Eye For Design

Brown Colored Interiors.....Warm, Comforting, And On Trend!

2023-03-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

Brown is having a renaissance. First it took the fashion world by storm and now brown interiors are showing up everywhere! With colors like Warm Root Beer, Chocolate Truffle, Turkish Coffee, Toasted Brown, and Mink to choose from, no wonder the brown interior has become so trendy. There is a lovely shade of brown out there for everybody!

Grays have ruled the design world, but the demand for warmer colors is making a huge comeback. Brown feels very earthy and rich. It’s warm and inviting. I mean really, how can you get anymore "down to earth" than a brown interior!

Brown is also the color of aged, antique things and with the resurgence of the "more is more" detailed and collected interior, the timelessness of the brown interior creates a warm sophisticated canvas for showing off your treasures.

I know you are thinking "oh no, dull, drab brown". Not so anymore! We will explore the many color combinations that make such great interiors. The brown palette is being used in interiors in new ways. Brown is now considered a neutral as well as an accent color. You will see how interiors ranging in style from formal and traditional to casual and modern will all look wonderful in shades of brown. Enjoy the reemergence of brown interiors.

Designer, William Eubanks

There is a return to elegance at present and brown is one of the dark colors leading the way. Designers love brown because it brings refinement and sophistication to all style interiors.

Nicky Haslam, designer

Plus brown is a color that evokes a sense of safety and security.

traditionalhome.com

There's no doubt that brown is having a big moment in fashion which mean it is also filtering down to the design world as it always does.

tdclassicist.blogspot.com

From wall paint to furniture, flooring, and home décor, the color brown is coming on strong. Beautiful and luxurious shades of brown are responsible for some stunning interiors.

tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogspot.com

With the right treatment an interior can be trendy yet classic which will keep the look from being dated. The earthy brown color tones effortlessly bring a timeless look to an interior which is what you want.

cuteinsides.com

Brown is not a hue but a shade. You can’t find it on the color wheel....it has to be made by combining several colors. Since it’s not a part of the traditional color wheel you won't get help in color schemes for brown there. Hopefully this blog will help you see a combination you might consider.

houzz.com

Victorians loved dark rich colors and today brown paint is being used by all the best decorators. You will see more pink and brown interiors later on in the post.

johnrobshaw.com

Brown interiors are often thought of as dull and boring.....not anymore though! Brown walls are great neutral backdrops for energetic and colorful interiors.

melissarufty.com

In the design world brown is being considered 2023's new neutral.

Designer Mark Hampton via veranda.com

Brown brings in more warmth and energy making it a less harsh neutral alternative to black. However black does pair well with dark brown.

neooselonneo.be

Painting your interior a soft milk chocolate brown will create a sophisticated backdrop for neutral accessories.

Carolyne Roehm

Dark brown walls will enhance your interior's rich architectural details.

architecturaldigest.com

See how the dark brown wall accentuates this beautiful antique mantle.

architecturaldigest.com

zsazsabellagio.com

Colorful accents bring life into these brown interiors. Flowers look especially beautiful in their natural element.

traditionalhome.com

Brown interiors can become overpowering and make the space look dull and dark, but only if you neglect to add the elements that bring lightness and life. Layer your space with interest, texture and unique items.

Kelly Wearstler, Designer

Faux zebra, whether in rug, upholstery, or pillow form, looks great in a brown interior.

gissler.com

There are so many wonderful shades of brown to choose from!

katieconsiders.com

The beautiful brown living room in Aerin Lauder's East Hampton home features earthy green accents and faux leopard print. Also on trend are the oil paintings and the statement plant.

enchantedhome.com

A warm neutral like brown is associated with calmness, confidence, and being grounded all of which are important in today's uncertain world.

Let's look at some of brown's favorite complementary colors.!

Jake Curtis

When finding a complement to brown, yellow should be at the top of your list.

Mario Buatta

All shades of brown act like neutrals. They coordinate beautifully with warm tones like yellow, gold, orange and fuchsia. Don't forget you can also lacquer your walls for a stunning effect.

veranda.com

Chocolate brown brings depth and saturation even more so if it's lacquered. Pops of orange in a brown room comes across as trendy yet incredibly relaxing.

Glenn Gissler, designer

Stay away from primary orange as an accent in a dark brown interior. The look is too contrasting and loses the calm relaxed sophistication. Mandarin orange looks fabulous here.

atlantahomesmag.com

Brown interiors are the ideal complement for artwork with bold colors whether formal in style or casual contemporary.

architecturaldigest.com

Green works well in a brown interior because it lends to a moody earthy vibe.

bhg.com

Hang colorful paintings on your brown walls for instant brightness that will team up nicely with the brown décor.

Chad Jackson Photography

tdclassicist.blogspot.com

Brown provides a fabulous base for other colors that are growing in popularity....like pink, yellow, and orange.

habituallychic.luxury The late Kenneth Jay Lane

Brown can make other colors stand out, making them look richer and brighter.

hydrangeahillcottage.blogspot.com

Kelli Ford and Kirsten Fitzgibbons

One of the most stunning looks is accenting brown interiors with multi colors. Since brown is a mixture of many colors, many colors look fabulous against it. It is perfect as a base color for bright vibrant shades. Just make sure you accents have undertones of brown or it could get messy.

I am going to stop here and turn you over to Kate Smith, an internationally recognized color expert, consultant, and designer. Her site will help you understand what I mean by undertones. They are essential so go do your homework.

https://www.sensationalcolor.com

horchow.com

A violet shade of purple adds softness and femininity to a chocolate interior. Add in a touch of yellow (brass included) if you are looking for a third complementary member of the the color scheme. Also it will brighten the space.

neimanmarcus.com

Red is another wonderful color to bring into a brown interior though the use of accent pieces of furniture. This red sofa teams well with printed and floral mix-and-match cushions which add texture. The artwork becomes the center of attention that ties it all together.

harpersbazaar.com

housebeautiful.com

I love red used as an accent in an interior with warm brown walls. Brown is fun to play around with and can work well with every color.

prestonfield.com

@DrvonFox1 on twitter

Brown walls are the perfect neutral for the warmth of tartan plaid.

Designer, Tommy Kyle

via Pinterest

In a pink and dark brown interior a watermelon pink will make a statement while still remaining delicate and feminine.

via Pinterest

Or you can go a bit more soft and subtle with your pink accessories.

thespruce.com

This is such a pretty brown interior. The sofa lightens things up and then some fun is added with muted pink pillows, subtle mixed patterns, oil paintings and accessories. The art of accessorizing is key to a lovely room. That doesn't mean run out and buy lots of matchy matchy items. You want a room to look as if it has gracefully evolved.

thetimes.co.uk

markmontano.com

Blue is a great accent color for the brown interior, however, I think it looks better in small doses and not too "balanced out". Too much blue and a brown interior can go sideways on you.

Designer Michael S. Smith

Combining blue and brown tones in your interiors can make a relaxing environment. I think brown makes a lovely background for Chinese Export.

hadleycourt.com

The cool tones in shades of blue mix well with the warm browns without leaving the room feeling too dark or heavy.

Libby Cameron

Remember to focus on lighting when using the trendy dark colors in your interiors. Use table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers and mirrors to reflect it all!

lord-of-hahn.tumblr.com

1stdibs.com

These next two images feature a dark caramel brown which is a warm and comfortable alternative for the darker brown interior.

elledecor.com

southshoredecoratingblog.com

Paired together, a soft shade of ivory and the visual appeal of a dark chocolate brown will always be a classic combination for interiors.

habituallychic.luxury

A word of advice......creamy whites are going to look better in brown interiors that stark white will.

Robert Brown, Designer

Since both gray and brown are in the neutral category they place well together. Adding in cream, the third neutral, creates an air of chicness.

Frank de Biasi Interiors

The trend for wallpaper is hotter than ever so the papered brown interior might be just the ticket for you. Another tip is to introduce a bright rug that will serve as an anchor for the colors you choose to accent with.

Designer, Ann Getty

Since wallpaper is a big commitment just take your time and make sure you love it. I prefer more subtle patterns that allow furniture and art to have center stage.....especially with brown.

vaux-le-vicomte.com

Damask wallpaper is trending again so consider the elegance of this old world wallcovering design for your brown interior facelift.

homedit.com

thibautdesign.com

Some people like things a bit more bold. Since brown is a neutral you can pair it with everything from strong prints to larger florals.

degournay.com

This brown Chinoiserie wallpaper is stunning when paired with the oriental style fretwork under the dado. Brown wallpaper can make a beautiful statement when chosen wisely.

Ralph Lauren

The colors of the rooms in your home also serve as a direct reflection of your personality. Like I said before, brown brings a casual elegance and sophistication to a space but it is also often associated with authenticity, warmth and dependability. All good character traits!

hazlittshotel.com

Since the color brown delivers a sense of security and since it is warm yet luxurious, it is perfect for the interior of the bedroom.

Mark Hampton

A brown interior can come across as masculine so you must soften up the bedroom if you choose to paint the walls brown. A touch of lace and vintage style linens give a romantic feminine feel which will certainly balance things out.

decorpad.com

Brown kitchens must have color, warmth, textures, and well thought out styling in order to look modern and yet warm and inviting.

aquieterstorm.tumblr.com

In fact I find most modern brown kitchens horrendous and had a difficult time finding an image that had any character at all.
This is a small kitchen but it is comforting and pleasant.....as kitchens should be.

hgtv.com

I do like the brown subway tile. At least it offers interest and texture.

via Pinterest

Don't be afraid to paint a small interior space with a dark color. The rich tones of a chocolate brown bathroom creates a luxurious feel while actually upping the cozy factor.

improvenet.com

Breaking up the expanse of brown with a lighter patterned bath rug is a good idea.

via Pinterest

If a dark brown bathroom is too strong for you try something softer like mocha. You will get the same effect without being overwhelmed.

A beautiful soft brown interior by designer William Eubanks. I hope you have a different opinion of these glamorous and warm interiors and might even aspire to create one for yourself.

Click here to see the previous post

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2021/08/old-world-painted-overdoorsand-how-to.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I would be glad to correct it.

