A Night Out: For KING + COUNTRY

We traveled to Roanoke, Virginia last week to experience For KING + COUNTRY’s 2024 Unsung Hero Tour. Was this the best concert we’ve ever seen? Yes, without question. Mrs. Lumiere has been a huge fan of this group for years. Although I’m a more recent convert, I am now all in and fully sold. This concert featured an endless string of Christian radio hits and a handful of well-selected deep tracks. The testimony, the musicianship, the set design, the theatrics, the lighting — all amazing. Pictures could never fully do this experience justice, but we hope you enjoy scrolling through our concert gallery!

Run wild. Live free. Love strong.

Beauty in Motion

I recently enjoyed a day of motorsport photography in Southern Virginia. Motorsport is full of gorgeous flowing lines and blasts of color. These elements work together to create a wonderful sensory experience accompanied by speed, danger, and a bit of noise. I would normally suggest an Aperol Spritz for our photographic journeys, but maybe a more appropriate beverage would be a Corona (with lime, of course). Either way, lights out and away we go! I hope you enjoy this gallery of beauty in motion.

Amelia Handegan, Rooms

Welcome to the first installment of the Chateau Lumiere book club! Collecting monographs of interior designers has long been a passion of mine. It seems like every decorator has a book these days, and honestly, some of them just stand out from the others. Maybe ‘book club’ is too organized and formal for what I’m trying to achieve here; however, I do want to highlight volumes of work that bring me endless inspiration. The purpose of this blog is to celebrate beauty and color in life. I hope these designers and their books bring you as much joy as they have brought to me. Grab a big ol’ glass of red wine (or white, we’re all friends here), settle into your favorite bergère, and let’s dive in.

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When I daydream about my imaginary Tradd Street home in Charleston, I dream about comfortable formality. I dream about beautiful, warm colors and an afternoon breeze gently ruffling the drapery. I dream of centuries-old furniture towering over wide-planked, natural wood floors. I dream of...hiring Amelia Handegan.

Charleston-based designer, Amelia Handegan, has perfected the art of Southern interiors. If ‘Old World Charleston’ was an official style, and it should be, Handegan would be the grande dame.

At least to me, a well-decorated room should appear as if it simply has always existed. You should not be able to tell if the decorator signed off on the project yesterday or 10-20 years ago. Amelia Handegan’s rooms are delightfully fresh in 2024, and yet, they appear as if they could have existed in 1824 just the same. She creates her classic, timeless interiors by weaving together layers of antiques, color palettes that glow in the Lowcountry sun, and an exuberant use of texture.

Handegan’s 2016 book with Rizzoli, ‘Rooms,’ is a beautiful compilation of her work. From formal Church Street drawing rooms to easy-living island bedrooms, ‘Rooms’ highlights her deep understanding of the Lowcountry’s lifestyle, history, and enduring charm.

Cover Photographed by Pieter Estersohn

The vast majority of photographs for ‘Rooms’ were done by Pieter Estersohn, a renowned architectural and interior design photographer. Estersohn’s photographs bring Handegan’s work to life. Not only are his images perfectly composed, they capture the natural light in such an imaginative way. In these images, Estersohn manages to convey the ‘feel’ of the room — not just the appearance.

I’m almost ashamed to admit this, but Thomas Ravenel’s former drawing room featured in Bravo’s Southern Charm (if you know, you know) was my gateway to Handegan’s work. The room was photographed by Tria Giovan, and it is gloriously displayed in the opening pages of ‘Rooms’ (shown below).

Photograph courtesy of Tria Giovan

For me, Ravenel’s drawing room was one of those rooms that you see once and it is forever stuck in your mind. The warm glow from the apricot color palette is enough to bring you in, and those gorgeous drapes and endless layers of texture will get you to stay. Be honest, have you ever seen a more beautiful pair of antique chairs than those adjacent to the sofa? I’ll give you time to think.

I think this Church Street room perfectly illustrates Handegan’s elegant, less-is-more approach. As you will see throughout the book, this single image has all the hallmarks of a Handegan classic — the drapes, the warm colors, and the perfect mix of antiques. I love dark wood furniture, and I think this book absolutely makes the case that it’s still desirable and relevant in design.

The drapes on display throughout ‘Rooms’ deserve their own discussion. Truly, this book could be a reference textbook on drapery. Handegan’s typical style of straight, perfectly gathered and trimmed drapes are stunning. They add so much to the overall design, but they don’t overpower the finer details of the room.

Handegan’s ability to layer texture and color is apparent throughout her book. She effortlessly brings together a kaleidoscope of color, fabric, polished silver, beautiful lighting, glass, porcelain, antique woods, and Southern charm.

