#royal oak furniture sofas

[kalyanamfurniture]

Find the Perfect Sofas for Living Room: Wide Selection Available

Shop best selection of Sofas for living room Upto 50% Off. at Kalyanam Furniture .  find the perfect fit furniture for your home. Order now!

[royaloak-furniture]

Which is the best site to purchase wooden furniture?

The website "royaloakindia.com" is without a doubt one of the best places to buy hardwood furniture. Royaloak stands out as a top choice for furniture buying thanks to its outstanding reputation for fine craftsmanship and extensive selection of magnificent wooden furniture pieces. Their selection has something for every taste and price range, whether you're looking for ageless classics or cutting-edge creations. They stand out not just for their great quality but also for the ease of online purchasing, which makes the process of buying furniture simple. So, if you're looking for stylish and long-lasting hardwood furniture, be sure to check out Royaloak and enhance the ambiance of your house with its excellent selections.

[unseentravler]

4 - No Characters

The fireplace still crackled with energy even after the room had been abandoned. The beautiful hand-picked and hand-laded rive stones that made up the fireplace arch were untouched by the chaos that had marred the rest of the room. Not a drop of blood marred the handiwork of the Craftsman who had laid them there many years ago. The rest of the sitting room was not so lucky.

The once beautiful oak door, which had been forcefully opened and torn off its hinges, Now lay torn asunder on the beautiful tiled floor. The intricate blue and green tilework was now stained with red and dust and wood. it was no longer a fit setting for a family to gather in or for children to be taught.

The sole window in the room had been shattered. Three of the four pains of glass now are jagged and sharp and only the one in the top left corner remained untouched. Where once had been beautiful Vine patterned curtains now hung ripped shreds of cloth. Two of the shreds hung from either end of the rods and the third from where an arrow had caught it when it was fired into the wall.

The mahogany table had been overturned two of its legs broken. The papers and pens and inkwells that had been resting upon it have been scattered behind it. In this part of the room, the red of the blood was especially dark for it had mixed with the black The Inkwells. The metal chairs that I once set behind the table had been flung against the wall and now lay on their side behind the table while the one that had been in front was one of the few pieces of furniture in the room still standing through the cushion had been torn and the fluff that resided inside scattered.

On the wall opposite the fireplace hung a once magnificent family portrait. The two Regal parents and five beautiful children. The artist who painted it had done it with great skill and much care, capturing the features of the Royal Family very well and making it seem as own the painting was living. Now The Smiling Faces of the children had been torn by sword and knife. the king and queen along with the Crown Prince had their heads completely torn from the portrait. while the second son and first daughter had been both filled with arrows in some perverted form of target practice. The youngest, the Twins were by far the least damaged. Only where the golden frame had been ripped off the portrait. How the things still hung to the wall despite all that had been done to it is a question only the gods can answer.

The dark blue sofa that sat in front of the fireplace had been filled with arrows. The cushions scattered about the floor stuffing mixing with the blood into a group test and ghastly site. On the right arm of the couch lay a helmet from one of the guards who had been standing outside the room when the attack had occurred. It was a mostly decorative thing that had offered little protection to the man wearing it. It was made of metal so dark it was almost black with golden studs and a high gilded arch at the crown of the head. The sword that had belonged to the man lay in front of the sofa, blood on its blade.

What had once been a safe place for the royal family to retreat from the everyday pressures of running a kingdom had been turned into a bloodbath and a place of Macabre memory. And yet the walls did not seem to care they still stood if now dirtier and the fire still burned on.

[bralam]

customize sofa

Dubai, a city renowned for its opulence, modernity, and innovative design, is home to some of the world’s finest luxury furniture makers. Crafting a custom-made sofa in Dubai is an experience that blends high-end craftsmanship with the latest trends in interior design, resulting in a piece that not only complements your living space but also exudes elegance and sophistication. In this essay, we’ll explore the process of creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai, highlighting the city's unique design culture, the premium materials available, and the attention to detail that goes into every piece.

Understanding the Dubai Aesthetic

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, and this diversity is reflected in the city's design aesthetics. From ultra-modern minimalism to lavish traditional Arabian styles, the options for custom-made furniture are as varied as the city itself. When creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai, it’s important to first define the aesthetic that best suits your taste and the overall decor of your home.

Modern and Contemporary: Dubai is synonymous with cutting-edge architecture and design. For those who prefer a sleek, contemporary look, a custom-made sofa can be designed with clean lines, minimalist features, and the latest in fabric and leather technology. Modern luxury sofas in Dubai often incorporate metal or glass elements, along with high-tech features like built-in charging ports or adjustable seating configurations.

Traditional Arabian Influence: If you’re looking to capture the essence of traditional Arabian luxury, a custom-made sofa can incorporate intricate woodwork, rich textiles, and ornate detailing. Elements like plush cushions, deep, jewel-toned fabrics, and elaborate patterns can evoke the opulence of a royal palace, making your sofa a true centerpiece.

Fusion Styles: Many residents and designers in Dubai opt for a fusion of styles, blending modern functionality with traditional elegance. This approach allows for the creation of a sofa that is both luxurious and versatile, seamlessly fitting into a variety of interior settings.

Selecting Premium Materials

One of the defining features of a luxury custom-made sofa is the quality of materials used. Dubai’s position as a global hub allows access to the finest materials from around the world, ensuring that your sofa is made from the best available resources.

Exquisite Fabrics: When it comes to upholstery, the choices are vast. Silk, velvet, and high-quality leather are among the top choices for luxury sofas. Silk and velvet offer a rich, sumptuous texture, while leather provides a timeless and sophisticated look. For those seeking something unique, there are also custom-printed fabrics or even materials infused with precious metals or stones.

Superior Cushioning: The comfort of a luxury sofa is paramount, and this starts with the cushioning. High-density memory foam, down, and feather blends, or even customized gel-infused cushions are available options that ensure comfort and longevity. These materials maintain their shape and support, providing a plush yet durable seating experience.

Wood and Frame Construction: The frame of a luxury sofa in Dubai is often made from the finest hardwoods, such as walnut, mahogany, or oak. These woods are not only strong and durable but also have a natural beauty that adds to the overall aesthetic of the sofa. Additionally, the frame may be reinforced with metal or carbon fiber for added strength, particularly in more modern designs.

Luxury Finishes: The finishing touches on a luxury sofa can include details such as gold or silver leaf, mother-of-pearl inlays, or hand-carved wooden elements. These finishes are often applied by skilled artisans, ensuring that each piece is unique and crafted to the highest standards.

Craftsmanship and Attention to Detail

In Dubai, luxury is synonymous with craftsmanship. The process of creating a custom-made sofa involves collaboration with some of the most skilled artisans and designers in the world. Every detail, from the initial sketches to the final assembly, is executed with precision and care.

Bespoke Design: The journey begins with a consultation, where your specific requirements and preferences are discussed. This may involve reviewing fabric swatches, examining wood samples, and discussing the overall design and dimensions of the sofa. Many high-end furniture makers in Dubai offer 3D renderings or even full-scale models to help you visualize the final product before construction begins.

Handcrafted Excellence: Once the design is finalized, the construction process begins. Each element of the sofa is handcrafted, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of quality. Skilled carpenters, upholsterers, and finishers work together to create a piece that is not only beautiful but also built to last.

Custom Detailing: Luxury sofas in Dubai often feature custom detailing that sets them apart from mass-produced furniture. This could include hand-stitched seams, custom embroidery, or even the incorporation of rare and precious materials. These details not only enhance the beauty of the sofa but also reflect the individuality of the owner.

Artisanal Techniques: Traditional artisanal techniques, such as marquetry, inlay work, and hand-carving, are often employed to add a touch of elegance and heritage to the sofa. These techniques require a high level of skill and are usually passed down through generations, making each piece a work of art.

Integration of Technology

Dubai’s penchant for innovation extends to furniture design, with many luxury sofas incorporating state-of-the-art technology. This could range from built-in smart home integrations to advanced seating ergonomics designed for maximum comfort.

Smart Features: Some custom-made sofas in Dubai are equipped with features like adjustable headrests, lumbar support, and integrated massage systems. Others may include hidden compartments with wireless charging pads or Bluetooth-enabled speakers, allowing you to create a fully immersive and comfortable living space.

Sustainable Design: With growing awareness of environmental impact, many luxury furniture makers in Dubai are also embracing sustainable practices. This includes using responsibly sourced materials, eco-friendly finishes, and energy-efficient production methods. A custom-made sofa that incorporates sustainable design elements not only meets the standards of luxury but also contributes to a more responsible and ethical way of living.

The Dubai Experience: A Seamless Process

Creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai is more than just a transaction; it’s an experience. The city’s top furniture makers offer a level of service that is as luxurious as the products they create. From the moment you walk into a showroom or schedule a consultation, you are treated to personalized attention and expertise.

Consultation and Design: The process typically starts with an in-depth consultation where your lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and functional needs are discussed. Designers in Dubai are well-versed in global trends and local tastes, allowing them to provide insightful recommendations and solutions.

Sampling and Customization: After the initial design is agreed upon, you will have the opportunity to select materials, colors, and finishes. Showrooms in Dubai often feature an extensive range of samples, and many offer customization options that allow you to create something truly one-of-a-kind.

White-Glove Delivery: Once your sofa is completed, the final step is delivery and installation. Many luxury furniture makers in Dubai offer white-glove delivery services, ensuring that your sofa is transported, assembled, and positioned in your home with the utmost care. This service often includes a final inspection to ensure that everything meets your expectations.

Conclusion

A luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai is more than just a piece of furniture; it’s a statement of style, quality, and sophistication. The process of creating such a sofa involves a deep understanding of design, an appreciation for the finest materials, and a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a traditional, opulent design, the city’s skilled artisans and designers can bring your vision to life.

By choosing the best materials, employing expert craftsmanship, and integrating innovative technology, a luxury sofa in Dubai is not only a beautiful addition to your home but also a lasting investment. The attention to detail, personalized service, and unparalleled quality that go into every custom-made sofa ensure that you will enjoy comfort and elegance for years to come.

[arvfurniture-blog-blog]

Purchasing an expensive royal-style sofa set, such as those offered by ARV Furniture, involves several considerations to ensure that the investment meets your expectations in terms of quality, style, and functionality. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Quality and Craftsmanship:

Materials: Check the type of wood and upholstery used. Hardwood frames, such as oak or mahogany, are durable and long-lasting. High-quality fabric or leather is essential for both aesthetics and longevity. Construction: Look for details like hand-carved designs, sturdy joinery (e.g., dovetail joints), and high-density foam cushions. Comfort and Ergonomics:

Seating Comfort: Ensure the sofa provides adequate support and comfort. Sit on the sofa to test the cushions and back support. Dimensions: Measure the space where the sofa will be placed to ensure it fits comfortably within your living area. Consider the depth, height, and width of the sofa. Style and Design:

Aesthetic Appeal: The sofa should complement your existing décor. Royal-style sofas often feature ornate designs, tufted upholstery, and rich colors. Customization: Some manufacturers offer customization options for fabric, color, and finishing details. This can help you get a piece that fits your personal taste and home décor. Functionality and Usage:

Intended Use: Consider how the sofa will be used. If it's for a formal living room, durability may be less of a concern than if it's for a family room with high traffic. Maintenance: High-end furniture often requires specific care. Check the maintenance requirements for the upholstery and wood finishes. Reputation and Reviews:

Manufacturer's Reputation: Research the brand's reputation. ARV Furniture, for example, may have reviews and testimonials from previous customers that can provide insights into their product quality and customer service. Warranty and After-Sales Service: Check if there is a warranty and what it covers. Good after-sales service can be crucial for maintenance and any potential repairs. Price and Value:

Budget: Set a realistic budget for your purchase. While royal-style sofas are an investment, ensure that you are getting good value for your money. Comparison Shopping: Compare prices and features of similar products from different brands to make an informed decision. Delivery and Installation:

Shipping and Handling: Ensure that the seller offers reliable delivery services. Check if the delivery includes installation and if there are any additional charges. Accessibility: Consider the logistics of getting the sofa into your home, especially if you live in a place with narrow doorways or staircases. By keeping these factors in mind, you can make a more informed decision and choose a royal-style sofa set that enhances the beauty and comfort of your home.

[the-three-idiots]

Tomomi and Canach

Five days after the icebrood crisis

The Hayashi residence, Gilded Hollow

6:32PM

The Hayashi residence in Gilded Hollow, a blend of classic tyrian furniture mixed with ancient architecture. Most of the decorations in the house were chosen by Tomomi, most of the fire damage was caused by Canach.

The bedroom was equally as extravagant, An oak double bed with burgundy sheets and pillows. Royal blue rugs litter the floor with a large empty wardrobe, with only coat hangers inside.

