Amelia Vallone Interiors

09/26/2023

Networking at the Reston Chamber of Commerce. Interior Design and Wellness!

09/15/2023

Chromatic Harmony: Setting the Mood with Colors in Your Home - An Exclusive Interior Design Event

Please join us on September 19 at noon
Zoom event
To register, click the link below and you will receive the information to join the meeting. If you have any questions please contact me at [email protected]

Check out the latest community post from one of your neighbors. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

09/13/2023

Lovely event with The Reston Chamber of Commerce.
It was great to see you Micki!
Micki Betts Moravitz

08/22/2023

If you're looking to make connections and meet potential clients, then we invite you to join in on the networking fun with our neighbors and friends at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce! This is a great opportunity to network with other businesses - so be sure to bring plenty of business cards...

08/13/2023

And the 19 hole…
Goodbye Edisto until next summer…

08/12/2023

We had fun playing golf today.

07/30/2023

Lovely dinner last night

07/29/2023

My favorite composer

Bach died on this day in 1750. 🙏

Final years and death (1740–1750)
From 1740 to 1748 Bach copied, transcribed, expanded or programmed music in an older polyphonic style (stile antico) by, among others, Palestrina (BNB I/P/2), Kerll (BWV 241),Torri (BWV Anh. 30), Bassani (BWV 1081),Gasparini (Missa Canonica)and Caldara (BWV 1082). Bach's own style shifted in the last decade of his life, showing an increased integration of polyphonic structures and canons and other elements of the stile antico. His fourth and last Clavier-Übung volume, the Goldberg Variations, for two-manual harpsichord, contained nine canons and was published in 1741.Throughout this period, Bach also continued to adopt music of contemporaries such as Handel (BNB I/K/2)and Stölzel (BWV 200), and gave many of his own earlier compositions, such as the St Matthew and St John Passions and the Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, their final revisions. He also programmed and adapted music by composers of a younger generation, including Pergolesi (BWV 1083)[85] and his own students such as Goldberg (BNB I/G/2).

In 1746 Bach was preparing to enter Lorenz Christoph Mizler's Society of Musical Sciences [de].[87] In order to be admitted Bach had to submit a composition, for which he chose his Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", and a portrait, which was painted by Elias Gottlob Haussmann and featured Bach's Canon triplex á 6 Voc.[88] In May 1747, Bach visited the court of King Frederick II of Prussia in Potsdam. The king played a theme for Bach and challenged him to improvise a fugue based on his theme. Bach obliged, playing a three-part fugue on one of Frederick's fortepianos by Gottfried Silbermann, which was a new type of instrument at the time. Upon his return to Leipzig he composed a set of fugues and canons, and a trio sonata, based on the Thema Regium (theme of the king). Within a few weeks this music was published as The Musical Offering and dedicated to Frederick. The Schübler Chorales, a set of six chorale preludes transcribed from cantata movements Bach had composed some two decades earlier, were published within a year.[90][91] Around the same time, the set of five canonic variations which Bach had submitted when entering Mizler's society in 1747 were also printed.

Two large-scale compositions occupied a central place in Bach's last years. From around 1742 he wrote and revised the various canons and fugues of The Art of Fugue, which he continued to prepare for publication until shortly before his death. After extracting a cantata, BWV 191 from his 1733 Kyrie-Gloria Mass for the Dresden court in the mid-1740s, Bach expanded that setting into his Mass in B minor in the last years of his life. Although the complete mass was never performed during the composer's lifetime, it is considered to be among the greatest choral works in history.

In January 1749, Bach's daughter Elisabeth Juliane Friederica married his pupil Johann Christoph Altnickol. Bach's health was declining. On 2 June, Heinrich von Brühl wrote to one of the Leipzig burgomasters to request that his music director, Johann Gottlob Harrer, fill the Thomaskantor and Director musices posts "upon the eventual ... decease of Mr. Bach".[96] Becoming blind, Bach underwent eye surgery, in March 1750 and again in April, by the British eye surgeon John Taylor, a man widely understood today as a charlatan and believed to have blinded hundreds of people. Bach died on 28 July 1750 from complications due to the unsuccessful treatment.

An inventory drawn up a few months after Bach's death shows that his estate included five harpsichords, two lute-harpsichords, three violins, three violas, two cellos, a viola da gamba, a lute and a spinet, along with 52 "sacred books", including works by Martin Luther and Josephus. The composer's son Carl Philipp Emanuel saw to it that The Art of Fugue, although still unfinished, was published in 1751. Together with one of the composer's former students, Johann Friedrich Agricola, the son also wrote the obituary ("Nekrolog"), which was published in Mizler's Musikalische Bibliothek [de], a periodical journal produced by the Society of Musical Sciences, in 1754.

