Beautiful View

 

I’m very excited to announce the upcoming expansion of the Provence Coeur Estate!

A new region will soon be added to the east side of the Jardin Français (Provence Coeur Est2) and will be home to the Châteaude Bellevue, Madame de Pompadour’s elegant home with its beautiful view of the Seine River.

My version will be based on the 1750 plan as originally championed by the Marquise and though it will be simplified for Second Life (I’ve learned more than a few lessons from my never-ending building journey with the Petit Trianon) I hope it will evoke some of the atmosphere of the original.

More details to follow.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for some fascinating reading check out BetweenWorlds: The Biography of Madame de Pompadour's Boudoir Turc a “biographical account of her Turkish boudoir at Bellevue examines its implications of personal and private life, class and gender, and the role of exoticism in eighteenth-century architectural interiors“.

 

Image: The Château de Bellevue, in the time of Madame de Pompadour, from the courtyard to the west on Wikipedia

Sugar Plum Manor

Sugar Plum Manor

My entry for the Lights of Hope Home Decoration Contest 2022.

See it at:

Lights of Hope - Sugar Plum Manor

Did you ever wonder where the Sugar Plum Fairy spends her downtime? I imagine she lives in a neat little neoclassic townhouse surrounded by a lovely park with a Zen Garden. Of course, there are macaroons and other treats sprinkled liberally around the lot and various nods to her ballet background. And mice ... lots of caroling mice ... because after all it wouldn't be The Nutcracker without a few rodents hanging around.

Photo Credit: SkyeRyder Varriale

Petit Trianon: Kitchen Fireplace

This beautiful vintage fireplace is modeled after the real-life kitchen fireplace in Marie-Antoinette's Petit Trianon. It boasts a lovely limestone surround, brick hearth, and cast-iron screen with a royal insignia. Perfect for your own Second Life castle, chateau or home.

Touch for the HUD to turn the fire (low-lag animated) and the sound on/off. Please note that these scripts are copy only.

Also note that this fireplace is meant to be placed up against a wall as there is no geometry for the back or bottom.

Photographed in Kitchen of the Petit Trianon; please note that this purchase includes ONLY the fireplace.

See it Inworld or on the SLM.

Cheers!
Tat

Petit Trianon Kitchen

I'm absolutely delighted to be back working on the kitchen of the Petit Trianon. The floors are scrubbed, the ceiling is mended and the doors no longer squeak when opened!

Here's a look at the real deal:

And here's the start to my Second Life version:

Many thanks to Zed Tremont who is busy creating original meshes which faithfully reproduce some of the furniture. You can learn more about his Bellevue project here.

You can visit the Petit Trianon Kitchen here in Second life.  I will be posting individual creations as they become available.

Many thanks for letting me share this project with you!

Tat

Maison Margaux: Exploring Classic Contemporary Interior Design

"Surround Yourself with Classic Beauty" has been TTR's motto since my very first days in Second Life.  Now as most budding entrepreneurs can attest, choosing a business motto can be serious stuff so I took some time with the selection, wanting something that summed up the "visions of antiques that danced in my head".  Antiques & Classic Beauty, now there's a match thought I.



When I found myself seduced drawn to the dark side (see Chasing Judith ~ Finding Caravaggio), i.e. away from the 18th century and into the 21st, by the Princess Margaret Oakville Showhome 2015 I had to reevaluate my personal definition of "classic".  Can contemporary interior design also be considered classic?  And what about "eclectic" because if I'm taking a break from 18th century rules there's going to be a whole lot of eclectic going on.  All that dynamic tension that comes from pairing a "Louis" chair with a Lucite table is just too good to pass up!

Chasing Judith ~ Finding Caravaggio

I didn't know her name so I thought of her as "The Woman in Orange".  With her striking attire & direct gaze, she seemed familiar; someone I really should have recognized.  Nevertheless Judith lead me on a delightful chase before revealing her secrets.

I first glimpsed her in a photo of the hallway of the Princess Margaret Oakville Showhome 2015.  I thought she was stunning.  Imagine having a home where she is one of the first things you see coming through the door.

Unlikely to happen for me in real life but more than feasible in Second Life!

Painting Pumpkin Lanterns at the Petit Trianon

While Marie Antoinette had a gaggle of gardeners to prepare the grounds of the Petit Trianon for her elaborate parties, I'm very content to be working away on my own in SL.  After all, where else can you get away with wearing an elaborate ball gown while hauling fresh bales of hay!

My latest adventure in decorating coincides with the All Hallows' Costume Dance which is being hosted by the Duché de Coeur & Rocca Sorrentina on October 25th.  Having decided that the French Garden Parterre would be an excellent spot for a party, I waded in and got to work clearing the summer gardens to start with a fresh canvas.

BEEing Rocca Sorrentina

Rocca Sorrentina is one of those wonderful Second Life estates that always has something splendid going on.  Seeing as they are my southern neighbours I'm rather spoiled with views of their shores & news of their activities.

When I heard they were hosting the To Bee or Not to Bee Hunt I thought it was the perfect opportunity to snoop  er ... explore some of the less traveled routes through their fair land so I put on my best exploration outfit and set off on a summer adventure.

A helpful hint card gave me clues as to the whereabouts of the twelve hidden bees and warned me that my prey was going to be rather small, as bees tend to be.  Just as well as I really didn't fancy running for my life from an over sized bumble!  You just never know in Second life.