Tomomi is sitting on the bed, his right arm covered in bandages. Tomomi looks at his bag, filled with unpacked clothes. Tomomi stands up and looks at a picture of him and Canach, which is partially covering a charred wall.

Tomomi strokes the frame of the picture, Tomomi hears the front door open and close. Tomomi sits back down on the bed. 

“Here we go.” Tomomi says anxiously

Canach walks in through the door, he sees Tomomi. 

“Your back then?” asks Canach as he crosses his arms.

Tomomi nods, Canach looks over at the wardrobe and back at Tomomi.

“I see you haven’t unpacked.” Canach states

Canach walks over to the other side of the bed and puts his hand on the pillow.

“I only just got back, Doctor Meoli cleared me to-” Tomomi is interrupted by a pillow hitting his head.

“YOU LEFT WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING A NOTE!” Shouts Canach.

Tomomi nods as he stands and looks at Canach.

“Canach I can explain.” Tomomi says walking over to Canach

Canach throws another pillow at Tomomi, it hits Tomomi in the head. Tomomi doesn't react to it, he stops walking and looks at Canach with a saddened expression.

“I had to go Canach, Ashal needed me.” explains Tomomi

Canach rubs his temples and stares at Tomomi.

“For once why couldn’t you say no?” asks Canach 

Tomomi looks surprised.

Canach raises his finger to Tomomi, Tomomi’s expression drops.

“Do you know how many times we've gone on some near death crusade?” asks Canach

“To be fair you were the cause of one of them.” Tomomi sassily replies with a smile.

“This is not the time!” exclaims Canach

“There wasn’t too much much danger.” says Tomomi

“THERE WERE TWO ELDER DRAGONS!” Shouts Canach

Tomomi nods and shakes his left hand.

“Wasn’t much danger to me.” replies Tomomi.

Canach rolls his eyes, grabs another pillow and walks towards the door brushing past Tomomi. Tomomi sighs as he walks after Canach. They both walk into the lounge, Canach throws the pillow on the sofa and turns to Tomomi.

“Canach we both have responsibilities.” argues Tomomi

“Ok fair enough but it would be nice not to be blown up once in a while!” Remarks Canach

“Canach we can’t just ignore what happens outside.” Replies Tomomi

“And I accept that but you left and nearly died. I was here helping cleanup and you just got up and left to fight the ice born or whatever.” Canach snaps.

Tomomi grits his teeth.

“They're called iceborn.” Corrects Tomomi

Canach gives Tomomi a death stare, Tomomi nods in acceptance. Canach walks over to a cabinet filled with various bottles of liquids. Canach grabs a bottle, pops the cork and chugs half the bottle.

“People call me the reckless one and I can accept that, you usually help keep in check but what in the hell am I supposed to do when you go off the rails for some ad hawk adventure to some gods forbidden ice covered land?” Canach puts the bottle down. “All I knew for a while was an empty bed and a missing husband.” Canach explains

Tomomi walks up to Canach and puts his hand on Canachs.

“I had been alone for so long, cast aside by scarlet briar, imprisoned, judged…” Canach looks at Tomomi, his eyes welling up “…when we got married you promised I wouldn’t be alone again and you went back on that to go gallivanting across some frozen tundra!” Exclaimed Canach

“I would never…” Tomomi says, tightening his grip on Canachs hand.

Canach turns to Tomomi.

“I would never leave you like that.” Tomomi whimpers

Canach shakes his head.

“What about next time? How will I know you will come back?” asks Canach

Tomomi smiles and pulls Canach in and kisses him. He kisses Canach like he wanted to be kissed, like no one had ever kissed him, soft and passionate, not trying to win a battle but seeking union and closeness and the sharing of one breath, one sensation, one timeless and passionate moment.

“Canach Hayashi, If for a moment you think that I would leave you forever. Then I am the one to blame for making you think that  I could ever leave you. When I married you, I said I would stay with you no matter what happens.” Tomomi lifts his hand up, showing his ring. “This ring on my finger is a promise to both of us and I swear that I can never break for as long as I breathe.” Tomomi states

Canach strokes the side of Tomomi’s face and the two smile.

“Really?”  asks Canach?

“Really.” affirms Tomomi

The two look at each other and they kiss each other, both of them not wanting to move away from each other.

Tomomi and Canach embrace each other, neither one letting go.

“You can still be the reckless one if you want?” offers Tomomi

Canach chuckles.

“Only when you're around.” replies Canach

Tomomi and Canach display the challenges of all relationships, the need for adventure versus the needs of the couple. Tomomi was in the wrong but understood that had wronged Canach in such a way, not in any malicious way of course.

‘The needs of the many, outway the needs of the few’

This mindset took over when the icebrood crisis began, leaving Canach alone. Canach was hit heavily by this, he had been a man who was alone most of his life. This fear of being alone only confirmed once he came back from being stranded in the crystal desert.

It is, however, Tomomi and Canach who show how these issues can be overcome. The foundation of any relationship is not knowing all the answers to the problems straight away but trying to fix the problems together.

No relationship is perfect, there will always be problems but in the end, with time and patience, the love between two people can fix anything.

[katefiction]

Traces of Us

by katefiction (Maria) / 2014

Malcolm Kenton didn’t care for celebrity, and he didn’t understand why anyone else did either. He lived in a small cottage on the Isle of Anglesey with his wife Rosanne and his Labrador, Toby. He only bought the Guardian on principle and refused to watch anything but the BBC.

Malcolm’s grandchildren thought him old fashioned, and he often heard them sniggering behind his back when they came to visit, playing horrific ‘boom boom’  music, as he called it,  and watching some mind numbing reality TV show with people so desperate to be famous they’d strip naked on television.

When he and Rosanne visited Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn for a quiet drink, Malcolm would refuse to enter the pub quiz. He knew he’d get a perfect score on the every category, but would fail on the entertainment section. The one time he’d tried, the whole pub had erupted in laughter when he mistook a picture of Michael Jackson for Cher.

It came as a surprise to everyone then, when Malcolm announced he had been asked to come out of retirement and act as estate agent for his old friend, Sir George Meyrick.

Malcolm was to help sell the most famous farmhouse in Wales.

The farmhouse in the hamlet of Bodorgan boasted four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, dining room, and a stunning view of Newborough Forest. But even with that, the initial rush of voyeuristic customers who wanted to rent the property because of its famous connection had died away.

Now, five years after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had packed up and left for London, bookings were down, and Sir George was finally ready to sell the place.

Despite living in Anglesey all their lives, neither Malcolm nor Rosanne had ever met or even seen the royal residents around the island during their three year stay. Not that Malcolm would have cared if he did. Other people’s lives didn’t interest him and as he waited outside the farmhouse that winter’s day to give his tenth viewing, he sincerely hoped that his next clients wouldn’t do as the last nine had done – ask him questions about William and Kate.

‘Is this their original bed?’, ‘Would Kate have cooked on this stove?’, ‘Who did up the garden, the duke?’ Malcolm was sick of it. This wasn’t a museum for heaven’s sake.

The family of four rushed up to the door, where Malcolm, a firm believer that he didn’t need a coat to keep warm, was standing, his shoulders hunched from the cold. He had no time for tardiness.

‘So sorry we’re late!’, the woman said, bundled up in a scarf and hat, ‘I’m Bryony, and this is my husband Mark’

Mark who was similarly dressed in thick winter wear, shook his hand and exchanged pleasantries.

‘And these are the kids’, Bryony pointed, rather unnecessarily, Malcolm thought, to the young boy and girl chasing each other around the driveway.

‘Kids!’, Mark called, ‘get over here please, let’s not keep everyone waiting any longer’

The children ran over to their father dutifully and followed as Malcolm led them into the house.

The young couple seemed taken with the whitewashed house as soon as they entered, exchanging words of approval at the large hallway, and a painting of the Irish Sea hanging by the doorway.

*

‘Welcome home Mrs Wales’, William said, throwing his bags carelessly into the hall.

‘Thank you Mr Wales’, Kate replied, being all the more careful with their belongings, placing her bags down on the hard wooden floor.

‘You know I was always Mr Wales?’, he teased, ‘it hasn’t got the same charm as when it’s brand new’

‘Four days of being your wife and the novelty hasn’t worn off yet?’

‘Not a bit’, he smiled.

William and Kate were firmly in the honeymoon phase, despite not having been on their honeymoon yet. They hung off each other’s’ words, wanted to spoil each other at every given second and couldn’t keep their hands off each other. This was wedded bliss personified.

They had lived together in their Anglesey home for over a year, but coming back to their secluded house as husband and wife four days after their enormous wedding, it already felt different.

William kicked the door shut and grabbed Kate from behind, hoping to savour every moment they had together before he went back to work the next day.

‘Can I unpack first?!’ she giggled, poking him in the ribs.

‘Nope’, he replied, turning her around.

‘Tough, you know I hate mess’, she attempted to pull away, though if she was honest, her heart wasn’t really in it.

‘You have to obey me now you’re my wife’, he said with a smirk, knowing it would rile her.

‘Oh you have a lot to learn’, Kate shook her head.

‘I’m doing alright so far aren’t I? At this whole husband thing?’

‘You are’, she kissed him to show her approval. ‘Though we’re going to have to talk about you leaving your stuff by the doorway when you come in after work…’

‘The doorway!’ William said suddenly.

He took Kate by the hand and pulled her back through front door. They both stood on the step, just as they had five minutes earlier.

‘Will, what on earth?’

Lifting her up, he threw her effortlessly over his shoulder, ‘how could I forget to carry you over the threshold?’

‘This is ridiculous, put me down!’ she laughed.

He took her into the hallway, her arms and legs flailing in a bid for freedom. It didn’t have the desired effect, and instead, her foot hit the painting of the Irish Sea that hung on the wall, sending it crashing to the ground.

‘Oh crap!’

William let her down, ‘that was very naughty Mrs Wales’

She pushed his shoulder, ‘that was YOUR fault!’

‘I’m not the one who was causing a fuss!’

Kate picked up the painting and on finding that no damage had been done, hung it back up.

‘We’re married now’, she said, ‘we have to act like grown ups’

William knew better than to think she was serious. For being with Kate let out his fun side and she knew it. And if he was going to have fun anywhere, where no-one could see him, it would be here in Anglesey.

‘I suppose there are plenty of grown up things we could do’, he said, raising an eyebrow.

Kate narrowed her eyes, pretending to look unimpressed, but it wasn’t long until she broke out into a large grin, ‘you’ll have to catch me first’

With that, she sprang up the stairs, William not far behind, chasing her like a cheetah about to pounce on a particularly tasty lunch.

*

Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief as he took the family into the dining room. So far they hadn’t made any reference to the duke and duchess.

French windows looked out onto the forest, opening up the dining room, which held a large wooden dining table, ornate light fittings and fireplace.

Bryony and Mark admired the table as the children looked longingly out of the window, breathing on the glass and making shapes with their fingers in the mist.

‘Lovely for entertaining’, Bryony remarked.

‘Indeed’ Malcolm said. He wasn’t really the best salesperson in the world.

‘Looks like there’s been a little scuffle here’, Mark bent down and touched one of the table legs.

Malcolm cursed them under his breath. They had been the first ones to notice that unfortunate damage.

‘It looks like it’s been gnawed at’, Bryony said, now joining Mark at the table leg. ‘Really, who lets an untrained animal loose at an antique table?!’

*

‘KATE!’ William yelled through the house. ‘Kate, get in here!’

She rushed into the dining room, ‘what’s the emergency?’, she said, scanning the room for the disaster.

‘That is’, he pointed down to the floor where their twelve week old puppy was chomping on the leg of the dining table.

 ‘Lupo!’ she exclaimed, grabbing his back and trying to pull him off the table.

‘Bad dog’ William said, rather unhelpfully. ‘You should really train him’

‘I AM training him, no thanks to you’, she said, finally dislodging Lupo from the table.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’, William’s brow creased into a deep line.

‘It means that all you ever do is cuddle and play with him, all the hard work is left for me’, she said sternly.

His face dropped like a small child, ‘I’m no good at training him, you know that’

‘Well you need to start trying a little harder!’, she stormed out of the room, clutching Lupo, who looked rather confused at the site of the couple arguing.

‘What is wrong with you?!’, William called down the hall as he followed her, ‘because I know this isn’t about the dog, Catherine’

Kate turned on her heel so fast, Lupo’s ears swung like a helicopter, ‘it’s about the fact that we want a baby next year and you can’t even discipline a dog’

William was taken aback, he wasn’t expecting that. ‘So you’re saying I’m going to be a bad father?’

‘I’m saying that I don’t want to put all the ground work in to set boundaries for our child and have you undermine me’

He walked over to her and put his hands on both of her arms. He was stung by her words, but some things weren’t worth the fight.

