- Follow us:
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017
What’s French Romantic without a little taste of wine? Featured here is the Hooker Furniture Dining Room Studio 7H Wine Rack 5465-50002-MWD.
French. Just the very word makes you think of style and elegance. Whether you’re thinking of architecture, food or design, it’s all the same. The French have also mastered the mixture of classic with contemporary which makes them a dominant force to reckon with.
But are there really secrets to their style? Or are there characteristics that you can confidently use right in your own home?
Find Comfort in Juxtapositions
As mentioned, you have to be able to mix the traditional elements with the contemporary stuff. Do not afraid to experiment so that you get to see the different possible combinations of furnishings.
A truly chic French Romantic home should be able to stand the test of time. it must be resilient to the interior design trends. It must also balance the Old World charm with the contemporary style. Make it a point to stimulate the five senses with the design elements that you bring into your home. Visually, the objects must be there but they must also satisfy the tactile sense through the textures.
Design is not about being perfect, it’s about defining, redefining, experimenting, making errors, correcting them, and finally arriving at a style that you can truly call your own.
Basically Chic
French romantic interiors are basically simple. They make use of a neutral color palette so that balance can be achieved in the living spaces. Pair the complementary colors which sit on opposite sides of the color wheel. These hues will naturally jive without you even trying.
A neutral palette is also awesome to use because it is easy to live with. It is not complex, so, a wave of calm will automatically be felt when you enter a home in these calming colors.
Add a Touch of Vintage
The French are also known for their rich history. Just pay a visit to their museums and architectural marvels, even their streets, and you would see how amazing the people are.
Mix modern with traditional by, say, adding bronze furnishings to parquet flooring. You can also hang artworks and vintage sculptural pieces on walls. Find interesting vintage pieces from our collection here.
Bold French art can also add a different level of fun to your home. You don’t have to be serious all the time. Even the French know how to have fun now and then so inject some abstract paintings on the background or even some of your framed black and white photographs. Even your sketches – when properly framed – can become the conversation pieces in your home.
Century Furniture Bedroom Atlanta Low Post Bed With Upholstered Headboard – King Size 6/6 I29-146
Learn to Layer
Paris is known for its robust flea markets so be able to layer your furniture, décor, lights, paintings, knickknacks, mirrors, and even your silverware. Use an anchor palette then slowly build from there.
The layers throughout your home should add a level of sentimentality that your guests can feel the moment they enter your place.
Mix and blend the artworks, colors, and furniture in a surprisingly fresh way. The rooms are supposed to be opulent, of course, you’re recreating French lavishness, but you also have to add a dash of roughness to the refined pieces.
Mix attitude with a little warmth. Group furniture and artworks according to textures or create intrigue by making the pieces as diverse as possible.
Say Yes to Blush Tones and Gilding
Paris is no less than the most romantic city in the world so create the fairytale charm that it is supposed to evoke. Use gilded bronze furnishings. Add blush pieces to the mix and you’ve just recreated Marie Antoinette’s le salon.
Tags: French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furnishings, French interiors, French Romantic, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on French Romantic: The Splendor of Things Vintage
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017
Viniterra Host Arm Chair
When talking about style, it is impossible to not think about the French people. Everyone wants to dress up like them, dine like them, and basically live fabulously as they do. So what is the secret to designing a Parisian home?
French Is Bold
When you’re out to decorate your home like the French, you should be ready to experiment and be bold. Do not be afraid to commit mistakes especially when it comes to mixing design elements.
French Is Chic
The French people like to keep things simple yet you can still see that they remain chic. They make good, elegant use of the neutral color palette. They want to keep things uncomplicated. They are always known to achieve balance since they effectively use design elements that do not clash.
French interior design is simple and easy to live with. It is easygoing and it does not require much thinking. What you need to do is just walk into a house, understand its architecture, place the essential pieces, and then feel peaceful within.
French Is Vintage
France has a rich history. Just look at their renowned museums and their architectural wonders. Just take a stroll down the streets of France and you will learn about historical facts without even trying. It is also very French to mix provenance with modernism. For instance, gilded bronze hardware, vintage pieces, and parquet floor are all French elements and they look perfect all together.
French Is Fusion
Remember the reminder that was given to you earlier? That you must not be afraid to mix styles and design elements. So this means that you can mix contemporary design with Old World elegance. Be able to stimulate the senses using your willingness to bend to different tastes that actually work well together.
Interior design themes aren’t the only things that you can fuse with this style. The truly French-inspired folks will know that the refined can be mixed with the rough elements, meaning, the artsy objects can be mixed with the neutral elements.
