Christine AdamsA TUTORIAL ON WATER BASED TOP COATS YELLOWING OVER BRIGHT WHITE PAINT
Many you may have noticed that the labels on our bright white paints, Snow White Milk Paint and Chalk White Chalk Style Paint now carry a warning label regarding the yellowing of topcoats. All bright white paint will yellow slightly with time, with or without topcoat. Water-based topcoat is reactive and more likely to draw out substances in the wood such as tannins or unknown substances in existing finishes causing the topcoat to yellow. This is an industry-wide issue. Don’t carry the cost of white paint yourself– pass the cost on to the consumer who wants it with a fair upcharge. White paints, even if they did not yellow, require more coats to achieve coverage.
General Finishes background was originally on the professional side, and the incidences of yellowing topcoat over white paint were almost nil, and when our sprayable professional finish, Enduro White Poly, is used, there have been no incidences. But as the use of our paints has increased in the up-cycling and furniture refresh markets, we have heard more reports of our topcoat yellowing. Our response was to teach about prepping, testing you finish schedule and finally creating Stain Blocker, our stain blocking primer, but this is not enough. Just as we advocate prepping all finishes, we are now advocating NOT using a clear water base topcoat over BRIGHT WHITE paint.
General Finishes is in the process of developing a brushable version of our professional Enduro White Poly (available only in gallons), but that will take some time and rigorous testing before we can release the product. Here is what you should know to protect yourself and also some immediate suggestions to decrease chances of yellowing.
There is no way to reliably predict yellowing ahead of time. Sometimes yellowing occurs, sometimes it does not. Every existing finish is different and we rarely know the finishing provenance on an existing piece. Every tree is different and every piece of wood is unique. Wood can bleed tannins immediately after the topcoat dries or months later with a change in temperature that comes with a change in seasons. Oak, pine, mahogany, and Douglass Fur are particularly prone to bleed-through.
As is true of most “water-white” topcoats, our High Performance Water-Based topcoat is a clear drying finish over a non-reactive substrate such as plastic. When paint is used over something as unpredictable as wood, all bets are off. Yellowing can be caused by the top coat activating the tannins in raw wood or aniline dyes, stains or contaminants in a pre-existing finish. This is most evident when using BRIGHT WHITE paint and most prevalent in the sculpted details of furniture, where the topcoat can collect, intensifying the color change to an unacceptable level.
To add to this issue, all bright white paint will yellow slightly with time, with or without topcoat. You have probably tried to touch up white woodwork in your home after several and noticed that the new paint is brighter.
Summary:
• Whites have a lower “hide” quality and are more transparent than most other colors. Most bright whites require additional coats to achieve the desired color and minimize color variation. This can increase cost of paint finishing. Always include a clause in your contracts addressing the need for additional coats to achieve coverage.
• Bright white paints can yellow over time with or without topcoat.
• The underlying finish or wood species can affect the final color of light paint.
• Details and inside corners are difficult to cover with any paint color, but this property tends to be more noticeable with whites. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon in paint application and does not necessarily constitute a defect in the paint finish or your technique.
TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF AND PREVENTING YELLOWING
1. Use a disclaimer in your contracts or recommend a softer white such as Antique White or Linen. Upcharge for the extra coats needed and ever guarantee a white finish over a piece that you cannot trace the provenance on. Here is a suggestion: Terms of Agreement and Warranties: ________ (Initials) I have been informed that more coats are required when painting with bright whites, reds, greens or yellow. I understand that white paint can yellow over time and that water based topcoats can occasionally react with the substrate or existing finish under white paints causing yellowing, even is a stain blocking primer is used.
2. If it is a low use project, use a premium white paint that is self-sealing and does not require a topcoat. A clear top coat is not required on our Milk Paint for increased durability, as it is a self-sealing, exterior rated coating with very high durability and performance properties. However, top coats provide a smoother surface that is easier to clean and boost durability for high use projects such as table tops and kitchen cabinets.
3. Get a spray gun and use a professional “white coat” such as our Enduro White Poly. It is a white paint with “increased topcoat properties”, is a stand-alone finish when 3 coats are applied and does not require sealing with a topcoat.