‘I know I can spoil him sometimes, but your word rules, we’re a team, always have been’

‘I know’, she said quietly. ‘I’m sorry’

William chuckled, ‘I refuse to let our baby be as much of a brat as I was’

Kate managed a smile, ‘William the Terrible, wasn’t it?’

She was sure she saw him pink a little, ‘yes, but that’s not the point, the point is our baby will be nothing like me’

‘I guess it would be ok if he was a little like you’

‘Oh it’s a “he” is it?’, William laughed.

‘Yep’, she said confidently. ‘We’ll have a son, just you wait’

William had already learnt that his wife was almost always right.

*

The children were dying to go out into the garden, ‘Please Mummy! I won’t run off anywhere, I promise!’

‘We said no, now don’t ask again please’, Mark said, ruffling the child’s hair.

As Malcolm took the family into the living room, with its large sofa set and more antique oak furniture, he instinctively placed his foot over a pale mark on the patterned rug that was under the coffee table. He didn’t want Bryony and Mark to notice anything else wrong with the farmhouse.   

‘But please Daddy!!!’

Malcolm didn’t know which one of the children was making that repulsive whining noise, he preferred not to converse with anyone without cognitive thinking. His own son, like William and Kate, had left Anglesey for London and had barely looked back since. Only when his son wanted to offload his teenagers on Malcolm and Rosanne, did he see him.

He loved his son in his own way, but childhood was just a necessary evil to get to adulthood in his opinion. He could never understand the way children turned grown adults into fools. Especially babies; sticky, ugly little creatures that people went wild for.

His mind wondered back to five years ago when he had been looking forward to watching the start of the Ring O’ Fire Marathon. He had bumped into his neighbour one morning as he was collecting his milk bottles from the door step.

‘Yoo hooo! Malcolm’ she hawked. ‘Did you hear the good news?’

‘What’s that then?’, he said dryly.

‘Only that Prince William and maybe even Catherine are attending the marathon this year!’

Malcolm nodded without saying a word. He truly hoped this wouldn’t bring a load of tourists from the mainland.

‘I do hope they bring the little baby, wouldn’t that be wonderful?!’

‘Why, is it going to be entering the marathon?’

The neighbour laughed uncertainly, she never did understand Malcolm.

*

Kate was on her knees scrubbing at a stain on the rug.

‘You really should start getting ready’, William said.

‘I have to get this stain off’, she said distractedly.

Last night, their baby boy had leaked through his nappy, leaving an unsightly stain on the rug.

‘You’re gonna wear a hole in it’, he said soothingly, but Kate ignored him. ‘We need to leave soon’

Finally, she sat up, taking her eyes off the rug for the first time in fifteen minutes. ‘I can’t come’

‘Not this again’, William sighed.

‘I can’t do it, I can’t leave him’

‘Your mum is here and he’s asleep’. William had repeated this about twenty times already. If Kate didn’t move soon, they’d be late for their first engagement together since George was born. It was their final way of saying thank you to the island.

‘What if he needs me? What if he wakes up and doesn’t want to drink from the bottle? He’ll wonder where I am, he’ll be scared William’, the irrational panic was rising in her voice.

William sat down on the sofa. This was going to take some convincing.

‘You went out the shops without him, and he was fine then, remember?’

‘That was only like half an hour, and I’d just fed him’

‘But he was fine, yes?’

‘Yes but…’

‘Kate, your mum knows what she’s doing, more than we do. Try and remember why you wanted to come in the first place’. He ran a hand through her hair.

He was right, she had wanted to go to show her thanks. Anglesey had been wonderful to them, all four of them.

‘What if something happens?’

‘Rebecca has our phones, but nothing will happen, he won’t even know we’re gone’

Kate knew he was speaking sense, but first time motherhood didn’t pair itself with rational thinking. Especially when you were leaving your baby.

‘I guess’, she said softly, standing up to stretch her legs. 

‘He’ll be fine’, William said, stroking her arm, ‘and so will you’

She gave him a little squeeze for reassurance, ‘what would I do without you?’

*

Mark and Bryony were eager to see the upstairs part of the house. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, it would be perfect for this little family, Malcolm thought.

He showed them each room in turn, ending with the master bedroom. Bryony and Mark smiled at each other as they entered. Clearly the spacious wardrobe and king size bed was a hit.

Malcolm had a good feeling about these clients; they seemed to like everything about the house and hadn’t yet uttered a word about the previous tenants. Sir George would certainly be happy if he found a suitable buyer.

‘Great view’, Mark said, his hands tucked in his pockets, staring out of the window. The view from the bedroom was Malcolm’s favourite. It looked out onto a small beach that Sir George owned. ‘I could look at it all day’.

*

The waves lapped at the rocks, sending water spraying across the beach. It was why William loved the view from his bedroom window; you never knew what the sea would be doing from one day to the next.

‘See that George, that is what Mummy and Daddy got to wake up to every morning’. He looked down at his son who was blinking at him sweetly, tucked up in his arms.

He turned around and looked at the room, now almost empty, but for a few boxes that had to be taken away. This had been his home for three wonderful years. It pained him to think that George wouldn’t grow up here.

As Kate took charge of the packing downstairs, William walked solemnly from room to room, recalling memories to George.

They were different like that, Kate always kept herself busy when she was stressed or worried. William on the other hand would sit and stare at the ceiling with the sounds of the African bush pulsing through his headphones.

‘This is where we found out we were having you’, he said, showing George the all-white bathroom. ‘Daddy even cried a little bit that day’, he whispered.

After moving through each room as slowly as he could, he finally reached the largest spare room. ‘And this would’ve been your room, it would’ve been so cool, I’d have put all sorts in here, little elephants and lions on the walls, you would’ve loved it’

If things had been different, William, Kate, George and Lupo would’ve stayed in Anglesey. But with the Search and Rescue Service being privatised and William’s other duties calling, they had no choice but to leave.

‘Will, are you done?’, Kate called from downstairs.

‘Just a sec’, he called back.

‘One day, you, me, Mummy and Lupo are going to come for a summer holiday here. I’ll take you to the beach and we can have a barbecue, how does that sound?’

George gurgled in agreement, making Will laugh.

‘Shall we say goodbye then?’

He took George downstairs and met Kate at the front door.

‘Ok?’ she asked, sensing his mood.

‘I was just telling George about us coming back for a summer holiday’

‘That would be fantastic’, she said, rubbing his back softly.

It truly was bittersweet. As much as Kate was excited to move into their apartment in London, to have a home she could decorate without renting restrictions, she loved this home as much as William had. Their memories here were countless, each room, nook and cranny left behind a trace of them.

‘Shall we?’ William said, reluctant, but ready to leave.

‘Let’s go home’, Kate said, confident in the fact that eventually, their lives in apartment 1A would live up to their little Welsh farmhouse.

Boxes removed and cupboards emptied, they left the keys on the counter in the kitchen, closing the door on the best three years of their lives.

*

The Cambridges hadn’t been back for a holiday, that much Malcolm knew. He could always tell when they were about by the blacked out cars driving up and down the island. It was too late now, he thought. It would be sold, probably to this family, in a couple of months.

He could go home to Rosanne a happy man, knowing that he didn’t have to show any more people around here.

‘So, shall I tell Mr Merick you’re interested?’ he asked the couple as the children ran out of the door.

The couple looked at each other, ‘I think we’ll have a think about it’, Bryony said.

‘Yes, but it is lovely, thank you for showing us around’, Mark said as they left.

Malcolm locked up the house and meandered down the path, watching the family bundle into the car. He was off to the Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn, but certainly wouldn’t be taking part in the quiz, he muttered to himself.

*

‘So what did you think?’ Mark said, strapping himself into the driver’s seat.

In the back, the two children were arguing, the boy shouting bossily at the girl.

Bryony pulled off her hat and scarf, and turned to face her children in the back seat.

‘George Alexander Louis, if I have to tell you one more time to stop yelling at your sister…’, she shot a warning look at her five year old son, stopping him in his tracks.

Turning back to her husband, she answered, ‘it was nice to see one last time, even if it wasn’t for our summer holiday’

‘Do you think that bloke suspected anything?’, his sharp blue eyes gazed into hers.

‘I think he was in his own world’, she laughed. 

The family drove away in their Land Rover, the children arguing and laughing in turn all the way home.

The fingerprints of the young prince and princess against the French windows was the only trace they left behind. 

[leprincedesdragons]

Magic Home

A look at Tyler Lee’s and Daniel Choi’s Kengsinton Residence 

Model Daniel Choi and husband, Tyler Lee, are the newest owners of a two-bedroom London condo at Kensington, a luxury development by renowned designer Jacques Thoreau. The 3,000-square-foot condo features private elevator access along with an abundance of luxury amenities that make this landing spot the perfect upgrade from Lee’s bachelor apartment in Mayfair. The modern residence is complete with a full-time doorman and concierge, a gym and spa, and a beautiful terrace. This is what a dream home looks like.

Quidditch player and Royal Tyler Lee and his husband, Daniel Choi, are no strangers to the home renovation process. Together, the couple, who have been married for two years, has tackled a previous home renovation project. But their most challenging redo to-date is a sprawling Tudor-style apartment located in the most expensive neighborhood of London. The couple purchased the 3,000-square-foot property earlier this year. It was originally built for a large family in the 1830s, but after being untouched for 50 years, Daniel and Tyler knew it was the right time to put their design skills to the test once again.

An extensive renovation later, the couple is happily living in their new house. “The great thing about Daniel is that when he decides to go for something, he really goes for it,” says Tyler proudly. “He is incredibly impatient and focused, so I would wake up every day to new boards, full of ideas and photographs of furniture. The renovation was done at Daniel’s supersonic speed: a month for the whole house. Tyler and Daniel preserved the old-world charm of the original house but weaved in modern touches by rearranging the layout, incorporating eye-catching furniture and graphic art. In our visit to their luxurious residence, the couple shares their favorite spaces from the minimalistic guest dining room to the charming private sitting area.

Keen and eclectic collectors of both art and furniture, the couple had a number of diverse pieces they were intent on integrating into their home, among them two paintings by Johannes Vermeer, a 1690s William & Mary cabinet, that found its place in their kitchen, and Vilhelm Lauritzen light fixtures, now in the dining room. The latter are favorites of Tyler. “When someone’s walking upstairs, you hear them clink a bit,” he says. “It makes a charming sound.” For new acquisitions, they were determined to avoid anything ubiquitous. Items that got past their stringent criteria include an emerald Ico Parisi sofa in their bedroom and a Johanna Grawunder pendant light in their walk-in closet.

Private sitting area

The sitting area of quidditch player Tyler Lee’s Paris apartment, which he redesigned with his husband and the architect Anthony Rey. The sofas are covered in a fabric from Martin’s collection for Mokum, the light fixtures come courtesy of Paris design firm Desjeux Delaye, while the tables are vintage, and the black marble sculpture by Alfred Basbous was purchased at the Hong Kong International Art Fair.

Living Room

The dark, deep color of the walls was chosen as the main color, to create an atmosphere of intimacy and seclusion. The colors that dominate much of the ground floor are a mix of turquoises, greens, and black, with hand-painted walls of dark emerald set against oak floors. That palette, Daniel says, came from an unusual brief: “Tyler handed me a black peacock feather and said, ‘This is what I want.’“

Photo: in the living room, walls painted in the shade “Very dark green” (Emery & Cie), used in total look, gives life to the decoration elements. On both sides of the mirror, Christopher Boots’ “Pythagoras” wall lamps from the Armel Soyer Gallery. On the mantelpiece, Vanessa Mitrani vases and Dan Yeffet’s “Segment” lamp from her Collection Particulière. On the right, Augusto Bozzi bench and armchair from the 1950s, burnt wood coffee tables (Atmosphere of Elsewhere), reading lamp “ED027” (Edizioni Design), lamp post “Superloon”, by Jasper Morrison (Flos) , vintage carpet (Ada) and the painting “The Girl with the Pearl” by Johannes Vermeer, ottoman (Maison de Vacances), ashtrays from India Mahdavi.

…

[lukeskywaker4ever]

Palácio da Ajuda, Lisbon

The Palace of Ajuda is a neoclassical monument in the civil parish of Ajuda in the city of Lisbon, central Portugal. Built on the site of a temporary wooden building constructed to house the Royal family after the 1755 earthquake and tsunami, it was originally begun by architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa, who planned a late Baroque-Rococo building. Later, it was entrusted to José da Costa e Silva and Francisco Xavier Fabri, who planned a magnificent building in the modern neoclassical style.

When the palace finally became a permanent residence of the royal family during the reign of King Luis I 

and his wife, Maria Pia of Savoy, 

their architect, Possidónio da Silva, introduced many aesthetic changes and turned one of the lateral façades into the main one.

Most of the palace interiors were designed during King Luis I’s reign by his wife, Queen Maria Pia and Possidónio da Silva.

