Louis XIII, His Chair and Furniture, But Not His Cognac, In a Nutshell (plus Sally Bowles)

Louis XIII Cognac

The real Louis 13 had nothing to do with the cognac first produced in the 1870s. Our Louis was long dead by then. Just thought it would be an example of his influence through the ages. 

Or clever marketing. You decide.

The style of furniture associated with Louis 13 emerges around 1589, but monarch Louis 13's reign begins in 1610, he's 9 years old. Mom, Maria de Medici

Just look at that standing lace collar. And the pearls.

appoints Cardinal Richelieu as chief advisor. In historical references we can relate to, it is the time of Descartes, Galileo, and the Three Musketeers.

The 3 Musketeers from The Man in the Iron Mask.
I'm sure they drank cognac, and other libations.

Louis 13 style furniture is characterized by rectangular shapes, usually in oak or walnut.

Can't see a monarch sitting here but can easily envision 
Jeremy Irons, quill to vellum, at this table bureau. 
Via http://merlin.allegheny.edu/employee/a/acarr/anjouhistory/louisxiii.html

Turnings play a big role, barley twist like above, and the baluster style below.

http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/

In contrast to later French styles, Louis 13 seems rustic, even charming. Not a glint of gilt.

Some of this is the normal evolution of style and technology, but mostly, in my opinion, it was economic.

With apologies to Mr. Fosse, "....a franc, a yen, a buck or a pound...."

I am neither economist nor historian, merely an observer/googler of world events. Here's the condensed version.

• Shortly after Louis 13 takes the throne, Europe is engulfed in the 30 Years' War (1618-1648).
• When Louis 13 was 19 he personally led the expedition that took La Rochelle. 
• Then he declared war on Spain in 1635.
• Civilians die in obscene numbers.
• Louis raises taxes; war is expensive.
• Louis' subject rebel which leads to civil war.
• Louis now has two wars on his plate.
• Louis dies in 1643 at the young age of 42, and five years before The Peace.

In a nutshell: 

Louis 13 spent his entire adult life in a state of war;

furniture was not a priority.

Has this 400 year old style filtered down to today? 

Yes and no. Furniture mass marketers have pushed Mid-Century modern to the point of exclusion of any other style. Millenials see nothing but Mid-Century and so it has become their style. 

Those willing to look beyond the last century and into the past can still find plenty of inspiration and options.

Like this nice set of 12 mid-20th century Louis 13 style chairs on 1stDibs. We could easily change the fabric.

1st dibs

And this clever mix of styles and textures from a 2008 show house.

From Traditional Home.

A 17th Century French walnut buffet a deux corps (two cases, or bodies, one over the other) from Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge, Alabama. It has presence.

Fireside Antiques on The Highboy.

I certainly do not advocate doing an entire room in any one particular style. But, a single piece in a style from a bygone era lends character and interest. 

What do you think. Love it, hate it, need it, on the fence? Own it?

Click here for the next Louis in a Nutshell, the 14th.

Thanks for reading,

Linda Pakravan

go ask alice

If you are heading in to New York anytime before May 31st, download  "White Rabbit" and then check out Will Ryman's rose art installed on the Park Ave medians between 57 and 67th streets.

Installation was completed this past weekend.

The bumble bee atop this 25 foot stem is reported to be the size of a Smart car.

Mr. Ryman checking the footings of one of his sculptures.

Images via New York Social Diary. Read the article here: http://www.nysocialdiary.com/node/1905027

I'm so glad it's on Park, not Fifth.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

The Louis XVI Style in Modern Settings

Straight legs and a fairly stiff looking back are two of defining elements of a Louis 16 style chair.

These characteristic make Louis 16 the easiest style to incorporate in today's lifestyle and decor.

A nice example of a pair of gilded Louis 16 chairs in a modern setting. The arched style of the seat back is called "en chapeau", -- a hat.

Kirstin Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford via House Beautiful

Leather upholstery gives a modern presence to this beautiful Louis 16 bed and bench. Elegant. Unfussy. I like it.

Via Echevarria.