Now I have to admit that my hunting skills really aren't the sharpest as I tend to drift .....

Apparently the citizens of Rocca could sense this as everyone was eager to distract me from my search: the printer wanted to show me his latest work; the baker needed kneading help; the florist wanted her garden weeded (as though I don't do enough of this at home).

Enjoying Work in Progress

It took just over two years to construct the Eiffel Tower (January 28, 1887 to March 15, 1889). Given that the conception, planning, politics & design commenced around 1884, this cultural icon in the making was actually a "work in progress" for at least five years.

I'd like to think that Gustave Eiffel enjoyed at least part of this journey.

My Chateau Reno

Though I've had abundant experience with real-life home renovations, my Second Life renovation record is rather spotty.  When it comes to virtual homes I'd generally rather build them myself than buy them, especially because I know I just can't stop myself from remodeling my new purchase.

It was the same way back in my days of TheSims2.  I'd download a brand-new abode and spend the next week (or two or three) ripping it apart and putting it back together.  On the bright side, that destruction/construction cycle taught me a lot about architecture & 3D construction.  I'd actually recommend it to anyone interested in honing their own skills.

This year with spring just around the corner, I was anxious to add a few new rentals to my Duché de Coeur regions. Being long on ambition but short on time, I decided that a purchase was in order and after much consideration selected a chateau from Never Totally Dead.

Port Trianon: Connecting the Shared Seas

Port Trianon: Midday

It's been a whirlwind three months since the Duché de Coeur & Rocca Sorrentina formalized their plans for a closer physical connection between their two realms.

We started with the addition of two, brand-new, sailable regions linking Rocca Sorrentina to the southern shores of Provence Coeur.  Then the real work commenced.

We were busy dredging harbours, forming islands and attending to all the little details that make this a magical Second Life destination.  A few minor bumps were experienced along the way; I managed to flatten both Provence Coeur Est & Provence Coeur Est2 with one keystroke (note to self: always look above sea level when using the terrain tool especially when it's set to high) but all-in-all the work progressed smoothly.

Tatiana's Tea Room: Take Two

Tatiana's Tea Room has move to the Petit Trianon

A new chapter is beginning for Tatiana's Tea Room and I couldn't be more excited!

Renovations on the Petit Trianon have finally reached the point where it was possible for me to start setting up shop.  I've been busy setting tables, arranging flowers and researching new artwork.  In other words, I've been living my SL decorator's dream :)

Adventures w Flat Rod: Languedoc Coeur Chapel

Having serenaded Flat Rod in the Coeur Opera House and danced the minuet with him in the Ballroom (see Adventures w Flat Rod: Rod Humble Crept into my Life) I felt it was time for some quiet reflection so off we went to the Languedoc Coeur Chapel.

Adventures w Flat Rod: Rod Humble Crept into My Life

It's been a while since Rod Humble (aka Rodvik) crept into my life.  Years really.  Truth be told, I wasn't even aware of his arrival at first, that's how stealthy he was.

This oversight on my part only seems fitting as I'm certain that to this day he has no idea that I even exist, except perhaps in the collective sense as a user of one of "his" products.  I'm just one among the many and for the most part I'm very content with our at-arm's-length relationship.

Duché de Coeur: A Change is in the Air

A fresh breeze is blowing through the Duché de Coeur.

Cool, clean,

it brings the promise of renewal

and

the excitement of change.

 

We're accustomed to renewal in the Duché.  Over the past five years, we've prided ourselves on changing with the seasons and adapting to the times.  Even if those times did tend to reflect the late 1700's ;)

 

Now we've embarked on an exciting new challenge.  Land will be reshaped, rivers will be diverted and the carriage horses will be taught new routes.  Old haunts will be removed only to reappear, refreshed in their new locations.

 

Soon we will be officially inviting you to rediscover our beloved land.  Until then, you can still explore to your heart's content and have fun spying out some of the work in progress.

 

Don't mind the dust, that's just some Coeur magic in the air!

 

Update: Fresh Breeze Expected to become Hurricane  Time to get your water wings out ;)

 

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Find Tatiana Dokuchic on Google+

Photo: Nordic Wild by Head Like an Orange

Maison Noir Blanc: Messing with Mesh & Materials

Inspiration: Neoclassic Row House

In Second Life, as in real life, I tend to be a "jack of all trades and master of none".  I love to dabble in the different skills necessary to create but I'm very impatient with the learning curve.  I'm really excited about the introduction of Mesh and now Materials to Second Life but I find it hard to make a concentrated effort to get up to speed on these 3D building techniques.

 

All this to say that I need a lot of inspiration to propel me into uncharted territory.

 

The Neoclassic Row House pictured above, was just what I was looking for;  small & stylish, classic & contained.  It's a build that easily lends itself to mesh modelling, or so my untutored self surmises.  And so project Maison Noir Blanc was launched.

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL

The French Pavilion - My SL Virtual Rendition

As recounted in my post regarding the real life (RL) version, (Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL) the French Pavilion (le pavillon français) was designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour. This miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming room with an attached salon frais or summer dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.

My virtual re-creation of the French Pavilion for Second Life ® was a true labour of love. It took me almost three months to painstakingly create the textures and to piece together all of those 45 degree angled walls!