4. If you are still brushing, try adding 10-15% of the paint you are using to the first or second application of topcoat. The last layer of topcoat should not have paint in it, to maintain durability. We have had good reports of this technique from customers but have not tested in the lab over a long period of time.
5. Always test your project’s entire finishing schedule (from cleaning to topcoat) on an inside door or a more hidden area of the piece. This does not help if the yellowing occurs later but you will at least know if there is an immediate problem.
6. Always apply a stain blocking primer under white or light-colored paint such GF Stain Blocker or a shellac based primer. Always let any primer dry overnight. Some of the primers we have seen suggest a 3 hour dry time and that is not enough.
7. If you are working on period pieces such as a 1940’s serpentine mahogany desk which were often finished in stain containing aniline dyes that cast a pinkish bleed through under light paint, stay away from light colors. Not every piece of furniture is suitable for up-cycling with a light paint color. Pine, Mahogany, and furniture of the 1940’s and 50’s are a red flag.
8. Last, not all manufacturer’s topcoats are compatible with other finishes and may react with a color change. Always follow best practices by not rushing, and testing to your satisfaction first.
Hope this helps and wish us luck on our next paint endeavor- Chris
25 Pictures Of French Country Dining Rooms
French Country Dining Room Seen In Architectural Digest – Found on moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com
Decorating a dining room in the French Provincial style can be easier than you think. With the right furniture, and a few accessories, you can ease into the French style with a limited budget.
– Country Life Images shows a beautiful gray dining room in the prestigious Weldam Castle. White painted French caned chairs are paired with a long rectangular table, matched up with a formal white table cloth. A red carpet breaks up the white and gray in the room. 8 small table lamps add light during late night feasts. View it here
– A French dining room featuring a stone fireplace, stone walls, upholstered French chairs, and a tapestry against the far wall- View it here
How To Identify Size- www.talariaenterprises.com
Open-plan dining room – House To Home
Grace Notes | At Home Arkansas
Rustic French Country Dining Table Seen At French Country Cottage Blog
frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Set Of Four French Carved Wood Three Arm Sconces
Comptoir de Famille – French Home Furnishings
18th Century Painted Cabinet from Provence- Country French Interiors
French Farmhouse Table- Ann Koerner Antiques
Provence Interiors/Interieurs De Provence On Amazon, Seen on Belle Francaise Interiors
Tongue in Cheek Blog- French-ness
Jane Moore’s Townhouse in Veranda- Jane Moore – Veranda
French Style Dining Seen On Luc Productions web site.
Pam Pierce Designs– Linen Dining Room
French Country Dining Table – Antique Reproduction Furniture from Laurel Crown
French Country Dining Table $1,750 On Amazon From Laurel Crown
French Provence Style Decorating Judith Miller Influential Country Styles
French Style Dining Seen On Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, bhg.com
A Simple Way Of Displaying Flowers – French Provence Style From French Country Cottage Blog
Found on frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Louis XV Straight Cane Back Chair- $440.00 From Laurel Crown On Amazon
French Style Dining Seen on Luc Productions web site.
A 16th-Century French Countryside Estate housebeautiful.com
Savvy Southern Style Blogs’ French Country Dining Room
See more at savvysouthernstyle.net
What Type of Paint Works Best For Painting Outdoor Furniture?
French Painted Furniture – Safavieh
We have all come across wicker sets second hand that could use a new coat of paint, or a wooden patio set that has seen better days. Why buy new, when you can fix up something vintage or used?
Here, we’ll provide recommendations for the best paint options out there for your outdoor furniture painting needs.
Consider bringing a swatch of your exterior house paint or that of your outdoor furniture fabric along with you when deciding on color choices. With so many color choices available, it is nice to be able to get the exact shade of the hue you are working with, rather than just guessing.
Consider the theme of your surroundings– Equally important is the consideration of floral colors that surround the furniture. What colors are in the natural landscape of flowers and other vegetation? Do you have a stone wall or patio? You want your outdoor furniture to blend nicely with the environment in which it sits, so consider the many elements of that environment when picking your paint color.
Paint when it is dry- Paint needs time to dry and will not adhere to surfaces that are not dry. Don’t consider painting your project on a rainy day, but rather wait for a dry warm day. If you plan on painting in the winter or the spring when it is cold, or rainy, move your furniture in the garage, and use a space heater to warm up the room.