So do you think you could do a Louis XVI?

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

The Louis XVI Chair

The list of Louis peppering French history is long. Five have furniture named after them: the Louis XIII, XIV, XV,  XVI and Louis-Philippe.

I think the easiest one to recognize is Louis 16. The one married to Kirsten Dunst?

Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI's Queen.

I like the number instead of Louis' Roman Numerals. No one has complained (so far), and after all these years my brain does not instantly register XVI as 16.

To identify a Louis 16 style chair or bench, check the leg first. Stick straight, a slight taper, more often than not, fluted.


A 16's chair back will be flatish, round or square. The frame of the back is frequently carved.


A reproduction of a Tilliard chair from Artistic Frame.
Let me know who focuses on the fabric first, or the frame first.

Or sometimes not.

Another Artistic Frame chair. I like the light finish with the black leather upholstery.
No nonsense, slightly masculine, nice lines.
Although this chair looks a tad stern, the pitch of the back would make it a comfortable dining chair.

Arm chairs have little pads.

Antique from Glustin, Paris

And a "square block" at the top of the leg where it meets the rail which is almost always carved with a flower, acanthus leaves, a diamond or disk:

also from Glustin, Paris

From Ave Home.

Lastly, if all the above plus it looks like it may not be the most comfortable chair in the room, then a Louis 16 it is.

Contemporary interpretations of 16's add cushions, thank you, an ottoman, also very nice, a light waxed or painted finish, a restrained use of gold gilding, or none at all.

 From Decorative Crafts.

All of these tweaks lend Louis 16 a very livable style that mixes well with modern.


Atlanta designer Kathryn Williams' triplets hanging out in the living room. Via Traditional Home.



A very calm palette. A great example of mixing modern with traditional styles.

Technically, Ms. Williams' chairs are Gustavian. Traditional Home explains that Sweden's King Gustav III, a contemporary of Louis the 16th, loved the style, commissioned furniture from Swedish cabinet makers who promptly lightened up the look, but kept the lines.

What's your take on 16 style? Love it? Hate it? Own it?

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

Mid Century Modern Chairs for Kids

Excluding family, my love for chairs is undying.

Lately I've been looking at chairs for children.

Once baby is out of the crib, thoughts turn to redecorating the nursery, or making a play room.



Or adding a child-size chair to the family room, preferably comfortable.

If you're a fan of mid-century icons, you'll be thrilled with these well made, classic inspired chairs from littlenest. Intended for children 3 and up, this furniture doesn't disappoint. Transcending time, these chairs will be as stylish when your children's children arrive as they were when the originals were first introduced a half century ago.

Do you love mid-century moderns? Want full size ones for your home?
Hate that time period (the 1950's and 60's)?
Or does this style conjure up Mad Men episodes?
What are your thoughts on un-licensed replicas like these?
This post was not sponsored by littlenest.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

good comfort

It's cold outside.

Are you thinking about a new warm comforter?

Even if you're not, this is a great cause. Buy one of The Company Store's comforters and they'll donate one to a homeless child.     

Source for the statistics: National Center on Family Homelessness

Think about it.
And thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

Color and Drama

Frank Hodge of FD Hodge Interiors did this calm, sophisticated room for last summer's Museums of Old York Showhouse. I love the upholstered shutters and the skirted 4 foot square ottoman.

photo from NewEngland Design magazine

I met with my calm and sophisticated clients on Sunday and they made several decisions on their media room. They love Mr. Hodge's big, tailored ottoman, but need a little more color and drama.

This fabulous printed linen, Zanzibar in Cerulean, from Schumacher fits the color and drama requirements and will be displayed beautifully on a big ottoman.

The clients have yet to visit Zanzibar but they love the islands; they connected with this fabric immediately. Here's a cutting of Zanzibar on the sofa fabric.

The room needs additional lighting and a pair of these Moderne II sconces from  Frederick Cooper will hang behind one "L" of the sectional sofa.

There's an office with a comfortable club chair that can be seen from the media room. This metal garden stool adds an exotic touch and doubles as the chair's side table.



photo via Horchow



We also decided on a wool sisal area rug, some additional cabinetry for the kitchen, and a list of small items.