Pink Interiors Decorated With Elegance and Style

2023-03-10T17:28:00.003-08:00

Edith Piaf understood it when she sang the iconic French song "La Vie En Rose" which translates to "Life in Pink" or "life seen through rose-colored glasses" The color pink has always evoked the emotion of seeing everything in an attractive, pleasant light. And this color has never been as popular in interior décor as it currently is.

What I call the "predecieved" idea that pink should only be used in a girl’s bedroom or bathroom is now outdated. Use the right shade of pink and it will make any room look fresh, modern, and grown-up. The color pink has many positive benefits and lends well to interiors. Pink brings warmth, depth, and sophistication to all interior décor styles from Old World, to Traditional, as well as Modern Maximalist interiors.

According to interior designers, pink décor for any room is definitively in this year from blushing rose to magenta and every hue in between. Pink has the power to transform a room into a lovely space. Although it can be a challenge to work with, you can be successful with a bit of knowledge and a good eye.

From living rooms to kitchens and all areas in between, in this blog post we will look at ways to make each of these spaces pink friendly in an elegant and stylish way.

I am not a big fan of millennial pink, so you won't be seeing interiors with that color on this post. I say let pink be classically pink and not some weird brownish color. Also as beautiful as coral and salmon are, they are in a league of their own. I am talking PINK here!

Enjoy!!

vogue.com

Even though pink is now such a grown up color, it can still be a bit intimidating for those not in the industry to decorate with. While it's easy for most people to add a few pops of pink, creating a bold and dramatic interior with this color takes a little more mastery. Hopefully by the end of the post you will have the knowledge to create a beautiful interior like the one above!

Windsor Smith, Designer

We will start with pink walled interiors. At one time this was a bit daunting but not anymore. Saturated interiors are trendy now and if you choose your shades properly you will see why. Stick with pretty muted pinks like Windsor Smith has used here. These shades won't become tiring especially when used in living rooms, dining rooms, etc. Bright and overly saccharine pink is ok for a short sprint but not the long run.

Designer Timothy Corrigan, mollycarrphotography.com

To create a classic sophisticated look, stick to decorating with a pink shade on the muted side..... one that is not as saturated as a bright color.

traditionalhome.com

What colors go with pink? Pink is not featured on a traditional color wheel because it is not a color in itself but is a tint of red. Because pink is so versatile, it can be paired with many different interior colors.

Anthea and Lawrence Mynott, designers

Ryland Peters, betterdecoratingbible.com

pandashouse.com

Now if you have decided on pink walls, what will your accent colors be? Let's start with yellow, an uplifting color making it the prefect partner for happy pink, the positive color that inspires warm and comforting feelings.

via Pinterest

Today more elegant versions of pink are popular as the return of the refined and sophisticated interior has taken center stage. Again you can see how yellow/gold in the form of rug, painted furniture, and gold tone picture/mirror frames ups the classy look of today's pink interior.

Veere Grenney: A Point of View via architecturaldigest.com

Kempshott Road Location House (@kempshottroad) on Instagram

Since pink is a tint of red and red is opposite green on the color wheel, these opposites sides from each other means that pink and green are the most complementary to each other. It also means that you can pretty much find any shade of green to go with pink. It’s important however to match the correct hues.

Samantha Todhunter, designer

theirishaesthete.com

Black, white, orange, yellow, and the pop of the green plant all add a soft sophistication to this lovely room painted in a soft blush pink.

Matthew Williamson, designer - via elledecor.com

Better Homes & Gardens

Pink and orange work well together in interiors because red and orange are located so close together on the color wheel. So whether you choose soft and elegant shades.......

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

or bold and dramatic, pink and orange will work well in your space.

via Pinterest

Red and pink may seem like a risky combination but remember pink is a tint of red. The pink and red interior really does not clash when done well.

Miles Redd, designer

Pink and red are actually harmonious and can create a stunning interior with the use of artwork and a touch of black to pull the two colors together.

fireflyandfinch.squarespace.com

A classically styled gallery wall with rich gold tone frames can do the trick.

architecturaldigest.com

Warm, deep pink walls will make a room feel cozier.

Miles Redd, designer

As will a soft shade of pink on the walls of a neutral creamy white interior complete with vintage style furnishings.

bhg.com

michaelanoelledesigns.blogspot.co...

digdigs.com

One of the easiest ways to accentuate your home interior is by using the simple concept of accent walls. Here a pink accent wall instantly boosts the aesthetic appeal of this room. Choosing the correct wall to paint in contrast is imperative so take your time and make a wise choice. I prefer short walls to long walls.

via Pintrest

Look around the room and see what offers the most aesthetic appeal. Many homeowners are now using the fireplace wall as the accent wall. This would be a good choice for a single splash of bold color, in this case pink.

traditionalhome.com

Paint or use pink wallpaper above wainscoting to break the saturation. Just a touch of black in an all pink space will add some depth and drama.

bohemianhomes.tumblr.com

Old world pink interiors coupled with multi-colored antique accessories can create a jewel box atmosphere.

Samantha Todhunter Design Ltd

Because pink is such a versatile shade, it is seen in interiors paired with many of what we refer to as jewel tone colors. Jewel tones are colors and tones that are derived from gemstones such as Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald. These colors can have mid to high level of color saturation which makes them dynamic and eye-catching.

decoist.com

housebeautiful.com

thibautdesign.com

Another way to incorporate pink into your interior is with wallpaper which is currently making a substantial comeback in the design world. This pink wallpaper not only adds color to the space but also character and style.

royaldesignstudio.com

Texture is also important especially in the Grandmillennial interior. This pink wallpaper shows how that can be achieved with the right wallcovering.

Cathy Kincaid, designer - Photo by Emily Followill

If you want pink walls but don't want them saturated in paint, wallpaper is your answer. With pink and green prevalent in nature, the eye appeal for the color combination in this space is guaranteed.

theglampad.com

Try using pink to add a pop for energy in your entrance. Very sophisticated with the addition of black and white harlequin flooring, antiques, and art.

housebeautiful.com

Vivid pink walls, creamy white woodwork, and black accents create a glamorous crisp and bold foyer.

jonathanbergerinteriordesign.com

Yes, stairway walls can also be painted pink. Make sure that you add art to break up the strength of this color. The touches of black are also nice with this vivid choice of pink.

luxesource.com

This stairway wall is painted with a bit softer pink but still needs art because of it's long expanse.

housebeautiful.com

With designers agreeing that pink décor for any room is definitively trendy at present, maybe this is the time to update your dining room with the color pink. In a room set aside for dining and conversation, why not choose a soft, muted shade like this that flatters any skin tone. The pops of blue keep the pink walls from becoming overly feminine.

colodu.club

Consider pink striped walls via the wonderful wallpaper trend now upon us. The great thing about stripes is that they never really go out of style. Plus you have the visual benefits of making your ceilings look higher.

chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com

traditionalhome.com

Muted, dusky yet vibrant pinks are energetic and uplifting and can look very chic if done right. These cream colored rattan Chinese Chippendale style chairs give the room a light, airy feel that promotes good fun and conversation.

thepeakofchic.blogspot.com

Everything is rosy in this pretty pink old world dining room. By bringing in some darker hues like the black and dark grey of the trim work and the painting, the muted green chairs, and the creamy dishes and classical bust, you help to balance out the sweetness of the pink tones and the room doesn't look too feminine.

traditionalhome.com

Pink interiors have seen a surge in popularity recently with pink bedrooms becoming increasingly fashionable.

lanesborough.com

Bunny Williams, designer

Softer pared down pinks for a bedroom create a beautifully calming interior anyone would want to sleep in. Mixing with gray, as Bunny Williams has done here, takes away the femininity to the point that a man would feel at home in this pink bedroom.

Marella Agnelli's bedroom, Photography by Eric Boman via wsj.com

kateforman.co.uk

Marjorie Skouras, designer, Photography by John Ellis

Even though there is huge amount of pink in the bedroom above, it doesn’t feel too feminine because of the dark teal color in the large art, lamps, and rug which are creating such a contrast.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

Pink walls can be considered neutral when you pair them with stronger hued colors. Here cool colors in shades of green and blue combine with pink to create a lush garden inspired space with a zebra rug adding some pizazz. The room is vibrant yet calming and sets the tone for a serene sleeping space.

Photo by The Mural Source

One of the best and easiest rooms to consider decorating in pink is the bath or powder room. You can ease into the pink rage by starting out in a small space. Soft pinks are currently the most popular and wallpapered baths are a real design trend so there are currently many ways to individualize your space in a subtle........

voguevoyager.tumbler.co

or unexpected way!

qssupplies.co.uk

Dusty rose is lovely when paired with gray. I am an old world gal so the shutters, French console turned vanity, antique perfume bottles, and crystal chandelier are perfection for me.

via Pinterest

This cooler shade of vibrant pink wallpaper creates a refreshing space when paired with the creamy white painted paneling, vanities, and mirrored cabinets. The crystal sconces add the old world elegance to this modern space.

luxesource.com

For a kitchen I don't think saturation is a good idea. I am more an advocate for utilizing touches of pink instead. Here is a gorgeous cream colored kitchen featuring pink glass subway backsplash tiles and pink and gold stools at the center island. You could also add in some pink accessories to balance out the room. This is a pink kitchen look that is not chaotic and would not become tiring.

treshautediva.com

Prefect example of how you can create a lovely pink kitchen without going overboard with the color.

Big Chill via quadrostyle.com

With the new lines of retro style appliances you can now get a vintage look in your kitchen without sacrificing function and modern amenities. Great way to incorporate that pink!

homedit.com

thepeakofchic.blogspot.com

Of course magenta or fuchsia shades of pink can create strong and chic kitchens that really evoke the "wow" factor. Just do your homework and choose all elements of the design carefully.

deringhall.com

And why not a pink library? The bookshelves and other touches of black give this shade of pink an edgier look.