Clean your furniture first- Paint won’t adhere very well to dirty or rough surfaces, so be sure to clean your furniture well before spraying or painting your furniture.
When working with left over paint, mix it in one container– Mixing multiple cans of the same color of paint into a larger container, such as a five-gallon bucket, will help ensure a uniform color is applied to your outdoor furniture collection.
One important thing to be aware of when considering the type of paint you’ll use on your outdoor furniture is that indoor and outdoor paints are different from each other. Moisture from the outdoors can cause paint to chip and peel so it is best to choose something formulated for the outdoors.
Enamel Paint
Enamel paint is resistant to peeling and is an example of the type of paint you want to buy for outdoor furniture. As enamel paint dries, it tends to be harder. This means that it is less impacted by moisture from rain, or snow. Enamel paint is often oil-based, but you can also find water-based enamel paints.
All-Acrylic Paints – “100 percent acrylic latex” on the label is a paint that remains flexible, breathable, and colorfast far longer than paints made with vinyl resins or acrylic blends. It also adheres well to most surfaces allowing you to use it on wood, vinyl, metal, and masonry.
Water-Based vs. Oil-Based– Water-based paints are flexible enough to expand and contract with the change of the weather. In general, they are breathable, so they won’t trap moisture and crack or peel. Oil-based paints offer better adhesion and stain blocking, so they are better for chalky surfaces, stained surfaces, bleeding woods (tannin or sap) and metals that rust.
Krylon Paints
To make the process far easier, Good Housekeeping recommends the Krylon brand, which can be found at Ace Hardware or online at Amazon.
Krylon H20 Latex option is environmentally friendly, low-odor, and is water-based so it cleans up easily when you’re done! The Fusion For Plastic® series allows you to spray paint plastic pieces without primer or prep. The plastic series can also be used outdoors.
Sherwin Williams Duration Acrylic is self-priming, mildew-resistant, and is also resistant to blistering and peeling. PermaLast technology enables the paint to last far longer than other outdoor paints. There are also over 1,500 beautiful colors from which to choose.
Best Paints According To Consumer Reports– Sherwin-Williams’ Duration, in satin and semigloss finishes, took the top rating in the rankings, and finished No. 2 in ratings of flat paints, behind California Paints’ Fres-Coat Velvet Flat according to Consumer Reports. They say this brand still looks impressive after the equivalent of nine years. Glidden’s Premium flat and satin paints are two of “several” finishes that performed almost as well for a markedly lower price. Read more here
Instead of spending a bunch of money buying new outdoor furniture, consider just giving it a new coat of paint. You’ll save money and your furniture will look almost as good as new!
French Provence Styled Outdoor Furniture- etxekodeco.blogspot.com.es
Pallet wood walkway funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com, Outdoor Fireplace fergusonshamamian.com,Wood Trellis playingsublimely.com, Step by step instructions twig arbor, bhg.com, Provence, stone building with wood shutters and wine jugs, heartinprovence.blogspot.com
Provence Garden Chairs designed by Alain David Idoux, Iron Patio Uploaded on Pinterest,Kousa dogwood antique garden bench hamptons-magazine.com, Garden Bench camelandyak.co.uk,Painted Garden Bench homebunch.com,
Folding French Metal Tables Outdoor/Indoor- 1stdibs.com
Iron Furniture Featured In Veranda Magazine- linenandlavender.net
Folding Patio Furniture- thelittlefrenchbullblog.tumblr.com
Al fresco with olive trees-gypsypurplehome.tumblr.com
Painted Patio Furniture From thefrenchprovincialfurniture.com
Outdoor Patio Furniture With Slipcovers-www.tumblr.com
Classic French Interiors – classic-french-chateaux.co.uk/
Found on gardenhomeandparty.com
Don’t Blame it on the Brocante- Willows95988.typepad
The Provencal House: Architecture and Interiors
Veranda March April 2002
French Outdoor Colors- Found on indulgy.com
Found on westvianorthsoutheast.tumblr.com
Found on crushculdesac.tumblr.com
Dixon Lane Antiques – Tarrytown, NY
Vintage Painted Metal Outdoor Market Dining Set –Blithewold Home
Classic French Interiors – classic-french-chateaux.co.uk/
Classic French Interiors – classic-french-chateaux.co.uk/
Outdoor Provence Style – Pinterest
French Provence Style Outdoor Furniture- 5thandstate.blogspot.com
French Outdoor Furniture- bing.com
Travel Photography -Beautiful Pink Door Art Buy it At Gypsyfables
The Garden of Siki de Somalie, Provence, France – Image Country Houses Of France by Barbara & René Stoeltie – Found on thegardenerseden.com
If you want to have a good time with people who are very important to you, in an ideal environment is a good place to start looking for comfortable furniture. Finding the best furniture that suits your outdoor place within your budget is not as challenging as its sounds. Below are some tips to help you get the idea.
