I know many of you have a fondness for French style (not just French Country) and a penchant for romantic elements.
Fortunately, French and romantic styles are made for each other. And both often meet in a variety of ways––from pristine to rustic, traditional, elegant, vintage, salvage, primitive, and more. But when it comes to the ‘romance’ part of the equation a little frill goes a long way! Think “ruffles with restraint.”
Settle in your favorite chair with a glass of wine, a baguette and cheese and take a tour of beautiful rooms from coast to coast and beyond.
Bon (virtual) voyage!
Whatever their decor (elegant, traditional, cottage…) entrances announce the style of a home. Though not large, the above foyer mirrors the classic interior of this French house.
With baskets, grain sack pillows topping a vintage bench and a friendly feline, this welcoming entry define the relaxed and charming appeal of this French Country cottage..
This light-filled side entry mixes old and new with flair.
A color scheme of gentle whites and dove grays has a softness that translates to a serene comfort. Underneath a marble and wrought iron coffee table a white on white geometric rug layers in visual interest without adding pattern that would be jarring to the white scheme.
A unique, simple, and elegant matte gray Swedish cabinet adds a discreet touch of color.
Divine Inspiration: The sublime simplicity of this corner speaks for itself.
Once a dark, heavy piece, this carved cabinet gets into the scheme of things thanks to a coat of white paint. On top of it, a Santos figurine , an iron candleholder and a lush bouquet of lilacs add to the low key romantic setting.
Plastered walls provide a warm backdrop for this living room ‘s neutral furnishings enhanced with accessories in earthy tones.
In a living room corner, a toile screen separates an intimate seating nook. A leather settee is plumped with pillows that reflect the owner’s travels and passions, including a red bird pattern purchased from a French household. Printed silk fabric and the chandelier contribute romantic notes.
Arch- top chicken wire doors reveal an eclectic mix of treasures inside a pair of farmhouse hutches. Oatmeal color linen slipcovers and vintage grain sack pillows are kissed with French blues.
Cloud-soft seating joins lightly tinted primitive furnishings for a look that’s at once heavenly and earthy. Virtually pattern-free, the room’s design energy comes from its mix of textures, from crackled paint finishes to fabrics.
With its gently weathered hutch and French chair this little corner quietly and beautifully mixes rustic and elegant.
When you mix curvy velvet armchairs with a simple table, layered mirrors and a crystal Girandole you get unaffected elegance.
This rooms’s warm hues, textures and flowers is an ode to the homes of southern France.
Though this dining room is in a remote part of northern California one can easily picture it as being in an elegantly rustic home somewhere on the way to Versailles.
A matter of taste: French/romantic kitchen are furnished in ways that range from grand (above) to simple (below), but each has its particular brand of charm.
A long French baker’s table functions as a work island; it’s handy drawers offering up plenty of storage. Near the sink, a primitive cabinet houses spices and baking supplies. The lower cabinets are given legs to evoke the unfitted furniture-style look found in European kitchens.
Copper pots are much more than decor items. They also provide perfect heat distribution, which makes them unparalleled for cooking temperature sensitive foods, like sautéed dishes. They are staples of French kitchens and chefs’ favorites.
Open shelves, glass cabinets and furniture one would expect to find in spaces other than a kitchen (like the pine dresser and the former store counter turned island) are hallmarks of country French kitchen (above).
In my own guesthouse (below) I only had space for a kitchenette. To keep an open feel I hung an open cabinet and a shelf, and used burlap panels instead of doors for the lower cabinets. Though this is not something you would find in a city kitchen it is a very common practice in the countryside. To create a plank-like floor I painted and whitewashed thick plywood and drew lines to mimic planks of various lengths and widths.
**See DIY instructions for faux plank floor at the end of the post.
A one-of-a-kind iron tester bed stand between floor-to-ceiling windows in this home in New Orleans’s fabled French Quarter. The original wood floors are patched together from wood salvaged from a fire. These elements paired with a blue palette give the room its unmistakable French flavor.
A former zinc awning fitted with gauzy fabric makes a unique canopy for a vintage iron bed. Weathered shutters and ironstone platters are used in lieu of art. Fine bedding and a blue backdrop harmonize with soft grays and muted tans.
DIY FAUX PLANKS FLOOR
PREP STEPS For painted finish that lasts, pay attention to preparation. If the floor has been previously finished, sand the area with 100-grit sandpaper using an orbital sander or portable belt sander. Then sweep and vacuum thoroughly, removing any remaining dust with a damp towel.
PAINT TYPES For a finish that will last, shop for a latex enamel paint that is specially formulated for use on floors, porches, and decks. Although oil-based or alkyd paint wears better, you will have to deal with a messy clean up and with disposing of environmentally damaging materials.
FINISHES When choosing between a matte or gloss finish, consider this: Glossier finishes add luster to a room, but will show dings and scratches far more than matte. Many pros recommend an eggshell or semi-gloss finish as a happy medium.
*FOR THE BASE COAT
(Photos #1 and #2)
Start by brush-painting a six-inch border along the edges of the room. Then using either a brush or a roller start painting in the farthest corner of the room and working toward the door. Apply two or three thin coats for the best results. Allow a painted floor to dry for 72 hours before subjecting it to normal use.
For this floor I first put 2 coats of a charcoal-gray paint.
*FOR THE WHITEWASH
(Photo #3)
To whitewash, apply a thin coast of white paint working one small area at the time so you can rub the paint off with a damp clothe to create the whitewashed look. It doesn’t need to be even but make sure that some of the gray paint shows through.
*TO CREATE THE PLANK LOOK
(Photos #4 & #5)
Using a yardstick and a small paintbrush draw vertical and horizontal lines with the charcoal-gray paint to define your planks. For a more authentic look make planks in a variety of sizes.
SEAL THE DEAL
(Photo #6)
For high-traffic areas, you may want to seal the floor with a coat of non-yellowing, water-based polyurethane in a semi-gloss or satin finish.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, SWEET DREAMS! xo fifi