Elizabeth Bauer, designer

lonny.com

If you want to go bolder there is always magenta, a vivid and unapologetic shade of pink. This is a wonderful choice if you crave a darker, moody space because it still gives you a feeling of joyfulness. This color simply can't bring you down!

fireflyandfinch.squarespace.com

Pantone deemed Viva Magenta “brave and fearless” and chose it as 2023's color of the year. It is still popular and can be used to create elegant and stylish interiors. Treat it like other shades of pink and complement with blue, green, gold. Gold tone picture frames looks especially dazzling on walls with this shade of pink.

crystalwaye.com

bhg.com

To have a pink interior there is no need to paint walls, change your carpet, and buy tons of accessories. You can simply introduce the color pink in subtle ways throughout.

jeanallsopp.com

Renvy Graves Pittman's Bel Air Home | Photo credit: Pieter Miguel Flores-Vianna for VERANDA

Pink window treatments ........ another great way to add color without overwhelming the room.

via Pinterest

The right curtains or draperies can transform a room. This living room is now thought of as pink because of the curtains and a few small accessories.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

The right window treatments are detrimental to the overall look of a space and can add an element of interest to a room just as these pink ones do. And yes, the Eiffel Tower certainly helps!

veranda.com

Artwork is also a fabulous way to introduce several different pink elements into your home.

via Pinterest

Without going overboard with the color, your room can come across as being pink with just the right amount of accessorizing.

Lee Jofa showroom, NYC

Pink furniture can become focal points and can stand alone to make a huge pink statement.

carolinezamadics.com

via Pinterest

Because of their size pink sofas can go a long way in strengthening the illusion that you have a pink interior.

housebeautiful.com

Add a pink sofa as the main focus in a living space, support it with some pink accessories and guests will leave saying "what a pretty pink room!"

belgianpearls.be

A painted piece displayed as a focal point will get people thinking pink about your interior décor.

Wayfair.com

Kristen McCory

grabsomeideas.tumblr.com

Just want touches of pink only? There are so many beautiful ways to incorporate small doses of this happy color into your home décor. It will certainly uplift you without being overpowering.

thepolohouse.blogspot.com

Just a touch of pink here in the bedroom......

dimplesandtangles.com

or the hall.......

or the living room and you are good to go!

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorate With Round, Skirted, Dining Room Tables

2023-02-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

A skirted round table can be an impressive piece of furniture that can be a beautiful asset to any dining room. They are a great way to make you dining room seem warm and inviting while adding color, pattern and texture. There is nothing new here, the skirted round table is a classic that gets banished to no man's land periodically. But there always seems to be an eventual resurrection because they are so lovely and versatile that decorators always seem to acknowledge their worth and bring them back from exile.

Whether you like the romantic, dreamy style with billowy ball gown-like skirts or your preference is a more tailored style, it is the fabric that will give your skirted dining room table a refreshed updated look. The right fabric choice will take your table from too fussy to elegant and chic. Flouncy skirts have given way to more classic looks that use lovely linens and dressmaker detailing. Even the layered looks are now clean and crisp.

If you find yourself drawn to this look maybe these images will help you make up your mind to create a table skirt for your dining space.

veranda.com

Decorators are once again realizing the potential of a skirted table's presence in a room. I think they are especially lovely when used on round tables in dining rooms.

beckynielseninteriors.com

If you are considering a dining room facelift, make the decision to start with a new table look.....skirting. Trendy and elegant they will be a wonderful focal point for your space. Plus they tend to create a softer feel in a formal dining room.

tidbitsandtwine.com

Three elements at work here to make your dining room look more updated and interesting. 1. Chinese wallpaper which is very trendy at present. 2. Mixed seating. A settee will give you a banquette look. 3. A colorful and luxurious skirt on the round table in a pattern that pulls it all together.

Designer Mallory Mathison Glenn via atlantahomesmag.com

A table skirt will help to bring pattern and texture into the décor of the dining room. The pattern gives this skirted round table a modern twist on the classic look.

atlantahomesmag.com

francesschultz.com

houseandgarden.co.uk

Because of the number of chairs, a dining room can easily become too "leggy". A beautiful table skirt will soften the look by warming things up.

Leta Austin Foster, Designer

A round skirted table is such a wonderful way to incorporate color into your dining room.

via Pinterest

Such a pretty dining room with it's skirted round table and wonderful banquette style seating via a sweet buffalo checked sofa.

emilyaclark.com via House Beautiful

To protect your dining room table skirt you can choose glass or a waterproof liner.

lefevre.be

I love the casual elegance of this round, skirted, dining room table.

Bailey McCarthy

One of the quickest dining room updates is to switch to a round table and add a beautiful skirt.

weranda.pl

Sitting comfortably is many times a drawback to the round skirted table. Usually if the skirt is not too heavy and doesn't puddle on the floor it's not a problem. Weighting the bottom gives a better visual effect but can add to the seating problem. The trick is to make sure you provide plenty of fullness for everyone's knees so the space won't be pulled too tight.

baileymccarthy.com

Even though this dining room has a classic skirted round table, it still has elements like the modern chandelier and trendy, bolder Chinese wallpaper that make this space feel fresh yet timeless.

Pamela Pierce

There are many different styles of round table skirts to choose from. Some like a skirt to be gathered to the max.

thibautdesign.com

chinoiseriechic.net

Others choose a more simple style table skirt.

John Fowler and Nancy Lancaster

For those who like layers of pattern, skirting your dining room table (or dining space as it is in this image) in a stylish pattern is a great way to mix in more.

veranda.com

A round dining room table covered in layers of crisp stripes and checks is perfection when used with painted furniture.

Designer, Ralph Lauren

The new grandmillennial style lends itself to layering. Just remember, if you choose this style for your dining room table skirt, limit it to three layers so you won't get stuck with a cluttered look.

source unknown

Albert Hadley via House Beautiful

mydesignchic.com

Trims and fringes will provide your round dining room skirted table just the detailing it needs for finish and style.

veranda.com

If you are an advocate of ‘more is more’, then you already know that a beautiful round table skirt is a great opportunity to add more patterned fabric to your dining room.

via pinterest

A softly draped table skirt adds instant warmth to the dining room and can be a wonderful alternative if there is already a good deal of wood in the room

zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

If your dining room is lacking architectural interest, a skirted table is the perfect solution to bring interest to the space.

segretosecrets.squarespace.co

housebeautiful.com

I love this simple but elegant round, skirted table. And since I am a big fan of mismatched dining room chairs, the addition of the great colorful painted chairs and French settee is pure perfection!!

atlantahomesmag.com

This gorgeous dining area is on trend with the table skirt and the pretty collection of blue and white China.

thefrenchtangerine.com

It really doesn't matter the condition of the round table just as long as it is sturdy. This will give you more money in your budget to purchase great fabric for your dining room table skirt.

Home of artist and architect, Tomás Colaço

tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com

A truly beautiful neutral dining area with cream round table skirt. I think a round and skirted dining room table creates a more intimate space.

elledecor.com

Miles Redd creates the unexpected in this dining room with this round table skirt in a bold colorful pattern. It is so much fun to play with these skirts!!

When not in use during mealtime, a skirted, round table can serve as the perfect place to display treasures or even books. Also chairs need not always be tradition in style. This resident has chosen curule seating in their dining area.

Suzanne Rheinstein

The dining room that features a round and skirted table can be even more visually appealing if the chairs aren't situated in the traditional pushed in way. Either move your chairs out a bit, place them against the walls until ready to use, or try something unique like the placement above.

designindulgence.blogspot.co

Round dining room tables look wonderful in more tailored skirting as well. Decorative tape or fringe can help refresh your fabric and those little dressmaker details make all the difference.

thedevinelife.blogspot.com

If you want a beautiful skirted look for your round dining space table, try using something different like a quilt.

cotedetexas.blogspot.com

Or maybe even skirt your round dining room table with a tapestry! Think outside the box and get creative.

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With The Wingback Chair......It's Trendy Again!

2023-02-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to welcome a classic friend back from the scorned and rejected décor area. I have always loved the comfort and style of the Wingback Chair and once had one covered in crewel embroidery in which I regularly curled up in for a good read. That was in the 80's before they fell out of favor and became thought of as old fashioned. Now you see them everywhere and while these modern Wingback Chairs sport updated shapes, colors, and fabrics, they still maintain the charm that we have come to expect from them.

The Wingback chair has quite a pedigree. Developed in England in the 1600's as wooden chair designed with wings that served two purposes....... keeping cold drafts off the upper part of the body and providing protection from the intense heat of blazing fireplaces.

The style of this chair took off in popularity in Colonial America during the 1700's where it became a household staple. The Wingback Chair began getting cozier with time and by the 1800's the manufacturers of Wingbacks turned to comfort and began incorporating upholstery and generous horsehair stuffing.

The timeless style and practicality of this piece ensures its longevity and whether it is intended for a living room, entryway, or bedroom space, a Wingback Chair will provide a distinguished design element to your home.

scullandoars.tumblr.com

Wingback Chairs are characterized by a high back and “wings” that project out and usually extend down the arm rests.The high-backed Queen Anne style is the wingback chair most thought of as traditional Early American. It features cabriole legs, a curved seat cushion, and an exaggerated “wing” that fully encases the head and shoulders of the seated person.

inspiredself.tumblr.com

The timeless style and practicality of this piece ensures its longevity and even today whether it is intended for a living room, entryway, or bedroom space, a wingback chair will provide a distinguished design element for your home.

curatedinterior.com

Sometimes call a "fireside chair", wingback chairs graced the hearths of many colonial and traditional homes. Today the Grandmillennial home is the new beneficiary of these lovely chairs.

wsj.com

In keeping with the Grandmillennial style, which combines traditional pieces with modern elements, this interior is chic and sophisticated for today's modern home.

BHDM Design, via lonnymag.com

This image is living proof that the wingback chair should not be thought of as as old fashioned or the chair from grandma's house. Same style but when used in modern ways this chair can shine.

mysweetsavannah.blogspot.co

With so many fresh designs flooding the marketplace, wingback chairs have brought a new perspective to luxury décor.

anthropologie.com

Color and pattern is a huge part of the interior trend for the return of the elegant home. Wingback chairs have evolved and are now sought after for this style interior.

houzz.com

The wingback chair originated from humble beginnings in England, but it gained popularity in America and France. Today this chair is still loved worldwide and is entering a new phase of design and application.

southernhospitalityblog.com

If you love color and energy you will be pleased to know that the wingback chair presents well covered in bold exciting fabrics.

via Pintrest

Even if upholstered in neutral colors the wingback chair is still a scene stealer.

The timeless style and practicality of this piece ensures that it makes the perfect option for not only bedrooms and living rooms but foyers, family rooms,......

