was relieved by Sevres plaques and panels. Those combinations formed a happy relief to the wood-work and took off some of the extravagance of ornamentation, just as the porcelain of China and Japan relieved the severity of the marqueterie and bronze of the Louis XIV. period. Undoubtedly the Sevres panels and porcelain were fittingly appropriate to the furniture of that day, for they would not have been suitable on Boulle cabinets of Louis XVI.

PARTICULAR COLOR ASSOCIATED WITH EACH DIRECTION

2010-04-01T00:49:00.001-07:00

DIRECTION & DEITY

2010-04-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

FIVE ELEMENTS OF VAASTU

2010-04-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

SPACE : 1.Aakash or space or ether symbolizes the cosmic void.
2.Lord Brahma created the five basic elements, space came first.
3.Aakash is also linked to BRAHMASTHANA- the central space
within the home.
4.To reduce stress-making clutter by hiding nonessential
belongings in chests,closets and special storage areas.
5.Akaash is associated with the sense of hearing.
6.Taste is bitter.

AIR : 1.VAYU or AIR is the element of ATMOSHPHERE which contains all
GASES essential for life on the earth.
2.According to the ancient epic MAHABHOOTA VAYU has two important
quality TOUCH and SOUND.
3.CRESCENT shapes encourage AIR.
4.VAYU is associated with NORTHWEST direction and its always in motion.
5.If you do not want to your children to watch too much of television,
place the set in the NORTHWEST corner of the room.
6.This will make the children restless and prevent them from setting
still too long.

FIRE : 1.Agni representing primordial fire and life essence is revered by
Hindus and plays a role in life’s most important ceremonies
“when a babies born the family performs ritual to the god AGNI
called ‘HAWAN’, the fire purifies the house, during the
marriage ceremony, the bridal couple takes Voss encircling the fire
to ensure life long happiness, and family the Hindu dead cremated
their bodies are given to agni to secret fire that immerses all the things.”
2.Agni is associated with the SOUTHEAST corner of the house,
weather kitchen should be located.
3.Agni associated with sense of sight and digestion.
4.Agni symbolizes the shares hot only heat and vitality of sun but
also yellow, orange and red flames.
5.Just as the sun is life giving force.

WATER : 1.Water covers 2/3 of the earths surface the human body is also 2/3 water.
2.Since ancient times, be it humans or other living beings,
they have colonized near water bodies like river, lake, pond well.
3.Fish plays important role in Hindu mythology. First in accretion
lord VISHNU was a fish and aquarium in the NORTHEAST.
4.Water feature in the NORTHEAST corner of the room is encourage
prosperity and remove the negative energy.
5.COLOR of WATER is WHITE.
6.TASTE is SALTY.
7.SENES is TASTE.
8.SAPHE is SEMICIRCULAR.

EARTH : 1.GODDESS PARVATI is MOTHER OF ERATH, to stimulate the earth element
bringing stability to your family, arrange cut flowers in vases and
fruits in bowls around home.
2.Elements is also related to PITRI is Vedic god of ancestors.
3.It is also associated with a sense of smell in particular a sweet
scent of flowers and right fruits.
4.Earth COLOR orange, yellow ocher, terracotta and brown incorporate
overall décor of the room they promote satiability.
5.Shades of orange are subtle and created cold and yellow are uplifting.
6.Earth element governs SOUTHWEST direction in vastu a square or
rectangular plot and building is most auspicious space for your home,
this provides the maximum support, balance and stability for your family.

WHAT IS VAASTU?

2010-04-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Vaastu is an ancient Indian science of architecture and buildings which helps in making a congenial setting or a place to live and work in a most scientific way taking advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature, its elements and energy fields for enhanced wealth, health, prosperity and happiness.

Vastu Shastra unifies the science, art, astronomy and astrology, it can also be said as an ancient mystic science for designing and building. Vastu Shastra helps us to make our lives better and will secure from things going wrong.

Vaastu is the science of direction that combines all the five elements of nature and balances them with the man and the material. Vaastu Shastra is creating a congenial settings or a place to live or work, in most scientific way taking advantages of the benefits bestowed by the five elements called "Paanchbhootas" of the nature thereby paving the way for enhanced health, wealth, prosperity and happiness in an enlightened environment.

