5 Ways To Update Vintage French Provincial Furniture
French Provincial Carved Oak Linen Dining Chair–
Vtg Link Taylor 12 Drawer French Provincial Dresser
So you bought a vintage set of French Provincial furniture, and it looks as though it hasn’t been touched for 40 years. Is it salvageable? The answer is yes, heck yes! We show you the best techniques to update this style of furniture that will make it look like several hundred dollars.
1. Strip Your Set and Go All Natural
Raw wood has always looked good, and has never looked better. Over the summer I took all the furniture in my basement and united the finishes by removing the paint. Most of all the furniture I had in this one room was all miss-matched sets, but interesting enough, they all had the exact same wood underneath. The sofas we bought came with a mahogany finish, but underneath they were pine. After removing the paint from 6 pieces, I had a fully united set. I could then introduce color with the slipcovers and the paint finish on the walls.
Inspiration- A Louis XV Limed Oak Chest- here
Instead of Using a non-toxic stripping agent to get rid of the old paint or stain is the greenest way to go. Products like Franmar’s Soy Gel Paint and Urethane Remover work well to remove all types of abrasive paint and stain , while still being gentle on the environment. This product is also 100 percent biodegradable. It works by trapping particles within itself and keeping you from being exposed to them.
Soy Gel Paint Reviews:
Garden Web– “My current fave is Soy-Gel, which I got from the Real Milk Paint Co., though it can be ordered from the manufacturer and other suppliers. I added it to a recent order more out of curiosity, and without much hope. But holy smokes, it works like gang busters if left alone to do its thing. I haven’t done a big project with it yet, but I plan on stripping a pine floor. My test patches have been great! I have tried just about every chemical and mechanical method, and So far Soy-Gel is the best I’ve found.”
My Experience With Stippers:
After using many of the most popular strippers on the market and having very limited success, I decided to try out other methods, which lead me to Heat Guns.
After purchasing a Wagner Heat Gun for about $20 dollars, I was thrilled with the results. Not only did it work fast, it also saved me a great deal of money with chemical stripper. The heat gun I purchased has two settings, one high, and one low. After the heat gun starts heating up, you will notice the paint start to bubble, which you can scrape off with little effort. The best technique for removing paint is to slowly move the paint gun along the paint, for an even amount of heat in each section. Heat guns can also ruin wood if they are left on the wood too long, so you don’t want your heat gun positioned in one area for two long. The wood can turn dark, which can be impossible to sand out. While some suggest wood tools, instead of metal tools, I enjoy working with a multi purpose metal tool, such as this one from Shur-Line. Working with heat guns for stripping paint, it is imperative to buy a Respirator made for fumes. One of the draw backs of heating up the paint, is the fumes they produce, so a respirator is a must have when using this technique.
Products That Might Be Worth Trying:
– Wagner Power PaintEater – $59 Removes paint, ergonomic handle, and may be better than those attachments meant for your drill.
–Electric Paint Remover Sold through Chicago $63
–TruePower Electric Paint Remover-$39-
- Removes paint, paint chips, paint oxides and mildew, and feather finishes paint edges.
- Use on wood, masonite, concrete and steel
- Will not abrade surfaces – Perfect for large, flat, solid surfaces
MUST Have- Safety Gear
Breathing in fumes from stripper, stain or paint can create heath problems that can effect your lungs long term. If you have a garage, workshop, or even a storage shed, working from within it will help contain any harmful dust or debris from being let out into your yard or the surrounding area. Purchase a heavy duty respirator designed for paint fumes. I am so glad to come across the MSA Safety works Paint and Pesticide Respirator because it is comfortable to wear for several hours straight, and it will save your lungs for today and long term.
2. Old World Patina – Paint Or Stain?
After centuries of trying to perfect our furniture, it comes at no surprise that many companies are selling the all natural chalk paint and milk paint products that our ancestors used. Milk and chalk paints can be a sensational source of color. If you are after an old world Provence look, consider either stripping your furniture and staining it, or painting it, and distressing it.
Take the Finish Off
I have found for my furniture, stripping the existing finishes off allows the piece to age naturally over time without seeing several layers of existing paint. I sit at a beautiful curvy French desk all day long, and one of the areas where my arm hits as I type on my keyboard shows the white paint that the desk was painted in originally. The desk is blue, and the white just sticks out like a sore thumb. If I would have put the extra work into the desk, and removed the paint, then over time, the natural ware would show the wood. Wood or existing paint? Wood is so much more attractive.