Sarah Richardson Design via houseandhome.com

...... and libraries. These stunning chairs with striped upholstery would look great in any style interior.

lonnymag.com

ballarddesigns.com

Generations are constantly drawing inspiration from past trends. The new followers of maximallism are demanding interiors full of pattern and color......

styleblueprint.com

......plus vintage, antique or heirloom inspired furnishings and collectibles.

enchantedhome.com

This pair of wingbacks is covered in classical leather but still looks fresh because of the pops of black, textured wallcovering, and faux zebra style rug.

calllmeclassy.tumblr.com

While the Wingback Chair is traditional in design, the fabric selection, rug, and accessories make this a current and chic space.

maisonspring.com

nellhills.com

Wingback chairs make great "heads of the table" chairs. These two are slipcovered in a colorful modern pattern. Remember custom slipcovers will hide a multitude of sins and update a room quickly so you can be right on trend.

via Pinterest

A modern, more angular version of the wingback chair, upholstered in a quatrefoil pattern takes a place of honor at this dining room table.

These lovely Wingback Chairs from Horchow reflect a more modern silhouette.

homebunch.com

The leather wingback chair is a perennial favorite. This was one of the first type of chairs to be upholstered in leather rather than fabric.

yournestdesign.blogspot.com

thehandmadehome.net

I love how the wingback chair has made it's way into the kitchen and dining room.

houzz.com

Today's wingback chair can be found covered in bold pattern and color. This is a chair that can be more fun to play with than ever before as it is no longer such a serious piece.

elledecor.com

Perfect for an English cottage style interior these skirted Wingback Chairs invite guests to sip tea in comfort. Again skirts are so versatile, and as seen here, can turn a more formal chair into a country cousin.

homedesigndecormag.com

Leigh Olive Mowry-Olive Interiors

Wingback chairs can show up in almost every room of the house in about every design style you can envision.

archzine.fr

These types of chairs also often feature decorative nail heads.

decorpad.com

Covered in bold upholstery, modern wingback chairs can be used to illicit that coveted "wow" from your family and visitors.......

www.decorpad.com

........or they can exude a quite, sophisticated elegance.

hitherandthither.net

dimplesandtangles.com

Look for vintage cane versions of the wingback chair. Add some bright paint and a lively pillow and you have added some real interest to your space.

frenchmadame.com

These wingback chairs are definitely the stars of this stylish foyer.

ballarddesigns.com

This beautiful wingback chair does not compromise on either comfort or aesthetics!

tginteriors.blogspot.com

nest.co.uk

The Ritz Hansen Ro Lounge Chair proves that this 300 year old design remains popular today. Bright and futuristic, these Wingbacks have simple, swooping, exaggerated lines due to modest leg styles and dramatically curving backs.

www.magetjooz.com

Today's modern Wingbacks may look a bit edgier but all retain the original design of the high back and wings, while still satisfying the demand for comfort.

dellacooks.com

I hope you are inspired enough to explore the many stylish ways to decorate with this iconic chair.

bloglovin.com

No matter what your personal taste is there will be a Wingback Chair in a style.........

www.bhg.com

......or color to satisfy your desire.

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Purple Interiors.....Yes, They Can be Elegant and Sophisticated!

2023-01-30T15:40:00.003-08:00

Purple....it's not just for kid's rooms any longer! With a range of hues occurring between red and blue on the color wheel, purple can evoke a lot of different interior moods from romantic to dramatic, playful, and even sophisticated. Your choices can run from deep, dark aubergine or eggplant as it is sometimes called, to the palest mauve, a lighter and less saturated shade of purple.... interestingly enough the color of a by product created by a scientific experiment attempting to create artificial quinine.

Starting with the bluer side and ending with my personal favorite, the redder side, this post will deal mainly with the shades of purple that I think make the most beautiful rooms regardless the interior style. Some of the trendier shades won't be here because they will become tiring very quickly and can come across as gaudy, giving purple a bad name.

The white minimalistic interior has left us all thirsting for color. Consider purple, even if you have to call it by one of it's shade names in order to fathom the idea of incorporating this neglected color into your homes. Give it a chance, do your homework so you can get it right, and you might just be surprised how elegant a purple interior can be.

crowndesigners.com

The English name of the color that in Latin is known as "purpura" was the color of a dye extracted from a mollusk found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia. Tyrian purple was a symbol of royalty and political authority and was a rich blue based purple.

lushhome.com

There was a time when purple dye was rare. Historically, this color has a connection to luxury because only the rich and those who belonged to royalty could afford to wear, or present it in any way.

housebeautiful.com

Purple in all it's shades has become a more respected color for home design in recent years. This color that most residents don't normally take seriously, is being embraced by young and old and there are many images now to prove the fact that purple interiors can be elegant and sophisticated. Hopefully some of these will help you to take notice as well.

Amanda Nisbet, designer- Photography by Spaceandline.com

All shades of green work well with purple. Try making an unapologetic move to the bolder chartreuse shade accessories for lovely interiors. Add in some golden yellow and you have a great, definitely sophisticated interior!

sebringdesignbuild.com

The brightness of chartreuse against shades of purple makes for a tension in the room that the eye appreciates.

scoutandnimble.com

A darker shade of purple, like on these walls and bookcases, makes a bold backdrop which allows the mix in this chic room to really pop. I love the detailing in purple that trims the rug.

digsdigs.com

This purple color is a nice calming hue for the soft, sophisticated look of this interior. Pink goes well with purple because they are neighbors on the color wheel. Just don't overdo or it will get childish.

nehome.com

This softer shade of purple never overwhelms and always feels classic and fresh. Purple in this interior is balanced well by neutrals and natural wooden furniture, especially in warm browns.

housebeautiful.com

By all means embrace the unexpected when you create a purple interior. Just make sure you add a level of sophistication like the tiger print pillows, antique French chair, and artwork so ‘cuteness’ , that is so often associated with purple, won't ruin the look.

housetohome.co.uk

Accents in a purple room allow the purple to be the star while still complementing it well.

katielydoninteriors.com

Purple walls are at risk of making a room undesirably dark. This can be remedied with the addition of some neutrals to soften the look.

apartmenttherapy.com

Purple with black can still have a chic presentation....... just slightly edgier. Light purple pairs well with black and won’t make the room too dark. If you want to use a darker shade of purple make sure to use a few light yellow, pink, or cream accents. Toss in some pillows and artwork to brighten the moodiness a bit.

thisoldhouse.com

Yellow, especially on the gold side, pairs well with purple for a bold and energizing interior.

interiorsbycolor.com

The gold tones can really pop off purple and make it look luxe and elegant. Brass accents are always nice!

digdigs.com

When purple and shades of gold come together in a space you really get the sense of royal elegance but in a modern, stylish way.

Photo by John Neitzel via theglampad.com

via Pinterest

If thoughts of purple walls are too overwhelming don't throw in the towel and give up on the color. Since it doesn't take much purple to fill a room with personality and fun, it can be used to create a splash of color as an accent wall.......

designmag.fr

or used as a purple splash of color on the floor to draw the eye downward........

thisoldhouse.com

or you can even opt to paint the ceiling purple to draw the eye upward.

marypattondesign.com via Martha Stewart

Purple with it's many shades can find a place in any room in your home. This includes your bathroom which will look elegant and airy if you choose a lighter shade.

seekinglavenderlane.com

Darker purple bathrooms will be more dramatic, adding flair and sophistication.

clementsdesign.com

Remember, contrary to what most people think, dark colors will make a small space appear larger. The dark purple gives this bath it's glamour and elegance.

ariyonainterior.com

I am not a big advocate of saturated purple kitchens but I do believe there are lovely ways to incorporate this color. I am definitely a fan of this soft muted lilac backsplash.

betterhomesandgardens.com

Try an accent wall in a dark shade of purple. You can see that when coupled with a predominately light neutral the purple add to and does not dominate and overwhelm the kitchen.

alisonkandler.com

An island and some pretty purple flowers may be all you need!

nyt.com

However, if you are sold on a colorful kitchen, purple in it's various shades will be a good choice.

Source: de Gournay
Hand-Painted Interiors, by Claud Gurney

The choice of purple for this kitchen is a bold move but what a lovely interior space has been created here. This purple interior has been elevated to the elegant and sophisticated domain by the de Gourney wallpaper and the choice of complementary colors.

via Pinterest

A saturated purple room is a lovely elegant backdrop for modern traditional furnishings.

phillipthomasinc.com

While the color purple is considered a serious contender for sophisticated interiors today, it is still a fun one with which you can be whimsical.

havenhome.me

Purple walls with fearless pops of color can certainly create the happy environments people yearn for in these intense times.

carlaaston.com

Since purple is a mixture of blue and red ..... cold and warm, you can go either way your personality favors when creating your purple interior.

veranda.com

You have seen the BLUE side of purple in many of the previous images....now it's time for MY favorite side which is the sexy RED side of purple. This shade creates some elegant interiors!

jamesbalston.com

This side of purple makes a room warm, romantic, and inviting.

brightbazaarblog.com

Pairing this shade of purple with orange or pink will create a lively, passionate mood quality that elicits well being and happiness.

roomfortuesday.com

Purple is a stunning choice for a colorful yet sophisticated library. The books seem to pop off the shelves.

paolomoschino.com

Another beautiful purple library with brass accents. Brass and purple are made for each other.

rinfretltd.com

Adding jewel tone accessories to a purple room will create a room reminiscent of a a little jewel box within a house......especially in a small space.

architecturaldigest.com

Dark purple like on these walls allow the color mix in the room to pop against the bold backdrop.

Alexa Hampton, designer....Photo: Steve Freihon

If you like deeply saturated and warmer purples you might consider the rich and mysterious shades of aubergine. As you can see this color basks in the support of orange.

houseandhome.com

More jewel tone colors against an aubergine purple background in the home of fashion designer Alice Temperley.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

behr.com

thouswell.com

Add some neutral walls if aubergine purple saturation is too much for you. Plus you don't have to accent with bold orange. Softer, muted shades are also lovely paired with this shade of purple.

