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Shabby chic and country French decor styles are similar because each features a casually elegant ambiance and plenty of charming vintage details. When decorating with a shabby chic and country French style, you can draw inspiration from enchanting cottages and sun-dappled gardens. As a personal touch, make your own inspired decor to enhance any room in your home. Create one-of-a-kind candle holders that will infuse a space with a warm glow and a shabby chic style.
Gothic architecture began in France as stone masons, glassmakers and other artisans developed skills to fulfill the vision of religious leaders. Originally called The French Style, it featured soaring arches, colored glass, intricately stone-carving and a naturalism absent from earlier Classical architecture. Derided as barbarian by an Italian artist, French Gothic decorative arts beautify homes even today.
Decorating a den with provincial French influences involves careful attention to color and texture combinations. As you add and assemble various pieces in the room, include surfaces such as tables and bookcases for accessorizing. Decorate a bookcase in a French country den by keeping the feel and decorative items natural and simple, in line with the way old country farmhouses look in the South of France.
Bare floors, arched ceilings and exposed timber are just a few features of Tudor homes. French-inspired Tudor homes have open concept rooms that bring in light and air. When choosing the correct decor for your rooms, borrow from classic Tudor homes and the Renaissance. The wrong pieces will close off the space and take away some of the charm of your Tudor home. So choose well.
French Provincial furniture has a semi-formal look that leans toward rustic, country or shabby chic styles. You can give the room a European-inspired look of elegance if your taste is more traditional. Decorating your home with French Provincial furnishings is not an arduous task. Creating an overall look that ensures continuity and complementary styles, fabrics and colors is the key to decorating with this type of furniture.
Design a cheerful bee-themed bathroom for an active, nature-loving little girl. Bee themes also work well for guest bathroom or even a master bath, depending on the style. Choose cartoon bee decor for a child or dress up the walls with framed close-up photographs of real honey bees pollinating colorful blooms. Decide what type of look you want to create and then find the right decor to pull everything together.
Cloisonne is an effect created by welding metal wires to a surface and then filling the spaces between the wires with enamel. The result is an intricate, colorful surface that is used to adorn vases, small boxes, and jewelry. Chinese cloisonne is delicate and must be cleaned with care to prevent the enamel from becoming scratched or damaged.
French country decorating styles incorporate the look and feel associated with the French countryside. Think about this type of decor in terms of airy spaces, texture, age, layers and weathered paint. Rooms decorated in French country styles are typically informal, charming, stylish, filled with character, unpretentious and welcoming. They achieve scale and balance.
Sophisticated rooms share a combination of elegance and modernity. The look is stylish without being too overwhelming and you can get it by blending traditional ideas with contemporary ones. The key to putting together a room that looks sophisticated is to look for items that look graceful but sturdy. Once you know what to look for, putting together the elements that make a room luxurious is easy and something you and your guests will appreciate for a long time.
French kitchens demand the same interior-design attention as formal living and dining rooms. While they are as functional and practical as American kitchens, French kitchens are typically more richly decorated than American versions and have artwork and curios that reflect French culture and history while creating a welcoming, homey environment.
French country decorating begins with an emphasis on color. Depending on your favorite colors, you have a variety of palettes to choose from with this versatile style. Color schemes are connected to specific provinces of the country, making color selection easier. You can create a home that is charming, comfortable and cozy by borrowing from French chateaus and the diverse Mediterranean landscape.
The first step to beautifying your porch and backyard pool is to recognize your outdoor space as a potential design canvas. Don't leave conscious layouts and diligent design locked indoors. Ensure your outdoor space feels like an extension of your house, with areas for cooking, dining and relaxation. Second, make sure you start with a fresh canvas. Fix anything that needs repair: re-surface your pool, re-seal your decks and repaint exterior surfaces, including the house siding and exterior pool walls. Using decorations to cover flaws will only draw attention to the yard's faults.
The one thing that epitomizes the French country kitchen is the sight and scent of herbs hanging from hooks or racks on the ceiling. Hanging herbs in this way should only be for decorative purposes, as they are prone to collect dust and grease. Always dry or freeze culinary herbs and store them in airtight containers.
