Provincial – Decorating – Page 4 – French Provincial Furniture

Great French Provincial Design Is a Philosophy More Than a Look

Posted on November 2, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

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

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4 Ways To Get The French Provence Look For Less

Posted on October 11, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

French Style Featured On The Essence Of Frenchness

Creating the Provencal country style in your home starts with the right colors, furnishings and decor. Here are some of the main must-haves to create this relaxed, elegant French Country decorating style.

1. Go Bold With The Wall Colors

A home can be instantly transformed with color. A color palette will govern all the other decorating considerations for your home.

French Provence style has always been known for their vibrant color choices. The color palette has always been governed by the colors found in the flowers and landscape, so it is no wonder why vibrant blues, purples and greens have always been dominant colors in the Provence home.

You may want a muted palette with warm elegant furnishings, such as raw aged wicker, neutral ticking for upholstery, stone and raw wood to take the focal interest. In this instance, consider accenting your home with the richer shades such as browns, found in the soils. Provence style was greatly influenced by the landscape of France, and inviting the colors found in nature into your home will instantly change the tone.

2. Architectural Elements

Consider introducing character into your home with architectural elements. Ditch some of the modern looks in your home with something with age and old looks. Exchange out your kitchen hardware, light switches, chandeliers, lamps, door hardware, sink faucets with older hardware with patina and age. You can find brand new hardware with the old world patina and looks.

– Change out the lighting to a French crystal chandelier. Consider investing the time into installing some antique sconces on the walls in your bathrooms, and bedroom. Light from the wall will give your room the look of candles, than the overhead lighting we are used to.

-Consider hanging iron plaques above your stove. Some of the plaques are quite large, and painted, making it a focal piece behind the stove, which is often hard to dress up.

-Wall Molding doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out this easy DIY wall idea which could totally transform the look of your walls.

Interesting Articles:

-Buying Secondhand Cabinets: Yay or Nay? Cabinet Hardware Ideas

-Handles, Knobs, or Pulls: Which Type of Hardware Is Best for Your Room? Cabinet Hardware Ideas

-Using Cabinet Hardware to Bring Life to a Dull Kitchen or Bathroom – Cabinet Hardware Ideas

-5 Ways to Dress Up Worn-Out Furniture & Cabinetry- Cabinet Hardware Ideas

3. Improve Vintage French Furniture

Invest in great pieces, and improve vintage furniture pieces with new upholstery. My motto has always been “trade up”. Fill your home with great inexpensive pieces, and as you find better ones, trade out the inexpensive pieces, with better quality furniture. Your home can look fantastic with second hand furniture. Often times some of the best pieces are the ones that you put some time and effort into. A vintage French chair can be stripped of it’s paint, and re-painted, stained and upholstered. A French sofa can be professionally upholstered and loved for 50 + years. A side table and dresser can be the spotlight in a bedroom, and a small French side table can steal the attention with brighter paint and gold accents. Collect pieces you love, and invest your time in making them better.

4. Go With Solid Pecan Finishes

Balance out brighter wall colors with solid wood stained furniture. You can buy vintage french furniture and strip it down to the solid wood. You can find spectacular pieces on ebay, at garage sales or second hand stores.

One thing I have learned along the years, is stripping furniture paint is well worth the effort. Wood can be painted, and then sanded down to look antique with the solid wood peeking through. Stripping the paint down to the solid wood, also allows you to stain a piece a custom shade. Consider investing in a heat gun. This is one tool, I wish someone told me about years ago. For less than $30 dollars, you can remove paint quicker without shelling out tons of money in stripper. It enables you to use less stripper, remove more paint faster, making removing paint bearable.

Traditional Provence Furniture is usually made of walnut and either left a natural brown and polished to a high sheen, or painted. Pecan stains are found in the most elegant French homes. For an authentic look, consider this stain first before others for that authentic Provence look.

Styled By:Mandy Keener Photographer:Nancy Nolan

At Home in Arkansas featured some beautiful photos of a home decorated around the old world interiors we see in Italy and France. The house itself looks as if it were European, but in fact, this home is right here in the USA! The homeowners wanted something country and rustic, borrowing from the classic looks found in France.

Here are some tips from the article:

“In the bath, we did limestone floors, but in a different way by insetting red Indian onyx. That red shows up in the French gothic revival altar from Avignon, which we used as a vanity. The kitchen island is inset with a single basin, extra-deep, bronze sink.”

The bathroom shows a fabulous cast iron bath with an exterior color matched to the paint on the bathroom walls. ” We wanted it to appear old, as if it needed to be filled with water by hand. And the faucet is in the middle so you can lie on either end of the tub and look out over the balcony. That allowed us to take advantage of the wall space and to approach the bathroom in a different way. If it were my house, I’d enjoy a glass of wine there every evening.”

– Cottage Of The Week in France- Home Bunch

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The Beauty Behind Château de Talcy In France

Posted on October 11, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

Chateau of Talcy

The Château de Talcy is a spectacular historical châteaux in Talcy, Loir-et-Cher, France, located on left bank of the Loire River. This 16th-century manor house was commissioned around 1520 by Bernardo Salviati. Salviati was a Florentine contractor with connections to the Medici family; a political banking family, whom gathered prominence in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century.