Photo credit: Roland Beaufre

If the Boho style is what you are looking for, seriously consider a pretty darker shade of purple for your walls. Remember a dark color can actually make a small space appear larger.

whittneyparkinsondesign.com

And why not opt for a purple mudroom! The brass hardware really sets the cabinets and drawers off and gives even an utilitarian space some refinement.

via Pinterest

Bedrooms are another good space to try to ride the trend and experiment with the color purple. Bold purple walls in the bedroom might be too overwhelming, after all the bedroom is suppose to be restful and a bit more serene. Try a pretty soft orchid shade and toss in some accessories like the throw in a different shade of the same color.

homedit.com

Walls painted a soft purple with gray undertones would be nice in the bedroom. Then incorporate it throughout the rest of the room through coverlets, pillows, and draperies. You can have a feminine purple bedroom without it becoming too cute or girly.

Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard via housebeautiful.com

Wallpaper is making a huge resurgence in popularity. With so many lovely patterns to choose from now is the time to entertain the idea of a purple bedroom redo featuring papered walls.

homedit.com

jeffreybilhuberllc.com

Spain based designer Silvia Rademakers

If purple saturation is just too much for you, there are countless ways shades of purple can be distributed throughout the home in smaller doses by means of furniture,

countrydoor.com

and accessories.

secret-drawer.co.uk

ehomemag.com

You can design your spaces with soft whispers of purple.....

smithhonig.com

housebeautiful.com

or choose dark "royal" pops for a dose of glamour.

houseandgarden.co.uk

victoriamag.com

The wrong shade of purple can be overpowering and intolerable. However, the right shade can make you so glad you gave this color a chance. If you are attempting the makeover yourself make sure you plan well and do your homework. Or contact a skilled designer to help you create the elegant and sophisticated purple interior of your dreams.

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Folding Screens

2023-01-27T19:30:00.001-08:00

The folding screen was originally made in China but is now a mainstay in interior design throughout the world thanks to its beauty and functionality. By the end of the 19th century, they were highly fashionable. Extremely versatile, screens, or room dividers as they are also commonly referred to, are a wonderful addition to any space and they bring so much style to a room. They can guide visitors through your home by defining pathways and halls. Folding room dividers are an economical way to add character and individuality to an otherwise dull and boring room. You can also use a screen to hide less attractive features in your home. They’re a decorative way to conceal just about anything you don’t want seen. Screens are masters at separating different spaces in your home. If your home has large rooms or rooms that flow into one another with no natural break, use a screen or two to define and separate spaces. A folding screen can be a decorator’s secret weapon.

Now that we have established how useful they are, I 'd like to list my favorite reason for using folding screens. They are lovely to look at! I love them for purely aesthetic reasons. Rooms look fabulous with folding screens are used and that's just the bottom line.

Folding screens are available in an assortment of styles and colors, so that they will blend in with just about any style of decor. This way you do not have to change your entire room to match the divider. You will be amazed at all the different choices available to you.

architecturaldigest.com

Iris Apfel is a lady that definitely knows how a folding screen can transform a room.

theartoftheroom.com

As did Sir John Richardson! Folding screens displayed in Old World style rooms create some of the most stunning interiors ever.

liveauctioneers.com

The folding screen was originally created to serve as a ‘paravent’, the French word meaning screen from the wind. However they became quite the chameleons, serving home interiors as furniture, decorative accessories, and even works of art.

houseandgarden.com

I am delighted these lovely screens are now becoming more popular with the revival of maximalism and the return to elegance.

From the book Arriving Home: A Gracious Southern Welcome
by James T. Farmer (Author), Jeff Herr (Photographer)

Grand Millennials are smitten with the folding screen's timeless elegance and nonpareil versatility. This has been the major reason for their upward trend.

tginteriors.blogspot.com

The folding screen provides one of the best ways to bring color and pattern into a room's décor, making them a tremendous asset in terms of decoration. Interior designers LOVE them!

veranda.com

Folding screens lend themselves to almost every decorating style which is part of why they have endured.

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge's Paris dining room via vogue.com

Your style may be French.....a folding screen works perfectly!

plumsiena.com

laboutique-atelier-flont.blogspot.fr

Screens are placed in oversized rooms of chateaux to make smaller, more intimate spaces. Any large home can benefit in the same way.

huntcountry.thescoutguide.com

Prominent European artists treated floor screens as blank canvases on which to paint.

tumblr.com

Or your interior may be a bit more English.......a folding screen will still work perfectly!

markdsikes.com

Folding screens are excellent at adding depth and visual interest in a room.

tdclassicist.blogspot.com

In large European houses with cavernous rooms and long halls, the screens greatly helped with drafts and can still today if you have large rooms. This screen is positioned to help with drafts coming from the doorway.

Sue Alfantis

Folding screens are perfect room dividers. Wherever you're looking to create a small private space folding screens are the perfect answer.

sothebys.com

inspirationsdeco.blogspot.fr

ateliermanagement.com

There are many lovely colorful folding screens with which to create an aesthetic vignette in any room of your house.....

facebook.com

.....or open up your living space while providing for a little privacy.

elledecor.com

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, folding screen dividers are extremely lightweight and easy to move when you have to change up the space a bit.

antiques.malleries.com

alidad.com

I love the sense of mystery associated with a folding screen.....especially when displayed in an eclectic old world interior.

Nathan Turner via sfchronicle.com

A folding screen can also be a great place to hang art.....gallery wall style!

paisleyplaidandread.com

With a colorful folding screen you instantly have wall art to add color and drama to your living space.

Peter Copping via architecturaldigest.com

Toby Fairley

SGH Designs

Try using a folding screen to add a great visual to your living space as well as to create a small private dining space by using it to separate the two rooms.

Joey Marlowe with Boxwood Antiques & Interiors

A folding screen can bring warmth and elegant charm to a foyer and stairway.

getthegusto.com

Loving this grisaille screen!

housebeautiful.com

Consider using a folding screen in the bath. Here is gives intimacy to the tub area as well as displaying as a work of art.

pinterest.com

A screen like this will really make an elegant tub the focal point of the room.

kansascity.com

garyriggshome.com

nellhillsblog.com

Screens are wonderful for hiding technical equipment that involves multiple cords such as your stereo, tv, or computer.

robertpassal.com

persephonesbox.com

Don't forget the dining room. Folding screens can be used to design an intimate dining area, or even shut out light or drafts from windows as seen here. I have a screen that I use for this very purpose as during the summer months sunlight comes strongest into my dining room around meal time.

via Victoria Magazine

I love how a folding screen gives a feminine touch to a bedroom.

Henri Samuel via newyorksocialdiary.com

A bedroom is a great place for a folding screen. We all have a bit of clutter there that could be hidden.

Timothy Corrigan, designer

Actually it is nice to have a folding screen in the bedroom in the event you might want a bit of privacy, all the while adding a stylish design element to the room.

Mary McDonald via architecturaldigest.com

Or simply use your screen for artwork, color pop, or pattern!

zsazsabellagio.blog...

suzannekasler.com

After their arrival in Europe during the Middle Ages, Chinese folding screens became wildly popular toward the close of the 17th century.

livingpierside.tumblr.com

A Coromandel Screen is a wooden folding screen coated in dark lacquer that is carved before being painted with gold or varied colors. CoCo Chanel was an avid collector of Chinese folding screens, especially the Coromandel screens like these shown in this dining room, and is believed to have owned 32 folding screens of which eight of them were housed in her apartment at 31 rue Cambon, Paris.

architecturaldigest.com

While black was the most common background color for these screens, red, green, blue, and brown were sometimes used. This screen is perfection in this Chinoiserie room with the fretwork and beautiful blue and white transfer collection.

< belclairehouse.blogspot.com

ourpicturewindow.blogspot.com >

tdclassicist.blogspot.com

This image shows another way that a beautiful folding screen can be used..... as wall art!

Lars Bolander

Like I said, there is a folding screen style for everyone. You might like antique styles and can still find them at estate sales, auctions, antique stores, and antique and vintage malls.

via Pinterest

gaitainteriors.com

Antique 18th century screens are very beautiful and quite expensive. You can make an alternative by having a frame built and using one of the many lovely period wall papers out there today. Fabric is another alternative if you are considering making a screen of your own. Attach some decorative hardware and you will have a wonderful addition to your décor.

paisleyplaidandread.com

Many antique screens have a mural or scene of some kind painted on them.

< access.decorati.com

a-l-ancien-regime.tumblr.com >

thecuriousbumblebee.tumblr

A beautiful antique French glass screen.

audraharringtono.tu...

decorpad.com

Or you might prefer a more modern style folding screen. There are so many exciting and chic styles to choose from

< myhomeideas.com

decoratingfiles.com >

Rather than invest large sums of money in making permanent structural changes in a home, people are opting to buy beautiful screens instead.

They are a wise investment! Best of luck finding your perfect screen!

This blog post was published by

Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating In Modern Chinoiserie Style

2023-01-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

There are those who like the serenity of Asian inspired décor with it's balance and soothing neutrals. And then there are the rest of you who like your Chinoiserie to include bold colors, whimsy, and a taste for the exotic. This blog post about Modern Chinoiserie is dedicated to you!

Chinoiserie, from the french word that literally means ‘chinese-esque’, is being discovered and embraced by a new generation. This Modern Chinoiserie is being seen in contemporary spaces everywhere. Although the style is especially associated with the 18th century, the following present-day rooms being demanded by Grandmillennials embrace a similar mixture of East and West. The allure of this exotic style is as strong as ever and this modern take on an old classic still continues to be exhilarating.

If you want to be part of the resurgence, remember modern Chinoiserie is edgy and eclectic, mixing elements in a juxtaposition of old and new. And if you are looking for a style to have fun with, Modern Chinoiserie may be just the ticket.

dianehill.co.uk

The Grandmillennial style empowers a homeowner to reflect their personality. The fact that it allows such individuality is why this trend has become so very popular. The modern elements that Modern Chinoiserie style brings to a traditional interior makes it exciting and fresh, something Grandmillennials demand from their interiors.

architecturaldigest.com

houseandgarden.co.uk

Design Legacy Mandarin Dragons

Characterized by several key motifs, including Chinese figures, fantastical landscapes, dragons, pagodas, and romantic florals, Modern Chinoiserie patterns in fabric and wallpaper still follow the traditional elements of this enduring classic. The colors are still bright and bold and now the fabric is showing up more on painted and distressed chairs as well as the typical lacquered variety.

stlmag.com

In the past Chinoiserie was used in more traditional homes but now we see it being used in conjunction with more modern looks. Here the classic chrysanthemum pattern is being presented in a fresh way on the ottoman. Metallic painted garden seats also give the room a more modern feel. Leaving walls and window treatments plain will ensure a look that retains the glamour glamor of Chinoiserie but feels thoroughly current.

tatlerasia.com

Modern Chinoiserie is exceptionally adaptable and almost effortless to work with when incorporating other styles.

carolinegidiere.com

Whether you’re saturating your whole space....