Maria Pia lived in the palace from the day she became Queen of Portugal, in 1862, until the republican Revolution in 1910, when the royal family was forced into exile.

Interior

The interior is laid out with interconnecting halls, with a central corridor of staircases and elevators.

On the main floor entrance hall, with a succession of the museum in lateral directions, there is a staircase beside two niches with the figures of Justiça and Prudência, which access the Sala dos Archeiros (Archers Hall) completed by Joaquim Machado de Castro and his disciples. On this floor, in a linear path, the visitor follows through the following chambers and halls:

Sala dos Archeiros (Archer's Hall), named because it was occupied by the guard of honour (from 8:00 a.m. in the morning until 11:00 p.m.), is a hall illuminated by two windows and three rectangular doors, all with golden metal shields and covered in decorative paintings representing military victories. The vaulted hall ceiling is painted by José da Cunha Taborda with the Portuguese Royal coat of arms, the windows and doors surmounted by paintings, and the floor, while paved in parquet, is covered partially in carpet. It is currently used as the principal entrance for visits to the Palace and concierge.

Sala do Porteiro da Cana (Cane Concierge Hall) was used to announce visitors, and consists of a false cupola to squares, formed by plain columns and Corinthian capitals that support triangular pediments. At the center is an allegory of Justiça, with two medallions flanking it, representing the John IV and Carlota Joaquina, over parquet floors.

Sala das Tapeçarias Espanholas (Spanish Tapestry Hall), as its name implies is the location of eight Spanish tapestries of various sizes, representing Dança (Dance), Passeio na Andaluzia(Walking in Andaluzia), Jogo de Cartas (Card Game), Fonte (Fountain), Merenda (Lunch), Partida para a caça (Departure for the Hunt), Regresso da Caça (Return from the Hunt) and Caçadores(Huntsmen). It was also referred to as the Sala do Dossel (Canopy Room) or Sala de Audiência(Audience Hall), since it was used by King Luís and Queen Maria Pia to as a waiting room for formal guests. On the semi-vaulted ceiling there is an allegorical mural representing King John VI's departure for Brazil. In addition to various paintings and architectural elements, there are wooden cornices and a parquet floor, while over four doors there allegorical paintings interspersed by the eight large tapestries. The hall is occupied by a large desk with many gold-leaf wooden chairs covered in red velvet, with polished crests and chiselled bronze elements.

Antecâmara da Sala do Despacho (Antechamber of the Hall of Order), also referred to as the Sala do Retrato de D. Carlos (Hall of Dom Carlos' Painting) or Sala de D. Sebastião (Dom Sebastian's Hall), which is a small room, with a ceiling painted with the figure of Diana and scenes from the hunt, while over the doors representations of Mercury, Vulcan, Science and Peace.

Sala do Despacho (Hall of Order), another room with flattened vaulted ceiling, this space was used for state functions, and the King resolved official duties, typically on Thursdays. Its ceiling is painted with Aurora trazendo a Felicidade Pública, Abundância, Mentira and Justiça (by Cyrilio and Taborda), while the mouldings feature military motifs. On side of the room is an Italian black marble fireplace/stove, comprising two ionic columns, supporting a frieze ornamented by flowers and cornice, with fire-guard in metal. The parquet floor is formed into a geometric pattern and the space decorated with several gold-velvet chairs, large vases, lowboy furniture and red-velvet topped table.

Sala dos Contadores (Accountants Hall), also known as the Sala das Cómodas (Lowboy/Chest of Drawers Room), a small passage with inlaid parquet.

Sala de Música (Music Room), which has a rectangular ceiling painting in tones of sepia, white and gold, with eight medallions representing the arms of Portugal, the Dukes of Bragança and crosses of the military orders, with the walls covered in pink silk and the floor in parquet. On one end is an enormous oak wood fireplace/stove, with several glass display cabinets with ornate friezes and cornices aligned on either side. The chimney and stove are adorned by golden phytomorphic elements and arms of Portugal and surrounded on several walls by paintings and . In the centre are musical instruments (although the King Luís was a baritone, he also accompanied with his cello, while the Queen was a pianist), which are surrounded by velvet-lined bunk seating and several paintings.

Quarto do Rei D. Luís (King Luís's Room), covered in wood paneled wainscoting, painted white and gold remains as one of the few rooms in the Palace painted in its original un-restored wall colors. The painted ceiling, depicting an allegorical representation of Paz by Cyrillo Volkmar Machado that includes figures, mythical figures and flowers in each corner, while the main ceiling is designed as a fanciful open-air Cupola. The walls are painted simply in white with gold trim, divided in square panels, while the floor is paved in parquet. An ornate bed, table and white-velvet chairs decorate the room, with a writer's desk along one wall, while statues stand in the window niches on the opposite wall from the bed. Paintings of many of the Portuguese monarchs are located on one of the walls, while over the desk the full-size painting of King Carlos of Portugal is hung.

Antecâmara do Quarto Real (Antechamber of the Royal Bedroom), continues the wainscoting and painted friezes that adorn the main bedroom, and topped by coiled phytomorphic elements, that are repeated higher on the walls.

Sala Azul (Blue Room), which is not actually blue, is covered in white and gold silk walls and drapery, with matching chairs and cushioned sofa over a parquet floor. Between 1863 and 1865, it was remodeled by Possidónio da Silva in order to provide a Royal sitting room in the tastes of Queen Maria Pia. Avant-garde for its time it included visual effects that proportioned the space, including two grand mirrors on opposite walls (one over the fireplace and the other between two windows) and a Romanesque arch opening that extends the gaze of the Blue Room into the neighbouring Gabinete de Carvalho annex.

Gabinete de Carvalho (Oak Cabinet), an annex that served as a smoking-room, during a period when the men and women socialized independently. The space trimmed in oak, red-velvet drapery and chairs is decorated with paintings of King Luís's favourite ships, as well as oak chest of drawers.

Jardim de Inverno (Winter Garden) or Sala de Mármore (Marble Hall), is covered in marble and agate gifted to the Royal Family by the Portuguese Viceroy to Egypt, with a Carrara marble fountain, with tank and pinnacle structure. The fountain is surrounded by three bronze cranes, busts, two huge ornate bird cages, vases and cushioned chairs, typical of the outdoors. Potted and hanging plants also circle the room, which gives the impression of an enclosed outdoor environment.

Sala Cor-de-Rosa (Pink Room), a small room in pink silk, the room was specifically created to display the Queen's porcelain collection, with many figurines on display on sills on the walls, with the furniture painted in pink or cover in pink velvet.

Sala Verde (Green Room), clad in green silk, with a white painted ceiling with golden elements, decorative paintings (including a large 1876 portrait of the Royal Family by Joseph Fortuné-Séraphin Layraud), green drapery and a parquet floors with geometric elements. A large fireplace/stove in white marble occupies one wall in rounded Rococo-style decoration, protected by the fire-guard in gold metal. This was a private room, used by the Queen to conduct official duties or receive visitors, but as well was the room where she gave birth to the royal heir Prince Carlos. A small antechamber to the left (known as the Red Room, Sala Encarnada) was used throughout its history for various purposes (washroom, oratory, workroom or writing room), and today displays various portraits, busts, chest of drawers and writing table.

Sala de Saxe (Saxe Room), was lined with silk, the plaster ceiling is decorated with flowers, birds and butterflies; today its austere space is used to exhibit some toys and objects associated with the Infantes Carlos and Afonso. Located to the right of the Green Room, at one time there were Portuguese medallions and paintings of Italian landscapes.

Quarto da Rainha (Queen's Bedroom), was decorated in the Napoleonic-style of 1861, which was popular in Europe at the time, and includes walls in blue silk with a silver pattern, surmounted by a ceiling painted with allegorical depictions of Fé, Esperança and Caridade, as well as a figure of John the Baptist. The room is decorated in religious iconography, ornate wood furniture and highlighted by a large canopy bed (also in blue, gold and silver colors), while the floor is covered in carpet, with a polar bear hide. Alongside is the toucador (changing room and toilette), and also continues the original carpeted space from the Queen's bedroom, with large three-pane standing mirror, fireplace, chest of drawers and commode. It is decorated in rich brown and gold trim, phytomorphic elements and paintings of the figures of Diana, Juno, Venus and Minerva over the doorways. The actual bathroom, more practical then decorative, nonetheless, includes decorated with painted mouldings and rich wood trim, and includes bathtub, double lavatory, double sink and bide, hygienic innovations that came from England around 1880.

A Casa de Jantar da Rainha (Queen's Dining Room), a private dining room was never planned in the 1802 design of the Palace, but by 1880 there was a need for a communal space. The final room was decorated in red silk and rich wood grain trim from floor to ceiling, with a wood fireplace/stove on one wall (surmounted by a large mirror), while the opposite wall provides an entrance to adjacent Billiard Room. The floor is cover in inlaid parquet floor with a bronze lustre.

Sala de Bilhar (Billiard Room), which replaced an older room on the second floor, and occupied King Luís after dinner, as the Queen and guests would retire to the Blue Room, although the Queen was known to play with the King on occasion or with her piano teacher, Mrs. Cart. The room is an elaborate extension of the adjacent Dining Room, with a parquet floor, a wood fireplace, lateral wooden pilasters and dark wood grain-coloured walls, with a series of long bunk sofas against the walls. The large wood fireplace is composed of carved wood with cherubs and built-in mirror, while the central pool table occupies the majority of the space.

Second floor

During State functions or celebrations, invited guests would enter via the vestibule and ascend the main staircase to the second floor of the Palace by way of the Escadaria Nobre. The enclosed staircase, is decorated with flourish carvings on the ceiling from the lower floor, which zigzags to the upper landing decorated with rounded stained glass with the royal coat of arms and painted ceiling. 

On the second floor of the palace lies: 

Atelier de Pintura do Rei (King's Painting Workshop), which is preceded by a gallery with many of King Carlos' works of art. The room is lined with carvings in white, with a paneled ceiling, supported by equally spaced cornice and corbels, with windows framed by arches and canopies of false parapets, as well as a wooden staircase guarded by four foils leaked, the floor is parquet motif geometric.

Biblioteca (Library), is a space covered in oak wood serving as library, including panels, doors, trim and the fireplace (flanked by two Atlantean warriors).

Sala de Trabalho do Rei (King's Office), its walls painted are painted beige, with wainscoting and trim adorned with geometric elements and foliage, respectively, and focused on a panel representing Saturn. A parquet wood floor with various shades of embossed wood cover the floor, while a bronze crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

Sala das Incias L.M. (Initials L & M Room), a relatively small rectangular space, with a plane ceiling, it is adorned with an allegorical scene, depicting the initials L and M for the monarchs King Luís and Queen Maria Pia, with a wide crown moulding, decorated with stars and military motifs on a very prominent cornice and meandering ornate frieze. The walls are covered with draperies of comparable fabric, while the floor is covered in parquet.

Sala Chinesa (Chinese Room) totally decorated in natural silk, forming a tent-shaped ceiling, with chandeliers and small metal lamps, Chinese porcelain, and red doorways with gold trim, in Oriental motifs, completed by José Procópio Ribeira in 1865. From this place visitors to the monarchs residence, for galas or ceremonial events, were stratified into various rooms, depending on class structure, until the reaching the throne room.

Sala Império (Imperial Salon), with a wainscoting painted in pink, and walls covered in silk, the ceiling has ornate motifs, and meandering frieze, while the floor is covered in inlaid parquet.

Sala do Retrato da Rainha (Queen's Portrait Room), a fairly wide room, with a ceiling painting feature the depiction of Vingança and Justiça Divina framed by phytomorphic elements, with walls lined with red silk and a parquet flooring. The room is dominated by the full-length portrait of the 33-year-old Maria Pia in blue and white ball gown, opposite a portrait of Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto.

Sala dos Gobelins (Gobelins Room), the ceiling in this space is painted blue, with phytomorphic elements and festive elements in white.

Sala do Corpo Diplomático (Diplomatic Corp's Room), was used for visiting ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corp, who waited in this room before being presented in the throne room. This room is full of classical motifs, presenting a ceiling with animals, figures and chariots, based on a Greek frieze, with painted walls and inlaid parquet floor. Three of the walls have tapestries with royal coats of arms and the last with a fireplace surmounted by mirror, with chairs assembled for the gathered visitors, all accented in red velvet and gold, and two large ornamental vases. Alongside is a small antechamber used so that visitors could wait as their name was presented to the monarchs, before appearing in the throne room. On the walls of this room are portraits of John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina on opposite walls. 