Do it yourself to create a casual southern French country dining room where you can practically smell the fresh baguette and lavender. Depending on your interests and skill level, you can shop for rustic features, such as chandeliers and chairs, from flea markets and online vendors; make craft-intensive projects, such as hand-embroidered linens and lace; or even build your own faux-weathered furniture, such as a dining table and china hutch, from reclaimed wood. Choose the elements you want to include in your design, and make every meal the vacation of your dreams.
French country style decorating is widely regarded for its elegant simplicity. When referring to the French farmhouse look, many mean the look of farmhouses from the Provencal area of France rather than the other rural areas. The look and feel of a French country house is warm, down-to-earth, spacious and airy.
According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American decorative styles developed in line with the various artistic movements appearing across the Atlantic. American craftsmen and designers assimilated foreign trends and techniques to produce their own distinct styles of glass, furniture, silver, glass, ceramics and textiles.
Timeless design combines with elegance in a French country-style bedroom. A mixture of contrasts in colors and textures, modern and antique, family heirlooms and nouveau pieces all come together. When completed, the room should be seamless and evoke the feeling that it has always been there.
The French countryside serves as inspiration for a French county kitchen counter with the smells of fresh herbs combined with lavender, the muted colors of faded painted farmhouses, and the reddish tans of the land. Bring the sweet smells, bountiful harvest and sights into your own kitchen counters. Keep the accessories functional yet decorative as you incorporate the colors of the countryside in your decoration choices.
If you are torn between the cozy feel of county decor and the elegance of French design, consider combining the two in your cabin home to create a French country look. This type of style will allow you to play up the natural features of your cabin while adding an element of French sophistication. From furniture to home accessories, French country decor can dress up your cozy cabin.
French country decor conjures up images of shabby chic furniture placed comfortably in rooms warm with yellows, and reminiscent of a quaint farmhouse in the French countryside. With the emphasis on comfort and warmth, instead of the sleek, unforgiving lines of contemporary styles, it is not surprising that this timeless decorating style is as popular as ever. As an affordable alternative, designers and homeowners agree, French country themes exude a casual elegance worthy of appreciation.
The French country look is a classic decorating style. It adds a continental elegance to the traditional country cottage style, conjuring up visions of lavender fields, golden afternoons and rustic simplicity. French country colors are bold, the fabrics are cheery and the look is bright and cozy. The mix of earthy materials like pottery and wrought iron with luxury fabrics like linens and lace adds a feeling of relaxed indulgence to any room.
French furniture design has remained an international desired look over the centuries, and continues to inspire modern interior designers. Variety abounds, whether you are seeking an antique French piece popular during the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, or Classical Revival time periods; a rustic farmhouse look; or a more modern design with the same flair. French pieces are distinctive, and even an untrained eye can identify the main characteristics found in French furniture design.
Western wall decor works well with a rustic, country or Southwestern theme in the room. Using the right textures and colors can help to give the space a warm, country-style ambiance that invites people to sit down and stay awhile. Decorating with farm tools and other things representative of the Western lifestyle can help give the wall area an authentic appeal. Browsing thrift shops is a good way to collect Western decor for a bargain price.
Decorating with a country-western flair does not have to mean that your house looks ready for a country hoedown at any moment. You can use country-western decor and still have a sophisticated and elegant ambiance in the home. Rich, warm colors that reflect the colors of nature, dark leather furnishings, sophisticated lighting, shiny floors and soft furs help to enhance a cozy, yet understated elegance in your home.
French country style typically utilizes rustic and natural elements to create an enveloping and warm environment. Rough, plastered walls, carved antique furnishings -- often in rustic finish -- and stone floors exemplify this style. Roosters, tiled walls and floors, wash painted wood, prints with small, delicate patterns and flowers in rustic pitchers are typical accents found in the French country style home. The goal is to mix rustic qualities with fine elegance.