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I’ve used this book as a reference since its release — many, many moons ago at this point. Every time I tackle a decorating project in our home, this is one of the texts I pour myself into before making the first decision. Please, please research more of Amelia’s work on your own — this is only the very tip of the gorgeous, antique-laden, colorful iceberg.

For your own copy of ‘Rooms,’ click here

To see Amelia’s work in a Folly Beach home, click here

To see Amelia’s work at Rose Hill, click here

A Weekend at Albemarle

We recently spent a weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia at Albemarle House. Albemarle House was completed in 1985 by Patricia and John Kluge. Designed from the ground up by the late David Easton, it is an important American house, as it is one of the last great Georgian homes built in the twentieth century. Once a pristine example of the famous 1980’s interpretation of English Country House design, the modern updates by Trump Hotels have left Albemarle House feeling stately, warm, inviting, and colorful — all good things. Come along as Chateau Lumiere guides you on whimsical tour of Albemarle House!

The long drive up to the home from Carters Mountain Road is a treat on its own. As you drive past the sprawling vineyards of Trump Winery, you catch short glimpses of the home through the rolling hills. After passing through the last gate, you are immediately confronted with the home’s Georgian grandeur.

Looking east over the property in front of the estate. The view is complemented by the many ponds, Magnolia trees, and scenic hills.

View from the rooftop garden overlooking the northernmost courtyard

Once inside, you are greeted by the home’s entrance hall. The fireplace should be noted, as its inclusion was insisted upon by David Easton. Easton felt that fireplaces in entrance halls were elegant additions, a detail often overlooked in design.

The complementary umbrellas proved useful as we arrived in a downpour.

While the entrance hall is somewhat subdued, the home’s elegance shines in the main hallway. Easton created this hallway as the ‘spine’ of the home, and it runs the full length of the house from north to south.

Albemarle House features two identical staircases. The northern example is shown above.

Continuing north from the main hallway, you are led to one of the home’s most stunning features — the gallery. Once housing antique statues owned by Kluge, the gallery now features portraits of former Presidents who were born in Virginia (not shown).

At the center of the gallery stands a Syrian fountain. Ms. Kluge was born in Baghdad, and the fountain is certainly a feature influenced by her youth.

One of two original statues to the Kluge Estate towers over the end of the gallery. This statue is in the likeness of Artemis — goddess of the hunt.

The dining room at Albemarle House is spectacular. It features hand-painted wallpaper from Paris, an eighteenth century chandelier, and candle holders throughout the room that were part of Easton’s original design.

Another dining room view is shown above. The mantle and accompanying mirror were also original features to the house.

Let me tell you, I love nothing more than a big, bright yellow room. The drawing room at Albemarle checks so many boxes for me, personally. The soft banana cream yellow over the crisp white dado is splendid — and a color palette I have used in my own home!

While the room’s design has changed a bit since Easton swathed it in 1980’s English Country, the bones are still there. The colors are similar and the curtains are styled after the originals (I don’t think they’re original…but close enough to make me second guess?). The drawing room also features another eighteenth century chandelier like the dining room.

One last view of the drawing room. Oh my goodness, I could go on about this room for days. A nice addition from Trump Hotels, the room features a 1950’s Steinway & Sons piano waiting to be enjoyed by estate guests.

The last major landmark on the main floor is the home’s library. This room has been styled very similarly to the original Easton design. The library also has an alcove that serves as a bar — I recommend an Aperol Spritz.

Shown above is one of the library’s many game tables. This particular game table enjoys scenic views over the courtyard.

Another corner game table — this one featuring a unique chess set.

Estate views from the library — I recommend enjoying the views with a glass of Trump Winery’s Blanc de Noir (or another Aperol Spritz…).

For our accommodations, we chose the Jefferson Suite. All you need to know about the Jefferson Suite is shown above. A large soaking tub in the middle of the room, hand painted designs on the walls, antique mirror aplenty, and a gas fireplace — if you aren’t sold yet, there’s nothing else I can offer.

As if the interiors of Albemarle House aren’t enough, the gardens are a landmark of their own. A short, hedge-lined walk takes you from Charlottesville to Europe in a few steps. Ok, maybe not, but you get the idea.

I hope you enjoy pictures of random statues, because I LOVE them!

One last statue picture before we move on. Hey, I’m the guide here anyway.

Another prominent exterior feature to the estate is the chapel. In the estate’s prime, Ms. Kluge would host hunt parties on the property. The chapel served as a place to have Mass after a hunt.

Friends, I think we’ve reached the end of our tour. Our stay at Albemarle House was the perfect weekend getaway. We can’t wait to go back in warmer weather and truly enjoy everything the estate has to offer. For now, it’s time to relax with a glass of Blanc de Blanc, or maybe…an Aperol Spritz. (are you detecting a theme?)