First things first, time to announce the lucky winner of the shoe ottoman...sure hope its going to someone who looooves her shoes:) So the lucky winner is (chosen via random.org).......
Result: #97
Congratulations, please
email me to claim your prize! More fun giveaways coming up...
Also if you missed my "last supper" over at Haus Design, you must see it! Click here.
Sorry but I have added word verification temporarily to hopefully ward off these pesty anonymous solicitors...its driving me crazy! I must get 50-75 a day!
OK whether you have been following along with me for a year or 2 days you know one thing, actually lets make it two. No, three. I love food, I love blue and white and I love chinoiseire! I am really excited to be just getting started on finally choosing it for my long neglected dining room. I am the kind of person that knows exactly what i want. If it means having to wait to get it...wait I will.
I am not one to easily compromise, and feel that all great things come to those who wait. So in my travels...I have been pursuing lots of pictures of chinoiserie and have included some of my favorites here. Do you like it? Love it? I feel its so timeless. It was as beautiful 100 years ago as it is today and as it will be in another 100 years. Not too many things you can say that about! So lets take a look, have a fave?
And for anyone who cares to know the history of chinoiserie and its origins and namely how it became so popular and iconic, read on...(taken from Kravets website)
The Western fascination with all things Oriental began in the mid
17th century with trade between Europe and China.Imported arts and
crafts had an exciting and different beauty from those made in the west,
especially Chinese porcelain and lacquer. In the early 18th century,
the term “chinoiserie” was used to describe the European fantasy vision
of China and the Far East. It is actually a French word for “Chinesery”
or “Chinese-esque.”
It is an invented fusion of Asian motifs and European sophistication
created by designers and craftsmen in the West. Since they knew little
about far-off Asian cultures due to limited exposure, early chinoiserie
is characterized by the use of imagery of a China that could only be
imagined with pagodas, fabulous birds, monkeys, dragons and figures in
exotic costumes. Decorative scenes may show a mythological creature in
an oriental landscape, or an elegant lady with a Chinese parasol and
Parisian hairstyle. Chinoiserie is often eccentric but most of all it is
a fun mixture of fact and fiction of what seemed incredibly exotic to
the people of Europe.
This new playful style was popularized when the French court of Louis
XV found the curves and whimsy of chinoiserie integrated beautifully
with Rococo architectural features. It soon spread throughout Europe and
could be found in the interiors and gardens of the royal palaces.
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| Stunning and elegant....Albert Hadley |
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| Ahh, the blues do it every time.Miles Redd |
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| A fun mix with an old classic, Miles Redd |
De Gournay at its most elegant. Stunning!
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| This is what I call a happy bedroom! Nick Olsen | | | |
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| Grand, baby grand!Yves St. Laurent |
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| Love the colors.....imagine at sunset! Chinoiserie Chic |
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| Big fan of green! Miles Redd |
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| Always been a fan of this gorgeous room in New Orleans....Alexa Hampton |
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| Metallics bring the ultimate glam factor! |
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| Elizabeth Dinkel used a gorgeous green to give a pop of color in this fabulous home |
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| This soft gray/green remains one of my personal faves! Chad Thomas |
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| Elegance personified. Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles |
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| The soft golds are timeless and neutral....NSR |
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| Really love this metallic.....spectacular!NSR |
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| Even works in transitional rooms...... |
Stunning in this bathroom...talk about making a statement! Arch Digest
OMG, for a blue and white lover like myself....this is seriously Nirvana!
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| Neutrals work with literally any color...totally timeless! Griffin and Wong |
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| LOVE the handblocking detail...makes it feel old |
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| So opulent and magnificent, don't you think! |
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| Adore this hallway, the neutral panels, the rich warm woods, the neutral soft billow drapes....perfect!! |
And some of the ones I love and am considering...have a fave?
Always loved this one which looks tea stained from DeGournay....beautiful!