Sala das Senhoras do Corpo Diplomático (Lady’s Room of the Diplomatic Corp) Three tapestries from the Manufacture of Gobelins decorate this room, where the diplomats' women waited to pay their respects to the kings. The tapestries "Works in the Sultana's Rooms", Dance in the Gardens of the Serralho and the "Sultana's Toilette", and also "Sultana's Lunch"- which is in reserve - make up the series of Turkish Customs, the only complete set Amedée Van Loo painted the models between 1774-1775, and tapestries woven between 1780 and 1782 in the workshops of Audran and Cozette, who signed and dated them. On the walls of this room are portraits of King Pedro V and his wife Queen Estefânia.

Sala do Trono (Throne Room), is a large space that occupies the southern tower of the Palace, with a ceiling of the Virtude Heróica, exalting the royalty of Miguel of Portugal, with a bronze crystal chandelier, walls draped in red silk and floor covered in parquet and Aubusson carpet. On a small two-step platform are the two thrones of Luís and Maria Pia under a red draped canopy. The passageways, covered in drapery are surmounted by ancillary windows that permit light to cascade into the space. Red velvet chairs and bunks are strategically located around the open space.

Sala de Baile (Ballroom) or Sala de D. João VI (King John VI's Hall), was used as the formal ballroom, and features an upper gallery (for the musicians) opposite the entrance, while two full-length portraits of Luís and Maria Pia flank the entrance. The walls are covered in red silk, with the ceiling divided into seven panels, the central showing the allegorical Concílio dos Deuses, from which hang three crystal chandeliers. Along one wall is a large landscape depicting the return of John VI from Brazil, opposite windows and two mirrors.

Sala da Ceia (Supper Room), the grand dining hall for state dinners and ceremonial events (such as the acclamation of Miguel as King and the wedding of Carlos and Amelia of Orleans), the room is a long hall that includes two long tables for visitors and the main table (which intersects the other two) for the Royal Family. The ceiling is painted with an allegorical depiction as a tribute to João VI, depicting a sun chariot with Apollo, encircled by the Horae, months, seasons, and other allegorical figures, illuminated by three large bronze crystal chandeliers, and an upper gallery for musicians, who would play for visiting guests and diplomats. The opposite wing was altered by the adaption by actual activities in the space, and includes a staircase in the vestibule to connect the upper spaces and rooms.

[aworldoffandoms]

For the drabble prompt I'm asking for #28...or #12. Or both together cause that sounds like a fun Tuesday. XD Stay wonderful!

Authors Note: This is adrabble from the drabble prompt challenge. It’s number #12 and #28. It’s myfirst one so please let me know what you think of it! (also be gentle haha)Thank you for the ask @harlequinash! This is quite long as my words got away with me but Iswear I’ll be brief next time lol. Hope you enjoy!

This drabble is separate from my series ‘Runaway’ but I’musing the same MC haha

[Edit: The outline and placing of stuff on this post are messed up on the mobile version yet seem fine on the desktop version. Just warning you :) ]

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x MC[Ariel]

Word Count: 1, 982 (give or take)

Warnings: Swearing, drunkenness

Lava 

The Queen of Cordonia could hold her liquor. She was a master at it.Being an American and New Yorker, respectively, she had her fair share of night’s out. A few times after long week’s ofcorrespondence with delegates, ambassadors and many insufferable nobles she lether hair down and dabbled in a few drinks to calm herself or have fun.

She didn’t know how Liam did it. He was the epitome of a king and thequeen herself? Well…let’s just say she was still learning.

It’s only been 6 months since the wedding and she’d been thrust rightinto the work of a monarch and she had been run off her feet since.

She was exhausted.

So, it was after a long day of meetings, a bill passing through theRoyal Council and a very long, detailed meeting with their Director of RoyalCommunications, that saw her sitting in the lower wing of the palace in the secluded bar just outside the copious palace grounds.

She was sitting at the bar, a glass of whiskey in her hand, sipping onit slowly, thinking about her schedule tomorrow which consisted of brunch withthe Queen Mother and a few meetings she had to attend with Liam. A burst of exhaustionwent through her.

I am so ready for sleep…

“Heyoooo!”

A booming voice rang through the quiet space of the downstairs bar andAriel winced at the volume, her body jumping in shock. Her mouth pursed into ascowl, having enjoyed a few moments of silence before the hurricane known asMaxwell Percival Beaumont flew in.

However, as soon as she met the excited, blue eyes of her self-adoptedfun-loving brother, her earlier annoyance fizzled out to be replaced by abright smile. Maxwell’s energy seeping into her tired bones.

“Hey, Maxwell. What are you doing down here?”

Maxwell shoots Ariel a grin, nodding to the bottle of Russian vodka onthe shelf next to the bottle of Jägermeister. On further thought, Maxwellpointed to the Jägermeister as well. The bartender nodded, handing over bothbottles before putting down a shot glass.

Ariel stared at her friend, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Maxwell…whatthe hell are you doing?”

“Well, Your Majesty…I believe that for a woman who has been working ashard as you have deserves a load off so…” Maxwell pauses, reaching over the barand grabbing more shot glasses. “I think it is time for some alcohol!”

Ariel resisted the urge to groan. She could hold her liquor, yes. But Russianvodka, Jägermeister and the already two glasses of whiskey already buzzing throughher veins would not be a good combination in the long wrong run. Mixing drinksis always a bad idea.

Ariel gives him a long-suffering look. “Maxwell…that’s very thoughtful.But I don’t think that’s a good idea. I have brunch with Regina tomorrow and Ican’t afford––”

Maxwell interrupts her with a wave of his hand. “Bruch, smunch. Youdeserve this.”

“But––”

“No buts, Ariel. You need to relax a little. All that queenly stuff andpaperwork isn’t good for one’s social life.”

Ariel stares indignantly at Maxwell. “I have a great social life,Beaumont!”

Maxwell scoffs, a laugh bubbling up from his throat. “Yeah, because youhave to. You’re the Queen of Cordonia but that doesn’t mean you socialise withthe right people.”

Ariel raises an eyebrow. “Are you implying that you’re the right people for me to be hanging with?”

Maxwell’s grin grows wide. “Naturally.”

“Oh, Maxwell…” Ariel laughed, shaking her head at the youngest Beaumontbrother. He was so incorrigible. Despite how tired she felt, Ariel couldn’thelp the smile lifting her lifts. Maxwell was just that kind of person whoalways lit up a room with his energy.

Ariel finished off the last of her whiskey, setting down the glass witha soft tap against the bar. She groans as she stands up, her feet throbbingfrom being on them all day.

“Uh, uh. Where are you going?”

Ariel stares at him for a minute. “I am going to bed, Maxwell. I havestuff to do tomorrow.”

Maxwell rolls his eyes but continues to pour two shots of vodka forthem both. “Come on, Ariel. You know you want to…”

Ariel sighs, running her hands through her hair. “I have a feeling youaren’t going to stop until I placate you and say yes.”

Maxwell leans back, grasping the two shot glasses and handing one overto her. 

“You’re quite right about that.”

Ariel rolls her eyes, the hint of another smile on her lips as theyclink glasses and they both toss back the shot, the strong Russian alcoholburning down her throat as it went. 

***

“Maxwell…you a succhh a bad in-plueence on me…”

“Whaaat can I say, Ariel? I am one half of the Brothers Beaumont. Ihaaavve to be at least good at something, right?”

Ariel giggles, the sound loud in the room they occupied. They had movedfrom the bottom level bar to the drawing room next to it. Maxwell and Arielwere seated on the ground, their backs leaning up against the sofa.

“You know what, Maxwell?”

“What?”

Ariel lolls her head to the side, her mind a haze with the amount of alcoholshe had consumed.

“I think I could beat you at a game of lava.”

Maxwell looks at her quizzically despite his inebriated state. “Lavv-a?What kind of game is that?”

Ariel’s lips pull up in a large grin, her excitement growing. This is onegame that Maxwell wouldn’t know about.

Ariel pours herself another shot of vodka and downs it, slamming the glass on the coffee table before standing, wobbling on her feet slightly.

“Okay…now, I will teach you this custom. It was basically the childhood gameof all American child-renn…”

Seeing Ariel’s smile, Maxwell follows her, jumping up on his feet,himself almost falling over.  “Okay! Showme this custom of yours, Little Blossom!”

Ariel laughs, clapping her hands in childlike excitement. “Okay. Soooo…youhave to pretennd that..the ground is hot like lava and that everyything else isssaaafe. So…let’sss say I call out ‘lava’…then we’d have to find the n-nearestpiece of furniture and stand on it. The first one to fall down or trip loses.”

“Buuut…” Ariel says, lifting up a finger. “The last one to land on a piece of furniture has to take a drink.”

Maxwell smiles, nodding his head in drunken excitement. “Ooooh…let’s dothisss. P-prepare to lose, little blossom-m.”

Ariel and Maxwell begin on opposite sides of the reading room. Both ofthem in the middle, eyeing prospective places to keep off the floor. With themany shots of alcohol running through her system Ariel gives a devious grin toMaxwell and shouts at the top of her lungs,

“LAVA!”

With that yell, Ariel shoots away and jumps on to the nearest thing shecan find which was a cream coloured reading chair beside the fireplace. Maxwellhad found a brown oak coffee table to settle on. Both Ariel and Maxwell laughas they take turns in jumping on the furniture, shooting back vodka and yelling‘Lava’ a few times their voices almost raw.

“Lava! Oh, Ariel—watch out!”

In her excitement to get to safety on top of the sofa, Ariel missed herfooting and with the momentum of her upper body she tumbles over the back of thesofa and lands with a loud thud.

“Ow! That f-fucking hurt!”

“Craaap! Are you alright?”

“What in the world is going on in here?”

Ariel freezes, her body going rigid at the voice. She recognised it. Herface scrunched up in a grimace. It wasn’t many times that he saw her drunk butnow was one of those times.

Ariel thought it best to stay behind the sofa. It was the safest place forher to be right now.

Ariel peeked underneath it, seeing Maxwell standing atop the piano. Shestifled a giggle that wanted to bubble up from her throat but she slapped ahand on her mouth to stop it.

“Maxwell? What are you doing on the piano?”

Ariel sees as Maxwell stumbles for words, himself swaying on the pianotrying to appear sober but failing miserably.

“Um –– I…I don’t…you see…it was Ariel’s idea…”

Thanks a lot, Maxwell… 

“Ariel? Is she here? Where is she?”

Ariel closes her eyes as her heart beats widely against her chest.

Shit. Shit. Shiiit.

“She’s hiding behind the sofa.”

Ariel hears a sigh and feet hitting the floor before a shadow passesover her form and she inclines her head upwards and locks eyes with herhusband. His face was a neutral mask of stoicism but his eyes told a differentstory.

He was mad…but even in her drunken state she could see remnants ofamusement in them too.

“What are you doing down there, my love?”

Ariel stares at Liam for a small while and then she grins. “Oh, I’m justplaying Lava with Maxwell. You know…a game…with a few shots of vodka here andthere.”

Liam’s shoulders shake with a low chuckle and he shakes his head. “Ariel…whatam I going to do with you?”

Ariel smiles from her position on the floor. “Uh…maybe take me to bed? Ithink I had a little too much-h to driiink.”

Liam smiles, his blues sparkling with affection before he bends down andscoops his wife into his arms. “Come on, my queen. Let’s get you to bed. Youhave a long day tomorrow.

Ariel smiles, giving Liam a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “That sounds nice.I love youuuu…”

Ariel’s eyes were already slipping shut. She feels the low rumble ofLiam’s laugher against her ear. “I love you too, Ariel.”

***

Ariel awakens, her eyes throbbing and her head pounding. She felt likeshe’d been thumped in the head a few times.

“Ugh!” Ariel groans. “My head…”

Ariel tries to open her eyes but the light against her lids is painfuland she snaps them shut with a hiss.

“Sore head, Ariel?”

Ariel lies back down against her bed and groans. “More like a sorefreaking everything.”

Liam chuckles, leaning down to kiss Ariel’s forehead gently. “I’m sorryto hear that, my love. But unfortunately, duty calls…you have a meeting in an hour withRegina.”

Ariel’s eyes snap open, all thoughts of her pounding headache gone. Inher rush to get out of the bed, her feet tangled up and she falls to thefloor, her arms flailing about.

She lands on the floor with a loud thump. “Geez! Ow.”

Liam’s warm laughter fills their bed chambers and wraps around Arielmaking her shiver. “That’s the second time you’ve done that.”

Ariel pops up from the floor, giving her husband a questioning look. “Secondtime? When was the first time?”

“When you were in the bottom parlor and hiding behind the sofa?”

Ariel brings a hand to her forehead and scratches it in confusion. Theevents of last night all but a blur.

“How drunk was I?”

Liam grins, his eyes crinkling atthe edges with mirth. “Drunk enough to proposition me, strip down to your underwear before passing out.”

Ariel gasps, her head beginning to throb louder. “Oh. Sorry…” 

Liam chuckles, running a fingerdown her cheek. “No qualms about that, my sweet. Maybe another time.”