Distressing looks so much nicer with the natural raw wood. Something about having the all natural wood showing through the finish allows for a nicer aged finish than simply painting over the existing paint or varnish. Working with the raw wood really can go a long way for creating the old world distressed finishes. Stripping all the existing paint gives you a raw look, rather than working over a poly finish.
Layer Your Colors:
Layering paint can produce a sensational old world effect. Try several tones of blue, and combine it with a layer of white. Consider several layers of paint which you can then hand sand, adding the right amount of distressing. Layer on a translucent glaze, or wax to complete the look.
Work With Stain Finishes:
Consider doing a “wash” instead of a solid color. After removing your paint finish, consider mixing your paint with part water, and applying a stain. You can also buy semi transparent stains through your local hardware store. Using a beige, and then white stain would produce the aged old world looks that are so well loved.
Add Texture:
In this article we show a chest with beautiful texture on the drawers. A gray toned blue is used under a creamy white, with beautiful texture that shows off an old world paint finish. Adding texture can be easier than you think. Simply get a box of un-sanded grout. Paint your furniture using a base coat with NO grout added. Once it is dry, mix together a bit of grout with the existing paint. Next stipple on the finish with your paint brush and let it dry over night, or for two days. Once it is dry, lightly sand it, and add your top coat. Using the same technique, mix together half and half paint and un-sanded grout and paint on an even coat of paint. Using two colors like the picture shown in the article will produce the best results. For a subtle effect, consider using a creamy beige and white together. The colors don’t have to be opposites to work well. Once the dresser has dried over night, take a hand sander and start sanding the finish. The texture from the first coat will show through to the second coat. Add additional wax, or glaze to make the finish pop, or leave it as it is.
Old World Techniques -Additional Articles:
-Improve Your French Dresser Or Sideboard With Faux Marble – The French Provincial Furniture
-Decorating Secrets- 60 Quotes From The Best Experts In Design – The Swedish Furniture
-Add Dimension To Your French Furniture- French Style Authority
– How To Faux Crackle French Provincial Furniture- The French Provincial Furniture
-Designers Pick Their Favorite Gray Paints- The Swedish Furniture
-How To Paint French Provincial Furniture A Perfect White – The French Provincial Furniture
-How To Paint French Provincial Furniture Black- The French Provincial Furniture
3. Go New And Modern With Color :
Do you like vibrant colors? The lines found in the French styled furniture can powerfully pull off the sensational bright colors. There are so many bright colors that I admire but don’t have the guts to put up on the walls, so why not put it on a piece of furniture.
Do you like the brighter colors, or the patterned printed chests? You might want to just buy spray paint for those high gloss mirrored finishes.
In the past I have hand painted gloss only to find paint lines from my brushes. With brighter red, or yellow, it can take up to 7 or 8 coats of paint, so spraying your paint just makes more sense. Often times the gloss you find in spray paint can be so much more vibrant and glossy than regular gloss paint in the quart size. Oil paint can produce sensational glossy finishes. Overall, I have found for those really glossy finishes, it is worth buying the spray paint, than hand painting. The coverage is faster, and the gloss is so much more vibrant and glass like.
Glossy finishes are best achieved with spray paint, and why not buy a case of your favorite color online? For some of my last couple projects, I have been really impressed with Krylon’s Paint and Primer sprays. I started looking online when my local hardware stores spray paint failed to impress me. Never do I see the lavenders, the soft grays, or light blues. The nicer colors are online, and many companies are starting to sell by the case.
French Chests From Cote France
Color Master Colors By Krylon. These colors above come from their website, and if you look on their website, you can toggle over the colors for the name of the paint swatch that you love. Type the specific paint name in Amazon, and you can buy it in cases of 6 with free shipping.