You will simply love the idea that you create diversity and intrigue even with the simplest elements.
French Is Whimsical
The French also love to infuse elements of fun into their artworks. And since the presence of art does complete any home, you should also make it your goal to make good use of art in your interior design. Be sure to balance the whimsical elements with things that are serious, though, so that your home won’t end up looking quirky.
French Is Layered
The Parisian markets are known for their lovely furniture, jewelry, paintings, lights, sculptures, mirrors, décor, silverware, and other lovely stuff. These gems should be displayed and layered all throughout your home.
Layering is an effective way of adding a sentimental touch as well as visual interest in your French-inspired home. There are no rules set in stone when it comes to the layering technique.
French Is Opulent
Paris is no less than the most romantic city in the world so you have to set up a home that reflects just that. This means that you home must be filled with charm. And what better way is there to make a place more charming than to add gold or gilded bronze pieces?
Love the amorous interiors and build it further by adding blush pieces to the whole melting pot.
What Is French Provincial?
French provincial furniture is a piece that looks antiquated. It was actually an inspired style that made use of other concepts from the Parisian style and the French royal pieces. This style was actually made especially for the middle-class.
French provincial has inspired antique repros all over the world. Only the experts will be able to tell the difference. So if you want to stage a little French provincial look, then buy the antique looking pieces.
Tags: French design elements, French interior design, French Provincial, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on La Vie En Rose: Lovin’ Your French-Inspired Home
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Sanctuary Four-Drawer Thin Console may appear distressed but it also offers a bluish hint. This makes it unique.
Many designers have been approached by clients and asked if they can create a French style for their house. This may not be the correct term to use but if you ask enough, you would then learn that what clients mean are whitewashed furniture, candleholders, lanterns, chandeliers, white lace and linen towels. Silver trays work, too.
Apparently, French style actually means French provincial or shabby chic. Some can even see elements of this style inside French homes. So, what makes a home essentially French?
A Little Geography Lesson
Each region in France comes with its own identity and style. There are also different decorative materials and building structures. These give the regions their own distinctiveness along with a unique regional culture that is too hard to ignore.
Don’t think of Versailles as the capital of everything that’s French. This could prove to be true if you were living in the time of King Louis XIV. His was an era of royal debauchery and the excesses the monarchs had unsurprisingly led to their downfall.
If you’re thinking of going French then you have to learn to do things in moderation. Being excessive like Louis XV is not going French. In fact, moderation is the very concept of French style. Use deliberate designs but not in such a way that they are no longer discreet. The features must look effortless.
Even children’s bedrooms that are done in French style should be minimalist. The color palette should be simple and the rest of the space, clean.
Aim for Harmony, Not Luxury
Almost all French people don’t like vulgarity and garishness. To them, what’s elegant and beautiful are those that have zero glitz, shine, travertine, gold brocade, polished mahogany or fine silk. The lesson here is, for as long as the design elements feel right to you, then they’re just that – they’re right for you.
Materials that are good for French style are wood, terra cotta, stone, plaster, iron and steel. You should consider using prewashed linen because it is soft but has creases, it’s never perfect but it feels just right.
All’s Not White
French people don’t live in an all-white home. While many people believe that white is the fundamental color of anything French, this isn’t the case at all. French people actually feel that this color is too impersonal.
If you want to do it the authentic way, then you’d have to settle for neutrals. The French palette is all about being subtle so use a lot of gray, beige, light blue, black, taupe, brown, or sage. The patterns have to be discreet just like the rest of the design elements.
Orient Express Furniture Bar and Game Room Harper Barstool – Stone Wash Bisque French Linen 6415-BSUP.SW BIS
French Can Be Colorful, Too
When you have to use color, then you’ll have to embrace the vibrant hues that tend to make a statement. Make sure that you keep it simple, though. Use no more than dual colors since having too many colors in a room is just wrong.
Since French homes tend to be small, they use color in order to maximize space or to define zones. A one-room apartment, for instance, would do well to reduce its clutter and to have small cabinetry and accent colors in lime green, peacock blue, terracotta orange, red, hot pink or mustard yellow.
French Is Eclectic
If you’re also thinking that going French also means being traditional, then you’re wrong again. Instead, you’d have to embrace eclecticism. This is because the French have undergone evolving civilizations; hence, there isn’t a single French identity. So go ahead and mix styles and eras and you don’t even need to apologize for that.
The French has a complex history so if you try to sum it all up in one box, then you’re going the wrong way. While you can use whitewashed furnishings, you are also welcome to use anything rustic.