Ariel gives him a sly smirk. “I’llbe holding you to that.”

Liam chuckles, giving her a quickkiss before heading to the doors that lead out of their suite.

“I look forward to it. Oh, andAriel?”

Ariel glances back at her husband. “Yeah?”

“Maybe next time we can play ourown game.”

Ariel gulps. “I––I look forward tothat.”

Liam gives her a wink before slinkingout the door and leaves Ariel to take care of her throbbing headache and the fact that she had to appear sober in front of Regina when in fact she had a killer hangover.

This was going to be a long day,indeed.

[ragewerthers]

Do You Dare Risk All?

Summary: With a lunch that goes right and a dinner that goes wrong, the gap between these two slowly starts to close.

A/n: Its taken me awhile, but Chapter 3 is up and ready!  I hope that it’s a fun read as I really enjoyed getting to write this bit of whump and fluff to set up for Chapter 4!

You can also read at AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/18612211/chapters/45802942

Enjoy! :D

Words: 4965

----------------------------

As the afternoon came along and lunchtime arrived, Cor made his way back to Cartus’s office with a less than stellar meal for himself.  To be fair, he’d never really taken the time to ever make himself a proper lunch for work. Why would he? He spent most of his day either running around after recruits, which left little to no time to eat, or doing military meetings where he discussed what was going on around Eos and in those cases lunch would be ordered in for them.  Considering today was ‘chase recruits around and run them through their drills’ day it meant he was going to survive off of what he got out of any nearby vending machines.

Today’s meal was a bottled water and two bags of some sort of spicy chips that he’d picked up just down the hall from the Adviser’s office.  Knocking on the door he soon heard the call to come in and happily obliged. The idea that he was getting to spend a bit of extra time with the man was honestly making the marshal feel a bit giddy in a way he never would’ve thought was possible.  But here he was, trying to tamp down the urge to smile like an idiot as he made his way inside to greet the other.

Now that he wasn’t bleeding profusely from his nose he was able to make out Cartus’s office a bit more than before.  It was simple and clean, two windows allowing in a bit of light from the back and side of his office. Considering the time he had heard of Cartus spending here it was probably good for his sanity to have some sort of natural light.

A large, dark oak desk sat in front of the window to the back of the room facing toward the door.  Currently, Cartus was settled behind the desk in a wooden chair fully engrossed in whatever he was typing on his laptop.  In front of his desk another two chairs were set for visitors, but a comfortable looking leather couch was positioned to the side of the room underneath the other window, a plethora of bookcases adorning almost every other wall and filled to the brim with all sorts of political, economical and financial books someone could think of.

The room itself seemed much more comfortable then the one Cor had for himself, but then again he was barely there so what was the point in putting in extra furniture for company?

Returning his gaze to Cartus’s desk he realized that he wasn’t the only one ill-prepared for lunch if the can of Ebony and the two energy bars settled near the corner were anything to go on.

Cartus seemed to be just finishing up something on his laptop, his eyes squinted at the screen as he worked and making Cor roll his own eyes at the stubborn man.

“Glasses, Cartus.  Didn’t we have this discussion the other day?” Cor asked, closing the door behind himself and turning around just in time to see the narrowed look now focused on him.

“Don’t make me get Door the Immortal to teach you a lesson again,” he warned with a quirked eyebrow, reaching up to lower his glasses from the top of his head to perch on his nose.

Cor couldn’t help chuckling at that and shook his head.  “No need for that. Just a friendly reminder is all. Like I said, you’re one of the few gunners we have and I’d hate for your eyesight to suffer because of your vendetta against your glasses.”

Cartus snorted at the accusation as he typed a little more before clicking the final button to send his email.  “It’s not a vendetta! I just… hate them,” he said with a little shrug, finally turning his attention to the man who had entered and bringing a hand up to remove his glasses once more, setting them on his desk with a look of disgust/  As Cor drew closer, the Adviser’s eyes moved from his evil spectacles to glance at the items in the marshal’s hands.

“Crisps and water?  Watching your figure, Leonis?” he asked with a little tilt to his lips, making Cor scowl back at him though a smile soon appeared over the Immortal’s features as well.

“Could ask you the same thing.  Ebony and energy bars?” he asked simply, watching as Cartus’s cheeks tinged a bit pink.

“Alright, alright.  I’m not exactly the healthiest eater either,” he admitted with a little smile, closing his laptop to set it aside.  “Here, you can take either one of the seats there. Both are comfortable… -ish. Or if you prefer you can sit on the sofa.  It’s small but probably a little nicer than the chairs.”

“Thanks.  I think a chair will be fine,” Cor said politely as he took a seat in front of Cartus’s desk.

As both men settled into their lunches, however small and unhealthy they might be, they found themselves falling into easy conversation.  They discussed what they were each doing for the day, talked a bit more about what had happened earlier with Regis and Clarus, even going so far as to start telling stories on the King and his Shield to each other and what ridiculous antics they’d been pulled into.

Cor told Cartus of the time he was tasked with trying to free Clarus from his royal robes after the man had gotten his cloak caught in a revolving door.

Cartus told Cor of the time he’d been tasked with trying to find a gift for Queen Aulea when Regis had forgotten their anniversary two years ago.  Cartus could still recall the look in Regis’s eyes when Aulea had turned to him and thanked him for trying to help her husband.

Both men ended up getting so caught up in their stories that it wasn’t until Cartus’ secretary came in to remind him of his 2:00 meeting that they realized they had far surpassed lunch and lost track of time.

After agreeing to get ready for the meeting and watching the secretary leave, Cartus gave a little sigh and turned back to Cor.

“Sorry about that.  I didn’t realize the time, but I can honestly say this has been one of the nicest lunches I’ve had here in awhile.  Far nicer than simply working through it at least,” he said with a little chuckle as he took his wrappers and tossed them in a wastebasket nearby.

Cor couldn’t help smiling a bit at that, gathering up his own empty chip bags and nodding.  “There’s nothing to apologize for. It was definitely nice getting a chance to… talk and just… get to know you a bit more.  You’re incredibly good company,” he said softly, watching as Cartus’s cheeks tinged a bit pink from the compliment. Gods he was never going to get tired of that, was he?

The Adviser couldn’t stop a little chuckle even as he flushed and looked back up to the marshal.  “Well… that’s incredibly kind of you. But… I agree that it was definitely nice getting a chance to talk to you as well.  It’s definitely given me some good info on our dear Shield and King,” he joked, making Cor laugh a bit.

“Like I said.  I got pictures of Clarus floundering around if you ever want to see them.  It may have been one of the happiest days of my life,” Cor joked, smiling more when Cartus couldn’t stop himself from laughing at the imagery.

“I’ll have to take you up on seeing those some time,” the lithe man chuckled, unable to keep from smiling now.

Both men stood, getting ready to bid the other goodbye and it struck each how even though this was only a simple lunch together… neither really wanted it to end.

However, only one of them really had the nerve to say and do something about that.

“You know… I don’t have any plans this evening and… I was wondering if you’d like to grab some dinner after work?” Cor asked, watching as Cartus seemed to give pause for a moment, a look of uncertainty in his eyes.  Cor instantly read what he was thinking and raised his hands in a sign of peace. “I know, I know. No dates. I promise this is nothing fancy and honestly, you can even consider it my way of apologizing for denting your door if you want.”

That definitely made Cartus relax, a snort escaping him as he brought his hand up to cover his mouth, trying to play it off as a cough even as the smile remained.

“Well.  I suppose that dinner as repayment for the pain and suffering you caused my door wouldn’t be so bad,” he offered back, his smile growing a bit the more he thought about it.  “Alright. I’m probably going to be running around for the rest of the day so if you want you can text me where to meet you.”

Cor felt his chest warm through and through to hear Cartus agreeing to his dinner not date.  “Sounds good. I’ll send you a text when I get out of work and where to meet me. Until then,” he said, giving the other a little nod and heading toward the door.  “Oh, and Cartus?”

The Adviser had just been gathering a few items for his meeting when he heard his name called again and looked up to meet Cors gaze.  “Yes? Something the matter?” he asked curiously.

“Don’t forget your glasses,” Cor said lightly, the barest hint of a teasing tone in his voice as the Adviser grumbled and narrowed his eyes, picking up the glasses he had conveniently set aside so as to “forget” them.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” the man mumbled, putting the glasses into his front vest pocket as Cor chuckled and opened the door to leave.

“I do.  But I’m only keeping your best interests at heart,” he said fondly, watching as the blush that had been on Cartus’s cheeks earlier managed to somehow make it to his ears.

This man was going to be the death of him.

With a final small wave he left the office, his heart a little lighter at his future plans laid out before him.  Even if it wasn’t a date it still was exciting to think that he was at least earning back a bit of his good name in the man’s eyes.  Perhaps, even if this never led to anything romantic, he could at least consider himself a friend to the man. That would be good enough for him.

-------------------------

Cor stood outside ‘ Aberdine’s Cup Noodle Stand ’ only about two blocks down from the main Citadel building, waiting in the glow of the street lamps and fading evening light for Cartus to join him.  He’d sent a text earlier that day giving him the place for their impromptu dinner, figuring what could be less date like then going to a cup noodle stand for a quick bite?

It hadn’t been too much longer before he’d gotten a message back saying that he’d meet him there and that he was looking forward to getting away from the office.

The day had gone on a little longer than even he had anticipated, only leaving around 8:00 p.m and knowing full well that Cartus probably had a bit more to do than himself.  Cor sent another quick text, letting the Adviser know that he’d be waiting for him at the little food stand. Once again a text had been quickly forthcoming that he would be there shortly.

That had been almost an hour ago.

Cor glanced down at his phone from time to time.  Granted he didn’t want to pester the man and didn’t want to keep sending him texts so after every glance he would simply pocket it again, try to avoid the odd looks from the food stall lady and try to look up with each passerby by to see if a familiar figure could be making his way down the pavement from the main building.

Had he been stood up?

He honestly wouldn’t blame him if he had been, but the man had only just confirmed a little while  ago that he was going to meet him there.

Something wasn’t right.

A little worry built up in Cor’s stomach and he began to make his way back to the Citadel.

Luckily the place he’d chosen for their dinner wasn’t too far away and in no time he saw the imposing figure of the Citadels Tower looming over him.  Most of the windows were dark with the occupants having long since gone home, however, a few night owls still seemed to be hanging on as small flecks of orange lit up their offices.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had probably happened, but he wasn’t a man to leave things up to assumptions and chance.

A few minutes later found him exiting the elevator on Cartus’s floor, making his way down the now slightly darkened hallway and toward a door left ajar with light filtering out into the darkness.

As Cor stood outside the door he peeked in, making sure to stay quiet so as not to interrupt what may be going on inside the room.

What he saw made something in his chest ache.

Cartus looked absolutely miserable.

He sat in front of his laptop, actually wearing his glasses while the glow of the screen accentuated the tired lines marring his face.  His vest was undone, the buttoned up shirt underneath looking a little less pristine than it had earlier. The sleeves of his shirt were now rolled up to his elbows revealing his forearms and all in all he just looked the epitome of the word ‘rumpled’.  Something Cor never would’ve associated with the normally put together Adviser.

“What do you want, Scelus?” Cartus growled, not looking up from his work.

Cor quirked his head to the side and finally pushed the door open and stepped into the room.

“Scelus?” he asked, watching as Cartus looked up startled, his tired eyes taking a moment to register who was actually coming into his office.

“Oh!  Cor! My apologies!  I… oh gods, what time is it?” he rambled, looking around for something to check the time with, but apparently his mind wasn’t exactly in the right place as he glossed over picking up his phone or looking to his laptop.

“It’s getting close to 10 now I think,” Cor offered and heard a disgruntled groan from the man as Cartus ran his hands over his face, pushing his glasses back up his forehead as he rubbed at his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Cor.  I should’ve sent a text or called, but… I got… waylaid with some extra work at the last second and I’m afraid my mind was elsewhere,” Cartus apologized once more, lowering his hands and looking more deflated and tired by the minute.

“Extra work?  From Regis?” Cor asked as he walked into the office, closing the door behind him. The question was his way of gently prompting the subject.  He didn’t become one of the head military figures of Lucis by not knowing how to get information and right now he wanted to know about this ‘Scelus’.  The obvious cause for Cartus’ distress, but he knew coming right out and asking could well enough lead to no answer at all. Better to just play a little dumb for now.

Cartus shifted a little where he sat as Cor got closer, not exactly meeting the others gaze, but tugging at his shirt sleeve in a nervous gesture he would’ve definitely had a better hold on had he not been so tired.  “No. Not from Regis,” he admitted, giving a little sigh of defeat. “Scelus Asina decided to drop by and give me a few reports to finish for the delegation coming from Altissia tomorrow. It’s nothing he couldn’t have done himself, but… I always seem to find myself finishing up his work.”