Charlotte Moss via chinoiseriechic.net

......or simply embellishing your room with Oriental accessories and art, Modern Chinoiserie style is the ultimate style for versatility.

thibautdesign.com

Of course blue and white Chinese export porcelain has always played an important role in Chinoiserie decor. And it is no stranger to Modern Chinoiserie.

stroheim.com

Blue and white Chinese export vases, ginger jars, planters, and plates will definitely create a visual feast in your home.

dimplesandtangles.com

However You needn’t be limited by just ceramics. There are many wonderful Chinoiserie inspired prints, cushions, accessories, furniture, and wallpaper available today offering a timeless elegance that is chic and sophisticated enough to create a modern Chinoiserie look.

katieconsiders.com

nehomemag.com

In the Modern Chinoiserie styled room one colorful piece like this ottoman and elements like the lacquered sofa and chair frames is enough to set the stage. Rather than going overboard with a variety of Chinoiserie-inspired pieces, begin with a strong patterned fabric and build your room around it.

stlmag.com

If you don't want plain walls colorful, exotic wallpapers provide for a fun play on patterns.

thibautdesign.com

Make sure you keep it colorful but don't get stuck on traditional Chinese colors when there are so many great color combinations to choose from that lend to the look. Fretwork wallpaper is a good choice for Modern Chinoiserie interiors.

Timothy Whealon Inc.

Typically, Chinoiserie wallpapers are full of bright colors, often accented with black. However, these modern choices can also accomplish the same elegant look with tone on tone or softer colors.

elledecor.com

In the past there was more layering of Oriental accessories and pattern. Modern Chinoiserie rooms don’t have to be busy because the look is more eclectic and crisp than before.

houseandgarden.co.uk

Wallpapers in new colorways are great at incorporating an exotic influence to interiors.

thisisglamorous.com

Modern Chinoiserie will still benefit from the use of Chinese panels. These are usually hand painted Chinese wallpaper and they look great over sofas or beds. Also use your painted and distressed furniture alongside lacquered, more streamlined versions.

wordpress.com

Modern Chinoiserie style is still glamorous but the sense of luxury it conveys is less formal than interiors from the past.

atlantahomes.com

Traditionally busy walls meets more streamline modern styling in this living room. A stylish mirrored table richly layered with Chinese accessories helps marry culture to contemporary design.

meggieh.com

Chinoiserie decor is a charming way to instantly add a sense of history and travel to a present day room.

thibautdesign.com

Southern homeowners love Chinoiserie! The south has a long history with this exotic and historic style as more imported goods from China and the Orient entered the colonies through Charleston, SC than through any other seaport in the country.

pencilandpaperco.com

A blend of traditional Eastern motifs and graphic patterns will create a coordinated look for a Modern Chinoiserie space. A few striking upholstered pieces or a rug in bold pattern will do the trick.

quintessenceblog.com

I love the 60's sputnik chandelier used alongside more ancient motifs like the fish and antique porcelain plates depicted in the wallpaper. This is what Modern Chinoiserie is all about.....a playful mix!

traditionalhome.com

Chinoiserie was a favored design element during the Rococo period. You now see rooms that still incorporate Chinoiserie elements with French furnishings like these chairs and the Louis XV mantle. However, today all is wonderfully mixed with contemporary furniture and art.

decorator unknown but source of toile covered chair is crlaine.com

In a reaction to the minimalism trend that has been so prevalent, there is now a return to glamorous, colorful interiors. As designers embrace luxury and pattern, Chinoiserie has once again become a trend. If you don't want to be overwhelmed, the trick is to decorate with fabrics and furniture that use ornate motifs sparingly. This room is a great example of Modern Chinoiserie.

dorothydraper.com

People tell me they like the light-hearted, playful feel of a Chinoiserie styled interior. If this wonderful, sunny fabric doesn't make you smile, nothing can.

houseandgarden.co.uk

The trend for scenic wallpapers and murals has helped push this decorating theme.

southernpiphi.tumblr.com

bibelot-bb.blogspot.com

The lacquered bamboo chair is as popular in Modern Chinoiserie styling as it was decades ago.You can't go wrong with one of these.

Chuck Fischer Studio for 2012 Kips Bay. photo: Trevor Tondro for The New York Times

A small touch of Chinoiserie can make even the smallest corner come to life with its nature inspired patterns and gorgeous colors.

homebunch.com

ornamentationsdesign.com

Eclectic Modern Chinoiserie interiors might even incorporate animal prints like leopard......

architecturaldigest.com

or tiger.

milgate.com.au

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

One thing that will really help you in pulling off the Modern Chinoiserie look for your interior spaces is learning some of the key design elements for this style. Here a cherry blossom covered headboard that is reminiscent of Chinese panels and a fan collection invoke the feeling of the Orient.

decorecomgigi.com

Chinese panels are perfectly suited to inspire the color palette in any Modern Chinoiserie room. Adding in some Orient inspired wallpaper lends an air of elegance to modern interiors. Pink and yellow seems to be a popular choice for a Modern Chinoiserie color palette.

via Pinterest

Chinoiserie is a charmingly exotic decorating style and I am delighted that being reinterpreted in fresh materials, pattern, and colorways, is making it as relevant today as it was centuries ago.

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Shades Of Aqua For Chic, Elegant Interiors

2023-01-17T15:41:00.005-08:00

Aqua isn’t new to the home decorating scene. Actually the color aqua and it's many lovely shades started trending last year but seems to be gaining in popularity.

The color aqua has many names such as aquamarine, teal, cyan, greenish blue and regardless of what you call it, this color can stand on it's own as a neutral, easily harmonize with a neutral color palette for a calming effect, or it can create some exciting and energizing interiors when used with some complementary bright colors. You will see all these styles of aqua interiors in the pictures I have gathered for you.

Warning! This blog post will deal with the muddier tones of aqua which come across as more refined and elegant as opposed to the primary, almost garish, shade of aqua that can send a anticipated redo spiraling out of control quickly without expert help.

Hope you enjoy!

flowermag.com

What is it that makes this image so pleasing to the eye? There is just something about it that works. In the next pic you will see the answer is that aqua and red are perfect complements for each other. In decorating you have heard the term "marries well" .......the aqua/red combo is proof of that.

kidscreativechaos.com

In the color wheel you see aqua sitting between green and blue. Complementary colors enhance each other and create a beautiful contrast. So, if you look at a color wheel and locate the aqua color, all you have to do is look directly opposite it to find its complementary colors. In aqua's case reds and oranges are the perfect choice.

tosid.com

My advice , however, is to add the complementary colors in small doses.

housebeautiful.com

Unless you tone it down a bit, as is done here, the red/aqua combination can become tiring after awhile. Remember you are after a chic, smart, elegance.

Miles Redd via AD

Muted shades of aqua make colorful interiors appear more natural and easier on the eyes. This room is chic and sophisticated.

architecturaldigest.com

The colors we’re seeing aqua paired with today are bold and exciting as done to perfection in the home of Designer, Alexa Hampton. Just be careful with the shade of aqua you choose.

brandonschubert.com

The use of bolder colors are still warm and cozy in this lovely living room by Brandon Schubert. (See below as well).

brandonschubert.com

If you don't use the right shade of aqua when bringing in bolder colors your design efforts can make an instant wrong turn and can sour quickly. Your room will look loud and gaudy and you will never truly be satisfied because your eyes simply won't let you.

digdigs.com

PPG and Glidden have announced the restorative hue Vining Ivy, an enchanting deep aqua, friendly to contemporary and traditional styles, as their popular color for 2023.

houseandgarden.co.uk

michellenussbaumer.com (Image credit: Stephen Karlisch)

Walls in shades of aqua can be the star attraction that creates a great background for a lovely supporting cast of colorful collections in interesting color combinations.

carlosgarciainteriors.com

For a sophisticated look, pair aqua with light-colored neutrals to balance out it's vivid side.

housebeautiful.com

Aqua can be invigorating and refreshing and can go well with many other colors, including oranges, pinks, and purples.

homelovesdesign.com

katieconsiders.com

Here you see how the darker shade of aqua can act as a neutral in a moodier space that incorporates texture and muted colors.

elledecor.com

theglampad.com

You may not like a saturated look in any color so painting your moldings and millwork aqua is another way to integrate this lovely color into your home.

Image credit: Susie Atkinson

There is another trend showing itself in this aqua drenched interior. Yes, borders are on their way back as well!

washingtonian.com

town-n-country-living.com

Another example of mixing warm and cool tones within the same room. Even though it is not an equal amount, a combination of both warm and cool tones helps balance a room.

Photo by Tim Beddow. The World of Interiors

via Pinterest

Yellow is also a color that pairs well with aqua to create lovely interiors. This room has equal amount of both colors.....

architecturaldigest.com

......while this space is dominated by aqua with only some great pops of yellow warmth.

kirillistomin.com

If you choose a deep aqua for your walls and add in neutral and muted colors you will have a room that is more timeless and less trendy.

mariecarolinewillms.com

Old world interiors are my cup of tea so of course I love this predominately aqua room with muted warm colors added in. A room like this never really goes out of style!

houseandgarden.co.uk, Photo: Jim Bartsch

It's always fun to bring freshness to a classical room and unexpected color combinations are a great way to do just that. Here in Holker Hall, the walls of a room are painted in a verdigris shade of aqua with added accents of pink, blue, and red.

Timothy Corrigan

Try a soft shade of aqua on the walls of your bath. With the right shade it will have a spa feel!

roomfortuesday.com

mcguireconstructioninc.com

Even aqua used boldly like this particular shade is still refreshing. Choose your shades wisely!!

zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

Blue-greens like aqua and teal, especially in deeper hues, are stunning and elegant when used with neutral creams and ivory.

lauraashley.es

Photo by Westbury Garden Rooms via houzz.com

Shades of aqua paint are also perfect colors for statement or accent walls. Or if you are decorating with aqua accessories you might want to create an aqua anchor wall to tie it all together.

southernladymagazine.com

With wallpaper experiencing a huge revival, try papering a room in aqua. Dining rooms are the perfect space to add some color, texture, and pattern.

collins-interiors.com

Chinoiserie style is also popular and there are many beautiful Chinese wallpapers that spotlight the color aqua.