1) Select Furniture That Is Practical:
When selecting furniture for your patio, one of the most important things to consider is the comfort. Why spend thousands of dollars on a set that you don’t want to lounge in on your Sundays? Furniture that comes with cushions is ideal for supreme comfort. Most importantly, working with furniture that fits your space. You want look for furniture that is also practical for what you would be doing often. Do you have BBQ’s? A full size dining table with matching chairs would be perfect, rather than a sofa. Rocking chairs also can be a really nice investment if you like to read your morning news outside.
2) Select Furniture You Are Attracted To:
Your outdoor patio furniture should be a reflection of your style. Wooden furniture can always be painted to match the color scheme of your patio or architecture and design of your house. Consider the style of your landscape, and the overall design that you are attracted to.
3. Choose A Great Looking Set Within Your Price Range:
Not everyone has several grand to blow on patio furniture. Although, don’t be under the assumption that there is not great options for a small budget. If you are working within a budget, add to your collection overtime, by adding in complementing pieces such as all wood sets, or all metal sets. This can allow you to update the pieces by buying new cushions, or simply painting your sets.
4. Choose The Materials Best Suited For Your Climate:
There is a wide variety of patio furniture available, which are made of different materials keeping different properties in mind. Here are some materials that you need to consider when buying patio furniture:
a) Wood
If you are looking for durable and maintenance free furniture for your patio than wood might not be the best option. With wood furniture, sealing the wood, or re-painting needs to be done every few years. Wood is one of the supreme choices for patio furniture. It has a very high end appeal, and can look amazing as it ages outside with the elements. Cedar and eucalyptus are the most popular types of woods. Working with the proper paints and wood seals will ensure your wooden pieces last longer.
b) Wrought iron
Wrought iron is most popular material which is used to make outdoor patio furniture. It is also the classic choice of furniture in France. It is the strongest and reliable outdoor furniture material. Metal can be left in the sun, in the rain and in the snow, and it will always weather quite nicely over time. Iron can be painted, but it looks quite terrific in it’s natural state.
c) Aluminum
Aluminum is considered to be reliable and durable because it is rust free. It is also lighter than wrought iron and wood. It is best for low maintenance and you can easily move as it is lighter than wrought iron and wood.
Here are several classy outdoor looks that you can get some ideas from for this spring and summer.
LuuNguyen Co., Ltd company is a leading garden furniture producer in Vietnam. They produce absolutely beautiful garden furniture made from hardwood such as Eucalyptus, Acacia, and Teak. LuuNguyen garden furniture can be found on Amazon.
