Jan
Saturday Salon: Redecorating
Lady B often talks about redecorating the ballroom so I thought I’d look for some ideas. Regency era ballroom pictures are quite hard to find. As a matter of fact, few London houses had dedicated ballrooms. Real estate was expensive and not everyone wanted to give balls as often as our own dear hostess. Instead, the largest reception room would be cleared of furniture and carpets and set up for dancing. The pictures I found to inspire Lady B may be later and of (gasp) foreign origin.
A Medieval German ball. Wonderful colors.
The dastardly French knew how to do things well. This one is 18th century
Accidents in Quadrille Dancing, 1817. Here’s one Lady B would recognize. I think the couple in the middle have been at the ratafia. I like the gallery but the room itself is very plain.
The Royal Palace, Belgrade. Now there’s a place for a grand ball. I’m seeing ladies in huge crinolines waltzing to Johann Strauss
And from the US, The Tutweiler Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. Southerners know how to party.
Vote in our poll for the one you think Lady B would like (or for your own preference!). Do you like to redecorate your home, or do you prefer to leave things as they are?
Jan 5, 2013
9:39 am
Where are the potted palms for hiding behind? Where are we to find the rakes of our hearts? I chose Birmingham as there is a balcony in which to watch the couples from. Also Albert has more room to fly and swoop down to get a lobster patty. Also the balcony will make an excellent diversion for teleportation.
I like to keep things they way they are since I don’t know what to do with the old stuff. So my house is a mish mash of stuff that doesn’t match. I need a decorator and a Good Will Truck!
Jan 5, 2013
12:18 pm
Good point on Albert and the balcony – also I LOVE the teleportation idea. Visiting authoresses and modern heroes can be brought in that way.
Re. your own “decorating” style – I prefer rooms that don’t match. I prefer them to develop organically.
Jan 5, 2013
1:15 pm
The potted plants are a necessity and I am certain Lady B would add them in regardless of the inspiration!
Jan 5, 2013
10:23 am
The French and the Belgrade ones are ones I picture Lady B’s ballroom to look like. As for the potted palms, I have always thought them to be in the corners, where the wallflowers have their chairs. In fact, some parties I think it would be more fun to be in that corner to find the latest gossip and goings on, as well as hopes and dreams for our heroines futures.
In my younger years, I bar hopped with a group of friends. At some part of the night, the boys would go off and leave the girls. We had one of the guys stay back with us and he said that he liked what girls talked about more than guys. Said that all guys talk about is cars and sports, but women talk about everything and anything – a lot more interesting.
Wonder where the billiards room is for those guys that were part of my group, they always had to find the pool table.
As for redecorating my own house, I wish I had the money to re-do our kitchen, but alas, we don’t. The rest of the house is fine and cozy. Though I wish I could find a dining room table to comfortably fit 12-14 people, our family with everyone there for Sunday dinners is just too small and so is the house. My niece said that if she could get a house, she would make sure the living room could comfortably fit all of us without some of us standing or sitting on the floor.
Jan 5, 2013
11:35 am
Sounds like my house at Christmas. The living room was a sea of paper and bags. But it was cozy and a great time was had by all.
Jan 5, 2013
12:21 pm
Wow, Jamie! That many people for dinner every week? I’m sure it’s great fun, but the thought of the dish washing makes me tired
Smart guy who discovered the superiority of female conversation. (Mind you, in my experience women do quite often talk about underwear but perhaps he enjoyed that!)
Jan 5, 2013
1:18 pm
I agree about the Belgrade ballroom. I believe the billiards room is just to the bottom left, behind the artist.
In college, I lived in a co-op in which we cooked dinner for 30 students a night (and then cleaned up after them). I was very happy to put that dishwashing behind me and now the only time we have more than 9 at a family dinner is the 4 or 5 big holidays a year.
Jan 5, 2013
11:55 am
It’s so hard to pick!! There are aspects of the Birmingham and Belgrade one that I like. I agree with Susan that potted plants are a must as are plenty of hidden corners and nooks for our heroes and heroines to escape to!
I tend to like keeping things the same. The prospect of re-decorating and having to make all those decisions about furniture, fabric, decoration, paint, colors is just too daunting and stressful for me,lol. Plus, I was forced to assist in a rehab project this past fall, and I NEVER want to see another can of paint, or piece of upholstry fabric again. Or at least for a long long long time.
Jan 5, 2013
2:35 pm
Potted plants – or giant banks of fragrant flowers. Just as long as a couple can hide behind them!
Chosing wallpaper and fabric can be really stressful, Lisa. Particularly if more than one opinion is involved !
Jan 5, 2013
12:59 pm
Happy New Year, Miranda! I keep things the way they are. I love the Alabama ballroom!
Jan 5, 2013
2:36 pm
It’s a beauty, isn’t it, Susan. I bet there have been some fabulous parties in that space. Happy New Year to you, too.
Jan 5, 2013
4:48 pm
I like the one in Birmingham, Alabama – it’s got a balcony where you can steal away with some hunky hero! : )
Jan 6, 2013
1:14 pm
I see that Birmingham is leading in the poll, Amy!
Jan 5, 2013
7:21 pm
I do believe Lady B would see all the benefits of the alabama ballroom (even if it does come from us upstarts across the pond) — the belcony would allow for both respite from the crowd & the ablility to view the happenings below for possible later gossip
& the pillars would give the wallflowers a spot to hide, the rakes to recline & peruse, not to mention areas for “accidental” meetings to occur 
Jan 6, 2013
1:15 pm
Folks in Alabama know their stuff when it comes to ballroom design
Jan 5, 2013
11:55 pm
I like the ballroom in Birmingham the best, as I have been in that very room for a wedding, and know that the pillars and balcony make for numerous fabulous spots for clandestine meetings with gentlemen. It’s was behind one such pillar that the Indispensable Mr. Essex first proved his indispensability.
But maybe it’s best to keep such information from Lady B. I fear she mayn’t approve.
Cheers!
Jan 6, 2013
1:16 pm
For real, Elizabeth? That is so fabulous! Lady B will definitely want to know – and I think she’s really inspired by Birmingham. OTOH it’s quite possible Lord B will quash her redecorating schemes.
Jan 6, 2013
2:34 pm
The chandeliers in the Royal Palace Belgrade won out over the Tutweiler Hotel ballroom, but both could hold an exceptional ball. As for myself, redecorating my home is a constant joy. I’m talking shabby chic, vintage pieces that require nothing more than placing where I want them.
Wonderful blog! So glad I discovered it.