Our sages and seers have knew the secrets of using all the five elements of this universe and their special characteristics and influences such as the magnetic field, gravitational effect etc. of Earth, the galaxy in the sky, the directions and velocity of the winds, light and heat of the SUN including the effects of its Ultra-Violet and Infra-Red rays, the volume and intensity of rainfall etc. for the advantage of the mankind in suitably planning and constructing buildings for dwelling, prayer, entertainment , education , working , production and other purposes . They evolved scientific methods and systems and confined them over the years as 'VAASTU SHASTRA'. Our sages SEARCHED it; we are only RESEARCHING it and building the concepts.

Man is the subject, object and the cause of architecture. He perceives and conceives architecture in relation to his experience of himself with the surrounding world. Through art of design, he alters and moulds the elements of natural environment. The world comprises of five basic elements, also known as the Paanchbhootas. They are Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space. Out of the nine planets, our planet has life because of the presence of these five elements. Earth and Water have limited and localized availability for the human habitat and growth. They form apparent and fundamental choice makers in the location and the physical form of architecture and habitat. Sun, Air and Space are universally available and can be moulded to human needs by the act of design. In order to understand the act of design with these five elements, we shall have to take each one separately to appreciate their meaning, role, and workability in architecture.

DESIGNER TABLES

2009-11-30T23:51:00.000-08:00

COLOUR SCHEME FOR SMALL SPACE

2009-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Finding a Color Scheme

If you feel helpless when it comes to picking and blending colors, your answer could be as far away as your nearest pillow. Here is a quick way to create a color scheme for your home with PICK - SEE -LMD .

PICK a Pattern: Starting with a pattern is the easiest way to create a color palette for your decor. Choose a pattern from any object you already have and love such as a pillow, picture or piece of furniture. This will be your color palette !

SEE 3 Colors: Select a light, medium and dark color from your pattern to be used as your foundation. You may want to go to a hardware store and select color chips from the paint department that match your pattern to carry with you in case you come across a great find and need to know if it matches.

LMD: Light, Medium and Dark - How you use these colors can affect the overall appearance of your room.

Light- Is the Background- this is usually easy to achieve since most rentals are equipped with light to off-white walls.
Medium- Large furniture and windows - Since the color of these objects will blend with the above lighter selection, the medium furniture will ground the room and give it a foundation.
Darker- Accessories. Since your eye is drawn to a darker more intense color you will be able to arrange you accessories in a manner to guide the eye flowing through your room.

PICK - SEE - LMD Use it whenever you are trying to pull together a color coordinated room!

By Tammy Jo Schoppet

Choosing Color

Choosing the right colors is the first step to great interior design. It is not so easy to select the right color of paint or wallpaper or the right carpet color to deliver the desired results. All too often, a color that looks ideal on a small paint sample erupts into a different color when you apply it to a wall. A subdued light champagne yellow paint color turns into a screeching sour lemon yellow on the walls, an olive carpet winds up brown, and a very light tint of any paint color turns out white. Interior design colors in an office space must also be mindful of the mood they will convey. Some studies have shown that colors can play a significant role in how we feel and the energy we have.

Factors Influencing the Use of Color

Here are some factors influencing the use of color in space design:

The time of day the area will be used the most
The type of light it will receive
The relation of colors surrounding it
The size of the area
The purpose of the space

Color and light go hand in hand in interior designing. Each type of light bulb furnishes a different color accentuation. Halogen is very close to the full spectrum of sunlight while incandescent lamps are on the warm, orange scale. Fluorescent lamps are usually more blue (though some are called full-spectrum). It is important to see your color choice in the lamps to be used. Each will show the color in a different way.

Three Basic Elements

Here are the three basic elements to color and interior design:

Hue - the color itself - Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, etc.
Value - the relative lightness or darkness of a color, whiteness or blackness.
Intensity - the saturation or brightness of a color.

The mixture of these design elements induces psychological and emotional reactions. Surrounding colors support various moods and activities, from resting and dreaming to socializing and working. It's best to consider carefully the requirements of the space to create a successful interior design.

General Categories of Color

Colors fall into three general categories:

Warm
Cool
Neutral

The way we mix those colors along with attention to value, can enhance the use of color in interior design and communicate explicit messages. Warm colors in interior design convey excitement and energy. Cool colors are calming and relaxing. Neutral colors are unifying and help us to focus better. Different spaces within a home or office may need different colors depending on the purpose of the space. Interior design colors in office design can be essential to the image and mood that is created thus helping productivity and enriching aesthetics.