Additional Articles:
– Go Bold With Red- Part 1 Grand Sophisticated Interiors – The Swedish Furniture
– Go Bold With Red- Part 2 Country Interiors- The Swedish Furniture
– High Gloss Painted Furniture – The Painted Furniture Online
– Absolutely Breathtaking French Painted Furniture- French Style Authority
– How To Paint Black Furniture-A Dozen Examples Of Exceptional Black Painted Furniture- French Style Authority
– 10 Ways To Use Pink, Orange and Coral In Your Home- French Style Authority
– Decorating With Pastels For A French Styled Home- French Style Authority
4. Add Furniture Jewelry
Ormolu is the jewelry of the furniture trade. Antique and reproduction furniture ormolu can be found on ebay making it easier than ever to dress up that worn antique, or that vintage chest that is outdated.
Reproduction ormolu can be found in bronze, and there are sellers out there who also produce these beautiful appliques in stain-able wood filler. Being able to buy appliques in unlimited quantities allows you to dress up the chest of your dreams.
The high gloss looks found on bombe chests are often accented with heavy ormolu or furniture appliques.
Add Furniture Escutcheons
Dress up your chest with keyholes, or otherwise known as escutcheons. Buy a set of identical keyholes for each drawer of your chest. Keyholes can be gold leafed, or painted the same color as the chest. Consider dating your metal furniture appliques or keyholes with aging solutions. In this post ” 9 DIY Recipes For Rusty Hardware” From Hersite, you can get the look of aged hardware in your own home.
Additional Articles:
-French Furniture Restoration ~Gold Leafing Tips- French Style Authority
5. Pattern Your Furniture
Patterns can look so wonderful in a space lacking interest. There are several ways to get the look of a pattern on your chest, which range from complicated approaches to simple techniques.
One of the harder techniques would be hand painting furniture. For those who have the gifted talent of hand drawing, this may be a project that you can accomplish over a weekend. For those who don’t have the natural abilities of drawing, there are several other approaches that can give you a professional look without much try.
One of those ways is an overhead projector. An overhead projector may be your new best friend after seeing how simple it is to copy a design without much work than having a marker in your hand. With this chest, I simply photocopied a flower pattern from a cardboard box that I bought from Ikea. I had gold paint in one hand, and outlined the flower, and painted it in after I traced out the design. This zebra painted dresser was traced using an overhead projector, as well as this dresser. Overhead projectors allow you to trace a perfect, proportionate design right the first time. They also allow you to match up the existing pattern which has been already traced on to your furniture, allowing for even spacing for the next pattern. This also works quite nicely on walls. Take your favorite comic book, custom graphics from books and be able to re-produce them with ease.
Painting French Provincial Furniture
French Provincial Painted Furniture- Thistle by Design Facebook
Not surprisingly to its fans, the French provincial-style furniture has become very popular of late, possibly as a reaction to the aggressively modern style that has dominated previously. Interior designer Bernadette Ferrari says she believes it will continue to be a popular trend as it combines elegance with functionality, according to FerrariInteriors.com.au.
This style of furniture is beautiful to look at without having to change anything at all, but it can become dingy over time, due to its inherent natural appearance. The French are well-known for their proclivity to paint furniture. Most often, this style uses white paint, which provides a fresh new look for outdated furniture, although other colors can be used. Painting is a great way to transform a piece of old furniture into something new with minimal expense.
You can add even more interest to almost any piece by using mouldings, painting details in another color, or adding gilt on the trims, as LilyFieldLife.com suggests.
While you could pay someone to paint your furniture for you, it’s a lot more fun to do it yourself. Save your money, and find a contractor to help in other aspects of a total room or home interior makeover.
Enjoy the opportunity to get creative by following these steps (with help from LilyFieldLife.com) toward painting your own French provincial-style furniture.
Cleaning
Before you begin, cover your work area with old white sheets or newspapers. Even the most meticulous painters make mistakes now and again. Next, clean the item you want to paint by wiping it down with a dusting brush or a moist cloth. Remove all of the dust, as painting over dust doesn’t mend well. As most French provincial style furniture is made of wood, you shouldn’t get it too wet, as this will cause the fibers of the wood to swell.
Unless you want to paint the hardware, removing it will make painting easier.
Sanding
If you find any cracks or holes in the piece while cleaning, use wood filler to fill them, and then sand to a smooth surface. Next, you should sand the piece all over very lightly. Be gentle, and remember– this type of furniture can be quite delicate. If it’s in generally good condition, you don’t need to completely remove the old finish. Rough it up just slightly to give the paint something to adhere to, and sand in the direction of the wood grain in order to avoid any noticeable swirl marks.
As many pieces of French provincial furniture have melamine tops, you can also sand this with a relatively fine sander, and apply a coat of flat white oil paint. As it is quite durable and has a flat sheen, this acts as a primer, according to Natty By Design.
Priming
You’ll need to prime the entire piece. This is especially important with old wooden furniture, as it can bleed through the paint. If this occurs, use two coats of primer and that will usually correct the issue. If you decide to go with a darker color, use a tinted primer.
Painting
Painting the piece can be accomplished using a spray, brush or a roller. A good quality paint brush generally creates the best look. Turn the item upside down, and paint hard-to-reach areas first, keeping an eye out for any drips or runs. These can be corrected by feathering your paint brush across them before they dry. They can be avoided by not putting too much paint on your brush.
You’ll need at least two coats of paint. Wait at least one day in-between them, or longer if possible. It needs to dry completely before painting the next coat. If you live in a humid location, it may take longer to dry.
Protection
A top coat should also be applied, especially if you’ve used acrylic paint. Polyurethane, sealers or furniture wax will work, although oil-based poly or sealer should not be used over white paint, as it will cause it to well.
Finally, you’ll need to wait at least three days, and preferably five, before placing any objects on your beautiful and newly painted piece of furniture in order to avoid scuffing.
Guest Post By George Iverson- George manages his own interior design company and website about home building and decorating.
Italian Side Tables – Interiorflair on ebay
French Painted Cabinet Jansen Greenwich Living
Stoneware Studios produce in Ireland a range of Natural Limewashes and Traditional Paints for historic buildings. We are also the national distributor for the highly acclaimed Earthborn range of paints and decoration products.
Earthborn is a range of eco paints and natural varnishes designed to provide a healthier and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paints and varnishes. Whether you are looking for VOC free paint, organic paint and varnish, water-based paint, water-based varnish or high performance paints and varnishes, Earthborn Paints has the product you require in its portfolio of natural and eco friendly paints and varnishes.
Chateau de la Goujeonnerie
18th Century Painted Louis XV Buffet Petricia Thompson Antiques
Distressed Blue Painted French Blue Cabinet With Chicken Wire
Cream Painted Armoire- Unknown Credit
Designer Rachel Ashwell
Art dealer Guy Morrison and Penny Morrison Wales Home.
Painted Hutch Featured in French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg
Italian / French Side Table – Interiorflair on ebay
White Painted Furniture tolix chairs, Swedish Wood Country Chair
Lisa Fine Textiles
Furniture restoration expert Carolyn Pickell has refurbished most of the furniture in her store Side Furniture on San Pablo Avenue including; the french chair with vintage upholstery that she painted pink, Photo: Kat Wade Read more
Romance With Flowers- See This Whole Store Here.
Pink Farmtable- Faded Plains Blog
Worcestershire Barn Conversion- House To Home Magazine
Borrow this beautiful color for your provence furniture
Italian Side Tables – Interiorflair on ebay
All Dolled Up – Reclaimed Furniture By Hand
All Dolled Up – Reclaimed Furniture By Hand
All Dolled Up – Reclaimed Furniture By Hand
JoAnn Barwick’s Blue and White Home Florida- Freshome
JoAnn Barwick’s Blue and White Home Florida- Freshome
JoAnn Barwick’s Blue and White Swedish Home Florida- Freshome
French Furniture – Interiorflair on ebay
French & Italian Side Tables – Interiorflair on ebay
How To Update Vintage French Provincial Furniture
A Beautiful Light Pink French Provincial Furniture From Stiltskin Studios Esty
Vintage French furniture can be a terrific opportunity to getting the upscale French looks for less. Vintage furniture can be found in most American and Canadian cities and for the most part they are affordable. Many of these vintage sets can be transformed with paint, or even stripped of it’s varnish and re-stained a different color. Vintage French furniture allows you the opportunity to experiment with finishes, textures, colors and distressing techniques, when the prices are reasonable. There are so many possibilities with vintage French Provincial furniture.
Before you consider colors, decide whether your interior scheme is country style, or formal and elegant. There are a number of ways to give these pieces a facelift, but truly most French styles fall into these two categories.
1. French City Styles
French furniture can have a polished look, as well as a country look. Depending on the paint color choice, and the style of furniture, it can be painted to have a more sophisticated look, or looks that resemble furniture belonging to country homes.
My other site- French Style Authority features many of the upscale French looks that you might see in formal French interiors. Some examples of the formal French looks, include extravagant marquetry chests, gilt wood chests and wall clocks, and upholstered furniture with rich silk fabrics.
How To Pull Off This Look…..
-Consider painting your furniture gray and white wash the frame with a creamy white. Upholster your pieces with rich pastel upholstery in raw silk, or velvet. Raw silk has some of the most saturated color choices around, and will surely give your pieces a high end look. Satin is another choice to get that rich Marie Antoinette look for your home. You can also shop for fabric online to help you reupholster your furniture yourself. Check out your favorite fabric shops online and get the materials shipped right to your home. You can either reupholster it yourself or hire a company to do it for you.
-Go for the more saturated colors. This photo shows an exceptional emerald green and gilt wood combination. Have custom marble or stone fit for your dresser, or buffet tops. See this post “Decorating With Pastels” for more inspiration. To make your dresser look richer, gold leaf the hardware, and add more hardware to the chest, such as furniture mounts and keyholes.
-While I can hardly compare this 75 thousand dollar vitrine to a 300 dollar French chest, you can certainly borrow some ideas for your own furniture. Instead of painting your furniture, why not stain it? Simply remove the finish with a heat gun, or paint stripper. Consider faux finishing the raw furniture with lines that look like the expensive veneer woods. (This would only work on the solid wood pieces) All that is needed is polystain, and a couple thin brushes. Improve the look of your furniture by adding custom ormolu to the drawers, feet, and hammer on matching keyholes to a dresser or chest. Gold leaf the hardware to create the look of a matching set.
– Color really makes a huge difference on these pieces. Paint companies such as Annie Sloan, Darryl Carter For Benjamin Moore, and The Williamsburg Color Collection By Benjamin Moore are specially designed after the historical colors. Having the just right color can make a tremendous difference in the overall appearance.
-9 Ways To Transform Vintage Furniture- Painted Furniture Online
-The Interior French Furniture Of Versailles- The French Style Authority
-The Best Ways To Get The French Look For Less-The French Style Authority
-Marie Antoinette Behind the Scences For Vogue Magazine- The French Style Authority
-French Furniture Restoration ~Gold Leafing Tips- The French Style Authority
-Absolutely Breathtaking French Painted Furniture- The French Style Authority
2. French Country Styles
The country styles can have bold color as well, although you will find the finish and colors to be different. Consider the color palette of the French countryside such as the purples, green and blues found in Frederic Mechiehe’s Provence Home In Hyeres, and yellows, seen in Tremolet’s Chateau d’Ailly in Normandy.
In this post, “5 Paint Color Choices For Provincial Furniture” I show a number of country colors that would work perfectly on painted chairs, desks, armoires, beds and chests. Consider skipping the bright gold hardware for rusty pieces, or iron looking hardware.
– Don’t just paint your pieces one solid color and add hardware, and call it a day…. be sure to really highlight the curves and carvings. This yellow armoire wouldn’t look the same without having the carved areas highlighted in white
Gift Guide Garden Party- W Magazine
ROCHE BOBOIS chair, from $4,174, roche-bobois.com.
Scalamandre- China Rose on pair of Begere Chairs- Furbish Studio
Bright red, and pastel colors seen on Marie Antoinette Seen on www.businessinsider.com
Drexel Touraine French Provincial Dresser- axsoris.com
5 Paint Color Choices For Provincial Furniture
Painting furniture can be an outstandingly satisfying craft. You can find an old, outdated piece and breathe new life into it with a simple color of paint. Once it’s in a new space, it can brighten and invigorate it, adding charm and drama all at the same time.
Sometimes the hardest decision of all is what color to use. When you want to go bold, here are some top color choices to consider.
Emerald Green
Emerald green is the hot color of 2013, according to the design industry. It connotes thoughts of riches and a recovering economy, and its lushness can bring a look of jewel luster into your home.
Because neutrals are still popular to decorate with, a splash of bright, bold, emerald green can be a lovely contrast against beiges and tans. Think about painting a chest or end table emerald green and adding some gold or silver accents or hardware. You’ll have a standout piece that will take charge.
Red
It seems red is a classic for painted furniture, one that can last through the years. Every room can hold a bold piece of red painted furniture, and the colors can range from candy apple to deep garnet. Like emerald green, a deep jewel tone will add drama, and a brighter red will add cheer.
Whether it’s a chair, table, or something else, a red accent piece of painted furniture will work well with almost any other color schemes, from neutral palettes to brighter colors ranging from blues to greens to yellows. Red can add freshness, drama, or whatever look you’re going for.
Blue
Colors of nature are very in right now, so painting a piece of furniture with the bold tones of blues in nature will be just the thing to do in 2013. Blue can be soothing like the sky, or invigorating like the sea. Choose from any blue shades to create a bold standout piece that will bring the natural world indoors.
Like red, blue tends to work well with most other color palettes and is a wonderful contrast to black and white.
Lavender
Whereas pink or purple may be too young to place in areas other than girl’s rooms in the home, lavender is like pink all grown-up. A single painted piece of lavender furniture will pop in a room and add that vintage drama that can bring the room to life.
Lavender is a great color to mix with other bold tones, like yellow and green, or use it against a white palette for extreme drama. Have fun with it – go bold – remember, it’s not a kid color anymore!
Yellow
Yellow is taking off on the runways now, so why not bring it in the home. A bold piece of yellow painted furniture, from chests to chairs to dining tables, will add a fresh new feel to any room.
Yellow can brighten darker areas and works great with natural woods or metallics. Don’t be afraid to go bold – lean towards the canaries, lemons, and golds rather than the softer butter and cream yellows.
Adding that piece of boldly painted furniture to your home will invigorate your home. Take a look around at what you have already; you never know, the very piece you want may already be in your home…just waiting.
Heather Legg is a writer who writes about small businesses and Spokeo removal, the art of creativity and keeping a positive perspective every day.
DE TONGE Provincial Table- Famous French Furniture Manufacture-Coco House, Palm Beach, FL
Wrought Iron Leaf Iron Chandelier In A Happy Yellow- dos gallos
Antique Yellow Painted Wicker Fiddelhead Chair – BG Galleries -Weymouth, MA
French Painted Tole Garden Table – Milord Antiques
Cabinet de curiosités Clément Lafaille, après 1766. Style néoclassique. Muséum d’histoire naturelle de La Rochelle. Source
Yellow Reproduction French Vaisselier- Traditional Home
Yellow Painted Provencal Armoire – Cote Jardin Antiques
Louis XV Painted Buffet – Bremermann Designs
French Commodes – Available Through Cote France
Marieclairemaison
French Painted Buffet Deux Corps- Jean Williams Antiques
Blue Painted French Furniture- European Paint Finishes
Etienne French Painted Furniture
Cote France Tables
Green Painted French Provence Styled Furniture- Available Through Cote France
Louis XV Period Painted Console Table, Bermingham and Co – New York
Au Rendez-Vous de Montmartre, Paris And Beyond Blog– Red Painted Desk Cote France
Red Painted French Louis XV Chest- Cote Jardin Antiques
10 Tips To Keeping Your French Furniture Looking New
French Bedroom- The World of Interiors Nov 2011
When it comes to expensive antique or vintage furniture, you want to keep your furniture in good shape for as long as you can. Upholstery can get messed up fast, especially if you have kids. Their sticky fingers and accidental spills can leave your furniture looking beat up and grungy. However there are some ways to keep your furniture looking nice:
1. Fix scratches – Scratches on wood can easily be fixed with something you probably already have. No it is not a chemical or stain. Instead rub the scratch with a walnut. Somehow the nut removes scratches faster and better than anything you can buy at the store.
Also consider getting Minwax wood finish stain marker to fix those small scratches on wood based furniture.
2. Remove stains – Some stains seem impossible to remove, but have no fear. Almost every satin can come out if you have the right stuff. My first go to for stains is Oxyclean. Safe to use on almost all fabrics and carpets, this miraculous cleaner helps me to get out stains like blood, wine, and even grape juice. This works well for stains in the car also, so it is well worth investing in a bucket of the wonder powder.
– You would be surprised how well plain white soap works. With a bit of water, and white soap, stains usually lift right away.
-If your upholstery starts to look dingy, or has developed stains and spots, before you do anything, it is important to vacuum it. This will lift the dirt up off the upholstery so that when you go to remove the stains with water, you won’t be grinding in dirt and dust which, when wet, can further dirty your couches and chairs.
– When a spill occurs, blot the spot, don’t scrub or rub. Clean up the spill with a dry white cloth as quickly as possible to prevent the stain from spreading. Blotting is perhaps the most crucial, and also common sense part of how to clean upholstery.
3. Use Tablecloths –The best way to keep your dining room table looking new is to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. When kids are around try to keep delicate fabrics and woods covered. A thick tablecloth will help to keep your table shiny and new looking. Exchanging out tablecloths will keep your kitchen and dining areas looking fresh. Use white linen for special dinners and beige linen for every day use.
4. Use Satin Wall Paint- This French interior walls are painted in a vibrant shade of red. This living room, designed by Miles Redd, shows the red interior we all dream about. Redd adds a feminine feel by using pelmets around the window. A red upholstered French chair brings this red room together. Use Satin Paint which can be cleaned yearly, which can brighten up dull wall paint. While flat wall paint is quite lovely to look at, it cannot be cleaned. Satin has a bit of a sheen to it, allowing you to gently wipe down the walls year to year.
5. Use The Right Outdoor Paint. Rich rattan furniture can be seen through out the French cafes. Copy this style for your own patio, by updating it with a rich cherry red. Outdoor paint is formulated differently than indoor paint and often extends the life of your furniture. Many more additives are used in outdoor paint to keep the color rich through sun exposure, and rain and the winter season. Painting wicker furniture can take a lot of time, so it is important to use the right paint. Using a paint sprayer that hooks up to a compressor will allow even coverage, as well as be able to paint all the areas the brush cannot get to. A sprayer will allow you to paint all 6 or 8 chairs in an afternoon. Spending a bit more for the right paint will ensure your furniture will last for years without peeling, or loosing its color.
6. Save Your Paint For Touch Ups. Over time, furniture will need touch ups. Save your furniture paint for future re-painting. From year to year, patio furniture will scratch or flake off. Having the extra paint on hand will allow you to re-paint table tops or areas of the furniture which tend to scratch. If you are thinking about adding an additional piece to your collection, your stored paint will save you time from matching paint and making another run to the hardware store.
7. Invest In A High Quality Vacuum Cleaner– These old fashioned mattresses have become very popular with Zentique, Home Decorators Collection and Restoration Hardware. Although this style presents a primitive look, you truly don’t want to keep mattresses exposed over time, as dust and dirt settles in quickly. Mattresses are often not cleaned in most homes, yet we spend 8 hours on them in a day. In this video, you can see how much dirt a Kirby Vacuum picks up off a clean-looking mattress. Consider investing in a high quality vacuum cleaner that is of professional quality. Kirby vacuums and Dyson Vacuums are considered the best vacuums on the market. Check out both vacuums in this video. Cleaning your mattresses, furniture, and carpets will extend their lives restore the air quality in your home.
8. Invest In Slip Covers- Joni from Cote De Texas wrote an excellent article listing the top 6 must haves for the year, and slipcovers was one of them. Slipcovers are the covers that protect the furniture from dust and stain. They can be removed and are easy to wash and clean.
Slipcovers also allow you to exchange out one pattern for another. Perhaps having two slipcover sets – one for the winter and another for the summer.
9. Use Slipcovers For Your Dining Chairs- Your kitchen or dining table is used regularly, so consider making or purchasing slip covers for your chairs. Chair seat covers come in a variety of styles that fit with any décor. Even couches can have a blanket tossed over them to prevent sticky hands from ruining it. While a blanket can be tossed into the washing machine, a couch can’t. By taking precautions you can keep your furniture looking brand new.
Items to Consider:
-ViveVita Linen Dining Room Chair Covers in Sets of 2
-Sewing Slip Cover Patterns From McCalls, Vogue and Butterick on Amazon
–Simply Slipcovers: Stylish, Practical Solutions for Tried-but-True Furniture
–Custom Slipcovers Made Easy: Weekend Projects to Dress Up Your Decor
-The Complete Photo Guide to Slipcovers: Transform Your Furniture with Fitted or Casual Covers
Ruffled Slipcovers From Tumblr
Shannon Bowers Home – Featured On Cote De Texas
10. Keep Your Furniture Out Of The Sunlight.- If you have a choice in upholstery, consider upholstering the backs of your french chairs in a different fabric if they sit near a window with sun exposure. Over time the fabric which has been exposed will fade in color. Having the front upholstery different than the back will allow the back to fade naturally, without the front looking quite a bit different.
Light is important, and you don’t want to have to close your curtains just to preserve the furniture. Slipcovers can also allow you to exchange out linens over time, giving you fresh prints and fabrics to change up your home through the seasons.
These are just a few of the ways that you can preserve and protect your furniture. From antiques to words of modern art and design, it is much easier to prevent then it is to repair. So be alert to dangers and do not be afraid to cover up delicate pieces.
About the Author:
Ken Myers is an expert advisor on in-home care & related family safety issues to many websites and groups. He is a regular contributor to www.gonannies.com. You can get in touch with him at kmyers.ceo (at) gmail.com.
Source Magazine Juliette & Victor 2012 – Photo credit Louis-Philippe Breydel
Photo Originally Appearing on Belgian Pearls Blog
18th Century French Interiors- The Essence Of Frenchness Blog
French Table Cloth Looks From Art et Decoration
Linen is a staple of French decorating. Not only does it have a wonderful texture, it also gets better with age, softer each time it’s washed. – Photo Credit Home Life
Classic French Country Decorating- Browse the full range of Mamie Carreaux
5 Ways to Update French Provincial Furniture
Painted Finishes on Vintage French Provincial Furniture Using An Overhead Projector – By Meranda S.
While French Provincial furniture is beautiful to look at just by itself, it can also become dingy and old looking over time. There are ways to make it more modern and artistic though. Here are a few ideas for ways to update your French Provincial furniture into a more modern style:
1. Update the Hardware – Paint the original hardware. Look to see how this French dresser painted in a cremy white has the original handles which are updated in a brushed bronze. If you end up painting your dresser black, consider painting the pulls black and distress them to show the beautiful metal in the ornate parts of the handle. This technique works with any paint color. To make the pulls stand out a bit, consider adding a brown glaze to the painted pulls or a dark brown wax to show off the details a bit more.
2. Go Pastel – Painting your furniture in pastel colors is a great way to keep the authentic feeling while still updating the look. Distress the paint finish with a hand sander. Even brighter paint colors look antiqued with a bit of brown glaze. Paint on the brown glaze and wipe it off. Consider painting with an eggshell finish as your basecoat, which gives the glaze something to grip on to. The glaze technique leaves residue giving you an aged appearance. If a paint finish doesn’t look right, add some glaze and you will love the finished look. Glaze makes everything look nicer, and is the trick many professionals use for brighter paint finishes.
3. Black, White or Red – If you want a really modern look, you can paint your furniture bold black ,white or red. Consider going glossy for a very rich French look. Rust-Oleum has a wonderful oil based line called “Enamels Spray” that produces a rich glossy lacquered appearance that doesn’t need any priming. Consider only using this brand in the warmer weathered months.
4. Bright Colors – Fun colors can bring new life to your furniture. Neon pink, bold blue, bright yellow and glossy green make it stand out and also give a great juxtaposition to the classic style of the furniture itself.
5. Cushion Crazy –If you have chairs whose cushions are looking a bit rangy, don’t reupholster them with the same old boring stuff.
Example of Tip 1- Look how the hardware is painted blue, and slightly distressed?
6. Patterns – Add bold stripes of color to boring furniture and liven them up. You can change the whole look of a piece with just a few stripes. Use tape to make sure your paint comes out crisp and clean
7. Frames – If you have a French Provincial mirror or picture frame, do not toss it away. Make it into a centerpiece by framing something unusual like a wreath of flowers or a chalkboard. It will stand out and make your home a talking point.
These are just a few ideas on how you can update your French Provincial furniture. There are so many opportunities to make the most of this beautiful style. Just take a few minutes to think about what you could do with it!
Author Bio: Paul and his wife Julie both spend quite a bit of time coming up with ideas, blogging, and researching all things related to childcare. They take care of all the necessary information related to “babysittingjobs.com/”. He personally thinks his blog will help with finding information on all things related to a babysitter.