The château has a Gothic presence to the exterior, which is expected for a structure built at the height of the Renaissance. The outbuildings have been preserved from the 16th century, and one of the more charming aspects of the house is a traditional vegetable garden. An aerial view seen below, shows just how spectacular the gardens are. The Salviati retained the ownership of the estate until 1682. A house was owned by succession of individuals, including Philipp Albert Stapfer, ( a Swiss politician and philosopher) until 1932, when it was sold to the state, on condition that the 18th-century interiors would be left intact. The château is visited by 20,000 tourists annually.

Château de Talcy’s Gothic Exterior

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Provence Decorating: HOW TO Decorate With Green

Posted on October 8, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

18th Century Manor House – The World of Interiors, Jun 2005-Seen on Genus Loci Blog

The color green is one of the most popular colors to decorate a French home around. A cool green can can create a cool, calm, soothing atmosphere to feel refreshed in, while a darker greens can create warmth and comfort.

1. Mix Your Shades

Pick out your wall colors first, then introduce other shades of green elsewhere. If everything is one hue, it can be a bit drab, consider pairing strong greens with mild ones. Consider brighter colors with darker colors. Dark shades of green look great with punches of lime, or yellow.

2. Bring in Natural Wood

Natural wood and white accents do a good job of balancing brighter shades of green and keep them from becoming overwhelming. To keep the room light and airy, paint ceilings and trim white, or a lighter color tone of your wall color. Adding raw wood, such as a desk, or side chairs can level out the color. Consider adding in painted black accessories or furniture to add contrast. Stainless steel, tile and wood will give your room a balance against pastel colors.

3. Use The Brighter Shades on The Ceiling

Who says the ceiling is off limits? Are lighter colors more you? Making a dramatic statement, by painting the ceiling the vibrant color you want, but feel doesn’t belong on the walls. Consider painting the wall colors a really soft shade of light green that is border line white, and punch up the ceiling with a brighter tone of the same shade.

Color Combinations:

Green + Shades of Purple

Green can blend with a variety of colors and looks wonderful with opposites. Pair green with lighter lilacs, and darker eggplant accents. Shades of mauve, periwinkle, amethyst and lavender-based colors can be paired with lighter shades of green.

Lavender is the color and scent of Provence. The history of lavender stretches back more than 2,000 years. In France, lavender grows in both cultivated fields and wild along the side of the road, so it was no wonder that it became a popular interior color. Chefs have used the flower as a herb in sweet and savory dishes and its nectar to flavor honey, cheese and sugar. Lavender is a light tone of violet. The name comes from the flower of the lavender plant. The color of the flower is still the standard for lavender but there are many other tones of light or medium violet now called lavender also. Their are shades of lavender can range in hue from pinkish purple through violet to blueish-indigo. They can also range from light and pale to medium and greyish shades.

Green + Bright Yellow

Green also pairs well with brighter colors. Think about bright sunshine yellow paired with this gray based green. Green also works well with brown combinations which can bring a sense of coziness and tranquility. Bright yellow actually gives a punch of color in a room based around a gray toned green. Consider adding in black painted furniture with brighter yellow upholstery for contrast.

Green + Kelly Green + Green Blue

Play several like ranged colors together. When combined with vivid jewel tones such as Kelly green, and a green-blue range suggests a tenderness. Light green and sky blue can be enhanced by white for extra freshness.

The trick to green in French interiors is the gray undertones. Whether they are pale or strong, there is always a gray or black in the background. Subtle interiors were a mark of the Provence style interiors.

Colors To Pair With Minty Green

Patina Style by Brooke Giannetti and Steve Giannetti

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Country Styled Home in Lourmarin, Provence

Posted on October 5, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

This serene house located in Lourmarin, south of France, belongs to Marie and Frédéric who fell in love with the home and the lifestyle they found in Provence. The house was renovated with help from the locals, and most of the furniture for the home was also made from a local carpenter which added a personal touch and a connection to the region itself. The interior of the home was designed around the Provence style found in the countryside of France. Concrete walls, metal window frames, stone tiled floors which were complemented with stone colours such as purples and pinks. You won’t find anything unnecessary in this home; the furniture and decor has been well thought out.

This house was abandoned for decades before it was lovingly restored. The owners did a great job keeping the old features of the house authentic to the region. Exposed brick walls, old wooden beams and stone floors added the elements found in old world France. By adding a few modern architectural elements such as the staircase and plumbing, allowed this home to functional. The muted colour palate which revolved around sand colours such as light blue, greens, greys and pinks worked with the authentic colors found in Provence.

Consider the color palette for your own home. Combinations of dusty pink and mauve work quite nicely with mink, grey, cream and milky coffee shades. These tones can add warmth in a home decorated around the rustic elements found in the countryside of France. Neutral tones and natural materials, such as stone and wicker add that country element, while the modern furniture give this home a happy mix of the new and old.

Photos from Cotemaison.fr Photo: Nicolas Mathéus

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The Extra Room- 6 French Provence Decorating Ideas

Posted on September 30, 2013October 25, 2021
by Meranda

Sewing Room: No Cats Allowed

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