Here are my favorites:
1. LuuNguyen Reclining Folding Arm Chair Set of 2 $179
2. LuuNguyen Hardwood Folding Side Table $43
3. LuuNguyen Folding Table, 28 by 28 by 30-Inches $99
4. LuuNguyen Folding Chair Set of 2 $99
5. LuuNguyen – Lindy Hardwood Chaise Lounge $149
6. LuuNguyen 7-Piece Dining Set $649
7. LuuNguyen Rocking Chair $99
8. LuuNguyen 7-Piece Extension Expandable Dining Set $800
9. LuuNguyen Four Foot Hardwood Bench $139
10. LuuNguyen 11-Piece Extension Expandable Dining Set $1000
11. LuuNguyen Five Foot Hardwood Bench $139
12. LuuNguyen 5-Piece Conversation Deep Seating Set
A wisteria-covered trellis on the garden terrace- Elle Decor
Sonnet Chair and Table From –JANUS et Cie
Relais Collection –JANUS et Cie
A rustic gazebo is the farm’s only real dining room. Wicker chairs surround an antique pine table that Barber stained gray to blend with the weathered posts. –Visit housebeautiful.com
Garden chairs have cushions covered in a Perennials acrylic;
the tableware is by Oscar de la Renta. Visit elledecor.com
Living room terrace of this Hudson River Valley home
Basket Wagon! by Janus et Cie
Elle Decor; Deauville chaise longues by Janus et Cie with cushions
covered in SeaCloth’s Chic Stripe acrylic offer a view of the dock from
the back terrace of a Connecticut house. Photographer: Pieter
Estersohn Designer: Lynn Morgan Homeowner: Susan and Chuck Harris
Issue: June 2005
Planters with birds-of-paradise flank the entrance to this poolhouse. Visit elledecor.com
Amy and Todd Hase with their daughters and miniature donkeys Simon (left) and Cowboy
Hidcote Manor Garden – Visit elledecor.com
Outdoor Dining – Visit elledecor.com
Sorrento Double Chaise Lounge with Cushions,
British Colonial Ottoman with Cushion- Front Gate
The porch serves as an open-air dining pavilion with views of the Sawtooth Mountains Elle Decor
12 Ways To Bring The Rustic French Countryside Into Your Home
Château de Pintray : Bed and Breakfast near Saint-Martin-le-Beau –www.map-france.com
French country is a look that is comfortable and inviting. It is no wonder why it still remains to be one of the most popular styles to decorate around.
When you think about touring a French countryside home, you would expect to see classic printed drapery in the living room and natural stone floors throughout the house. The walls would be finished in plaster and wooden furniture would be seen in a rough and distressed state.
Here are a few things you can do for your home to give it a classic French look:
Rough painted plaster walls are seen in most French interiors, and is a key element to achieving this style. Faux painters often start with an ivory base and use a sponge with darker shades of cream to give the look of plaster. Mixing translucent glaze with several shades of ivory softens the look, making it appear more realistic.
Natural stone floors can give the look of primitive France. Architectural elements can be added such as a stone fireplace in the living room, iron lighting fixtures, and railings in staircases. For tight budgets, consider polishing your concrete floors, instead of installing stone and using throw rugs which can bring back the warmth into the room.
Buy reproduction rustic furniture with raw or painted wood. A large dining table in a dull low-sheen finish gives the look of old age. Purchase ladderback, vertical slat chairs with rush seating for a provincial look. New upholstery or paint can update a vintage chair, so look for great chair frames which can be improved. The French style has always been one surrounded by natural elements of stone and brick and warm colors such as gold, burnt rust, and cobalt blue. Furniture is featured in painted black, gray, corn yellow, deep grays. Heirloom furniture with layers of patina show a history generations that have passed. Most important when buying a chair, buy a frame and style that you love!
Work With Opposite Colors– Typical French country interiors often have contrasting texture and color. Pale plaster walls and ceilings can be punctuated with dark rough wood beams. Colorful provincial printed fabrics can set against lighter-toned interiors. If your interior is based around lighter colored walls and furniture, work with prints in blue and red, or purple and eggplant. These warmer colors bring out the French country style.
Work With Copper– Think about accessorizing with copper pots, natural linens, and glass tableware for the kitchen areas. Use a pot display rack in the windows above the sink or table to give that old world feel.
Decorate With Pottery- Colorful and muted pottery often adorns a French country table. Work with iron or wooden bowls for centerpieces, and iron candle stick holders to create the perfect centerpieces for your buffet tables. Pottery, and colorful tablecloths are some of the classic marks of the French style.
La Valette Rouge Bleu cotton print by Braquenie – Pierre Frey. From the 18th century Chateau de Montgeoffroy in the French Loire Valley.
Work With Traditional Printed Fabrics– The beautiful colors of the French countryside are seen in the traditional fabrics like basic plaids, checks, and stripes. Classic prints combine shades of primary colors with greens, lavenders, and bright orange. Motifs include roosters, olives, sunflowers, grapes and lavender. Often the most beautiful designs are arranged in intervals accompanied by a border.
