Furniture Episode 2...

Last week the first of two containers of furniture arrived from overseas. We were, unfortunately, less than impressed with the state in which it arrived with several mirrors and chairs broken. We still have to unwrap everything to check the rest of the pieces. It's lucky we paid for insurance for transporting the goods. We assume that the state in which it arrived (see below) was the result of the NZ company who freighted it from the port to us (as I can't see a furniture company packing it like this in a container). The driver and his co-workers seem as dumbfounded as were were!

The rest of the furniture we commissioned was similarly based upon Chippendale designs...

Above: Oriental Chippendale bed designs.

Below: Baroque Chippendale bed designs.

Below: Our melange of oriental and baroque...

The flash photography makes the gilding look garish, but it is water gilded the traditional way in warm honeyed hues of gold leaf, and the true colour of the blue silk is the same as seen in the photograph below, of a balloon chair for the same suite, The  Blenheim Suite. We had sourced the silk locally in NZ and couriered it to the furniture company over seas, so that it would match the drapes and wallpaper perfectly.

The over all effect will be to create a room similar to this...

Below: Chippendale designs for Chinese mirrors:

Below: An oriental styled mirror for the Blenheim Suite...

The Brideshead Suite, unlike the Chinese styling of the Blenheim, is an open suite with elegant baroque pieces...

Above: The bed in which newly-weds may spend their first night. It will be paired with a ceiling corona and drapery.

Below: The matching mirror.


and console table...

Then there is the Master Suite, with it's king sized mahogany baroque four poster...

Once dressed the bed will take on a more luxurious look..

as will William's matching cot (that is a story for another time)...

and his high-stool....

A Georgian Tall-boy for the Master Suite...

The Chatsworth suite is the most barqoue styled suite. Its bed has more carving on the four poster...

and will be dressed in red and gold velvet damask...


An escritoire for the Chatsworth Suite...

and coffee table...

Below: Various Chippendale designs for cabinetry and desks...

Above: Various designs for commodes.

Below: Some of the designs for desks. The last design is similar to that of a desk at Nostell Priory.

My desk is based on a Victorian design, the reasons explained here. 

We have had four red chairs made for my study, to match the leather inlay on the desk, and four green chairs for Peter's study, to match the inlay on his desk...

The end result is very House of Lords vs House of Commons. I guess we will have to have Black Rod verge us from one study to the other!

Occasional Pieces.

Here are some designs for small pieces, chests and occasional furniture by Thomas Chippendale...

Above: Tea Chests. Below: Sconces.

Above: For over-mantels for doorways or beds.

Below:  Some Gerandoles.

Below: Final occasional furniture for around the manor...

A couple of wine tables like this one above, and side tables like the one below:

Below: A 3 piece suite for the upstairs landing. The design is a little more out there, but we think it will work well with the artwork there.

Above and Below: Two drum tables, the top one for the foyer and the bottom one for the China Room.

Above and Below: Chesterfield styled leather suite for the Salon (2 sofas and 2 chairs).

Finally, two sweet display cases...