Cor had settled himself in the wooden chair he’d been in earlier that day, listening to Cartus as the man vented a bit.  Apparently this wasn’t going to be the toughest interrogation he was ever going to conduct. “So he does this often?” Cor asked, watching the way Cartus’s green eyes hardened at the statement.

“At this point I don’t even know why he has a job considering I carry most of his workload,” he grumbled.  “But he plays it off as if I’m doing him a favor each and every time! ‘ Oh you’re really saving me here, Scientia!  It’s not like you have a family to get home to right? ’ or ‘ This is really going to save me from getting in trouble with the missus again!  Good thing you don’t have a bustling social life, right? ’  Somehow… he manages to compliment me, insult me and then sautner out of here with me holding onto far more work then I really need.  And the stupid part of it all is that I do it! Each and every time! Because you know what? He’s right. I can’t refute what he’s saying.  I don’t have a family to get back to and I don’t have a bustling social life.”

There was something in the way he said the last few sentences, the way his shoulders slumped and he seemed to take the words to heart that made Cors heart ache for the man in front of him.

“Cartus…,” he began before being silenced by the look he received.

“Don’t.  I don’t need pity.  It’s the truth, Cor,” Cartus reiterated, his stern expression melting into an apologetic one.  “But I’m sorry that I won’t be able to join you for dinner this evening. And I apologize for not having had the thought to text you to let you know instead of having you waste your evening as well.”

This time Cor shook his head.  “You have nothing to apologize for.  Though I’m sorry that this Scelus has decided to use your good nature in such a way,” Cor said honestly.

Cartus offered the man a little smile at that and shook his head.  “It’s… fine. Really. You think this is the first bully I’ve had to put up with?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow at the marshal and Cor had the decency to look ashamed.  “Some seem to have found fit to follow in your footsteps, as it were. I can only hope they will follow the new steps you’re taking.”

Cor still felt the sting of those words.  Knowing that he had inadvertently led the way for other people to think they could take advantage of Cartus definitely didn’t sit well with him.

Gods he’d been a prick.

Cartus seemed to pick up on the mood of the marshal and he shook his head, offering a little smile.  “Cor, stop it. I can hear you getting ready to wallow and I won’t allow it. I’m an adult. I should be able to deal with a few grade school antics.  I’ll figure it out. But for now… I… should probably get this done before tomorrow.” The man glanced over at the laptop again and the files that had unceremoniously found their way to his desk thanks to Scelus.

“If you’re sure.  I’ll... stop in tomorrow and make sure you haven’t burned yourself out then,” the marshal offered, feeling the guilt still holding strong in his chest as he stood to leave the man to his work.  “Have a good evening, Cartus.”

The Adviser watched Cor stand, something unreadable in his eyes as he gave a small, tired smile in return.  “Have a good evening, Cor,” he offered in return before turning back to his work with a roll of his shoulders, the small smile disappearing as he refocused on work that wasn’t his, doing it because it merely because it needed to be done.

Closing the door behind himself, Cor stood in the hallway for a moment, his mind still processing that he’d inadvertently forged a path for others to take advantage of Cartus.  A man who had so much on his plate, but who had now become an ‘easy target’ because of his own idiocy.

He couldn’t just leave this as it was and soon a little plan had formed in his head.  A small way to make up for all the ways he’d managed to fail the Adviser to the throne.

-------------------------

Cartus was just finishing up the second of three analysis papers on the Altissian fishing commerce and the surrounding area when he heard a knock on his door.

Cor had only just left about 20 minutes prior and he couldn’t for the life of him figure out who would be milling around the building apart from security possibly coming to check up on him.

“Erm… come in?” he called, watching as the door opened to reveal one of the last sights he expected to see.

Cor had returned… and his arms were laiden with a few takeaway bags, a teasing smile on his lips.

“Really, Cartus?  You’re here… alone… at night… and you hear a knock on the door and you just invite someone in?  We’re definitely gonna have to get you back into training,” he teased, kicking the door shut behind him.

Cartus was still sat, slightly flabbergasted at the sight before him.  “What are you doing back here?” he asked before Cor’s words caught up to him and he scowled.  “And don’t give me that! I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much.” With that he stood, going over to Cor to help unburden the man.

The closer he got the more the scent of the food started to get to the poor Adviser, his mouth watering as he realized that all of this was probably from a few different takeaway joints nearby.

“I wasn’t sure what your tastes would be… and I know that your lunch was worse than mine so I figured I’d bring you a bit of whatever I could find,” Cor offered with a light smile, taking the bag he still had and setting on a small coffee table in front of the sofa.

Cartus was still holding the other bag he’d taken from the marshal, the scent of curries, chicken and a few other spices making his mouth water the longer he held it.

“Cartus?  Caz?” Cor asked, unknowingly letting the nickname slip as he looked over at the poor guy, trying his best not to laugh at the dazed look on his face as he finally got his attention.  “Why don’t you take a seat and dig in? You look like you’re three seconds from passing out and I’m not going to have that on my conscious.”

Any sort of comeback or denial died on his lips as his stomach gave a growl any daemon would be proud of and his ears instantly flushed crimson.  “Fine, fine,” he agreed moving around to take a seat on the sofa and set the other bag down, starting to pull out the different food items Cor had picked up.  As he sat his mind finally caught up with the fact that Cor the Immortal had just dubbed him with a new nickname and it… made his stomach give a funny little flutter in a way he didn’t want to analyze right now.

“You really did pick up a little of everything, didn’t you?” Cartus chuckled, unable to help himself as he pulled out curry, Chicken parmesan, two slices of pizza and some Shrimp Cup Noodle, his thoughts easily refocusing on the food before him.

Cor smiled smugly and nodded, taking a seat beside him. “Yes I did.  If you can’t find something you like here then it can’t be found… at least not within a few blocks of here,” he joked, pulling out a sub, Spicy Chicken Cup Noodle, sushi and three cans of Ebony and two bottles of water.  “So… what would you like first?”

Cartus’s eyes roved over the buffett laid out before him, his stomach giving another growl as he sheepishly pointed to the curry and sushi.  “I’d happily lay claim to those two items if that’s alright?” he asked, though before he had even finished Cor was already moving the items closer to him.

“You could claim everything here and it would be alright,” Cor promised, giving him a kinder smile as he also put a bottle of water near the man.  “It’s really the least I could do after being the catalyst for all your troubles this evening.”

Cartus paused in the removal of the lid to the curry, looking over at the man sat beside him and the look of guilt that was coming over him.

“You didn’t put Scelus up to doing what he does, Cor,” Cartus said gently.  “Just because he saw fit to be a bully, that’s not on you. He could have just as easily left me alone, but he chose not to.  Like I said, I’ll find a way to deal with him like an adult. It’s nothing I want you to trouble yourself with. Though… I really do appreciate the effort of this dinner.”

As he spoke, Cor worked up the nerve to look over at him once more, finding a kind smile on the other’s features and feeling his heart beat just a little faster.

A small smile broke out over his own features now and he nodded.  “Well… like I said. It’s the least I could do,” he murmured, reaching for the Spicy Cup Noodle and settling back into the sofa cushions

Cartus seemed content in the knowledge that Cor was a bit more comfortable now and finally tucked into his own meal, eating the curry in a flourish and quickly following it up with the sushi and finally picking up the Shrimp Cup Noodle to enjoy a bit of extra guilty, salty goodness.

“Feeling better?” Cor asked as Cartus picked lazily at the noodles, eating the bits of seafood he found in it with a contented little hum each time.

The Adviser nodded, a soft smile on his lips.  “Much better. I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” he admitted, fighting a little yawn now as Cor set his empty bottle of water aside.

“I’m sorry I didn’t pick up a little dessert for after,” he said honestly, getting a surprised snort from Cartus and turning to see the man hiding a laugh against his hand once more.  He’d come to realize that Cartus had a tendency to hide his laugh. He wondered if he couldn’t fix that.

“Oh thank goodness you didn’t,” Cartus admitted with a little shake of his head.  “I’ve a horrible sweet tooth. I would’ve made a joke of myself in front of you and I don’t think my ego could’ve handled it.”

Cor chuckled at hearing that, making a mental note to definitely bring back something sweet next time.

Cartus leaned back against the sofa now as well, Cor soon following suit after setting aside his empty cartons.  As they let their dinner settle, Cor still mulled a few things over in his head, debating if he should say what was on his mind and in the end deciding that really… there was nothing to lose by speaking up now.

“You know… I really am sorry for everything I’ve put you through, Cartus,” Cor murmured, looking down at his lap, his fingers fiddling with nonexistent fuzz on his trousers.  “I shouldn’t have been treating you the way I have. I shouldn’t have been a bully and I should’ve just been fair to you and treat you like the amazing person you are.” Cor could feel his cheeks heating up as he spoke, but he knew this had to be said.  “And you really are amazing, Cartus. You do far more than your share of work without complaint. You are loyal, kind… and I hope that we can continue to get to know one another and… that I can continue to earn your trust and especially your friendship.”

As he finished speaking he waited for some sort of comment or remark, only finding the quiet of the room greeting his ears and then… he felt a bump against his side and a weight settled on his shoulder.

“Cartus?  Are you…?” Cor turned his head to check that everything was alright only to find the man asleep against him, the glasses that rested atop his head now slightly askew, his lips only just parted as soft, even breaths escaped him.  He appeared to still be holding onto the half full cup of noodles and Cor carefully reached over to take them from him, trying not to shift too much so as to wake the man.

The marshal couldn’t help smiling at the poor Adviser’s state, shaking his head.  “Here I am trying to have an honest heart to heart and you fall asleep on me,” he whispered more to himself than anything.  All he got for his troubles was a little hum and soft nuzzle from the brunette that made his heart melt. “Well now you’re just being unfair.”

Cor knew he couldn’t stay like this forever.  That eventually he was going to have to get up and leave and make sure that Cartus was awake and okay, but… for now he remained at his post, ever the loyal soldier, allowing the man a moment’s rest from his hectic day.

Giving another little glance to the side, Cor took in the relaxed features of Cartus and gave a little sigh, his smile still lingering on his face.

“You’re definitely gonna be the death of me.”

[myhouseidea]

With a signature style of minimalism both in design and life, Huang Jiexin, the designer, perfectly shows the aesthetics of “less is more” in his own residence. The apartment was designed by JAMD ARCHITECTURE without any superfluous adornment. Photographer: Xiao En

The construction materials of the floor and walls are almost the same–marbles exported from France. Through delustering the marbles and making the grains visible, the original texture of marbles are preserved, making the space clean yet exquisite and expressive. The space features a palette with beige as the major hue. Beige marbles endow the space with a minimalist, natural and elegant style. Besides, different colors were utilized in a coordinated and ingenious manner in the overall interior design. The furniture presents modern and minimalist style, while decorative logs and black furnishing articles add artistic atmosphere to the space. Cabinets in neutral color subtly hide storage, appliance and mechanical systems, which allows continuity of these systems in major living spaces and corridors. In this way, cabinets installed in the space not only serve the function of storage but also improve spatial flexibility. What’s more, the open kitchen and the dining area together make the space look broader. Large French windows introduce natural lights and scenery into the space, making the whole space full of sunshine. Soft and ample natural lights move around the space and stretch it, thus generating perfect proportions in the space and creating delightful visual experience. In the bathroom, beige marbles and white ceramic sanitary products match with each other perfectly. And the brushed gold-color taps, the mirror and other intelligent accessories bring the minimalist design style to a new level. All in all, the project not only functions as a residence but also shows a lifestyle. The minimalist-style design appears plain at the first glance, but when taking time to appreciate it, you will find it fantastic and charming.

Design company: JAMD ARCHITECTURE Chief designer: Huang Jiexin Project name:A Private Apartment in Jieyang ROYAL BAY Project location: Jieyang, Guangdong, China Launch time: April 2017 Completion time: May 2018 Project area: 282 m2 Photographer: Xiao En Main construction materials: delustered French marbles, matte painted panels, European oak woods, tinted glass Major brands: Molteni＆C (sofa, chairs and stools ), Poliform (beds), Flos and Sisifo (lamps), CF (curtain), Steirer (flooring products), AXENT (sanitary ware)， Moorgen

A Minimalist Residence with New Soul by JAMD ARCHITECTURE With a signature style of minimalism both in design and life, Huang Jiexin, the designer, perfectly shows the aesthetics of “less is more” in his own residence.

[bralam]

LUXURY CUSTOM MADE SOFA DUBAI | SEEMLESS BEAUTY AND QUALITY.