Color Psychology

When selecting interior paint colors, it is important to consider the emotional effects of the chosen color design. Color psychology is the examination of colors and their influences on mental and physical states. While many interior designers utilize principles of color psychology when working with clients, there are also color consultants who specialize in color matching and the selection of interior paint colors.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Designer

Do you need to hire a designer for your project?
That depends... on you , on your available free time, patience, creativity or lack thereof, list of resources, interest, and much more.
Here are some guidelines to help you decide if you should hire a professional.

You might want to hire a professional designer if...

You have little or no free time to coordinate and shop for home decor items.
You feel completely overwhelmed by the number of choices available.
You need help with space planning, lighting design, kitchen layouts, or bathroom renovations.
You want someone else to deal with the hassles of ordering, shipping, coordinating, and installing.
You want to have quality work done but don't have your own list of reliable workmen, installers, and resources.
You've tried to decorate your home and have purchased a few nice items, but really need help pulling it all together.
You want a cohesive color scheme and design that can be carried throughout your home.
You think you have pretty good taste, but would like to move up a few notches in style.
You've torn out photos of rooms you like, but are unsure of how to coordinate some of the elements.
You and your partner can't seem to agree on anything for your home.
You've found a gorgeous sofa in a decorating magazine, but it's available "to the trade" only.
You want some custom designed furniture, cabinetry, fireplaces, built-ins, murals, faux finishes, etc.
You don't know what new products, fabrics, or appliances are available that might be used for your project.
Your bonus finally came through and you want something new, something different, something fabulous.
You have a new job and now need to upgrade your home for corporate entertaining.
Your home is from a particular period, has a specific style, or has an unusual design and you need assistance in selecting appropriate furnishings.
You're tired of buying things here and there without an overall plan.
You're very creative but don't know where to start with your current decorating project.
You'd like more choices in fabrics, flooring, and furniture than are available in local stores.
You've never seen a source for the look you really wantfor your home.
You're planning to build a new home and are wondering if any interior specifications should be changed before work begins.
You've seen the "perfect" room in a decorator show house and would like to hire that designer to help you.

The Mind and Color

Because it is a fairly new area of investigation, color psychology is looked at with some hesitation by the majority of psychologists. This is often because cultures around the world can have conflicting meanings for the same colors. However, ancient cultures such as the Chinese and Egyptians did believe in the healing powers of color and their effects on well-being.

Color consultants have also observed emotional reactions to colors in addition to physical responses. Because of these effects, color consultants feel that interior paint colors can have a considerable influence on the inhabitants of any space. The process of color matching based on each client's situation will result in custom combinations of interior paint colors.

The basic categories used by color consultants include:

Warm colors - red, orange, and yellow.
Cool colors - blue, green, and violet.
Neutral colors - white, black, and gray.

The Effects of Color

As color consultants analyze a client's personal interior design style, there are specific criteria that are used to ensure proper color matching for each client's needs. Here are some of the commonly accepted mental and physical connotations of interior paint colors:

Red

Positive - passion, love, excitement, fire, strength, courage.
Negative - anger, war, danger.
Effects - increased respiration, blood pressure, appetite, and metabolism.

Orange

Positive - happiness, endurance, stimulation, enthusiasm, determination, attraction.
Negative - heat.
Effects - increased mental activity, appetite, and energy.

Yellow

Positive - cheerfulness, sunshine, energy, joy, intelligence, honor.
Negative - deception, cowardice, caution.
Effects - increased mental activity, awareness, and energy.

Blue

Positive - tranquility, loyalty, truth, depth, confidence, trust, sincerity, expertise, masculinity.
Negative - depression, solemnity, coldness.
Effects - increased calm and satisfaction.

Green

Positive - safety, nature, restfulness, growth, fertility, harmony, newness, security, money.
Negative - greed, envy, jealousy, ignorance.
Effects - improved healing and relaxation.

Violet

Positive - power, wealth, dignity, royalty, luxury, magic, wisdom, drama, mystery, ambition, creativity, femininity.
Negative - snobbery, gloominess.
Effects - increased creativity and intuition.

White

Positive - cleanliness, innocence, purity, kindness, light, simplicity.
Negative - chilliness, sterility, emptiness.
Effects - increased sense of sophistication and sanitation.

Black

Positive - formality, night, elegance, mystery, prestige, power.
Negative - evil, death, fear, grief, depression.
Effects - increased sense of sophistication and depth.

Gray

Positive - wisdom, atonement, intelligence, industry, futuristic.
Negative - dreariness, storminess, boredom.
Effects - increased sense of sophistication and calm.