Functional Works of Art – Louis XIV Decorative Grille 16×16 Installation

Beaux-Arts Classic Products are Decorative Functional Works of Art and the best grilles made today in the USA.  These customer installation pictures of our 16″ x 16″ Louis XIV Decorative Grille  are a perfect example of what a big difference our decorative grilles can make. In this case the style and finish are a perfect compliment to the color palette and pattern of her stairway runner carpeting. It’s no wonder she sent us an e-mail with the following compliment, “I received the grille today. It’s truly a piece of art! LOVE IT, LOVE IT ~ Can’t wait to have it installed. Thanks again for all your assistance, I’m sure I’ll be ordering again in the future”.Five days later she e-mailed us a second order for two additional grilles, both Louis XIV style 06 x 12 grilles, one in our  Antique Brass Finish and the other in our Dark Bronze Finish.

I just wanted to go back to the complimentary quote by our happy client;  “It’s truly a piece of art”.   As a matter of fact, Beaux-Arts creates classical products that are “Decorative Arts”and Functional Works of Art.  The definition of Decorative Arts and functional works of art is “the arts that are concerned with the production of high-quality objects that are both useful and beautiful. In other words, Decorative Arts are works of art that are also functional and serve a purpose. Fine Arts are also high quality beautiful objects, but have no function or purpose other than their beauty, such as paintings and sculptures.

Close up shows the detail of the design carvings.

From the Renaissance to World War Two, grilles were always decorative eye catching features inside and outside of fine homes and buildings. One can hardly walk the streets of New York, Philadelphia, London or Paris without seeing fabulous decorative grilles on the outside and in the lobbies of great historic buildings.  Many features on these buildings are considered Decorative Arts, such the entrance doors, windows, stair cases, lighting, fireplaces, elevators, ceilings and walls.  Back then all the features in a fine home or building were decorated, After World War Two, the economies of Europe were destroyed and the Decorative Arts were deemed an unavoidable luxury.

At Beaux-Arts Classic products, we see a renaissance of refinement in interior design. We consider the ugly louvered heating and air conditioning grille as an atrocity of good design. So many people have industrial louvered style grilles in their homes that they interrupt the beauty in those homes. In large homes, there may be forty or more HVAC grilles, at least one or more in every room. Our goal is to bring back the lure of the historic grille in all it’s decorative arts splendor.   From the photographs in this blog, you can see the huge improvement  by adding our Louis XIV decorative grille. In addition they bring joy to the homeowner and guests alike.

Beaux-Arts decorative grilles  are the only decorative grilles in the marketplace that are 3-dimensional.  There are 2-dimensional laser cut grilles which are an improvement over the industrial metal louvered grilles, but when you see the impact of the beautiful carving from the historic hand-carved originals we use it is the BEST.

The Louis XIV is so perfect.  We love to show customer pictures of our grilles.  This is one of my favorites!  It stands out as a Functional Work of Art.

We have been making our decorative grilles since 2002 in Maryland.  When we began, everything was made by hand.  Our masters were created with historic ornamentation.  Here is a collection of our early decorative grilles.  The Louis XIV has a modern frame.  At this time we were not using technology.  In order to create all the sizes needed for today’s heating and air conditioning we had to repeat existing elements.

Technology has enabled us to create a complete historic reproduction of original carvings.  The molding used for our Louis XIV frame is an original lamb’s tongue carving.

Technology has also made it possible to create beautiful designs for every size.  We can use additional ornamentation to create a balanced design while optimizing on air flow; after all it is a functional work of art.

After years of manufacturing we have improved not only the appearance but also the quality.  We have always used resin since there truly is no better material for heating and air conditioning grilles.   The resin we use today is dimensionally stable.  They will not rust, rot or corrode.  With our heat curing process our grilles can withstand up to 180 degrees.  They are perfect for exterior applications since they can be used in wet locations.

Another outstanding feature for our products are our finishes.  We offer beautiful finishes.  You can order finish samples to make sure that the finish works with your decor.