Discover how to bring authentic French country interior design into your home. Recapture the magic and tranquility of the picturesque French landscape. Relax and enjoy your home…
Have you ever holidayed in the beautiful French countryside…? If so, you will be very familiar with that relaxed, welcoming atmosphere – the slow, baking sunshine, the fields of wheat and lavender, not to mention glorious grape vines … and of course the slow chatter over wonderfully hearty meals of bread and cheese, all washed down with a generous glass of wine.
So, how would you like to be able to recapture this French country style in your own home..?
In many respects, French country interior design brings the outside in – and not just any outside. Recapture the delights of your French country holiday, with reminders of comfortable farmhouses and relaxing country homes.
Of course, the main ingredient in this recipe for French country style has got to be a rustic base. Ideally walls should be rough plastered or panelled with wood. Textured paints or color washes can also help you to get the look.
Use plenty of colors in your French country style home. Choose colors inspired by the picturesque French landscape – yellow is a real traditional favorite, but also include plenty of red, green and blue. Feel free to mix and match the colors too … you are aiming for a really relaxed, country feel. Use these colors on the walls, but in furnishings, cushions, throws, accessories too.
Your furniture too should be aiming for that distressed, rustic feel. Old fashioned style furniture and antiques are always a good buy. French antiques can be very elegant, or quite rustic in feel – go for whichever look you prefer … and it really doesn’t matter if you mix and match these furniture styles at all…
Fine dark woods look fantastic in a French country style scheme, or you can whitewash woods, for a unified and fresh feel.
Choosing your accessories is the ideal way to really get those authentic French style finishing touches…
Ceramics and pottery are very French, so try to include a small collection, particularly if you are making over a kitchen in the French country style.
Also look out for accessories featuring farm animals, especially roosters, which is the mascot for France. Roosters are a very common theme in French homes.
Signs and posters with French words are a very easy way to get the subtle French feel you desire.
Fine French laces and linens will also lend an air of elegance, luxury and authenticity to your French country scene.
For the perfect finishing touch, a vase filled with typical French country flowers is an ideal way to really bring the outside in … lavender, sunflowers or gorgeous romantic roses are all wonderful options that will fill your room with fragrance.
All you need now, is that hearty meal of delicious French fare, and you can relax and all enjoy all your efforts with a lovely glass of wine…
Bon Appetit!
By: Charlotte Sneddon
Posts Tagged ‘Interior Design’
French Country Interior Design – Recapture the Tranquility of the Landscape
April 29th, 2010Office Interior Can Impact Productivity
April 12th, 2010
The interior design element of an office space is an often overlooked part of running a business, but the idea that the productivity of an office’s staff can be influenced by the design of the workplace is gaining credence. There are many different kinds of offices, and the primary function of a particular business will naturally direct the design decisions to be made. Banks necessitate a different design scheme than a doctor’s office, a home office or a sales office. But whatever the setting, there are design challenges that can be met with increased employee and customer satisfaction as well as increased and improved employee productivity.
If you need help with the implementation of your office’s interior design, there are designers and design companies that specialize office design. The best help will be provided by companies or designers that have experience designing for your specific type of business, and will know what methods make the work experience the most efficient and pleasant one available to your employees, and if applicable, any clients or customers that will interact within your business space.
These designers will also be able to provide access to the most cutting edge office furniture and d
Vintage Interior Design – The Perfect Nostalgic Look For The Modern World
March 30th, 2010
Vintage interior design is a really popular look — and rightly so — it is a really relaxed, traditional style — warm and comfortable in feel, and very easy to achieve — and to live with!
In the loosest sense, a vintage interior design scheme is just a look that is old – traditional, classic styling.
In a stricter sense, ‘vintage’ refers to the 1940’s and 1950’s – an era of hope and new beginnings!
In many ways, the 1940’s and 1950’s were a safer, simpler time – a slower, more relaxed pace of life … you could leave your back door unlocked, while you popped down to the shops! Family and the home were a very important focus to life – and this led to a very comforting and welcoming feel to vintage home decor and interior design.
The vintage era is a period that most people can actually remember – either from their own childhood (or even adult life) or at least from the home of their grandparents. This is a very nostalgic look and feel. It will recreate comforting memories and emotions from childhood – feelings of comfort and safety.
This is an easy, relaxed feel – there are no strict rules to getting your vintage interior design look – only a few simple guidelines to follow:
After the War, people did have to ‘make-do and mend’. They used old furniture, from all different eras – fine antiques and family heirlooms, handed down through the generations, and simpler pieces, that were made over and repaired. So, feel free to mix and match all kinds of traditional furniture pieces in your vintage decorating scheme.
Look out for loads of hand-made goodies too – such as patchwork quilts, made from pretty scraps and fabric remnants.
A vintage interior design style is definitely not an expensive look to try in your home. Scour antique stalls and flea markets for solid, quality items – the slightly worn look will enhance the ‘pre-loved’ charm of the unique pieces.
If you find furniture in different styles and different types of wood, why not try painting all your furniture pieces in white, or a colored paint. Try going for a deliberately distressed look, by applying wax to edges and corners that would wear naturally. Paint over the top, then rub down these areas, and create your own ‘genuine,’ distressed and worn look.
Choose muted and pastel tones for walls and fabric – any color will go, so long as you don’t choose something that is too fresh, modern and bright. Add a little interest with accents of patterned wallpaper, and pretty fabrics for upholstery, slip-covers, throws, cushions and curtains. Look out for pretty, floral designs – particularly those typical 1940’s and 1950’s attractive rose patterns.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and fabrics – and pile on all the pretty layers – slip-covers, throws, patchwork quilts, crochets and lace will all give you that really warm and comforting, nostalgic feel.
Display period accessories and collections on open shelves, or in glass-fronted display cabinets – look out for pretty ornaments, porcelain figurines, and all types of pretty ceramics and pottery.
This is a really good style for anyone who loves knick-knacks and collections – indulge and display your hobby collection – or start one right now…!
I am sure that you will find vintage interior design really comforting and comfortable look – as well as really easy to live with, and really easy to achieve. Don’t worry about any rules, and just include all your favourite bits and pieces and styles – regardless of era…
Create a home and style that is uniquely yours – stamp your personality on your space, and relax into a comforting, safe space – that makes you feel really good!
By: Charlotte Sneddon