Source: Wikipedia

07/28/2023

Enhance the glamour and sophistication of your room with luxury wallpapers. Let us design the perfect accent wall for your unique style.

07/25/2023

Colors

07/24/2023

Selecting the right color scheme is not a trivial task.

scheme

07/24/2023

Interior Design History:
Art Deco Style from 1927!

During a recent visit to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts this sofa caught my attention. It was designed by the famous interior designer Marcel Coard in 1927 for fashion designer Jacques Doucet living room. This fabulous piece of furniture, carved in rosewood with ivory inlays and upholstered in leather, conveys Coard’s interest in the arts of Africa and the Far east. These sofas are also known as Canapé Gondole and one sold in London for $1,300.000.00 in 2016!"

07/20/2023

Art installation day in our commercial interior design project. I can’t wait to deliver the furniture in a few days.

07/12/2023

Renovate your master bathroom suite into a luxurious design that radiates harmony, elegance, and sophistication. The high-end cabinets in this modern bathroom are crafted from American walnut, known for its smooth grain, making it the ideal choice. Italian porcelain tiles with natural surfaces, developed using innovative 3D shaping technology, provide a tactile experience and a serene backdrop.

To add visual interest, a captivating triangle mosaic is incorporated into the shower, enhancing the accent walls of both the shower and the hot tub. In order to optimize storage capacity, a combination of full-access cabinetry and thoughtfully designed millwork is implemented. The countertops, bench, and other surfaces boast exquisite Brazilian quartzite, adding an element of refinement.

With three sophisticated lighting systems, you have the ability to create the perfect ambiance that matches your desired state of mind.

06/28/2023

A pop of yellow…
Flowers are an excellent choice to bring color into a room.

06/28/2023

During my recent visit to the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Virginia this screen caught my attention.

Four-Panel Sporting Screen c. 1860
Hand-colored engraving and oils on canvas on a wooden frame
Bequest of Sonia Phipps Seherr-Thoss
On one side of the screen there are 32 mounted hand-colored engravings after British racehorse paintings by sporting artists James Seymour (English, 1702-1752) and Thomas Spencer (English, 1700-1765).The paintings include the horse’s pedigree. owner and family crest.

06/23/2023

It will be missed…

After more than six decades, a small retail shop in the heart of Virginia hunt country will close in July and leave a hole for many in the town of Middleburg.

06/14/2023

What an honor to meet the prestigious designer Carl Robinson during our visit to Wallquest.

06/02/2023

We are at the Decorating Den Gala in New Orleans!

06/01/2023

Learning about trending fabrics at the Decorating Den Conference in New Orleans.

06/01/2023

Opening party at the Decorating Den Conference in New Orleans.

05/30/2023

Getting ready for the Decorating Den Conference in New Orleans. Buckner Mansion.

05/30/2023

Enjoying the architecture of the late 1800s in the Garden District of New Orleans. Robinson Mansion.

05/15/2023

This is a real custom made walk-in closet! Made of real wood: American walnut. It is really one-of-a-kind. I designed it for a client in Oakton. Follow our progress on this Dream Master Suite!

05/15/2023

Vase around 1830. Tucker porcelain with enamel and gilt decoration. Painted decoration attributed to Thomas Tucker.
This vase features the Philadelphia’s Fairmount Water Works. The Water Works , still standing today in next picture, brought growth to the entire region by providing a reliable water supply.

05/12/2023

Candlestand (Torchère) 1862 designed for the French Emperor Napoléon III and intended to support branched candleholders.

This one-of-a-kind piece features the technique pâte-sur-pâte (relief design created with layers of liquid clay) decoration. This technique is considered one of the greatest achievements of the artisans at the Sèvres porcelain factory.

Modeled by Antoine Delacourt
Made by the Sèvres porcelain factory
Decorated by Léopold-Jules-Joseph Gély
Mounts made by F. Barbedienne Foundry

05/05/2023

A touch of lime green. This biophilic color scheme exudes serenity with a vibrant accent.

05/02/2023

Enhance the sophistication of your living space with this exquisite swivel chair that seamlessly merges contemporary, Art-Deco, and Pan-Asian styles. With a frame crafted as a work of art, this chair showcases a wooden exterior clad with woven raffia and a captivating fretwork design that gracefully flows with the curve of the back. To tailor it to your personal taste, you can easily customize the fabrics to achieve the desired level of formality that complements your room’s style. Moreover, for optimal comfort, the chair features an ultra down seat and blend down back.

Amelia Vallone Interiors
703-464-0459

-decofurniture

05/02/2023

Indulge in a sophisticated high tea experience with an exquisitely designed living room, showcasing a timeless neutral palette. Our centerpiece is a stunning cocktail table crafted from mahogany and rosewood, adorned with fine brass mounts. This one-of-a-kind piece boasts a brass bound circular top with unique protruding corners, adding an unparalleled touch of elegance to any living space.