Tags: French, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, French interior design, French interiors, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2016
Artistica Dining Room Axiom Wood Back Side Chair 560-021
While baroque may have a certain characteristic that is entirely its own, it has different versions to offer from Europe to Latin America. While they have a slightly different look for every country, there is a reason why only a single term is used to describe them. All come from a common aesthetic beginning.
Baroque, in Spain, originally referred to an oddly-shaped pearl. In Italy, this term is used to describe a sophistic argument with little dialectic worth. It soon became known in every European language and most used it to define anything unusual, extravagant, irregular, even absurd.
A Little Baroque History
During the second half of the 19th century, Heinrich Wolfflin together with his followers brought a whole new meaning to the term baroque. This Swiss critic used the term to define more specific features such as movements (e.g. a curving on the wall or a water feature showing different water patterns).
Baroque could also be used to represent infinity. So this could be used to define the whole horizon or a trick of mirrors which can alter optical perspectives.
In Renaissance architecture, baroque is the right term to use when describing churches and palaces. These could be royal palaces, cathedrals, parish churches, monastic buildings, country mansions, etc.
The Baroque Building
A structure can be given form in various ways. It can be a piece of sculpture in the middle of a building. It can also be a mere box which is given definition by regular-shaped walls. As a skeletal framework, it is what architects see as a mass that needs to be worked on.
Churches during the Baroque period were always built with vaulted ceilings, hence, the term cathedral ceilings.
Manipulation of Light
The light that focuses a certain point in a physical structure may vary but the effect that it renders will always be the same. So imagine using the same kind of lighting on a brick wall and a smooth, granite one. Baroque architects used this fact to give emphasis to texture and proportion. The difference now lies on the level of appreciation that the spectator shows for each rendition.
Accessories Uttermost Beatriz Baroque Mirror 07673
A Touch of French
The greatest look that the French were able to contribute when it comes to the baroque style could not be found in architecture. You will appreciate French baroque if you take a careful look at beautiful landscape gardening. Baroque gardens have always been Italian in nature with small parks, flower beds and plants. It wasn’t until Andre Le Notre, a landscape architect that a new perspective for garden landscape was born. The French garden often stood at the center of the palace with gravel-filled carriage areas, gates, and the drive all around it. The French-inspired baroque style was the inspiration for The Netherlands and Belgium architecture.
Urban Baroque
Grand staircases are reminiscent of the aristocratic buildings during the 17th century. Having these in your home would be a good way to let people know that you mean to use the baroque style.
Baroque, more often than not, is a kind of art illusion. There are scenery paintings and other false perspectives, sculptures abound, ornaments everywhere.
For a more modern baroque style, try to use a lot of white. The elegance of marble is most welcome, as are opulent moldings, curvaceous lines, jewel tones, and gilded finishes.
You can also mix eras to create a result that is surprisingly baroque. An example is installing metallic wallpaper, and mixing it with a painting of a raven on the wall, a glass chandelier, and a modular credenza.
To cap the baroque design, make sure that you create a focal point that is sure to catch everyone’s attention. A well-placed chandelier or a wooden sculpture will do the trick.
Tags: baroque, Baroque design, baroque furniture history, baroque style, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, French furniture, French interior design, French interiors, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Home Office Archivist Writing Desk
Paris is a place that has been made synonymous with elegance and romance. Parisian style is effortless in the incorporation of both traditional and modern aesthetic elements. This is the right style to use when you want to have an air of sophistication in your home.
Use a light color palette as the base for your design while taking the freedom to add vibrant colors in works of art and polished topiaries. Refined elements can be effectively mixed with grandeur. Use velvet pillows as haute statements.
French Furniture History
French monarchy during the 17th and 18th centuries has been partial to the florid surpluses as well as feminine lines. This brought about a revolutionary change in furniture design which we all know of today.
French royalty insisted on having only the highest quality in interior design aspects. They hired the most skilled European craftsmen.
French furniture history can be divided into three time periods. The Sun King, King Louis XIV was first, then the reign of King Louis XV followed, and the reign of King Louis XVI (executed through the guillotine) all featured the most beautiful French furniture.
It is easy to spot French furniture. just look for the cabriole or curvy chair legs. Look also for serpentine lines, swirling scrolls, embellishments, and the most intricate designs.
Boullework surfaces are also common. These are made of brass inlaid to tortoiseshell or ebony. Bronze is also treated to represent gold and pastel silk upholstery with a lot of florals is also common.
The Empire Style
This was a propaganda that Napoleon brought about. He insisted on a tyrannical centralization of the artistic productions back in his day. He declared that furniture production (and other art media) was to be controlled by Paris and then overseen by Fontaine and Percier (both renowned architects). Jacques-Louis David was also commissioned to oversee the projects.
