Defining The Living Room’s Style Part 1; French Country Style

As I said in the coffee table post, I’d gone off ours. In fact I’d started to feel that all the decorating decisions I’d made recently were going in the wrong direction. It just didn’t feel right, you know?

Then I realized that there was a lot in this room I liked, but that it was a hodge dodge of themes and I needed one instead of several, competing themes.

You see, I have this painting….

which you can see in the how to tufted ottoman post. It has an Asian influence, and there are these glass pieces that you can just see the bottom of the picture below, that have a similar feel.

The small bookcase, which you can see in the photo with the oil painting, go with the new coffee table as both are country pieces.

Then there are these more modern pieces along with the Art Nouveau prints……

This bistro table, in the shot above, is French. Th marble and iron can give it a modern feel even though its a traditional item.

I’d painted the round table black (this post) as I was thinking there should be an overall Art Deco feel, and that would have gone well with the. ore modern pieces and perhaps the Asian ones too. However, it didn’t feel like ‘me’ or ‘us’, you know? Then I made the velvet ottoman and that’s when I realised I have a dual personality room. In fact, there are so many personalities here that it looks like a James McAvoy character…

One side offers you a cup of tea and a slice of cake, the other offers you cocktails and a night on the town. You can have a cup of tea and a glass of wine room, but in my view when it comes to decor metaphors tea and Singapore Slings just don’t work. So, rather than continue I thought I’d take stock and get a clearer theme.

As we have a very traditional dining room, with the bi-fold doors leading onto it, I’ve always wanted the room to be able to ‘flow’. However, this side is definitely more modern in it’s make up. So how was I to connect the themes?

This is why I originally came up with Art Deco. But, I’ve never truly been a fan of that period. For me it’s too minimal. Beautiful yes, stylish absolutely. But, I like more warmth and it always feel cold to me.

So, along with the flow, and as I knew I’d have to remove some of the elements in here already, I started to think purely in terms of the things I couldn’t un-do simply. After all my hard work upholstering this came back to the lavender in the sofas for me. From this I started to naturally think of French Country.

Obviously what we know of as French Country isn’t really; it’s more American, French Country. But as I studied it to get ideas of where to go now I came up with these themes.

1 Pale fabric

If you look below French country is normally depicted in terms of white linen. I don’t have this at the moment, but my lavender material is a close proximity.

I have further furniture to upholster shortly and concentrating my mind like this has helped me to focus on what to buy. In this case it will be ecru or white fabric. The two should go together well.

If you look in this first image I love all the linens that sit well with the white painted wall mouldings and country table that’s similar to our new coffee table.

The bottom, left image has light patterns in the chair upholstery which, mixed with the other light pieces, doesn’t detract from the modern, French country feel.

The image below, right also has the white painted wood; this time a little more shabby chic in its pain treatment. I like the way they’ve introduced colour and texture in the cushions and the metal table with shiny items on it. It seems that you can introduce more glamorous elements.

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2 White coloured furniture, with details

As well as light upholstery French Country continues its characteristic brightness with woodwork that’s light in colour. The white can be whitewashed on or distressed chalk paint. Both of these methods highlight the shape of the wood beneath.

The first image has a white washed table, but the nail head trim, tufted sofa keeps the room looking polished.

The second image the sofa table is again white washed, but this has a far more rustic feel. The sofa is more utilitarian in its shape and texture of fabric, and the cupboard doors and wicker basket are also rustic.

In the third the chest of drawer is painted in solid, white paint and slightly distressed. The piece is obviously old, and looks as if it could have not been painted recently due to how the colour is applied. The whitewash technique suggests a more modern and therefore recent decorative decision, in spite of its more rustic and equally aged surroundings. A subtle difference, but a big difference in the tone between the two images, no?

You can see in images four and five how the use of paint and surroundings give such a wide variety of personalities to the rooms, in spite of being similar at first glance.

So I am left wondering, what character do I want my room to have? I lean towards the first image; classic, clean, a little sophisticated but traditional. Yet I also like the fourth which has a lot of these elements, but doesn’t appear quite as polished and seems cosier somehow.

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3 Light, wooden furniture

As you can see from the images below this light wood is similar to our new coffee table. This type of wood gives a lovely rustic, warm feel and if you have a lot of whites can stop the look being too clinical.

The first image is certainly more rustic, and feels more vintage. Whilst the third image feels more English country. Yet I lean more to the second for this room due to its modern structure and the use of glass and silks in the accessories. Our house is a central, village house and so going too rustic would feel like we were not complimenting this part of its identity.

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4 Light grey, or blue painted furniture

As well as the white woodwork this blue grey look is very popular. I’m going to think about this for at least one of our pieces of furniture, just to break things up.

As I said in my last point, the location of the house influences how I see it decorated as much as my personal tastes. therefore, if I’m leaning towards a more refined tone I think the last piece is the most reflective if that style. It seems to be highlighted by a gold wax rub, rather than distressing to bring out its features which makes it less shabby and more chic.

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5 Ottomans, chaise longue and structured sofas

Whether they’re over stuffed, cane or elegantly crisp all these pieces hark back to the elegant times of France past. They’re subtle and refined.

I bought a piece of cane furniture recently which isn’t as detailed as the top, right hand one, but that may be a benefit in a more modern setting. I like the way this first sofa maintains the natural colouring of the cane, but teems it with a white paint that seems to have featured the detailing with a dark wax when it was sealed.