Cloisonné is an intriguing product that is created by mixing glass, metal and bronze together. Chinese cloisonné is known for its beautiful designs and bright colors. Because blue is the dominant color for the enameling, it has been called the "Blue of Jingtai." This was during the Ming dynasty from 1450-1456 when Jingtai reigned. The creation of cloisonné is an involved and complex process that begins with base-hammering and soldering. It then progresses to the filling and firing of the enamel. The next stage involves the polishing process and leads to the final gilding. Cloisonné repair requires time and attention…
French country style is the decorating cousin of the American country style, but with a few subtle differences. In the French countryside, the colors are so vibrant because of the strong sunlight. As such, the paint colors used in this style are radiant with the warmth and vibrancy of the French countryside. These paint colors are not only popular on the walls, but on the furniture as well, where distressed or crackled textures are common. These finishes complement and enhance decorative elements like table runners and the toile curtains that are so popular in the Provence region of France.
If you love texture, fine and painted wood, and rich fabrics and colors, and you have an eclectic eye for mixing the rustic and refined, French country decorating may be for you. In French country decor, weathered and reclaimed furniture goes hand in hand with stately fine furniture, and worn plaster walls make a perfect backdrop for delicate antique chairs. It’s all about courageously mixing the old and the not so old in a chic and cozy aesthetic.
The French have a way of turning the bland into chic, whether it is a room, piece of clothing, or a wine. This design flair can be recreated in a French décor by adhering to the color palette, fabrics, textures and design elements utilized within French rooms. Use several French items grouped together as a collection to enhance the theme. Select one overall style to emulate or pick out pieces of each diverse French style as you create your room.
The French are not only known for their sophisticated food and quality wine. Traditional French decor is often emulated by decorators, due to its distinctive and versatile use of fabric, color and decorating accessories.
French Country style, influenced by the historic homes of rural France, is a favorite decorating theme in American homes as well. Typified by rustic elements -- such as mismatched furniture, earthenware dishes and bowls, light, soft fabrics and natural accents such as fresh flowers -- French Country style is timeless and enduring. While most small French homes do not feature a dining room, the French Country style nonetheless lends itself well to casual dining room decor.
Pot racks are a type of storage device that typically hang from a hook in the ceiling of a kitchen or are attached to the wall. They were once primarily used as a way to store cooking pots when not in use. Today, the use of the pot rack has somewhat changed and it is often thought of more as an accent piece than traditional kitchen storage. If you desire the French country look for your kitchen, however, installing a pot rack will not only enhance the decorating theme, but give you the extra benefit of vertical storage.
Using a color palette that includes burgundy and yellow is a way to capture the rustic and attractive style of a French kitchen. There are a number of ways to incorporate these colors into a French country-styled kitchen to make it look professionally decorated .
Decorating in the French country style creates a rustic look in your home. The style uses the colors of the French countryside to bring some of the natural beauty outdoors inside your home. The furnishings you choose should incorporate the rustic elements of the style.
French country style is a design scheme where colors inspired by the French country landscape and lifestyle abound. The style is generally relaxed, with elegant yet rustic furniture and decorative accents. When creating a room in this style, several colors powerfully complement this bucolic look.
Bright and earthy, colors for French country kitchens come right from the landscape of Provence, the area of southeastern France known for its beauty and dazzling light. This area was beloved by painters Van Gogh and Gaugin for the brilliant, clear hues of the sky, meadows, flowers and sunshine of the rural countryside, far from the smog and soot of industrial European cities. This sunny palette inspired the interior landscapes of Provencal homes, especially in the kitchen, the heart of the rural French home.
French country decor combines traditional French elements with the utilitarian farmhouse lifestyle to create a home that is elegant yet casual. A popular motif found in French country decor is the bee.
French country---also known as French cottage---colors are defined by the region they represent, and vary from the mountains to Provence to the North Sea coast. Despite regional differences, common distinguishing characteristics run through all of the variations on French country style. Rustic-looking walls and floors washed in creams, grays and whites, unexpected gold-gilded details and bold but subtle accents are all indicative of French country style.
Whether you want to decorate a room in your house like a French chateaux or you want to incorporate elements of the French countryside throughout your home, use a color scheme that reflects the culture of the country. Color is one of the most important elements of a room, and choosing the decorations and accents for the room is easier when working within a specific color scheme.