05/01/2023

A beautifully designed swivel chair in a tone-down red color with a soft and cozy fabric.

The versatile swivel chair and a touch of red. Reds are power colors that celebrate life. An accent chair in a tone-down red can be the perfect piece for you. It will add energy, warmth and softness at the same time. Chenille or velvet are the right fabrics for a comfortable and luxurious feel. Elevate your home decor with a statement piece like this swivel chair that combines style and functionality.

Amelia Vallone Interiors 703-464-0459

04/24/2023

This picture caught my attention at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. Among all the reds, you can see Viva Magenta, the Pantone Color of the Year 2023. However, Schnell painted it in 2005 in Leipzig after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Don’t miss my next article on colors and the expression of the cultural needs through color.

Tor by David Schnell, 2005, oil an acrylic on linen.

04/11/2023

Mixed use of space, the home office and the harmonious design...

This article has tips on how to integrate your home office with the rest of your home décor.

https://patch.com/virginia/reston/reston-great-falls-interior-design-corner-nodx-3

04/10/2023

If you are about to start a home project, you might be interested in reading my last article in the Reston- Great Falls Interior Design Corner:

Home Projects, Renovations, Selecting Professionals and Common Mistakes

04/06/2023

If your style is rustic classic, you will love this furniture inspired by pieces in the Althorp Estate, the family home of lady Diana.
A reclaimed oak and mahogany writing desk is paired with leather chairs. A solid oak and reclaimed oak veneered cabinet with an outer border of egg & dart carving and further bands of acanthus and bell-flower carving, and an antiqued wooden barrel with hand-forged iron riveted straps and a hand-painted Spencer coat of arms set up the style of this room. Some paint color suggestions from Benjamin Moore to achieve this ambience are: Herb Bouquet (460), Norway Spruce (452) and Saybrook Sage (HC114).

04/05/2023

Swivel chairs are the perfect versátil piece for your living room. Orange promotes happiness, endurance, self esteem and much more. A vibrant orange touch will create that positive mood in your room.

03/31/2023

Classic sideboard in flame mahogany and rosewood with details in sycamore and ebony.

Furniture trends 2023

03/30/2023

When you need a pop of red in your reading corner…

03/30/2023

What is the color scheme of your game room?

03/30/2023

The Tallahassee Classical School is falling short in art.

Here is the full text of my letter to the Tallahassee Classical School board members. Thanks for reading and sharing.

___________________________________

Dear Mr. Bishop and Mr. Mohler,

I am writing to express my dismay at the Tallahassee Classical School’s decision to remove the teaching of Michelangelo’s David from its curriculum.

Recently, I took my family to Italy. I asked my four children to report—of all the things they saw up and down the Italian peninsula—what made the biggest impression. All of them said it was seeing Michelangelo’s David in person.

That’s incredible when you think about it. Imagine that a 500-year-old sculpture has this effect on kids who see more images in a single day than most people in 1500 saw in their entire lives.

Why does the David leave such a lasting impression on our multimedia-overloaded younger generation? The answer is that the David is one of those singular masterpieces that changed the course of western civilization—collapsing biblical iconography, defense of civic pride, and classical aesthetics for the first time in history, in a single work of art.

Omitting the David from your classical curriculum displays a lack of understanding and appreciation for the meaning of this sculpture in the history of art. It is deeply troubling to me, both as a parent and educator.

The value of studying art history lies in part in helping students develop critical thinking skills that equip them to process the media-rich visual culture we live in today. These skills transfer to many other areas of their personal and professional lives.

The city fathers of Florence commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti to create a monumental sculpture of the Old Testament hero David for a high buttress of their cathedral in 1501. But after they saw how groundbreaking the sculpture was, they decided instead to place it in front of the town hall, where its David-versus-Goliath defiance became a symbol of Florentine civic pride and virtue. The sculpture was so influential that it changed the history of western art.

As well as being a mom of four children, I am also a Yale-educated art historian, author, and specialist in Italian art. I would like to extend an invitation to my online course on the making of Michelangelo’s David to your community at no charge. The course delves deeper into the historical circumstances of the sculpture’s creation. Members of your school board, teachers, administrators, and parents may email me directly at [email protected] for free access to this course.

Your school mission states that it is “training the minds and improving the hearts of young people” and that it provides “instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.” There is no greater example of this vision in the history of art than in Michelangelo’s David.

I hope you will reconsider this decision in the spirit of offering students a balanced view of western art and civilization—one in which Michelangelo’s David plays a pivotal role—and one that embodies your school mission so perfectly.

Sincerely,

Laura Morelli, Ph.D.
Art Historian
USA Today bestselling author of The Giant and other books