Dubai, a city renowned for its opulence, modernity, and innovative design, is home to some of the world’s finest luxury furniture makers. Crafting a custom made sofa in Dubai is an experience that blends high-end craftsmanship with the latest trends in interior design, resulting in a piece that not only complements your living space but also exudes elegance and sophistication. In this essay, we’ll explore the process of creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai, highlighting the city's unique design culture, the premium materials available, and the attention to detail that goes into every piece.

in Dubai is an experience that blends high-end craftsmanship with the latest trends in interior design, resulting in a piece that not only complements your living space but also exudes elegance and sophistication. In this essay, we’ll explore the process of creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai, highlighting the city's unique design culture, the premium materials available, and the attention to detail that goes into every piece.

Understanding the Dubai Aesthetic

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, and this diversity is reflected in the city's design aesthetics. From ultra-modern minimalism to lavish traditional Arabian styles, the options for custom-made furniture are as varied as the city itself. When creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai, it’s important to first define the aesthetic that best suits your taste and the overall decor of your home.

Modern and Contemporary: Dubai is synonymous with cutting-edge architecture and design. For those who prefer a sleek, contemporary look, a custom-made sofa can be designed with clean lines, minimalist features, and the latest in fabric and leather technology. Modern luxury sofas in Dubai often incorporate metal or glass elements, along with high-tech features like built-in charging ports or adjustable seating configurations.

Traditional Arabian Influence: If you’re looking to capture the essence of traditional Arabian luxury, a custom-made sofa can incorporate intricate woodwork, rich textiles, and ornate detailing. Elements like plush cushions, deep, jewel-toned fabrics, and elaborate patterns can evoke the opulence of a royal palace, making your sofa a true centerpiece.

Fusion Styles: Many residents and designers in Dubai opt for a fusion of styles, blending modern functionality with traditional elegance. This approach allows for the creation of a sofa that is both luxurious and versatile, seamlessly fitting into a variety of interior settings.

Selecting Premium Materials

One of the defining features of a luxury custom-made sofa is the quality of materials used. Dubai’s position as a global hub allows access to the finest materials from around the world, ensuring that your sofa is made from the best available resources.

Exquisite Fabrics: When it comes to upholstery, the choices are vast. Silk, velvet, and high-quality leather are among the top choices for luxury sofas. Silk and velvet offer a rich, sumptuous texture, while leather provides a timeless and sophisticated look. For those seeking something unique, there are also custom-printed fabrics or even materials infused with precious metals or stones.

Superior Cushioning: The comfort of a luxury sofa is paramount, and this starts with the cushioning. High-density memory foam, down, and feather blends, or even customized gel-infused cushions are available options that ensure comfort and longevity. These materials maintain their shape and support, providing a plush yet durable seating experience.

Wood and Frame Construction: The frame of a luxury sofa in Dubai is often made from the finest hardwoods, such as walnut, mahogany, or oak. These woods are not only strong and durable but also have a natural beauty that adds to the overall aesthetic of the sofa. Additionally, the frame may be reinforced with metal or carbon fiber for added strength, particularly in more modern designs.

Luxury Finishes: The finishing touches on a luxury sofa can include details such as gold or silver leaf, mother-of-pearl inlays, or hand-carved wooden elements. These finishes are often applied by skilled artisans, ensuring that each piece is unique and crafted to the highest standards.

Craftsmanship and Attention to Detail

In Dubai, luxury is synonymous with craftsmanship. The process of creating a custom-made sofa involves collaboration with some of the most skilled artisans and designers in the world. Every detail, from the initial sketches to the final assembly, is executed with precision and care.

Bespoke Design: The journey begins with a consultation, where your specific requirements and preferences are discussed. This may involve reviewing fabric swatches, examining wood samples, and discussing the overall design and dimensions of the sofa. Many high-end furniture makers in Dubai offer 3D renderings or even full-scale models to help you visualize the final product before construction begins.

Handcrafted Excellence: Once the design is finalized, the construction process begins. Each element of the sofa is handcrafted, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of quality. Skilled carpenters, upholsterers, and finishers work together to create a piece that is not only beautiful but also built to last.

Custom Detailing: Luxury sofas in Dubai often feature custom detailing that sets them apart from mass-produced furniture. This could include hand-stitched seams, custom embroidery, or even the incorporation of rare and precious materials. These details not only enhance the beauty of the sofa but also reflect the individuality of the owner.

Artisanal Techniques: Traditional artisanal techniques, such as marquetry, inlay work, and hand-carving, are often employed to add a touch of elegance and heritage to the sofa. These techniques require a high level of skill and are usually passed down through generations, making each piece a work of art.

Integration of Technology

Dubai’s penchant for innovation extends to furniture design, with many luxury sofas incorporating state-of-the-art technology. This could range from built-in smart home integrations to advanced seating ergonomics designed for maximum comfort.

Smart Features: Some custom-made sofas in Dubai are equipped with features like adjustable headrests, lumbar support, and integrated massage systems. Others may include hidden compartments with wireless charging pads or Bluetooth-enabled speakers, allowing you to create a fully immersive and comfortable living space.

Sustainable Design: With growing awareness of environmental impact, many luxury furniture makers in Dubai are also embracing sustainable practices. This includes using responsibly sourced materials, eco-friendly finishes, and energy-efficient production methods. A custom-made sofa that incorporates sustainable design elements not only meets the standards of luxury but also contributes to a more responsible and ethical way of living.

The Dubai Experience: A Seamless Process

Creating a luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai is more than just a transaction; it’s an experience. The city’s top furniture makers offer a level of service that is as luxurious as the products they create. From the moment you walk into a showroom or schedule a consultation, you are treated to personalized attention and expertise.

Consultation and Design: The process typically starts with an in-depth consultation where your lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and functional needs are discussed. Designers in Dubai are well-versed in global trends and local tastes, allowing them to provide insightful recommendations and solutions.

Sampling and Customization: After the initial design is agreed upon, you will have the opportunity to select materials, colors, and finishes. Showrooms in Dubai often feature an extensive range of samples, and many offer customization options that allow you to create something truly one-of-a-kind.

White-Glove Delivery: Once your sofa is completed, the final step is delivery and installation. Many luxury furniture makers in Dubai offer white-glove delivery services, ensuring that your sofa is transported, assembled, and positioned in your home with the utmost care. This service often includes a final inspection to ensure that everything meets your expectations.

Conclusion

A luxury custom-made sofa in Dubai is more than just a piece of furniture; it’s a statement of style, quality, and sophistication. The process of creating such a sofa involves a deep understanding of design, an appreciation for the finest materials, and a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a traditional, opulent design, the city’s skilled artisans and designers can bring your vision to life.

By choosing the best materials, employing expert craftsmanship, and integrating innovative technology, a luxury sofa in Dubai is not only a beautiful addition to your home but also a lasting investment. The attention to detail, personalized service, and unparalleled quality that go into every custom-made sofa ensure that you will enjoy comfort and elegance for years to come.

[dohnswain86-blog]

Agen Judi Online Terbesar QQLucky8 | The Benefits Of Obtaining Adjustable Height Desks

QQLucky8 - If storage is the greatest concern in the room, then a loft bed can be ideal. Shelf area can be maximized by the use of cartons or boxes to pile things into. Be creative but just discover some thing that gets you off the sofa. NHL or the Nationwide Hockey League is 1 sport that you can say purely Canadian and American. Not all nations have a hockey league or even a single hockey team below their wings. Hockey is a game Canadians and Americans really enjoy. And I'm certainly one of them. At the sink, I keep in mind that the dishwasher has finished its cycle so I pull open up the doorway. I notice the sink is filled with soiled dishes. It won't consider me much more than a couple of minutes to unload the dishwasher and get the dirty dishes within. Is there a better gift a great evening's sleep? This pillow attributes a built-in speaker, so you can listen to some calming tunes on your MP3 participant via the pillow. Judi Online Terbesar You can also have an armoire for your coats and shoes painted a good royal blue and a matching bench to sit on when putting on your footwear that is painted a royal blue with bright orange cushions. Other suggestions for other rooms that would work well with the blue and orange can be your kitchen area, bathroom, or residing and dining rooms. When buying kids's bedroom furnishings it is once more important to look at the quality of the furniture. Make sure it is sturdy sufficient to withstand kids playing and the normal "monkeys leaping on the bed." If you purchase furniture that is basic and not overly ornate, you will be in a position to add items to it as your child grows. For instance, when they are small you might want to purchase a toy box with it. Later, when they are more mature, you might want to include a do-it-yourself Agen Judi Terbesar suggestions and chair. Or, if you were not able to purchase all the items you want the initial time, you would be able to include much more as you desire. Furnishing your home can be a challenging task. Numerous people like to have an inside design plan and like to have furniture that matches the decor of their house's inside. Before purchasing furniture, you may want to do some study, go to furniture stores and do some window shopping first. Usually, Agen Judi Online designs may appear at initial look to be too simple that you may really feel that it is very simple for you to create 1 without any prior experience. But as you continue with the project you will understand how things can be a mess with out a guideline. Having access to a proper woodworking strategy can definitely make your desk building adventure a smooth one. You can save money and valuable time if you purchase a straight ahead and simple to comprehend strategy. For the furniture that is to go into the foyer, you have plenty of options. You can have a good armoire with a bench that is made of oak or cherry with a stain that brings out the reds and oranges in the wooden. Above all your home workplace paint scheme is the most important. You don't have to paint your walls to accomplish what you require. The colour plan you choose will set the temper for you whole work. It ought to not be taking lightly and can be achieved with just a couple of items. Setting up an organized function station with kid's pc furniture is a extremely great concept in 21st century. If a child can discover be organized and effective at a younger age, they will have higher success throughout school and then all through their profession. Anything that has absolutely nothing to do with your actual function or long term projects and ideas should be junked. Another element you ought to give attention to is the fashion and the materials of your long term Computer Desk. Eventually, the cravings started to get much less extreme. One of the important innovations that we greatly use these days is a pc. And your house will be much more delectable and your lifestyle much more pleasant.

[raretempo]

SOFA Expo 2018: Recap

SOFA, the Sculptural Objects and Functional Art and Design Expo took place this year from November 1st-4th at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier. Celebrating its 25th year, the Expo featured over 70 galleries that set up their finest works of art, craft, furniture, and jewelry for over 25,000 art-loving attendees. Many exhibitors were delighted by the changed layout this year, which created better exposure for all participants and improved traffic flow in the expo hall. On the outskirts were six installations by CONNECT participating schools, where visitors could sit, relax and connect with one another in cleverly designed spaces that encourage relaxation and conversation. The students really outdid themselves this year! and the Illinois Institute of Technology took home the prize for most innovative design.

Upon entering the expo hall, attendees were immediately greeted by the Corning Museum of Glass’ new mobile hot shop. The massive, expandable trailer was used for reportedly the fourth time ever and dazzled visitors with demonstrations all weekend, by the top glass artists represented at SOFA.

Above: Corning Museum of Glass’ Mobile Hot Shop

Another highlight was brought to us by John Miller, representing HIVE Contemporary. Known for his miniature and oversized pop-art food and giant goblet collaborations, Miller brought a fully decked out (nonfunctional) food truck to the SOFA party. Complete with neon lettering, boxes of blown glass fries, onion rings, and doughnuts, visitors got to walk through the truck and experience a taste of his refined silliness.

Habatat Galleries of Royal Oak, Michigan took center stage again with its sprawling multi-booth space showcasing over 50 artists from its well-rounded assemblage of international and U.S. based sculptors working primarily in glass. Habatat hosted its own programming where visitors heard from artist panels and got books signed by some of the best in the biz.

Above: CONNECT Space designed by UC-Davis students

Above: CONNECT Space designed by Columbus College of Art & Design students

Above: Mosaic art at Chicago Mosaic School booth

Perhaps my favorite exhibition was that of the Chicago Mosaic School (above), unassuming and tucked in the back corner with the other nonprofits organizations. The School founded by Karen Ami displayed about a dozen sample mosaics of various skill levels that bent my understanding of what mosaic was, and could do. These students have some serious talent!

Other faves included Bender Gallery from Asheville, NC, particularly coldwork guru Karsten Oaks’ newest body of work, Melissa Morgan Gallery’s installation featuring Anthony James’ trippy Icosahedron (a crowd favorite), and the stunning jewelry of Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h from Montreal, among many impressive jewelry vendors.

On the whole, SOFA 2018 was replete with exquisite fine art and furnishings by some of the top artists working around the world, as well as some emerging artists and newer galleries looking to make names for themselves. The emphasis remained on sculpture, particularly glass and metal, though an increasing number of 2D works graced the walls as collectors’ decreasing amount of floor space has necessitated this trend.

Though I didn’t see anything earth-shattering, I left SOFA feeling inspired, excited, and even a little overwhelmed! Surrounding events like Ignite Hot Glass’ Friday night after party made for a funky, well-rounded experience that enticed me to put SOFA on my calendar again next year. Hope to see you in Chicago October 31st-November 3rd, 2019!