Decorative accents that coordinate with olive toile bring out the French country features of this specialty fabric. Originally known as toile de Jouy, according to Merriam-Webster, it means "cloth of Jouy, from Jouy-en-Josas, France." Olive toile is used to make room accents or is applied to the walls as a wall covering. Rather than decorate an entire room in olive toile, select fabrics that will highlight its design features and colors. Rich and soft fabrics are good accents for olive toile.
French and American country styles, although an entire ocean separates their origins, share some commonalities. These styles feature cozy comfort, fabrics as a decorative motifs and natural woods. Each has distinct elements that makes them uniquely French or American. The trick to blending the two styles is finding ways to bring the two styles together without losing the flavor of either.
French country decor gives an elegant yet rustic look to the home. Toile is a classic French fabric which can be used in many different parts of the home to give it a distinctive joie de vivre.
A great room is similar to a family room, but the room also has a dining area included. The great room is a place for families to spend time together, talk, watch television or enjoy a book. A French-country style of interior design for the room creates a relaxed atmosphere of elegance and comfort.
French Country interior design style creates a warm, cozy, rustic atmosphere. French Country interior paint colors include light and bright blues, muted greens, true reds and yellows and soft shades of these colors. Floral and plaid prints for furniture and wallpaper in these colors play a major role in French Country decor. Light colors are common on walls in kitchens and bathrooms, although in more formal areas, such as dining rooms and sitting rooms, darker hues on walls may dominate.
French country decorating takes its inspiration from the rural area of Provence in France. This style recalls a simpler time through the use of rustic items, soft colors and rich textures. Inexpensively incorporating elements of the French country decorating style into your own home is a straightforward process.
French Country decorating utilizes items like interesting country quilts, wall tapestries, weather-worn furniture and tiles; all have their place in this kind of design. It's the tiles in this case which provide the most versatility. Not only can you decorate your floors or walls with them, you can make use of the broken ones for country French mosaic design projects. These items bring vibrant colors and interesting patterns into your living spaces. These projects work well because they allow you to use up the pieces of broken tile and dishes you have and can't bear to part with.
The French country style of decor is a combination of different looks, combining aspects from the French chateau to the rustic looks of farmhouses. The primary idea behind French country style is to make the home feel cozy and inviting. Create this atmosphere in your home by choosing bright, cheerful colors and working with a combination of textures and accessories.
European decor has influenced interior decorators for centuries. The traditional look of European furnishings, fabric, and style is classic and timeless. Three examples of European decor are Old World, French Country, and Tuscan. Each style has its own unique look and ambiance, but all three styles are traditionally European. Achieve an Old World, French Country, or Tuscan look by using specific furniture, colors, materials and textures.
Emulating the interior decorating styles of the French countryside is a favorite decorating choice that combines the appeal of rustic tradition with appreciation of another culture. Since the French countryside covers a large territory, French country decor colors offer many options.
The French country style is a favorite of interior designers around the globe. The rustic touches, flea market finds and iron accessories help create a charming atmosphere that is as casual and homey as it is elegant and inviting. Warm colors and one-of-a-kind pieces help bring French country spaces together. French country design is durable and weather-resistant, which makes it ideal for a backyard porch. For the budget-conscious, this style is also affordable and easy to obtain.
The French country style reflects the 18th century and focuses mainly on cottage living. Decorating a living room in the French country style can be a challenge, particularly if you are unfamiliar with how colors work together. Keeping in mind that the French country style is more of a feeling rather than a defined set of rules will help you in your decorating quest.
Decorating the mantel in your French country kitchen will give it an old-world appeal. French country kitchens exude a cozy, intimate ambience that will make others want to linger for hours while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee. Having a fireplace and a French country mantel will accentuate the comfortable atmosphere and create a kitchen that is the heart of the home.
Early American furniture was a somewhat new design, unique to the Colonies. It was less formal than the stately Hepplewhite and Edwardian furnishings brought over by the more wealthy newcomers. French Country, also, is a less formal style. Louis IV and the Empire styles were for the city residents; Country French, as the words are often ordered, was for the less formal life in the countryside.
Decorating a small apartment might seem like a difficult task, but it can be relatively simple with the right design scheme. A French country theme is ideal for small spaces because the cozy yet light and airy design elements can keep your space looking inspired and elegant without requiring too much room to make the look work.