Aerin Lauder

luxesource.com

lauraleehome.com

Bathrooms are also excellent rooms to experiment with some aqua wallpaper and accessories like this aqua painted vanity. A pop of pink and voilà, an easy redo for you to consider.

Alison Martin Interiors LLC, via architecturaldigest.com

Another lovely aqua bathroom thanks to wallpaper!

mallorymathison.com, via atlantahomesmag.com

Who wouldn't love this bedroom with beautiful aqua damask wallpaper. Since aqua is a color that evokes calmness and serenity, the bedroom is a space where this color will benefit you.

atlantahomemag.com

Pale aqua walls paired with neutral accessories and furnishings.

thewoodgraincottage.com

belclairehouse.blogspot.jp

This is a pretty, more vibrant aqua bedroom. It is hard to find images of bedrooms that look good in this color when paired with a great deal of the complementary colors. With this strong color you must have art on the walls and curated accessories and collections to break up the saturation by adding color and pattern. Unfortunately most new interiors do not. Maximalism is on trend so hopefully this will soon change.

decordesignreview.tumblr.com

Aqua is a good color for vintage bedrooms as there are usually lovely collectibles to soften the strength of the aqua walls.

grandmas-dreams.tumblr.com

refreshrestyle.com

Today there are many ways to refresh your kitchen by painting the cabinets in a lively color. The right shade of aqua kitchen cabinets will outlast some colors and not be tiring. These aqua cabinets really pop against the terracotta tile floor.

thisoldhouse.com

Straight from the color wheel, a complementary orange red island makes a great first impression in this lovely kitchen with aqua trim work.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

And then there is the possibility of an aqua mudroom. This one is so serene with the soft touches of yellow. Just what you need when doing the laundry!

luxesource.com

houseandhome.com

This energizing, lively color is trending in all types of home décor and accessories. Choose from pillows, throws, lamps, vases, the list is endless.

mariakillam.com

You can see how adding even just a couple of bright aqua ceramic lamps, a pillow, and some great art can bring any space to life!

chinoiseriechic.blogspot.in

lehighvalleystyle.com

hgtv.com

Decorate a beautiful old world interior with colorful aqua upholstery and furniture. See how the aqua sets off the rich brown hardwood floors and trim work.

laurelberninteriors.com

Furnishings upholstered in shades of aqua will make your space look fresh and soothing.

alantahomesmag.com

If aqua walls aren't for you, go neutral and bring in your pop of aqua through draperies.

christiansonlee.com

Even consider the fifth wall for a splash of aqua!

thescoutguide.com

From teal to aquamarine, there are many beautiful shades of aqua to consider. Good luck creating your dream décor!

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2023/01/wallpapering-powder-rooms-for-drama-and.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Wallpapering Powder Rooms For Drama and Style

2023-01-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

Traditionally just off of the entryway where a guest might pop in for a quick glance and review, the powder room today might also be tucked into a corner or even a mudroom. Many homes have a powder room/half bathroom included somewhere in their floor plan.

With wallpaper and maximalism making a huge comeback, a small powder room is the perfect space to make a major design impact by decorating with dramatic and bold wallpaper. It can be your opportunity to try something more daring that will impress any of your guests.

Wallpaper can totally transform any room by adding pattern, color, and texture to the walls in a way which paint simply can't do. In today's market there is a wallpaper pattern to suit every taste and the possibilities are endless for letting your personality take flight. Consider which pattern complements the style of your house and hopefully you will pick up some tips from this post to help make your powder room look more spacious and expensive.

Be brave, go bold, and have fun!

designthusiasm.com

We will take a look at different styles of beautiful wallpapered powder rooms. From chic......

papercitymag.com

.....to packed with surprise!

Hopefully something will catch your eye and inspire you to create the powder room of your dreams.

housebeautiful.com

Powder rooms are considered slightly more feminine spaces. But that doesn't mean they have to be saccharine and frilly. This beautiful peony wallpapered powder room in the home of Anthropologie founder, Colleen Bashaw is feminine but stylish and chic.

rebuildworkshop.com

The large floral wallpaper definitely gives this powder room a feminine feel and the black background brings the drama!

madaboutthehouse.com

Try papering your power room or small bath with a colorful Chinoiserie selection if you want femininity but not too over the top.

lucaseilers.com

Small powder rooms and even baths can be virtually transformed by the use of bold wallpaper and good small space decorating knowledge.

Source: @ninamarienash on Instagram easterlingandlong.com

The Chinese floral wallpaper in this powder room is romantic and feminine all while adding the exotic to the equation.

blog.onekingslane.com

Let's get three misconceptions out of the way right now. 1. Wallpaper is not just for large open spaces. The right paper can help to bring smaller rooms to life. 2. Dark wallpaper doesn't necessarily make a room look smaller. Actually the right paper, with unexpected drama, will make the eye focus on the room itself rather than it’s size! 3. A small space like a powder room doesn’t mean that you cannot make a style statement.

Now enjoy this elegant, old world, exotic powder room!

etsy.com

Be brave and experiment with darker and bold colors that actually gives this room it's character.

one-of-those-things.tumblr.com

Although this powder room is small, it CAN embrace dark color!

trendir.com

For an eye-catching powder room try bold visual elements, especially with modern accents. I love the play of this interesting gray and gold wallpaper with the natural roughness of this stone sink.

designwoodlands.com

Install wallpaper with a big pattern on all the walls and the ceiling of your powder room and watch it expand in size. Warm colors visually contract the eye, pull in the space, and consider it small while darker colors recede from the eye, visually enlarging the room.

abloomsburylife.blogspot.com

Don't be afraid to choose a colorful wallpaper for your powder room. With the return of the maximalist interior you can add paintings and other design elements even if your paper is busy. Just make sure they are curated and not just clutter.

thestylesafari.com

There is nothing like large wallpaper "art" to make a confident style statement. The powder room is a great place to express your personality.

houseandhome.com

Remember that no matter where your

powder room might be located, just make sure it flows harmoniously off the room it adjoins.

maddiehughesdesigns.com via decorpad.com

A lovely powder room with French toile patterned wallpaper. There are many other old world and traditional styles to choose from.

coloradohomesmag.com

There are also many exciting tropical wallpapers out there. This designer has broken up the bold leaf design with black marble tile. Adding in the harlequin floor even gives an old world feel to the space.

caroline-myers.com

I like to wallpaper the ceilings of small spaces like powder rooms as well. The room will appear taller because the eye will continue upward. White ceilings break the flow of the eye and bring the ceiling down.

meaganraeinteriors.com

charlotte.axios.com

Such an interesting choice of wallpaper. Large scale designs make a space feel larger. This is a small powder room but it does not present as a small space.

spruceshop.com

ellyposton.com

Wallpaper doesn’t have to be boldly patterned to be powerful. In this powder room a smaller scale print makes the space smaller and cozier. This is an example of how small prints scale down a space while the larger ones open the space up and make it appear larger.

saltdesigncompany.com

You can buy a simple, pretty wallpaper and still add texture, color splash, and dynamics to any small powder room.

miltonandking.com

Since the traditional look is becoming popular once again, choose from the many wallpaper patterns that will go a long way in creating a vintage style powder room.

apartmenttherapy.com

The wallpaper adds to the other elements that makes this a fun and vintage style powder room.

theredheadfromvirginia.tumblr.com

bornonfifth.com

And then there are always the timeless classics like this wallpaper pattern by Brunschwig & Fils called Bird & Thistle.

architecturaldigest.com

If you have decided to be brave and try a bolder wallpaper in a small powder room but don't want the pattern to be overwhelming, a good choice may be to panel the lower part of the room. Then pick out a color found in the pattern and paint.

theturquoisehome.com

You can even panel higher on the wall and use your bolder wallpaper closer to the ceiling for a lovely powder room interior.

houzz.com

kimscodro.com

The popularity of the 1960's and 70's use of grasscloth is enjoying a current revival. With fresh designs being used in exciting new ways, this paper offers stunning visual texture for walls of small spaces like this powder room.

phillipjeffries.com

Textured wallpaper will go along way in packing a lot of style into a single decorating element.

laurynstone.com

With the right textured wallpaper, you can transform your powder room into many decorating styles from urban, to rustic, from traditional to Asian. In other words this kind of wallpaper adapts well to a variety of styles.

chattafabulous.blogspot.com

Wallpaper even allows for the opportunity to have your powder room walls mimic natural materials like marble, agate, or malachite.

atlantahomesmag.com

veranda.com

Although papering can create stunning powder rooms, it can be expensive. Most good retailers will offer samples of their wallpapers so you can test them on the walls of your space. Look for how they look in YOUR light and see if the texture and color works for you. Always "live with" the sample for several days. Everyone involved wants you to be happy!!

Samantha Friedman Interior Designs

There is no powder room too small to be excluded from a wallpaper makeover!

sklardesign.com

lenoxhousedesign.com

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/12/decorating-with-antique-wooden-boxes.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Skirted Kitchen Cabinets and Sinks

2022-12-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

A kitchen that is filled with cabinetry can many times come across as hard and lacking in the warmth and hominess that traditionally is associated with a kitchen. Kitchens should be inviting and sometimes that is hard to achieve if you have the typical wall to wall cabinets. Like the French, I advocate decorating rooms that are thought of a utilitarian just as I would a dining or living room. I am delighted that we are seeing more and more kitchens that reflect personality of the homeowner and not the contractor.

There are ways to make your kitchens appear softer, interesting, and above all, more welcoming. This post features one of those ways, the skirted cabinet which is a trend that seems to be sticking around. Once a staple in many American middle class kitchens in the 40's and 50's these homemade curtains provided a pretty way to have extra storage space below sinks and cabinets. Now you are seeing skirted cabinets again in vintage as well as new homes, still cleverly providing space but also providing the old fashioned warmth and coziness.....and that's not a bad thing!