I'll post pictures after the upholsterer finishes the ottoman. I can't wait to see the room complete.

Are you brave enough to do a big print like this? Prefer something smaller? Less colorful? Are you a "solids" only? Would love to hear your comments.

Thanks for reading.

Linda Pakravan

Intense Color

This post was not sponsored by Osborne and Little or the Flemings Mayfair Hotel.

No sooner do I send off my last post, Color Consults, and this comes in. Rich, intense color.

Jewel tones in The Cocktail Bar at the Flemings Mayfair Hotel.

HospitalityDesign's article on the newly renovated Flemings Mayfair Hotel in London. A velvety, art deco jewel box gilded with a few sharp angles, lots of curves and a a smattering of florals. If anyone is travelling to, through, or from London and has a moment to spare, duck in and let us know if the pictures do it justice!

The other end of the Cocktail Bar

The Front Room, Osborne and Little velvets on the sofa.

Champagne and Cupcake Tea are served in the Front Room.

A Guest Room.

The following from GS Magazine via HospitalityDesign: (pictures from the Flemings Mayfair website)

For the restoration of Flemings Mayfair, London-based designer Grant White "wanted to re-capture and then re-invent the golden age of Mayfair." "New Flemings is a celebration of style: the English have always had a flair for understated elegance and extracting service, for glamour which purrs rather than shrieks, and that is what we set out to create an elegant luxurious cocoon," he says.

Flemings Mayfair Hotel has retained all the comfort and old world charm for which it is renowned, but the more expected chintzy floral designs, often associated with English Georgian interiors, have been playfully replaced with over-sized classic furniture shapes spiked with striking contemporary colors.
Indeed.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

Saturated Color

Our storm is officially a blizzard! We have at least 24" of snow at 4 PM and it is still coming down. But I am more than happy the power is still on.

Back in October I blogged about coral popping up in Spring 2011 fashions. NeimanMarcus sent this email today.

Color bursting forth in fashion is always good news. Models bursting forth in smiles? I'll go out on a limb and predict we'll have quite the wait for that news flash.

Here's a round up of current (yesterday and today) color thinking from the interior design world.

Heather Clawson, an up and coming New York designer, has impeccable taste and writes an excellent blog, HABITUALLY CHIC. Here's Heather's take on the emergence of green this Spring:

"I thought it was interesting that Pantone chose Honeysuckle, a pink shade, as their Color of the Year for 2011.  The color that keeps catching my attention in both fashion and design is green.  It ranges from peacock to emerald but looks elegant and interesting in every shade.  ...it seems every designer sent green down their runway.  Green is definitely good!"

Heather showed this runway shot from Michael Kors' Spring show, and some great examples of green interiors.

Just before Christmas I did a client's powder room in green, Schumacher's "Toile Florissante" wallpaper, color Peridot. I love this paper. http://www.fschumacher.com/ 

Like many old houses in New England, the powder room is tucked under the stairs. The installer, Dan Moynihan, did a fabulous job on the curves and angles of this corner and ceiling line.

A quick check of on-line retailers reveals their "new" items.

The Williams Sonoma roster of brands plays it safe:Pottery Barn

Williams Sonoma Home

West Elm

Design Within Reach http://www.dwr.com/ covers the spectrum. Latest catalog announces "Modern color: from black to white to everything in between".

  The cover is certain to appeal to our friends in graphic design...lots of white space...but flip to page 38-39 for the "plum" story.

Flor, http://www.flor.com/, one of my favorite sources for stylish and eco-responsible modular carpet and rugs also takes the brave plunge with "Making Waves" in Pink.

Love the texture.

So what's the real color story? I won't presume to know other than it is an evolving tale which I will happily report on from time to time.

I'd love to hear your take on intense color. Would you wear it? Use it in your home? In a big way, like a chair, a rug? Or add it as an accent, like a throw pillow or vase? Love it? Hate it? 

Thanks for reading,

Linda Pakravan