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| Love the softness and am a sucker for birds.....Stark |
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| This is simple and understated, Stark |
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| Adore this pattern, Kew Garden from Paul Montgomery |
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| Long been on my "faves" list, Gracie |
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| Paul Montgomery This one would work mighty well with my dining room rug, though I would opt for more open field and less leaves/blossoms......this would be beautiful handblocked. |
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| This feels so fresh and alive, Paul Montgomery |
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| A more tonal approach, Paul Montgomery |
Well it this doesn't make you a lover of it....don't think its in the cards. I personally cannot get enough! So beautiful, grand, elegant, timeless.....loooove it! What do you think? Would you ? Could you? Or do you have it in your life? Love to hear your thoughts! Wishing you a wonderful day!
'
I love chinoiserie, too, and I think this is such a pretty post that I've bookmarked it. Thanks for putting it together for us!
ReplyDeletexo,
RJ
Oh Tina, Tina, Tina! Those first three photos are my favorites, especially that one lone golden chair with the delicious blue velvet seat! YES!
ReplyDeleteYour style and taste is exquisite my friend. SO LOVELY. Did you see my email inquiring about the cake stand? I wonder if you ever come across such lovelies. Let me know if you ever do.
ENJOY THE DAY! Anita
Gorgeous all of them but the Gracie steels my heart every time....
ReplyDeleteLove the beautiful elegant formality of the chinoiseries. I could live with any of them.
ReplyDeletevery beautifull ...zuber has nice things also...
ReplyDeleteTina I love chinoiserie and never knew the full history so thank you for including that short synopsis! Very interesting. It is so beautiful. Cannot wait to see what you choose. I love Paul Montgomery products, my mother in law did her foyer with them and its spectacular. I love those soft blues and greens too. Great post, full of eye candy. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteWhen I come to visit you Tina, I am always weak in the knees! You pull together the most gorgeous images!!! The Chad Thomas looks like you!!! All beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDear Tina,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I wanted to let you know that I am so sorry for not having commented on so many of your beautiful blogposts lately! You have to know I am so busy and I can't find the time to comment other blog s these days! And I want to thank you for your lovely comments on my posts! You are a gem!
Tina, this post of you here is gorgeous! Me too I am a chinoiserie lover and especially the blue and white is my favorite! I have noticed that in the US chinoiserie wall paper is more often used than in Belgium. They all want to have the chalk paint on the wall, which is certainly not always the right finish for certain rooms. The chinoiserie is chic! I love it and I will use it in future projects. You gave me lots of inspiration today! Thank you very much! Enjoy your week! Is it snowing too?
xx
Greet
I think it is more elegant than chintz or toile but it also seems harder to find. Toile seems very common these days making Chinoiserie all that much more eye catching when one comes across it in a home.
ReplyDeleteI think I have gone from a casual admirer to a lover of it now.
p.s., after a quick search on Amazon and at my local library's online search engine, there doesn't seem to be much information about this lovely art form. Any suggestions on how/where, one may obtain more information?
ReplyDeleteGood morning, my friend!
ReplyDeleteStunning post. Wonderful images and info. I must say that I find it to be a little too formal for my house, but I can see using it on my projects. It elevates the entire room.
Wishing you a great Tuesday!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Just love the Kew Gardens....! I have always been a fan of Stark but these latest Paul Montgomery designs have made me a convert.
ReplyDeleteThanks for another wonderful post!
These are gorgeous, Tina! And just the inspiration I need to think about finishing my powder room. To all you design gurus - any thoughts on which of these might look good with Verde green marble? Also, what do you think about these in a small room?
ReplyDeleteDid you get snow there? None at all here...Enjoy your day and try to stay warm!! xoxoxox
Formal, elegant.. just gorgeous Tina. I like the metallic, gold with it and the dinning room tables with the dark wood showcase the look. Thanks for sharing Tina ~ enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteTina...I adore this look. My favorite is the Kew Garden....gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent, Tina! Pinned a lot of these.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, I painted the ATL room in oil for class a while back. Love it.
Just so much chinoiserie here to choose from. I LOVE!
Teresa
xoxo
What lovely examples. I am especially fond of the Elizabeth Dinkel room!
ReplyDeleteI love it in a grand dining room, in a house like yours! :) Thanks again for your beautiful post yesterday!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful Tina, I didn't know the history of chinoiserie, only that I like it a great deal. Your primer on its history is outstanding. My favorite might be the "happy room," it's so spirited and fun, but I also adore the Kew Garden, it is *amazing*!
