Styling Ideas to Create a Charming and Romantic Country French Furniture Style
Faith Led Interior Design Show | Episode 15
I am so excited to bring you another furniture style category - the 3 Ethnic Furniture Styles.
In today’s episode, I am talking about the Country French Furniture Style. Next week, in Episode 16, I will talk about the Bohemian Furniture Style, and Episode 17 will be about the Oriental furniture style. This will complete the set of 12 furniture styles that are featured in Episodes 6-17. At the end, which one, two, or three max styles speak to you the most - speak to your heart and the heart of your family?
In talking about these ethnic styles, you may be from somewhere else in the world and want touches of your country in your home. It can bring comfort, add familiarity and represent a part of who you are at your core …
Or you may just love and feel drawn to the French, Bohemian, or Oriental style or items from your own country.
Many times these ethnic styles start with a simple transitional base as we discussed in Episode 6.
But if your heart yearns for your home far away. You may then utilize items that you brought from your country, items you found here, and/or items you inherited from your family or others.
So if you want to learn more about the wonderfully beautiful and romantic French style, this episode is for you.
Follow the Faith Led Interior Design show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Google Play.
Listen to the Episode
Styling Ideas to Create a Charming and Romantic Country French Furniture Style
I pray this verse over you to have a peace-filled day and may your hearts rest today as you go about your busy day!
Be Blessed Verse:
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
When the Lord lifts His countenance upon us, it shows that He is looking over us for our good. God wants to bless us. He wants to protect us. He wants to make His face shine upon us and be gracious to us, and give us peace.
He accepts and loves us soooo much. He is not angry, He is LOVE!
This is a verse that is so wonderful to pray over someone, so I pray it over you. I will repeat it again as a prayer over you and your family for today and ALWAYS…
Origins of the Country French Furniture Style
The French Furniture Style originates from the reign of the Kings Louis XIII, Louis XIV, and Louis XV. (1643–1715), who ruled this country, principally from the great palace at Versailles. These were beautifully carved furniture pieces that were made by great craftsmen and these pieces were literally “fit for a king.” This fine furniture, even today, is beautifully carved, and hand-rubbed and the most formal pieces were gold gilded. This is the very formal French Style that many love. But there is another, more casual French Style.
A more simple variation of the French Style is called Country French or French Provincial. These are the furnishings crafted in the provinces. The country craftsman usually features the beauty of the natural waxed wood. The lines are simple and curved and the legs can be straight or curved. French country style embodies a soft, airy, feminine, and refined elegance. This popular decorating aesthetic creates an inviting look that's both polished and lived-in.
The French Country architectural style home are mostly two-story homes.
Many styles of French homes feature extremely tall, sloping roofs that are hipped—meaning, all four corners of the roof point towards the ground.
Many French country-style homes are defined by stone, brick, or stucco exteriors. These sturdy, long-lasting materials offer a refined appearance and a sense of timelessness.
The windows of French country houses often feature multiple panes and are sometimes accented by iron balconies.
I love the look of ivy or trailing plants that climb up or even cover the walls. I know it is a place for rats and varments to travel, but with well-sealed roofs and windows, why not? To me it is lovely!
A well-designed Country French Interior has some authentic French pieces. I remember a beautiful small hidden store in downtown San Francisco, which is no longer there, that brought tons and tons of items from France. They were beautiful and well priced and you can be sure that my retail store in Danville CA was filled with these beautiful items. If you search, you can still find these pieces that add charm and warmth to your French Country Interior.
10 Characteristics of a Person Who Likes This Style
People who love the Country French style may be from France and may love the countryside. But this is a romantic style. It is a B style, or romantic style if you took my Interior Design Personality quiz from Episode #3.
Their home is classic and lasting, and this is a person who loves the nostalgia of days gone by.
