Toujours en Vogue

Rustic, but classic. French country style is at once comforting and chic, and is an easy-going design aesthetic easily applied to nearly any room in the home. Marked by time-worn, antique finishes on tables and chairs, cabriole-style legs, and most obviously, pastoral scenes woven and painted into surfaces and fabrics (toile), French country is a favorite for many. 

The French country style has its origins in 18th-century France, when furniture produced in the rich Paris ateliers was copied in the provinces. While done with great workmanship, the designs were interpreted more casually in the countryside, without the gilt and more formal, ornate look from the city.

Here are a few ideas for how to incorporate a little French flair into your own décor:

·         Have a surplus of wicker and wire trays and baskets hanging around? Use them to display photos or other small pieces of artwork on walls. Spray-paint the trays black and attach a small frame to the center by threading wire through the back of the tray.

·         Antiques and distressed furnishings are a key French country ideal. For wood items—desks, tables, nightstands—rubbing with sandpaper can achieve the look affordably and quickly.

·         Well-tailored slipcovers on the end chairs of a dining room or area add polish and a sense of warmth, without being too overstated. Those made from toile-printed fabric or with a painted pastoral scene pack double the punch.

·         When it comes to furniture and colors, avoid being too “matchy-matchy.”  Make each piece unique. Some new, some old, some bright, some muted.

At Hillsdale, we found French country comfort in the Hampton Dining Collection. Its distressed oak finish, traditional ladder back chairs and classic curving legs make it an ideal addition to any French country collection.

For more information, please visit http://www.hillsdalefurniture.com/.