Work With Toile – Toile has always been a traditional design seen in France. Toile themes are often seen with animals, Chinese patterns and country scenes. This classic 18th century look often is printed on linen or cotton.
Create Window Benches – Deeply cut window sills and benches are a feature in these old estates. Tall, narrow windows with shutters were drawn to keep out the hot sun out in the summer. Windows and doorways often had wildly growing vines which added to the romantic aesthetic, but were functional in keeping things cool. Create window seating which can be dressed up with bench upholstery and throw pillows.
Dried Flowers– Bright flowers are often seen in baskets, old pitchers and copper pots. This is a fabulous way of bringing in the color lilac, orange or bright red into an interior. Opt for the higher grade of faux flowers that have a wax type surface for your tables, or entry way consoles. Consider installing window boxes outside to grow geraniums and lavender in the summer seasons.
Ana White | Build a Beams of Light
Hefty beamed ceilings also are key architectural elements in old chateaus. Styrofoam beams can be painted to look like real wood instead of going to the trouble and cost of the real thing. Wood supports can be drilled into the ceiling, while thin plywood can be anchored into place to create a box, which then can be faux painted.
Decorate With Baskets – Woven or wire baskets can hold magazines, plates, towels, bedding and so much more. This natural element can be used for storage in the bathroom, on the floor in a bedroom to hold extra blankets. Use it in the living room to contain throws or toys. Baskets can be an inexpensive way of bring in the natural elements into the home.
Enjoy these inspirational photos of French Provincial style interiors below.
This reproduction Louis-style children’s desk from French company Jardin d’Ulysse comes with a matching chair and is aged to lend your child’s room an antique look. More furniture and accessories from Jardin d’Ulysse.
Inspiring Interiors blog featured some wonderful pictures of a 17th century farmhouse which is located in Catalonia, Spain. The home featured beautiful stone walls, and some beautiful white slip-covered sofas and dining room chairs. In the bedroom, sat some Louis XVI stools, and a Louis XVI antique french chair. In the living room area, a beautiful natural wood desk and a Louis XVI chair in white sit amongst white slip-covered furniture. Wood herringbone floors show throughout the home with plaster white walls. This home is very similar in style to those found in the countryside of France.
17th Century Farmhouse With French Furniture
Home of designer Henri Quinta in Perpignan, France. Elle Decor
17th Century Farmhouse With French Furniture
17th Century Farmhouse With French Furniture
19th C. Louis XV Style Painted Armoire- Melissa Levinson
Primitive Rustic Provence Decorating Ideas Shabby Chic Mania
A French Provincial Ebonized Oak Slant Front Bureau From Christies
Rustic Old World Decorating Ideas Marie Claire Maison
Colefax and Fowler 2010
Old World Decorating Ideas Luc D’Hulst (source here)
Manuel Canovas From mscott218 – Flickr
17th and 18 Century Decorating Ideas Trouvais
Rustic Old World Decorating Ideas Bijsterveld
French Provence Decorating Ideas
French Sofa Sold by disegno Karina Gentinetta
French Provence Decorating Ideas – Axel Vervoordt
Swedish Bench French Country Decorating
French Country Decorating By Designer Betty Lou Phillips
This beautiful French Provence interior with light plaster walls shows you that black furniture can really stand out against lighter interiors such as this. Stein World sells a really stunning black crackle finished chest that would be ideal in the bedroom, but also could double in a living room against a feature wall. Bombe chests like this are typically regarded as Italian, but also has some of the stunning features that French furniture is famous for.
A Fine Louis XV Painted and Parcel-Gilt Commode Bermingham & Co. Antiques
Laurel Painting Reproductions, 1st-art-gallery.com
Le Grillon Voyageur, legrillonvoyageur.com
Architecture examples – Saint remy de Provence, Luberon
French Style Decorating -Seen On Luc Productions web site.
The Rohan-Chabot Family’s French Chateau– Architectural Digest
The Antique andArtisan Center – Stamford, CT
French Style Dining Seen on Luc Productions web site.
French Style Dining Seen on Luc Productions web site.