Country French decorating is marked by a warm, rustic style that is both welcoming and comforting. Furnishings and accessories have a slightly worn, casual look, while colorful fabrics are layered in a number of mismatched yet complimentary prints.
Although French country design dates to the 17th through 19th centuries, it is a common decorating motif today. Fortunately, it's as easy to decorate with French country style is to live in it.
The decorative form of Chinese cloisonné, pronounced "cloyz-on-ney," evolved during the Ming Dynasty in Beijing, though "cloisonné" is a French word meaning "to partition." The Chinese emperor during that time became greatly fascinated with the application of colored enamel to the surfaces of bronze and brass artifacts. The various colors of enamel on the bronze or brass objects are separated by brass wires which are soldered on. The colors are tempered after each layer is applied, and in the end the wires are plated with silver or gold.
French country decorating offers family-friendly elegance that can mix rustic wood pieces with grand fabrics. Its exact style parameters, in terms of fabrics, colors or furnishings, can be hard to pin down. Books that offer a tour of French country interior decorating are both colorful coffee table books and handbooks for new designers interested in what constitutes French country.
Close your eyes and picture in your mind the casual passing of billowy white clouds silhouetted against the depths of fresh blue skies, revealing sun drenched fields of soft flowing lavender. Contrast that image with the stability and charm of quaint cobblestone streets lined with warm stucco walls, adorned with fresh flowers, draped over wrought iron boxes to get the feel of French country decorating style. French Country is inspired by the ambiance of the Provence landscape, importing the colors, textures and freshness of the French countryside into the home. The look is romantic and charming, using old and worn…
In European tradition, a great room may have combined a living room, dining area, entryway, library or salon. A contemporary great room typically serves the same purpose as an entry and living room, providing a place to entertain, sit by the fire, read, relax and talk. Decorating a great room in country French style lends the interior a casual elegance, with the many heirlooms, antiques and artwork sparking conversations and stories.
Toile is a French word that means cloth or canvas. Today, the word "toile" refers to a design commonly used in traditional decorating. Toile is pronounced "twall."
Rustic charm is one way to describe the French Country style of decorating. The graceful mood of a French chateau coupled with pastoral elements makes for some of the most comfortable kitchens. To make this style work, you need to start with the right colors along with the right balance of old and new pieces. Once you figure it out, you'll have a kitchen that is as chic as it is relaxing.
French country sideboards are generally located near a formal or casual dining table. The top of the sideboard, or buffet, is used for serving meals while the cabinets below are used to store table linens, silver, pottery and china. Some sideboards may have drawers for storing cutlery and serving utensils. When the sideboard is not being used for a meal, its top serves as a place to display serving dishes or unique items. Three simple pieces are required to decorate a basic French Country sideboard---flowers, a unique ceramic dish, and a light source.
French country decor is warm and welcoming, full of sunny colors found in nature, having a rustic, but definitely old-world look. Art that complements your French country decor can be informal and whimsical folk art, such as rooster prints framed in rough-hewn wood. For fine art, choose prints of oil paintings of the French countryside, gardens that are riots of color, cottages found on a country lane and baskets filled with flowers.
Sure, it's enormously popular and used to describe everything from the shabby chic look to old world European decor. But what is French country decor, exactly? Think about lavender fields growing in the south of France, crumbling chateaux, bright farmhouses and a sunny garden and you have the essential inspiration for a French country interior.
For people familiar with American country decorating trends, the country French approach offers something a little different. The French version still favors rustic finishes and crafty decor, but serves it up with more drama in terms of color, texture and contrasts. Spice up your interior with some French country-inspired art, accessories or finishes, or try transforming an entire room, home or garden into a space that evokes the French countryside.
French country cottage decorating borrows the best of the shabby chic design trend, with rustic pieces, vintage finds and distressed finishes, but adds a bit more boldness of color. The cottage look has traditionally been more simple, due to smaller living spaces, but French country cottage style eschews some of this conservatism in favor of displaying more personal possessions and pieces of sentimental value, so that your home's interior reflects more of your identity and personal style.
