Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Seeing Stars

My favorite building I visited while in Paris was the Palais Garnier or Paris Opera House. Read the history of the building and see the library in my post HERE and the main performance space HERE. One of the small anti-chambers in the main public space was this incredible small jewel of a room which I spent a good 10 minutes in. The ceiling was painted black with silver leafed stars and gilded rays emanating from a brass chandelier.
Even the mouldings were gilded and the black background and silver stars were
even more brilliant by contrast. I think this is a great solution for a small windowless room -why not provide your own view? I could especially see a dramatic treatment like this in a dining room or maybe even a screening room; the movie palaces of the 1920s come to mind.
The walls were a neutral french gray with gilded mouldings, as seen above with flash, but the dim ambiance of the space made them feel a more chocolate brown (below).
This goes to show that any space, no matter how small or of minor function, can be special!

15 comments:

A said...

Gorgeous!

Toby Worthington said...

This has got to be the most ravishing thing I've seen in a long time. Many thanks for sharing!

Karena said...

Stunning!! Stephan thank you for sharing with us! The Paris Opera House, how I would love to visit.

Renée Finberg said...

S

it is amazing.
great pics.
xx

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

The gold shooting stars really sing against the dark background.

Did you get a chance to visit Ste. Chapelle in Paris? The starry ceiling reminded me of it. Both spaces are absolutely magical.

Lauren

Laura Casey Interiors said...

Beautiful room and beautiful pictures. I remember the feeling I had when I went in there, just magical.

David said...

Spectacular. I don't know what else to say, other than I'm ready to go back.

the.neo.lifestyle said...

black and gold one of my favourites, it's like the napoleon III rooms in the Louvre, they are also fantastic.

thanks for sharing

David

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Indecorous, missed ste. Chapelle -so much to see in just one week!

Neo, also missed the Louvre proper (other than the decorative arts wing which we spent an afternoon in) -so many reasons to visit again SOON!

Visual Vamp said...

Well let's all get out the paint pots!!!
Seriously, this is beauty on a grand scale.
xo xo

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

So beautiful, again great pictures. Love all the gilt. la

Unknown said...

The gilded age of the French! Beautiful! Love the idea to create such a stunning focal point in an otherwise confined space!
I am always so amazed by all the attention to details in that period!

Have a wonderful weekend!
V.

Janet said...

Two posts in a row filled with gorgeous light! Just what we need at this time of the year. Love the Opera...so very masculine in a way.

Greet Lefèvre said...

I love all of the Garnier opera! Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!

Greet

Soma Pradhan said...

Did I die and go to heaven? This is sincerely one of the most luscious spaces I've ever seen.... Impressed you managed to pull yourself away after 10 mins.... :)