Noble people were then impoverished or were all in exile. The elites who have risen owe their fame and fortune to the partial master who imitated works of art without embarrassment. The resulting style was a huge success and, eventually, there was uniformity in all of France.
The Empire style is dominated by the Greco-Roman models. Their features may be a bit stiff and imposing because of their sharp corners and flat surfaces.
This furniture style lacks moldings thus, offering beauty and grandeur.
George Jacob was king of the Empire style in furniture. Boat beds, decorated only on one side, became widespread. The minister desk and the psyche mirrors also became famous. Characteristic of the Empire table are the numerous versions of gueridon type which were often used as dining tables.
Mahogany seating is quite common with backs that are often upholstered. It was rare to find small pieces which were used for more specific purposes. Console tables appear more solemn and rigid with their rectangular and marble tops.
Orient Express Furniture Living Room Humphrey Ottoman – Bisque French Linen 6460
Materials and Methods
Mahogany was a popular choice in Parisian furniture making. Because of the blockade that took place, this wood became unavailable, and in its place rose the beech, burled elm, walnut, ash yew root, boxwood, maple and olivewood.
Ornamentation
Ornaments are often marked with precise symmetry. Common motifs include the bee, eagle, the initials I and N, and the stars. The imperial laurel crown as well as figures bearing swans, palm branches, rose wreaths, lions, grape vines, etc. were also used. Those who embraced an Egyptian motif used squares, circles, ovals, octagons and squares.
It’s time to bring the magic of Paris right into your home. Mix chic pieces with neutral ones. Use soft yet glamorous colors. Add iconic designs with the contemporary ones in order to capture the combination of traditional and contemporary.
Tags: 17th century, 18th century, French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furniture, French Romantic, history, luxurious home, luxurious interiors, luxurious living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Parisian style, Parisian theme
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016
Maitland-Smith Dining Room Arm Chair 4130-812 is simply gothic.
Gothic interior design or those medieval interiors both represent like eras. But do not imagine creepy mansions and artwork when thinking about gothic style, instead, think of architectural beauty and intricate furniture pieces.
Victorian gothic is, in essence, an architectural design that started as early in the 1740s. Compared to modern gothic interiors, they are similar because they show opulence and elegance. Gothic architecture first took the spotlight around 1150 AD. This was during the Medieval Period and it immediately became a significant part of every building design. Back then, it was called the French Style.
Examples of the gorgeous Gothic style can be found in abundance in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, more so in Paris, France. Gothic cathedrals are the perfect examples of gothic architectural wonders that have endured centuries.
Gothic Design Today
These days, gothic structures stand as a testament to the unique ability and solid engineering that are used hand-in-hand in their creation.
Have you heard of the flying buttress? This is one of the most recognized gothic elements in the world today. This was created during the Medieval Era. One can be seen in the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris.
Gothic’s got a pointy sort of style with ornate doorways, beautiful archways and perfect symmetry. Architects need to use balance in all aspects of a gothic home. This doesn’t mean that their brains have been hardwired to create everything that’s dark and gloomy, though. With the right set of eyes, you can appreciate the artistry that gothic design stresses. These great minds have been trained to value the beauty of old cathedrals and other majestic structures.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Black Marble Vase 2100-302 has all the elements of gothic style – a dark, rich color and its ornate metallic design.
A great way to wrap your mind around this unique interior design is to imagine intricate and ancient churches instead of dreary places. These are actually sanctuaries with stately windows complete with stained glass. Designs of roses or trefoils are also quite common as are majestic fireplaces situated below exposed beams and wooden rafters.
Beautiful candelabra should complete this divine style.
Gothic Interior Design: A Vertical Style
The gothic design is mainly a vertical style depicted by the looming peaks and arches, with windows growing larger and larger as you walk in each room. There is also an increased amount of lighting and ventilation as the years pass. The gloomy feel of the Romanesque churches are long gone.
Victorian gothic furniture pieces are usually made with sturdy and heavy oak wood adorned with the designs that are reminiscent of the Medieval Period. Headboards, chairs, cabinetry come with beautiful legs, arches and spirals. Heavy fabrics encase these heavy furniture pieces with every upholstery displaying the most majestic colors.
Including benches, pews and altar chairs is an effective way to show the kind of crafts that was featured during that time.
Gothic colors tend to be dark and rich with sombre hues of ruby, purple, forest green, ochre, and gold. You may use black but do so sparingly. It is not good to fall into the usual gothic notion where rooms are dark and even probably haunted. Vibrant colors like deep burgundy, emerald green, dark blue and ruby red are all acceptable.
