Valentino's Chinoiserie Bug

Valentino is so debonair.  And so nonchalant about his  pug sitting on that chair upholstered with $2,000 yard fabric.

When some of us get inspired by a particular style, period or theme of decorating (lets just say, Asian or chinoiserie decor), we might buy a foo dog or a Chinese lacquered screen, but if you are style legend Valentino Garavani (aka "Valentino"), you hire famed interior decorator Henri Samuel to decorate your 17th century Château (de Wideville) in period Ming Portraits, gold leaf screens and every other rococo chinoiserie ornament that strikes your fancy.

Sometimes restraint is for sissies.  And if it's worth doing, it's worth doing to excess -- Valentino is our case in point.

Here are some of the pictures from the most recent Architectural Digest (just when I think I'm gonna cancel it, they come up with an issue like this and it makes getting the whole year worth it).  Click here to read the whole thing.  If you haven't seen it, hang on to your hats for a rococo chinoiserie overload that is done to perfection.

Love the railings, window casement treatment and pagoda lanterns. 

Love the 17th C. Ming portraits. 

Love it all, the railings are a show stopper. the boarder around the windows is also inspiring.  

Wow. First off, how in the world did he find two of those chinoiserie mirrors?

Love the game table set for an intimate lunch

Red screen and deep rust silk velvet sofa, so lush. Only he could pull off that table.

Love that embroidered chair -- I have been really into embroidery lately

The formal gardens are amazing, it must be quite the task to keep the hedges are just so -- no coffee breaks for his gardner.

Valentino Garavani in front of his signature red dresses