Gold Gilt Details

Interior Design InspirationTravel

Gold Gilt & Mirrored Ceiling at Hotel Savoy in Moscow

Gold Gilt & Mirrored Ceiling at Hotel Savoy in Moscow

Gold Gilt Columns at The Hermitage - St. Petersburg, Russia

Gold Gilt Columns at The Hermitage - St. Petersburg, Russia

I was looking through some photos from our trip to Russia this past summer when I noticed these two photos of gold gilt details.  The first is gold gilding on moldings and the ceiling in the dining room at the Hotel Savoy in Moscow.  The second highlights gold gilded columns at The Hermitage in St. Petersburg.  In both cases they add the shine that puts the interior design into a different level of beauty.  Certainly it is borderline tacky, and can easily cross that line in today's interiors, but if it can walk that fine line without crossing it, gold gilding can be a gorgeous statement... What do you think - can you see an application for using gold gilding in an interior design that isn't a palace?  Would you put it in your own home?

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Wonderful post, Summer. Wow, what a gorgeous ceiling! The Savoy dining room looks incredibly grand and elegant, but definitely not tacky. I think that’s all about exercising restraint. Gilded and metallic details can be very effective when they’re paired up with something organic, matte or rough.

December 26, 2011 at 3:56 pm
  • Anya

    You are absolutely correct. It can be borderline tacky. Hotel Savoy is very borderline. I have been several times and room is little bit too small for that decor. But Grand Ballroom from Hermitage is very large, light color pallet, airy, and a lot of natural light. Gold gilding ads grandiose effect to this room, without feeling heavy or tacky. This is one of those rare times when gold gilding done correctly.

    April 20, 2015 at 3:02 pm