European Chef Apron Red Stripe – FrenchGardenHouse
An antique French painted and gilded mirror is set within the custom-designed paneled walls that are finished in the manner of old French blue created by Greenville artist Jeff Renow. In front of the mirror sits an antique French desk. – Found on hgtv.com
17th century country house of the Marquise Marie-Anne-Françoise de Beauharnais (1757-1822) (related to Josephine, future Empress ) in the old village of Sézanne, France.
Chateau de la Goujeonnerie outside of La Rochelle, France
Chateau de la Goujeonnerie outside of La Rochelle, France
Christiane De Nicolay-Mazery, Bernard Touillon
John Hall Designs – Fine Furniture since 1967
Château de Bresson ~ Moissieu-sur-Dolon ~ Isère ~ France
Chateau de Groussay
Chateau de Hautefort, Aquitaine
Bukowskis Auction
Chateau de Cheverny au beau milieu des chateaux de la Loire
4 Unique French Style Estates- Provincial Decorating Ideas
Chateau de la Bourdaisiere-www.tripadvisor.co.uk
Charles Spada’s French Provence Home In Normandy– The Polish design magazine Weranda featured Boston based interior designer Charles Spada’s chateau, a former hunting lodge, located in Normandy. Charles Spada Interiors was established in 1980, after leaving a successful career as a designer of women’s apparel in New York City and Boston. He has been known to decorate with a rich color palette, layered in high end antiques, and architectural elements such as stone and wood flooring. His work has appeared in almost every design magazine including Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, and Veranda magazine as well as Boston Magazine, Design New England, New England Home Magazine and Interior Design and Architectural Digest Italy.
The Castle Of Chenonceau – This royal palace was built during the 1500s in the Renaissance style. The current château was built in 1514–1522 on the foundations of an old mill and was later extended to span the river. The bridge over the river was built (1556-1559) was designed by the French Renaissance architect Philibert de l’Orme. After King Henry II died in 1559, his widow Catherine de’ Medici made it her own residence, adding a new series of gardens. She also added rooms between the chapel and the library on the east side of the corps de logis, as well as a service wing on the west side of the entry courtyard. On Catherine’s death in 1589 the château went to her daughter-in-law, Louise de Lorraine. Read more about this palace here
A European Styled Home Designed By Eleanor Cummings
Home Beautiful featured an impressive European home designed by Eleanor Cummings in collaboration with Babs Watkins and Julie Watkins Baker. The home was transformed into a old world looking estate but started out being a typical builders model from the 1980’s. Cummings added a few key architectural pieces which gave the home a classic European appearance.
The foyer reveals Louis carved walnut front doors in their original paint finish, and wood beams which were cosmetically added to the ceiling in the living room. 150 year old planks replaced old limestone floors and wood from a Scandinavian diary were used to make custom cabinetry in the kitchen.
The homes plastered walls show a palette of soft blues and platinum grays. Baker tells Home Beautiful that the color blue can be the most challenging color to get right in a room. The colors surrounding the blue can change the appearance of blue. Natural wood warms blue up, while silver tends to do the opposite; it creates a colder appearance.
The focal points in this home cannot be missed – The antique painted Louis XV carved walnut front doors, the 18th century tapestry, and the beautiful faux finished walls, and painted furniture.
The Château de la Bourdaisière located in Loire Valley has been transformed today into a three-star hotel by the Prince Louis Albert de Broglie and his brother. Although the chateau has had an interesting history. In 1775, the château was partially destroyed by order of King Louis XV’s most powerful Minister, Étienne François, Duc de Choiseul. In 1802 the property was acquired by Baron Joseph Angelier who undertook a massive reconstruction of the chateau, and built it back up. Then during World War II, the château was occupied by the Nazis, and after the war because of a lack of funds from it’s owner, it became run down. In 1959, its contents were auctioned off and government turned the château into a home for the elderly. It wasn’t until 1991 when it was acquired by its current owners, the Prince and Princess of Broglie that it has been transformed once again, and turned into a lavish hotel.
The Castle Of Chenonceau
The Castle Of Chenonceau
The Castle Of Chenonceau
Decorating Around Butter Yellow, French Gray And Natural Raw Woods
Décor de Provence: Gers, France
Antique Provincial Pot Wall Rack with Original Brass Pots- Baileywyck Antiques On Ebay