Likes charming settings with softening flowers
Is family-oriented and loves natural food from the land
Many times, likes furnishings with curves and with soft romantic lines
6. Lasting quality and materials are signatures of this style. I personally love the exterior rock work. So charming!
7. Vintage finds are exciting for people who like this style, especially if the accessories and fabrics are original.
8. These people focus on natural raw materials, such as refined woods, brick, stone, old-looking tiles, and marble.
9. This person likes balanced, symmetrical proportions and steep roofs.
10. This French Country Style person likes using soothing colors, soft patterns, and antique accents
Styling Ideas for a Person Who Designs Using the My Country French Style
The French Country Style can have liberal use of light neutrals, browns, whites, blacks, and beiges on walls, cabinets, floors, and ceilings. In other words, neutral colors.
It uses softly printed fabrics along with solids, mostly in muted colors. Bright colors are usually not used here.
Distressed, painted, whitewashed and vintage furnishings & accessories add charm and style
Nature plays a big part in this style. Florals, flowers, and the use of plenty of plants bring the outdoor-in feel.
Toile de Jouy, best known as toile, is a traditional pattern printed on cotton or linen fabrics used for upholstery, drapery, tablecloths, and wallpaper in French country rooms. Toile de Jouy is also known as the "fabric of Jouy" because the 18th-century factory of Jouy-en-Josas located near Versailles became famous for printing the fabric.
Upholstered furnishings usually are soft and cozy. Down and feather seats and backs can add to the coziness of the French Country Style.
The materials on French Country lighting are often left unfinished or have a finish that displays the organic texture of the material such as weathered or patinaed (aged to an old look). French Country lighting generally features a flame-shaped bulb to reference the candles that were once the main source of lighting in old-country living.
Exposed wooden ceiling beams, natural stone, wood, or brick floors, and a weathered appearance fit this French Country Style.
The kitchen can have vintage touches, including pretty old jars and bottles, french grape hods, wrought iron pot racks, copper pots, and a french country apron sink. The smell of cappuccino or lattes finishes the ambiance in this room.
Open shelving, and mirrors, especially antique mirrors work well. For wall art, soft foggy views of nature scenes still live and florals are used.
A Country French Bedroom is feminine and soft with a mix of cottage shabby chic and comforting vintage elements. Add in a small crystal table lamp or chandelier somewhere and that can add a beautifully elegant touch.
This style is best completed with the final look being reminiscent of Europe and France in particular. I don’t know why but those loaves of french bread, cheeses, and meats on a Charcuterie board just top off this wonderful feel.
What Is Your Design Personality Style?
If you have not taken the Design Personality Style Quiz, go to Episode #3 to take it.
It is important to determine both your Design Personality Style and your Furniture Style.
The personality quiz is designed to work along with your furniture style. It is important to establish your interior design personality style first because it helps to determine your interior design furniture style.
Once you determine both your Interior Design Personality and your Furniture Style, it makes shopping so much easier and less stressful. The reason is that you now shop only for your personality and furniture styles. It eliminates all the other personality types and furniture styles that really are not yours.
Determine your personality style and furniture style or styles first and then continue with your interior design plan.
What’s Next For You?
Next week, I will talk about a very fun style, the Bohemian Furniture Style.
The 3 ETHNIC FURNITURE STYLES are
Country French (this episode)
Bohemian (Episode 16)
Oriental (Episode 17)
Now, Stop Dreaming, Start Designing your luxury home within your budget!
Blessings and See you next episode…
Examples of the Country French Furniture Style
If you would like to see examples of furnishings that go along with this French Country Style, visit Sheree’s Shop on my website and scroll down to the My Country - French Furniture Style. There you will see sofas, sectionals, chairs, coffee tables, lamps, area rugs, and accessories in this style.
You are welcome to browse and enjoy, and hopefully get some great pieces and ideas for your home and design.
Resource
Get a free copy of the 2022 Interior Design Trends report and the 2022 RESA - Home Staging Report.
Take the quiz here to determine your Interior Design Personality.
Browse samples of the furnishings that can go with your style here.