Uttermost Accessories Alita, Mirror 11587 B
Gothic walls are covered with greenery, flowers and heavy patterns. Homeowners also use stencil designs and heraldic symbols. Paint your walls with flat colors in order to replicate the stone surfaces.
Accentuate stained glass windows with full suits of armor, wrought iron, candles and pews. Cornices and carved ribbing are also common characteristics of gothic interior design.
Display wooden, carved sconces as well as pottery dishes. Wrought iron lamps should be able to cast that needed glow inside an otherwise dark room.
For the final touch, go full gothic by adding dramatic elements such as moldings, dark wallpaper and heavy curtains. Just like you would with any style that you choose, go all out in using the gothic interior design.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark colors, dark design, dark hues, dark-colored hues, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, gothic, gothic interior design, gothic interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Victorian gothic
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Wine bottles in this photo are from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection.
Choosing to highlight the rooms in your home with a vineyard or wine theme can add a casual ambience that is often linked to country French or Tuscan style. Wine accents permeate your place with a glamorous yet tranquil atmosphere. Pick hues that are commonly found in nature to harmonize with your wine accents. Use sage green, burgundy, and deep blue for a calming effect. Sunshine yellow and red, on the other hand, can make a room come to life. If you want to add a hacienda feel or mission touch, then use rustic textures.
This lovely wine rack is also from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection
Guidelines for the Innovative Vineyard Theme
First, what is a wine theme without bottles of wine, right? Keep those wine bottles in a wine rack made of wrought-iron. If you can find those with grapevine and grape bunch embellishments then do so. Display this kind of rack inside your Napa Valley design kitchen.
You can also set up a wine bar with different kinds of wines placed on a glass-topped, wrought-iron table. If you don’t want to take the risk on metal, then go safe with the traditional beauty of wooden racks. To add a country feel, wind some grapevines among the wine bottles.
As guests arrive, place fresh grapes with cheese board showcasing a number of cheeses, crackers, crusty bread, and fruits. Place a terracotta ice bucket complete with a vineyard logo and wine glasses and you’d be the talk of the town!
Now don’t think that the wine theme is just great for your kitchen. You can bring this same rustic look to your bedroom by grouping grapevine wreaths on the place where the headboard should have been. Embellish these with sunflowers to achieve the sunniest Tuscan atmosphere. Here, you should opt for faux grapes complete with dried herbs or some yellow starflowers.
Put this same treatment above the couch in your living room. You can pick one oversized wreath or settle with a group of smaller ones.
Of course, just like any design, one of the fundamental guidelines in achieving cohesion or balance is the use of a focal point.
Make a focal point inside the dining room or kitchen by using a wine puller collection showcased on a bead board backsplash. Put this on the side of the kitchen island or right above the counter.
You can reach a higher level for this look by filling up a pottery bowl (preferably brick red or muted yellow) with different fruits. Use purple and green grapes with all the other fruits, of course. Place this fruit bowl in the middle of your vintage farm dining table. None can be more perfect as a rustic centerpiece.
The bathroom can also be given an eclectic flair as you place vineyard-themed towels, bathrobes and a shower curtain. If you cannot have these theme towels made, then you can just combine white towels with towels in red or purple shades. Highlight the walls with wallpaper in the same hue or print.
Winners Only Dining Room 52 Inch Franklin Server DFD470B at McCreerys Home Furnishings
Designing a Wine Cellar
You may not be a wine connoisseur but if you enjoy a glass of wine after dinner, then it won’t hurt to use this unique them when you remodel your home. Here are some ideas before you set out to build or remodel –
Never think that the wine cellar is merely a storage area. This is an important room just as much as the dining or living room. Obviously, wine bottles need to be kept in a quiet, undisturbed, cool and private place. While this is so, you should not decorate the space as if no one is ever going to see it.
Add a wooden wine rack or cabinet, even a wrought-iron bar in the corner. These furniture pieces are not just there to beautify; they can also serve as storage units in your cellar or wine room. Add a framed artwork on the wall to complete the artistic vibe in your wine-themed home.
Tags: color harmony, country, country cottage, country style, country style interiors, eclectic, eclectic design, eclectic interiors, eclecticism, French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furniture, French interior design, French interiors, French Romantic, harmony, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Napa Valley design, rustic, rustic charm, rustic interiors, rustic look, rustic style, rustic theme, Tuscan design, Tuscan interiors, Tuscan style, vineyard theme, wine bar, wine cellar, wine cellar design, wine theme
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
