To gild or not to gild
This week’s conundrum: to gild details of the wrought iron balustrade (as they were in the hall’s original decor) or to leave them black as they are now (and have been for over 50 years.) Every time I walk through the hall, I change my mind. It’s a big thing because the balustrade goes on and on:
The effect would be of this variety:
Any thoughts?
My Mazamet 
A tad too Liberace, don’t you think?
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Hahahahaha
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Well, Liberace liked a pastiche version of classical French design. I’m trying to balance reviving Maison Jansen’s original vision with living in the 21st century 😛
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Maison Jansen as in the palms Maison Jansen?
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Do you mean the palms lamps? Yes, and also the French residence of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.
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Could be lamps, just remember gold palms on a table. It was the image that I associated with the name. Don’t know anything else about them
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The lamps were hugely popular, but long before the lamps they were one of the world’s most important interior design houses. They did various rooms in the White House (for Jackie Kennedy), one of the Belgian royal homes, the Shah’s pavilion and many others, amongst which is our house 🙂
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Oh, nice! Then honour the design vein, and the designer’s intent. It’s the right thing to do… Plus I’m sure it’ll only add value to those who know and care.
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In the original plan the hall was a dark khaki with a large tapestry hanging over the stairs, so the gilding livened it all up. I think we’ll do a test run with a water based paint instead or real gilding to see if we like the effect.
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It looks quite ornate enough to my eyes as it is. Maybe the small, central detailing could be guilt?
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Originally the central flowers and the little spheres were the gilt parts.
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I could see the small hubs (apologies for not knowing the proper term for them) in the circles gilt in gold. With all the natural light coming in from those windows, I would think that silver or some similar material would be better for any other part of the balustrade.
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Ha! I find myself doing the same yes, no, yes, no. I wouldn’t want anything detracting from the metal work itself, so I don’t know if guilding it would add or subtract. SB is quite right, I think, with the effect of light but how this plays out all along the railing and banister i don’t know because what you do in one part that works might not for another.
Good luck with this one!
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I think I’m just going to have to test it. Making it black again is easy 🙂
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I’m for the gilt. but I’m a bit of a raven when it comes to shiny things. Will the walls remain what looks like white?
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The walls are a medium khaki, but you can only really tell at night. The front door is a huge wrought iron and glass affair and upstairs the windows are massive, so the light just flood out colours.
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Mmm… I’m not sure that applying just one element of an overall design effect would work. For me, gilt against dark provides a lovely contrast. Gilt against white, just for the sake of it? Not so. 😦
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I like them plain black, but it depends on the way the light falls…the little central bits could look lovely in gilt, catching the sunlight. Being of a somewhat lazy disposition, I’d keep them black & spend the time I’d have spent gilding them having a drink & reading a book.
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Please do not gild, take much more time, you have only been at home for a moment, see what light the seasons bring.
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Welcome, I don’t recognize your name, so I’m guessing you’re new here 🙂
We bought the house last December so we’ve got somewhat of an idea of the light. During the day it’s very bright. The entrance doors are glass and approx. 3.5 metres high. The windows are 2m high… so light floods in.
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I’m with Elizabeth…live with the house a while longer and see what it tells you.
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I like the example on the left, the one on the right is too over the top for me!
I say gild the centres and see how it looks. As you said, you can always change it back. 🙂
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I would gild the centres as in the left hand picture – did you ever do anything about it??
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Yes! You can see it here: https://justmerveilleux.wordpress.com/2015/11/28/the-balustrade-gilding-test/
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