The New Eighteenth-Century Style: Rediscovering a French Décor (Hardcover)

~ Michele Lalande (Author), Gilles Trillard (Photographer), Laurel Hirsch (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whoever said “Everything old is new again” could have been talking about French Pompadour Style. The flamboyant, opulent, refined aesthetic—so characteristic of the eighteenth century—has enjoyed a spectacular revival in recent years. In The New Eighteenth-Century Style, journalist Michèle Lalande and photographer Gilles Trillard, both experts in the field of interior décor, survey 30 examples of this quintessential blending of exquisite detail and ostentatious affluence. From lush velvet upholstery to the emblematic use of turquoise with gold accents, these perfectly captured interiors beguile the reader with well-worn extravagance. In an era of “shabby chic” the more refined, more pristine accents of Pompadour may be just what the world of interior décor needs—and this beautiful book provides an indispensable guide.

About the Author

Michèle Lalande is a journalist and interior decorator. For many years she has been a regular contributor to various French and other foreign shelter magazines. Lalande lives in Paris.

Gilles Trillard has been a freelance photographer for 25 years, based in Paris. His work is regularly published in Elle Décoration, Côté-Ouest, Côté-Est, and Campagne et Décoration.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc." (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810954966
• ISBN-13: 978-0810954960
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,879 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #14 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Folk Art
  #33 in	Books > Home & Garden > Interior Design > Professional Reference
  #41 in	Books > Home & Garden > Interior Design > Style

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dangerous Liasons, February 8, 2007

By	Valorie Hart "Visual Vamp" (The City That Care Forgot) - See all my reviews

This is a pretty, pretty book with lots of great stuff to look it, lots of interesting vignettes. It's French shabby, chippy _hit, uh, I mean chic. This was a great trend in the mid 1990's here in the USA before Rachel A. made shabby and chic a brand. Big style on a budget using detrius no one wanted. And it was cheap back then. Just took a can of white paint to chic up everything.
These French 18th century and 18th century inspired objets in this book, are not cheap. They are shabby and they are beautiful. The vignettes look like the Broadway stage set for the play Dangerous Liasons - decay, messy, artful, romantic, monochromatic and mad.
Like many decor books, the vignettes are impossible to see as life like - like does anyone really live in these vignettes. Still, they are beautiful to look at. The new 18th century style is a little like the new emperor's clothes. Smoke and mirrors to the highest degree of accomplishment. Get this book for the fun of it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, April 3, 2007

By	Kimberly Jo (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

I'm an artist & antique collector and not an interior designer by trade, so I am totally enjoying this book. I find it to be a lovely book full of great photography and many interesting details to spark one's imagination. Regardless of the fact that all the styles are not necessarily my own taste, the book as a whole is great fun to look at and I found it inspiring. Each time I looked at a room, I found some new little detail that I'd missed the first time around. It made me itch to re-vamp a room, stat, and I consider anything that inspires me or makes me feel creative money well spent.

32 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars French Flea Market (if you like that look), November 1, 2006

By	Another reader (USA) - See all my reviews

More like Madame Pompadour is probably rolling over in her grave. I hope to goodness gracious that this isn't the new 18th century style. If you like 18th century style on a seriously tight budget then you may enjoy this book. It's full of pages of colorless 'schemes', seriously abused furniture and icy cold lighting. Was it all photographed in rooms with Northern exposure? The editors of Veranda will love this book. I am an interior designer who collects period 18th century furniture and art. I have truly studied 18th century furniture, decorative arts and customs for years and this is a popular look although I find it horribly depressing. On the positive side - the photography in this book is very well done. If you like French flea market 'junk' then you'll love this. I gave it a 4 vs. a 2 because the quality of the book is excellent and the photography is excellent but much of my disdain for this book is from this horrendous & prevalent style that I wish would go away.