ReplyDeleteSending you a smile,
tp
Hi Tina! I would be overjoyed in any of these gorgeously decorated spaces, but Albert Hadley is definitely my favorite! So excited about all of your new Chinoiserie tole pieces and splurged on the wastebasket and one of the sconces this morning. The hardest part was making a decision as everything is too beautiful! I need a bigger house!! Thanks for so much wonderful inspiration, Lisa L.
ReplyDeleteI like it! I love it! Always have, always will! And, I am loving the metallic that you featured! I can't wait to see your application of chinoiserie in your dining room!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see chinoiserie I think of you! Lovely post :)
ReplyDeleteStacy
Tina,
ReplyDeleteI love chinoiserie! Each of your selections is beautiful, I love them all. I am looking forward to seeing how your room is transformed!
Sorry to hear you did not get any snow...hopefully this week. Stay warm it is bitter out there!
Have a great day! Elizabeth
Beautiful..no wonder you are having such a hard time choosing.
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the pictures. My favorite however, is DeGournay. It is a little less subtle but has just the right amount of blue. It does have the antique/tea stained look which sets it aside.As always, this was a wonderful blog.
So beautiful and elegant. I also love the ones with less branches, leaves and blossoms.....more open fields. And I love the ones with birds. Definitely with birds. Thanks for all the inspirations, Tina.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Loi
Oh it is quite elegant and beautiful and I think I first noticed it in my younger days in furniture ~black and gold. Seeing the soft pale blues and greens are just stunning in rooms with gilt mirrors for decoration. Remember my guest post for you a year ago I handpainted a chinoiserie scene on a tole lamp in icy blues and beige? So you know i am in the club that likes me some chinoiserie!! Interesting to see that Greet mentioned in Belgium everyone wants chalk paint on their walls...I have been playing around with that myself in the store on my walls. I love it. Hope you are getting through winter keeping busy with your home and shop.
ReplyDeleteAmazing and wish you were doing this post when I picked our wall paper... Well I may have to wallpaper more rooms ... So tempting me Tina!
ReplyDeleteHugs z
Also loving Paul Montgomery best! I may redo our power room!(:
ReplyDeleteI have ogled over that entryway picture with the black and white tile and green chinoiserie wallpaper in the background FOREVER!
ReplyDeleteI love it as well! Maybe one day I can add it to a small small in my home!
ReplyDeleteI will admit that for a long time I was in the closet about Chinoiserie! But so glad I came out because it truly makes me happy! As does anything bamboo along WITH chinoiserie! Somehow…in a post very soon I will post all the things in my house that involve Chinoiserie! If nothing else, I've learned how to spell it! LOL! I inherited a lot of it…and that helped my love for it grow as well as my appreciation for it! maybe that will also be a post one day! Inheritance and Chinoiserie!! And how to spell it! hope you are having a wonderful week so far…I am so stinking glad to be back reading blogs I can't even stand it!
ReplyDeleteLove it all! Especially the Stark and Paul Montgomery. Your dining room will be stunning!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis whole post is just so so sooooo fabulous! I honestly don't know how you decide. I would have to cover my eyes and point because they are all so beautiful. I can't wait to see what you do! It's my dream to get at least some panels to frame someday.
ReplyDeleteYES!! I absolutely positively LOVE it all. I think de Gournay and Gracie are my favorites. Whatever you choose will be divine and I cannot wait to see!!
ReplyDeleteI doubt I could ever convince my hibby to do wallpaper agin. We had grasscloth in the last house for mANY years, and I loved it. Since we KNOW we are staying here forever, maybe he would come around??? EVERY one of these is beautiful, and whatever you choose will be perfect. I would choose a very neutral for the dining room since I like to do alot of different tablescapes. XO, pinky
ReplyDeleteTina, I love, love your posts, and I love chinoiserie! Have my eye on a gorgeous pattern for my powder room. I'm with you when it comes to waiting for the perfect design (of anything). It is so much sweeter when you finally find it and install it! Still think we are kindred spirits! Carol P.
ReplyDeleteQuestions for you... in your faves, can you give me more info on #4 and #6. The both feature white eqrets. I think #4 may be "Gracie". Do you have the pattern #s and manufacturers for both of these? Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete