Tag: French Provincial
$190 – Vintage Tufted French Side Chair In Gray
Painted Country Furniture
Emily Owens – Gray Painted Dresser – Facebook
Velvet Lane Painted Furniture found on facebook marketplace
A stunning paint finish found on facebook marketplace.
A heavily distressed chair – Karan Larsen Harms
An old metal table that would work beautifully with French country decorated interiors. – Tammy Graham
Beautiful Re-Purposed Desk from Amy Rantamaki
Laura Bowles’s Blue Painted Secretary
An easy way to “antique” inexpensive plastic mirrors. Use raw or painted distressed wood to anchor the frame too. Gold leaf your frames or paint them the same color as the wood. Picture Credit – Autumn Bowlby
Emily Therens’s White Painted French Provincial Coffee Table
A beautifully painted gray rocker – Missy Davis
Janna McRoy’s Bench – A lovely Headboard Into Bench Transformation
Regina West’s Chippy Dresser – lovely for a French country interior.
70 Picture Inspirations Of French Provence Style Interiors
Grand Provence Style-maison-deco.com
French furniture in the 17th and 18th centuries has been considered to be some of the most breathtaking furniture in history. In 1610 when Louis XIII took the throne, the furniture styles around the regions of France started developing their own signature styles. In Provence, furnishings were carved from walnut, while in Normandy, oak was popular for making armoires, buffets, and vaisseliers.
The Provencal style has always been inspired by the beautiful colors of France. The atmosphere of the countryside picks up the bright colors of lavender, yellow, mint and blue. Provencal style changes with the colors of the seasons. The dirt and natural settings seen around France has been the inspiration for earthenware and ceramic hand-painted pottery.
Some of the key elements of this style are stone flooring, rustic furniture,wrought iron accessories, tin enamel, painted pottery, raw cotton and linen. Architectural elements such as beams and alcoves, basin sinks, concrete corbels bring in the antique elements we all desire and admire. Soft, linen curtains and heavy linen upholstery has been a timeless choice for sofas, side chairs, slipcovers and cushions. The perfection of raw-wood furniture has been thought to be a noble choice for furnishings for centuries. Working with rustic hardware, such as wrought iron brings to mind the pastoral, country living that many people find refuge in. It is not only a style, but a way of life that is deeply anchored in a traditional way of life.
Moissonnier Furniture
Old World French Provence Homes- maison-deco.com
Great French Provincial Design Is a Philosophy More Than a Look
French Provence Style-magazine.pierrefrey.com
New York interior designer Miles Redd says, “Life in the 21st Century means taking the best of history and making it work for you.” That is a good philosophy to adopt, whether your design preferences are for contemporary, island chic, British Colonial or French Provincial. Selecting the best of the design traditions and adapting them to your individual lifestyle is the very essence of the design ethic.
What a Feeling
“Most of all, country French is a feeling,” according to French Heritage. Speaking of furniture, the company, which was founded by French-born Jacques Wayser and his American wife, subscribes to the adage that there is no one “period” in history that encompasses French provincial. It is, rather, a way of life, and a philosophy that encompasses the past and adapts to modern needs, uses and sensibilities. In that sense, it is neither rigid, nor formal; it is, however, very personal and always changing to meet new needs and new circumstances.
That accounts for its undying popularity. French country design is seemingly always fresh, always appropriate, and always evolving.
Flexible and Inventive
Remaining true to the beloved French Provincial style ethic is simple when you first adopt the philosophy: Respect for the styles of the past and a willingness to revise, modernize and “make do” when necessary. The essence of court-originated style during the reigns of French monarchs was captured in informal style and inexpensive woods for the “common” folk in the provinces.
Well-made, sturdy furniture lasted for generations. However, years of use took their toll, and inventive families had to make repairs and replace parts, adapting to changing needs. In time, the painted finishes and well-used looks became well-loved as well.
Personal Choice Dictates
Today, the range of options in interior design is sometimes overwhelming. It can be daunting to face the myriad of decisions involved in completing an interior design scheme. The choice of country French as a decor, however, is a wise one, allowing a wide range of available choices with an emphasis on lasting comfort and individuality.
For all your choices, ranging from wall colors to floor coverings, from furniture to window coverings, and from accessories to art, you should realize that there are no hard and fast rules. If you prefer an uncluttered modern look, you can leave windows bare if there is no issue with privacy. On the other hand, wood blinds from TheShadeStore.com, in your choice of finishes, would give you room-darkening possibilities and be perfectly suited to a provincial scheme. You could soften the look with flowing draperies in a colorful toile print, or with gathered panels in a bright country check.
Animal-ish and Whimsy
Charles Faudree and Betty Lou Phillips are two of the most respected interior designers in the country; each has a personal style. They rely on a bit of “whimsy” to make a room come alive, utilizing color, layers of fabric, and a mix of textures and themes. Iconic French symbols appear as well: The fleur-de-lis, an occasional Napleonic bee, chickens, gold braid, and French words. According to their sites (CharlesFaudree.com, and BettyLouPhillips.com), advice given by each designer is the same: “Enjoy the style!”
Guest Post by Timothy Allen
Timothy is an interior designer with an eye for straight lines and Mediterranean styling.
Chateau Montgeoffroy- www.ot-saumur.fr
Chateau Montgeoffroy- magazine.pierrefrey.com
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.
The Extra Room- 6 French Provence Decorating Ideas
Coorengel And Calvagrac Bordeaux Library- Elle Decor
Perhaps your children have left the nest, or you are newly married without children and you have that one extra bedroom that seems to be void of any life. You sit at the entry way deciding what to do but haven’t found a use for the room, other than a second bedroom or storage.
If you are wondering what to do with a spare room, and are looking for ideas to fill the space, we give you 7 really practical ideas to make that extra room functional, while at the same time fitting in with your French Provence countryside style.
1. A Library
The suggestion of turning that extra room into the library, instead of a craft room, just may convince your husband to fork out several hundred on a new built in for his, or should I say….. your books. Men love cigar rooms, rooms where the can watch football games, so if you are into compromising, this may be the perfect idea that would work for the both of you.
Consider Provence Colors For The Extra Punch
The library of a French château decorated by Michael Coorengel and Jean-Pierre Calvagrac (above) features a French style, brighter color palette. Colors like bright green, sunny yellow, vivid turquoise, and deep teal are exactly the type of shades that originally would have been used at Versailles. Lets face it, colors fade over 300 years, so the colors we today in Versailles, are not the colors that were originally chosen. Don’t be afraid of going with brighter paint colors. Have fun accessorizing with a French settee and reading chairs.
Don’t Get Overwhelmed With The Cost Of A Library
Yes, built in’s can cost thousands, but it doesn’t have to. Blogger Joni Webb transformed an extra bedroom into a library and reveals some of the in-progress photos. In this photo, you can see how one would assemble the bookshelves, which then would be completed using strips of wood which gives the overall look a professional finish. Paint your bookcases, and add custom lights, and a window bench and you have a room that looks and feels French. Look at Joni’s room after here. It is a dream library.
Perfect French Furniture
-Zentique Jute Bastille Sofa, Jute $3930, matching chair, $2600
-Wingback Chair, Natural Oak/Linen $1020
-Zentique Genevieve Sofa $3500
-Zentique Maison Sofa Natural Oak Natural Linen $2300
2. A Serious Closet
Now that the kids are out of the house, you can spend some serious money on those handbags you always desired, show case the jewelry you have collected over the years, and the shoes you can only wear in the summer. You can finally shop at home, and it costs you no money!
If your spare room is on the smaller side, it could make the perfect dressing room. Custom wall-to-wall built-in shelving could be sensational for storing shoes, belts and accessories, and hanging clothes.
– Get the wood look for less. Consider the Martha Stewart shelving systems available through Home Depot.
– Use Metal Brackets- For all our closets, we decided to work with the Closet Maid products at Home Depot. I installed 4 Shelf Tracks in most of our large closets, spray painted them with an oil based primer before installing, and spaced them in our closets using a stud finder. After installing all the shelf tracks, simply paint over them using the paint you plan on using for the walls. The shelf tracks then just blends into the wall. Instead of using the wire shelving that is sold in the line at home depot, go for wood. Purchase one foot solid wood boards in the length of your closet, and then simply paint them the same color as your wall color. You get the built in look without spending the mega bucks. For all of my closets, I used the lager 16 inch bracket from Closet Maid. Using an oil based primer which will stick the existing paint, spray paint the brackets, which then can be painted in the same overall paint you choose for your closets. Create ceiling to floor shelving for your shoes, and customize boxes by painting them the same color as your walls, for that extra designer touch. Go for dark color inside your closets to make your colorful clothes pop, such as a navy, or rich gray. Having everything painted in one solid color brings attention to your collections. Add corner brass hardware to bring your closet up that extra notch. The details can go a long way.
Lisa Vanderpump’s Closet
Lisa Vanderpump’s closet is one of the most beautiful closets I have seen. In this picture, you can see the closet is painted in white, which nicely shows off all her colorful designer clothing. Consider adding an island with drawers for jewelry like Lisa did. In this photo, you can see all of her pretty heavy jewelry on display. Clothes and handbags are organized by color. Custom floating shelving on the wall show off a variety of pretty handbags and accessories. Make room for a decorative full-length mirror and stool, bench, or French chair.
3. An Old Fashioned French Game Room
Family time now can be set as a priority. All in one games are perfect for kids. This 6 in 1 Multifunction Sport Game Table can be set on a table top, and has a variety of games that can keep grand kids busy.
If chess is your game, order this beautiful wood chess table. Add two French chairs, and enjoy endless nights as your husband teaches you chess. Game rooms can be perfect for connecting with your better half. Conversations can be ignited in a game of cards, something we think is so ancient.
A game of darts, ping pong, or pool are great activities to play with another person. Coffee dates with your best girlfriend can be rather fun over ping pong than sitting in the back yard. These games don’t have to be out of plastic. Today you can buy high quality sets in wood that work with an upper scale theme room.
Here are my favorite links:
– Rome 8 Foot Pool Table- Buy it on Amazon for $1549 , available in Maple
– Athens 8 Foot Pool Table- Buy it on Amazon for $1799
– Marietta 8 Foot Pool Table Buy it on Amazon for $1549
-Stiga Insta Play Table Tennis Table Buy it for $560
– Worcester Arcade Style Dart Board Cabinet Buy it for $349
4. A Multi- Hobby Room
A hobby room can be the best use of space out of all the options. Having a room dedicated to a passion can turn the available space into a serious second income.
This Atlanta Homes Magazine picture features a hobby room that could serve multiple hobbies. Book shelves and baskets serve as good storage options. Two large tables work great for sewing crafts, quilting, photography and scrap booking.
Arts and Craft Hobbies:
Painting, Drawing, Photography, Pottery, Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Crochet, Scrap booking, Jewelry Making, Candle Making, Soaps making, body scrub making, Flower arranging, Dressmaking, blacksmithing, dollhouses, knife making, musical Instruments, candles, sculpture, film Making, stained glass, shadow boxes, doll making, sewing, glass blowing. Paper Crafts such as origami, decoupage, and quilling.
– Harbor View Craft Armoire Buy it on Amazon $272
– Knotty Alder Raised Panel – Scrapbooking, Jewelry Making, Hobby Storage Armoire- Buy it on Amazon for $1230
– Minibox Sewing Supplies Organizing Desk $945
Music Hobbies:
Music can be so rewarding and bring so much pleasure. Learn to play an instrument. Play guitar, piano/keyboard, the violin, or learn how to sing. Create a dance studio, and learn how to Latin dance, or create a ballet room for your daughter.
Electronic Hobbies
Electronics is a popular past time. This can include building circuits, robotics, R/C Cars, Boats, Planes and Helicopters
Science Hobbies
There are a wide range of science hobbies that a room dedicated to the love of scientific advancement can be thrilling. Many of these hobbies include astronomy,
microscopy, model airplanes, and rock collecting
-Scrapbooking collections can easily get out of control when storage isn’t available. For those who love scrapbooking, in this post, I detail furniture specifically designed for scrapbooking from Martha Stewart. Paint additional furniture in the same color to get a built in look.
– The Alvin Heritage™ Basic French Easel not only has the antique charm of the past, but could serve as a centerpiece in a painting room.
-Alvin Pavillon Art Table – Unfinished Wood Top $182
– Wood Drafting Table with Pencil Ledge and Storage Drawer -$319
Choose furnishings that double as storage and seating, such as convertible storage benches, ottomans and stools. Line the room with open and closed door shelving to store and display hobbies.
5. Home BUSINESS Office
A home office can be a great place to get organized. A desk can hold the supplies that often get dumped into the kitchen’s junk drawer. Lots of people love to write but don’t know how to get organized. Write on a blog, write an e-book, or write poetry. A library, or room dedicated towards your dream of being published might be the best way of really getting serious about putting a plan into action.
A room dedicated to a home office also could allow a second income to earn you money. If you are an attorney, a seasoned accountant, able to do payroll, or any online medical jobs, a second room dedicated towards work can pay the bills and afford you a vacation that you have never taken. Additional jobs that can be done at home are graphic design jobs, website development, and software creation. Any editing jobs can also be done from home.
6. A Simple Drop Dead Great Gorgeous Extra Bedroom
Go buy that dream French bed, and create the perfect French guest room, while at the same time having your hobbies in the closet. Yes, I said closet! Transform the closet into your hobby desk and organization area. If you plan on regularly hosting family and friends, make your spare bedroom a comfortable place for overnight guests. Transform a closet into your storage space for your hobbies, an extra seasonal closet. Save space by using a trundle bed, positioned against the wall.
Additional Ideas- 5 Ways to Makeover Your Spare Room- Cabinet Hardware Ideas
Christophe Laurent Durand Rouffio – Nov. 2011- pictures from maison-deco.com
An 18th-century portrait of Marie-Joseph of Saxony, daughter-in-law of Louis XV, in the Polonaise bedroom; the Louis XVI daybed is upholstered in a chintz based on an 18th-century fabric, the chandelier is 18th century, and the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s French Gray.
Picture –Elle Decor
Frederic Mechiehe’s Provence Home In Hyeres
When Frederic Mechiehe arrived at this chateau in Normandy, he was faced with decaying floors and a missing roof. Everything in this home had to be reassembled or “faked”. Period style wooden stairs were installed and artificially worn and hollowed by an industrial sanding machine. The stone floor with black marble lozenges were also added. In this picture, the only thing genuinely to be period is the Louis XVI barometer on the wall. Taken From-Rooms To Remember – Interiors Inspired by the Past By Barbara Stoeltie.
Interior designer, Frederic Mechiche is known quite well in France for re-creating the old world interiors that many of us dream about. So it comes at no surprise that his own home would be fulled with beautiful French antiques, and breathtaking detail. His home is located in Hyeres, which is the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France. Hyères is the oldest resort on the French Riviera. His home, a fourteenth-century fisherman’s cottage which has retained much of it’s architectural elements The details which are preserved give the home warmth and depth, and a sense of story behind the charming details. The irregular walls, original plasterwork and ancient floors have all remained true to their original form and provide some interest.
Avant-Gardenist on Flicker features the chapter that covers Frederic Mechiche in the book Rooms To Remember – Interiors Inspired by the Past By Barbara Stoeltie. Here are few excerpts from the book:
“Whatever the reason, the desire for the patina of a bygone era is very powerful. Frederic Mechichc, one of France’s most prominent designers, has busied himself in his old fisherman’s house in the south of France in an attempt to “deceive the eye”, furiously attacking his walls with a hammer and having them re-stuccoed as many times as necessary to achieve an age-worn surface.Mechiche has proved over the years that he is a master of the most complicated means of achieving an illusion of age. He has stained his walls with pigment, milk, and coffee, ground away at the edges of a stone staircase to create the impression ot wear, and applied layers of paint to a wall, only to scrape them off later to obtain a multi-layered that could have been caused by centuries of repainting.”
” A few years ago, however,he managed to overcome his horror of the French Riviera for long enough to visit a friend in the area who claimed to have found a haven of peace. Strolling through the narrow, twisting streets of an ancient town with a Romanesque church, he was suddenly confronted with “a small, tall house, eaten away by time, unusually beautiful, and up for sale.” The estate agents description of “warped” floors and “appalling” condition were enough to whet his appetite. Mechiehe was on the lookout tor things authentic and deeply suspicious ot terms like “luxury,” “frilly restored,”and “impeccable,” saying “I’d rather contemplate a door and a few windows with their paint peeling off!” Where the patina of centuries did not exist, Frederic Mechiche invented it. First of all, he astonished the whole neighborhood by climbing up a ladder and plastering…… the entire surface of his facade with an ocher paste,daubing it with evil-smelling mud, and drenching the result with hundreds of gallons of greasy, opaque water to recreate the effect of age. Then a team of masons,
carpenters, and painters came and went for six months, and Mechiehe spent weeks going around the demolition yards of the region, tracking down eighteenth-century architectural salvage”
If you like the pictures featured in Rooms To Remember – Interiors Inspired by the Past consider buying the book….
More About Rooms To Remember:
The Stoelties, regular contributors to World of Interiors magazine, depict European and American interiors that use the period of their historic buildings to inspire their interiors. Rather than authentic re-creations of period decorating, these interiors have been designed to combine contemporary decorating styles with historic furniture and decorative accessories”
Barbara Stoeltie has been a regular contributor to The World of Interiors since 1984 and regularly collaborates with her husband Rene’ on magazine articles.Rene’ Stoeltie’s own interiors have been featured in Decoration Internationale, and his photographic work has appeared in magazines all over the world, including The World of Interiors, House and Garden, Elle, Country Homes and Interiors, Harper’s Bazaar, Colonial Homes, and Classic Homes.
Timeless Interiors: Rooms Inspired by the Past by Barbara Stoeltie and Rene Stoeltie– Timeless Interiors is about capturing the romance of the past without throwing away your washing machine and living in an old fashioned way. Primarily an inspirational source book, it shows how to recreate the tricks designers use: she shows why a room looks romantic and how to get that effect through colors, paint, wallpaper, flower arrangements or still-lives on a shelf. The opening chapter of the book is a detailed story of the featured houses. The following sections are divided room by room: halls, sitting rooms, studies, bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms.
Picture Credits
Picture Credits are due to Sotto Il Monte Vineyards Blog, whom scanned in all these beautiful pictures below. The original source is – Mediterranean Living By Lisa Lovatt-Smith
Other Beautiful Posts By Sotte Il Monte Vineyards Blog
– Christian Tortu – Design Inspiration – Christian Tortu is one of the leading floral designers in France
– Charleston Interior Designer Amelia Handegan’s summer house at Folly Beach
Additional Links:
– French Style Authority Blog– French Decorator Frédéric Méchiche
– Elle Decor -In a former office building, French decorator Frédéric Méchiche re-creates 18th-century grandeur for a couple who also love contemporary art.
– Trouvais Blog– An 18th century Venetian églomisé mirror are from Frédéric Méchiche’s Paris apartment in the January 1994 issue of World of Interiors photographed by René Stoeltie.
–Door Sixteen Blog– Interior designer Frédéric Méchiche‘s 1712 home in le Marais, which he calls “a tribute to Bauhaus in Paris”.
–My Best Interior Design Ideas– Interior Designer Frederic Mechiche’s apartment in Paris
–Interior Archive– Interior designer Frederic Mechiche’s Parisien home was once 3 separate apartments that he has reorganized to form one light, harmonious apartment on two floors with the guiding idea of creating something of the feel of a small Directoire townhouse. Remodelled with salvaged wooden panelling, period stone floors, cornicing and mouldings the space has the laid back organic feel
Frederic Mechiche in the book Rooms To Remember – Interiors Inspired by the Past By Barbara Stoeltie.
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
5 Tips To Combine Both Antique And Modern Styles In Your Home
Sébastien and Raphael Llado Levavasseur
There are some people, who just can’t stop gushing about their Provence inspired elegant bedrooms. You may also come across people, who hold minimalist contemporary furniture, in very high esteem. Yet, every once in a while, comes a creative soul, who wishes to incorporate furniture designs from widely varying historical ages, in his home.
The ensuing unique mix of tradition and modernity that their homes possess becomes an extension of their quirky and eclectic personalities. If you happen to be someone, who falls in this category, then the following 5 tips are sure to give you some great ideas.
1. Existing Furniture Must Be Removed
It doesn’t matter if you plan to combine tradition and modernity, in one particular room of your house. Your eclectic vision might even encompass your entire home. Whatever might be the case, a clean space is necessary in order to invite timeless design ideas to inspire your mind.
This means that rather than moving things around, and making haphazard additions and omissions to your design area, you should remove all furniture from it, and start from scratch.
2. Retain Pieces That Match Your Larger Schemes
Once you have removed all furniture from the particular room that you wish to design (or redesign, for that matter), you can proceed to think about what goes and what stays, in them. Here, you need to be objective about the furniture pieces that would mesh into your design, rather than letting your emotions rule.
Remember, only the truly deserving furniture pieces must find a place of honor in your eclectic home.
3. Rethink about Your Walls and Flooring
Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in the larger designing scheme of your house, so that you completely ignore the finer and subtler details. If you are not careful, you can end up with all the right furniture in your eclectic home, only to realize that the color of your walls, and the material of your floor, totally kills all your efforts.
In order to avoid this, it is advisable that you dabble with neutral colors and designs that go well with all kinds of furniture, be they from the 19th century, or the current era. This will give your home the poise and balance to carry off an assorted look.
4. Add New Pieces
Once you have got the basics right, then you can proceed to adding more and more appropriate furniture pieces to your room. The key here is to maintain a delicate balance between furniture from differ rent historical periods. You can approach several furniture West Palm Beach stores that have in-house design consultants, who can help you to acquire the right look.
5. Accessorize Leniently
In order to have a really eclectic house, which also feels like home, it is essential to add some personal details to it. You home will look more and more inviting, as you inject drapery, mirrors, framed photographs and art that mix well with the larger plan of your home. For instance: a postmodernist painting can strangely work well with old-fashioned motifs on a wooden chest of drawers, beneath it.
A combination of eras, in your home, is all about experimentation. Yet, with a bit of luck, you can also chance upon customized furniture packages Miami that make your task easy.
With its elegant decor based patinas, furniture and unusual objects unearthed in the region, ” Gustave “is a small house of the sixteenth century, in the walled city of Belleme, transformed into a delightful tea room, deli and curio shop. Read the original article at Magazine e-magDECO
Raphael and his dog Donut.
Sébastien and Raphael Llado Levavasseur
18 rue Ville Close, 61130 Bellême
Telephone: 00 33 (0) 2 33 73 94 89
Website: http://www.maison-gustave.fr/
A Louis XV Style Gilt Metal Mounted Painted Side Table
At the entrance of the teahouse is the deli. Two-body Swedish early nineteenth Lisa Martino “The House Fassier” display and confectioner Louis XV style chair XIXth “Stephanie Mayeux Antiques”.
Petite Antique French Lady’s Writing Desk w/Orig. Tooled Leather
Provence Style Chest –Benjamin Wilson Antiques
Distressed paneling sits behind a Louis XVI style caned seat
Portrait of Lord Swedish Lisa Martino
Gustavian clock with a Louis XV style hunting table, with a Caned Louis XVI style bench
Pair of Louis XV Painted and Parcel Gilt Chaises a la Reine
A fruitwood table -Louis XV period
A Pair of Louis XV Style Fauteuils
Provence Style Chest Greenwich Living Antiques & Design Center
A 19th Century French Carved and Painted Provincial 3 Tier Table
Refractory French Provincial Leaf Tables
Some of the most rare french provincial tables are the refractory French Provincial leaf tables.
They are quite uncommon and innovative in their design, but hardly new.
Some of the earliest examples of refractory tables date back to 1600. Refractory tables have leaves hidden under the table and when pulled out, rise to the existing table top. In some designs, both leaves meet in the center of the table and can be flipped over which serve as the leaves.
Refractory leaf tables are often seen as an extra thick table top, in comparison to the tables with removable leaves which involve physically pulling the apart the table from each end.
These tables have additional leaves apart from the table and require manually inserting the table leaves into the middle section to extend the table.
Over the years of reselling vintage french provincial tables, I rarely came across a french table which still had the original leaves. Most people over the years have forgotten to donate the leaves, or somehow the leaves were misplaced as they moved from one house to the next. One advantage of a refractory french table is the physical table has the leaves already in place. This beautiful design is rare in a french style, and simply one of the most stunning designs that are available.