post divider
Gilty Pleasures

P1020631.jpg
Throne room, Topkapi Palace harem, Istanbul

Istanbul decoration: even better than expected. I anticipated the Iznik tiles, but I wasn’t prepared for the glorious alchemy of when European grandeur veered head first into Eastern tradition. Case in point: Topkapi Palace, the home of Ottoman sultans (and around 4,000 staff) from 1465 to 1853. By the 18th century, sultans were obsessed with Rococo style, hence the gilt ornament in the harem’s Throne Room. (There are Delft tiles and Murano glass windows, too—who says globalization is new?) Click MORE for the prettiest patterns I found in Turkey, including from Hagia Sofia.

P1020649.jpg
Topkapi ceiling

P1020612.jpg
Topkapi courtyard tiles

P1020604.jpg
Topkapi portico ceiling

P1020447.jpg
Calligraphy at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum—a treasure trove of pattern!

P1020376.jpg
Hagia Sofia ceiling


Comments for Sophie Donelson's blog
post divider

About Sophie Donelson

I’m a magazine writer and consultant. My stories have appeared in Interior Design, Elle Decor, Departures, and Martha Stewart Living. More details are on the About page.

Selected articles by Sophie Donelson

High Country
House Beautiful, February 2011

Living Large
Martha Stewart Living, September 2010

Gilty Pleasures
Manhattan, July-August 2010

Room Mates
Manhattan, May-June 2010

Oh So L.A. — For Better and For Worse
Globe & Mail (Toronto), May 1, 2010

Sophie Donelson's Flickr feed

» go to my Flickr page

Recent blog posts by Sophie Donelson

October 24, 2011 6:07 PM
Saying It with Flowers

October 16, 2011 7:46 PM
Come and See

July 15, 2011 12:22 PM
Julys I’ve Known and Loved

March 26, 2011 10:05 PM
Under Construction

December 8, 2010 8:23 AM
Holiday Greens

December 2, 2010 2:06 PM
My TV Gig That Never Was: The Unabridged Version

November 29, 2010 10:33 AM
Fowl Play

November 17, 2010 2:12 PM
The Redemption of Herald Square

October 25, 2010 7:46 AM
Shanghai Domestics

September 17, 2010 2:40 PM
Plum TV: Made in the Hamptons

Sophie Donelson's blog archives

October 2011
July 2011
March 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
July 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008

rounded bottom

SITEMAP

Home + Blog
Articles
Services
About + Contact
RSS: Blog
RSS: Articles

RECENT ARTICLES

High Country

Living Large

Gilty Pleasures

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Saying It with Flowers

Come and See

Julys I’ve Known and Loved

TOP BLOG TAGS











BLOG ARCHIVES

October 2011
July 2011
March 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
July 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008

SITE DESIGN

Andrew Hearst