If classic French decor is a little too formal for you, lighten it up with traditional French country decor. There are still enough of the regal touches--well-crafted furniture, artisan-made accessories, cherished antiques--to keep the look sophisticated, with a touch of Old World charm. However, there is a more inviting feeling with the country look, featuring comfortable furniture, eclectic juxtapositions and integration of nature and natural light.
French country style is ideal for people who want to incorporate family heirlooms, flea market finds, repurposed junkyard gems and other sentimental pieces into a home that is eclectic and bohemian. French country decor also blends well with other popular design trends such as shabby chic, bohemian modern, rustic, Mediterranean and Spanish hacienda.
French country interiors create the sense of a humble cottage in rural France. The style is simple, colorful and rustic. You can achieve this look fairly easily with a mixture of suitable colors, fabrics, accessories and natural materials.
It's time to abandon those four white walls and embrace a style that has soul. French country decor, with its preference for the antique and the well-loved, fits the bill. The design trend brings a whiff of Provencal lavender fields to the home, but is less homespun and slightly more regal that its American country counterpart.
Decorative French wood appliques can dress up any plain piece of wood or wall. You can purchase elegant rosettes to adorn your dresser or create a simple line of fleur-de-lis above a door. The only limit is your own imagination. You can purchase decorative French wood appliques at just about any craft store. They usually come in a neutral colored wood, but you can stain them to suit your needs.
French Country style evokes rolling hills planted with vineyards, abundant flowers and distinctive stone homes with narrow windows and thick walls. The style is oriented toward comfort, tradition and simplicity. If it's fancy, it probably isn't French Country. A house decorated in this style should welcome visitors, inviting them to put their feet up and enjoy a glass of wine. To achieve this style you have to approach your home with relaxation and a sense of humor.
When France's Bishop of Metz first encouraged artisans in the little village of Baccarat to use its collective talent establish a Mecca for the world's most beautiful crystal in 1765, he couldn't have known that the brand would remain one of the world's premier fine crystal glass companies 250 years later. The French firm's trademark lead-crystal glassmaking techniques have won medals for quality, design and workmanship and are respected around the globe. Over time, the company expanded its product offerings to include jewelry, paperweights, chandeliers, decanters, bottles, vases, serving dishes, figurines and more. To this day, few entities have the…
French country decor establishes a warm and inviting kitchen by incorporating a palette of colors to create a room reminiscent of a French country cottage. Filling every available space with functional and decorative items, creating a comfortable atmosphere and adding an array of interesting accessories makes the French country kitchen the perfect place to gather friends and family.
A French Country bedroom instantly creates a cohesive & relaxing space. It can even make you feel like your on vacation or visiting a bed & breakfast. You might want to redo your decor but you're short on cash. This style involves a lot of paint & imagination. You could even turn a nursery into a French country bedroom for a fresh theme. Plus, your little girl would love it for years to come. Whether it's a master suite or a guest room this style can add a lot for a little amount of money.
French country decor is noticeably different than other decorating styles with its casual and simplistic flair coupled with subtle elegance. Light and airy, it is a fusion of colors combined with natural materials to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. French country decorating with flair combines the best elements of comfort and coziness while maintaining a sophisticated touch.
French country style typically depicts an air of Provence. Relaxed, breezy, sun-swept landscapes come to mind. Plastered walls and terracotta tiles, shuttered windows and potted flowers embody the idea of French country style -- enjoying the simple pleasures of life. This style is easy to embody and can be subtly with a few pieces scattered through the space or you can delve right in down to the colors of the walls and types of flooring.
Why go to a restaurant, winery or liquor store for a wine tasting? You can have your own party and invite friends and family members who enjoy trying new wines, cheese and conversation as much as you do.
When we turn our minds to the French countryside, we often think of picturesque landscapes and quaint gardens. Indeed, many modern gardeners take their inspiration from the charming and romantic garden spaces of France. Whether you would like to create a cozy garden atmosphere in a space as small as a patio or as large as your entire backyard, you too can create a French country garden.
French toile patterns were first introduced in the 18th century. Toile patterns can be found on fabric, china, wallpaper and even gift wrapping paper. It has remained a popular choice for decorators seeking to add a touch of French elegance to a rooms decor. French toile can be used in a variety of ways to add some distinctive style to your home, from the bathroom to the dining room.