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6 Faded rugs

You can have off white rugs, but these faded, romantic rugs bring warmth as well as colour. In the bottom image the pops of teal veers away from the norm of the French Country palette, but the bright whites maintain the mode.

I’ve obviously included that image because I would like to include the teal, tufted ottoman I talked about earlier.

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7 Black and white prints

These architectural prints add elegant interest and look wonderful in structured groups. They also add to the feeling of lightness that is synonymous with this style of decor due to the prominence of white.

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8 Scenic oil paintings

I’ve seen these grace walls in French homes often. Yet in real life I tend to find that people have photos of their own surroundings that are from the dawn of photography, showing their village or area in a bygone age.

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9 Portraits

Certainly when we’re looking at American, French country style these portraits of the type from the era of France in terms of the Sun King are a popular addition. In reality, as they often depict the nobility from pre-revolutionary France, they’re not as popular here. It would be the equivalent of Americans having George V on their wall.

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10 Wood carvings

Again, in terms of being used as artwork, this is an American addition to the French Country genre, but a beautiful one. There are lots of intricately carved piece of furniture that sell at brocantes though and I think it would certainly be an inexpensive and stylish addition if I bought an ancient armoire, salvaged the carved doors etc and gave them a distressed, chalk paint treatment prior to hanging them on the wall.

11 Aubusson

Or needlepoint. Whether on rugs, as above, or hung on walls or on cushions I see a lot of these in brocantes. Sometimes they’re incredibly big and I’m tempted to buy some and use them in chair upholstery. I’m in the process of buying one at the moment to use it to hide our tv in the front room. It needs my husband to hang the tv first, so this may take a while before I post! (I don’t trust myself to hang it, I’m not sure I would be able to make it sturdy enough).

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12 Glass

If you’re going for modern French country the use of glass is always a good addition. With it’s light reflective qualities it compliments this style of decor superbly.

I already have many photo frames which are mirrored and so these images are inspiring. I love the fireplace and although we couldn’t go that route, too expensive, it does epitomise what I mean in terms of going from the very traditional dining room to the more modern structure of the living room.

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13 Fireplaces

There are many examples throughout the post, but as I will have to insert something I thought I’d focus on these two here. I especially like the black on the right hand side as it is dramatic and looks more chic.

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14 Chandelier

Again, plenty of examples up and down the post, but I really like the right hand image.

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15 Silver and gold items

Subtle use of gold turns the theme from too country to a little more elegance. But, in my view, only a touch is needed.

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16 Mirrors

The example below is Venetian and is evidently expensive. Mirrors are always beneficial in decorating, but having them in this style of decor adds to the light feel.

17 Clocks – tall and on mantles

I already have an ornate mantle clock, but I adore these tall clocks. There are many in the local brocantes, but they may not work and are often full of woodworm. You also have to have floor space if you’re opting for this choice. Although our room size is large in comparison to the houses I’ve lived in, its L shaped layout would make the inclusion of something like this difficult.

I love the paint scheme below by the way.

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18 Lamps

In the images I’ve used they are predominantly wooden, white and with a distressed appearance. However I have predominantly glass lamps. As I’ve said previously reflective glass is more of a luxurious addition, but I think it can be included here. It’s starting to become apparent that the room may well reflect more of a traditional Parisian French look, than a provincial one. Unless I start to trim down some of these accessories and place them elsewhere in the house that is.

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19 Monogrammed linen

I love them and you can find a lot in French brocantes. It’s also synonymous with American, Southern decorating style. The images below may well be more of those examples than French.

I included the velvet cushion here as it’s a modern take on the traditional embroidered monogram and I’ve actually just bought some cushions like this. I think I feel a project coming on.

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20 Candlesticks

You can see more ornate versions throughout the post. These would certainly be more towards the country end of the decor style.

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21 China

Simple whites in the images left and centre, as well as transfer china wear all look good as part of this style of decor. Notice how the first and last images use the china to display greenery.

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22 Religious statues

Some people just use these purely as decorative items, I obviously use mine liturgically. I prefer a simpler method of display when its not a particular feast day or season as a result.

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23 Botanicals

I love botanicals and they’re a beautiful way to enhance the sense of calm, light and a ‘home for the ages’ feel. If I go for the architectural option I think I’ll leave this for another room and visa versa.

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24 Painted tables – roses

It doesn’t just have to be tables, but other pieces of furniture. Yet I find this type of illustration popular among pieces in the local brocante. They tend to be expensive too. I hope to show you how to decorate an item in this style in future posts. In the meantime you may want to take a look at my secretaire post.

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25 Natural elements

Along with the botanical prints natural elements are a must within this decor style. Simple greens, or those shaped in topiary are beautiful. Hydrangea, or Hortensia as they are more commonly known in France, are very popular here. As you can see below and throughout the post orchids are a more stylish option. Here we have jardinieres, oval shaped pots that are used to display flowers and plants. You can put water in the bottom so the plant doesn’t get bogged down and they come in many materials there is always an option to suite your room’s mood.

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I love the style, but I have to work with what I’ve got. even though I live in France, I’m still restricted by upholstery fabric – as I’ve already mentioned – as well as room layout, and decorative items Ive areaway got. Although Im happy to go ahead and change things, I have to be realistic about how much I can spend. So part 2 of this is going to focus on lavender/lilac in this decor style.

Subscribe and join me as I delve a little deeper.