If you are considering a kitchen remodel or just looking to add some color, texture, and a friendly feel to your kitchen, I hope you will consider skirting a portion of your cabinets. I have gathered some images to give you some ideas on how you can do just that!

fschumacher.com Jill Lasersohn,designer

With the grand-millennial trend returning a warm traditional style to the design world, the charm of pattern and curated collectibles is a much desired look for today's kitchens. A great way to achieve the look is with sink and cabinet skirting.

thekitchn.com

Replace cabinets doors with a skirt. It's a look we're starting to see in more and more kitchens and the patterns and colors will go a long way towards cozying up your kitchen.

traditionalhome.com

Not only can cabinet bases be skirted but the sink is a perfect spot to add some cheery fabric. You can still uniquely accessorize your kitchen by hanging a sink skirt. This homeowner has matched their valance and put the skirt on the inside of the cabinet frame.

lonnymag.com

Kitchen design is turning away from wall to wall closed doors and replacing portions of cabinetry with open shelves and skirted areas. There are many style of cabinet skirts. This homeowner has opted to use a more tailored style skirt under the sink......

nataliehaegeman-interiors.be

.........while this more European country kitchen has a gathered and smocked style cabinet skirt.

nataliehaegeman-interiors.be

If you want a more European country kitchen, a cabinet skirt will instantly help give you the look you desire.

down---to---earth.blogspot.com

As you can see cabinet skirts can be made in many different ways. This one looks as if it is tied on to hooks and mounted onto a brass rod. You can always count on blue and white gingham to give your kitchen a cozy feel.

plattarchitecture.com

A cabinet skirt is perfect for this old fashioned style kitchen with its "modern" vintage cabinetry, sink, and appliances. Just make sure you use a fabric under your sink that can be washed and cleaned easily. Also you need to attach your skirt in a way that it will not be difficult to remove for cleaning.

veranda.com

There is ALOT to love in this kitchen starting with the great cabinet skirting!

Colefax and Fowler skirt via madaboutthehouse.com

Since there is a revival of the skirted sink, much more charm is being added to the kitchen.

atticmag.com

A touch of toile de jouy via a cabinet skirt looks wonderful in a French country style kitchen.

heirloomphilosophy.blogspot.

It's hard to believe that Grandma's kitchen cabinet skirt is now worthy of a spot in almost any decorating magazine you pick up.....but it is!

elledecor.com

An old world kitchen with work tables and furniture for storage instead of cabinets is more my style. I like cabinet and sink skirts but can see a problem if you have animals. My cats would make sweet use of the space and sleep in pots and pans or whatever I stored behind them.

nelsonbarnum.com

The plaid cabinet skirt really enhances this cute French country kitchen. Add in a coordinated fabric at the windows and you are good to go.

nibsblog.wordpress.com

I like this fresh, crisp, green and white striped sink skirt. Make sure your skirts are made of a fabric that has some body or they will look too loose and messy. Try cottons and linens, ticking, or light canvas. If the fabric is too heavy they may not fold crisply and if too light they may not fall well.

stinemos.blogspot.com

bhg.com

How cute is this cabinet skirt? Another thing to remember is to get the length of your skirt correct. Make it just skim he floor or slightly higher. My advice is to not let it puddle on the floor, it just looks messy this way. I see many DIY projects using burlap that take away from the look of the room instead on enhancing it because of the loose way it just hangs here. Linen is a better alternative to burlap as it hangs much neater.

sharonsantoni.com

Skirted sink and cabinets are perfect for the French country style kitchen.

shootfactory.co.uk

Fabric always has a soft touch and brings in a pop of pattern, color and texture. Adding even a small dose of textile always helps "warm up" a room.

rebeccaersfeld.com

One of the biggest concerns about the use of cabinet skirts is having to clean them. I don't have cabinet skirts but unless you are extremely messy I don't see it being a huge issue. Now maybe if alot of children are involved I can understand it. But you would still have to wash down your cabinets from time to time. My advice is to make your cabinet skirts super easy to remove and wash.

heirloomphilosophy.blogspot.

Pinch pleating is yet another way to to create cabinet skirting. This definitely has more of a curtain look

muracadesign.com

This kitchen with it's cherry cabinets and soapstone counter tops and backsplash looks really pretty with just a touch of cream linen skirting under the sink. The older style sinks that are so popular today are picture perfect with the addition of a skirt underneath.

source unknown

Cabinets skirts are a great way to conceal less attractive items and clutter.

bhg.com

Also skirting your sink or cabinets provides the opportunity to bring a bit of your own personality into the kitchen. They can certainly be fun and unique.

chasingdaisiesblog.com

Whether you choose your sink and cabinet skirting hung from exposed rods.......

shabbychicmania.it

shirred on,

thehomespunstylingco.com

or even mounted behind the frame like these, if it is charm you are after for you kitchen you can't go wrong with skirting for your cabinets and sinks.

Photograph by David Gibbons, courtesy of Max Rollitt, from Kitchen of the Week: A Whimsical Edwardian in the South of England.

Designer Laura Robinson

Don't forget that skirting needn't be relegated to your kitchen's cabinets. Try skirting your work table or island for a rustic country look. Upgrading your kitchen needn't cost a fortune and cabinet skirting is a great way to add some clever storage space.

Samantha Friedman Interior Designs

And remember that the kitchen isn't the only space to benefit from skirting. Powder room sinks have always carried the look well.

desiretoinspire.net

Don't forget the mud room.

town-n-country-living.com

Skirting can hide a multitude of sins!

Carolina Design Associates

Cabinet skirting is also a great way to give your laundry room a facelift.

I you like skirting, you might also like http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-case-for-round-skirted-dining-room.html

Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2015/09/decorating-with-green-and-white-toile.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Decorating With Antique Wooden Boxes

2022-12-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

As well as elegant additions to your home, antique wooden boxes can be the beautiful solution to your storage problems. We all need a place to store the smaller items we have accumulated. In fact I now have an antique box which I use every day to store my many pairs of reading glasses...... many because they never seem to be where I need them. Now I actually enjoy returning them to the gorgeous little inlaid box.

Today, in the era of the new maximalism, these sturdy and handsome antique wooden boxes have become sought after collectibles. In this post we will take a look at the variety of antique boxes a collector can choose from as well as how to display your treasures when you find them. They are fun to collect and enjoyable to look at. I have several now and trust me, they grow on you!

via Pinterest.....@rue27maison

I love these beautiful antique wooden boxes and have only recently started collecting them myself. They can be expensive but if you are patient and enjoy treasure hunting as I do, you can still stumble upon one at an estate sale or auction or even find one for a reasonable price at a vintage or antique collectibles mall.

denisejackson.tumblr.com

An antique box is a great collectible that adds beauty and interest to any home's interior.....plus you get the benefit of useful storage. My favorite way to display antique wooden boxes is to stack them in your living room, kitchen, actually any room in your house.

nellhills.com

They may be small but an antique wooden box will instantly add a bit of history and beauty to your mantles, chests, and side tables.

tumblr.com/splendorinthesouth

1stdibs.com

antiquesboutique.com

Let's start with the wooden tea caddy box. At one time tea was one of the world's most expensive commodities. Tea caddies protected this valuable delicacy of the wealthy.

skinnerinc.com

While woods like mahogany, walnut, rosewood, ebony, and kingwood were usually favored, some boxes would be painted and inlaid like this Edwardian satinwood tea caddy.

theauctionbarn.com.au

Because tea was precious, wooden caddies were usually fitted with locks, in order to deter the hired help from pilfering the valuable leaf. Lined with lead, yes that's right LEAD, these wooden boxes kept the contents fresh.

invaluable.com

Three lovely 18th century English inlaid tea caddies.

victoriamag.com

In the early 1800's small single tea caddies began appearing and could be founds in many interesting shapes and styles. It was not uncommon to see pieces made of mother of pearl or tortoiseshell, but the majority were made of mahogany, walnut, oak, and rosewood.

vatican.com

One of the most popular styles of wooden tea caddy boxes was called a sarcophagus caddy.

antiques-atlas.com

Circa 1810 birds eye maple sarcophagus tea caddy.

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via Pinterest

Although tea caddies are not used for their original purpose today, they are still highly collectible. Because these antique boxes make such charming accessories people have a fondness for them.

splendidsass.blogspot.com

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

This beautiful antique box is part of a vignette in my back hallway. A handmade antique wooden box is a one-of-a-kind item that you can keep and treasure. Plus they are valuable, especially if inlaid, veneered, or painted.

1stdibs.com

Another fun antique wooden box to collect is the Necessaire box. The French travelling box was an essential item during the 17th through the 19th centuries and contained basic personal grooming equipment.

www.1stdibs.com

The wooden Nécessaire box held a tray specifically designed for holding razors, scissors, manicure tools, brushes and combs, bottles and jars for colognes, aftershaves and creams. Under the tray was a well for storing more ordinary items such as tweezers, toothbrushes, writing utensils and other essentials for everyday living.

liveauctioneers.com

By the early Victorian era, ladies also began to travel. Their travel boxes were designed with pure luxury in mind. Lined in velvet, these wooden boxes held decorative bottles and jars as well as a vast array of tools with which to adorn ones self .

via Pinterest

These stunning "necessities" boxes, (yes even for eating and drinking), normally were owned by the aristocracy for traveling purposes. However, they eventually evolved into elegant and expensive status symbols

bloglovin.com

There was a definite need for these sturdy hardwood boxes. If you traveled you would need a lock box for storing your valuables.

via Pinterest

I find antique wooden boxes to be beautiful and romantic. They look especially good in the boudoir or an adjoining bath room.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

This antique wooden sewing box is a recent find that I am thrilled with. It is veneered and handsomely inlaid with contrasting wood and mother-of-pearl. Before the sewing machine was invented in 1842 sewing boxes to hold needles, thread, scissors and other small items used for sewing were a household item of the wealthy. Today these sewing boxes make lovely accessories.

rubylane.com

Antique Mahogany paint box c.1875. Another collectible box for consideration.

atlantahomesmag.com

via Pinterest

In order to reflect the status of it's owner, the exterior of these wooden boxes became as important as the interior. The boxes started being veneered with beautiful exotic woods from all over the world.

These beautiful veneered wooden boxes are considered true works of art.

antiques-atlas.com

Now let's move on to antique liquor serving boxes. Usually large and made of wood with added brass or other metal decorations they contained beautiful decanters full of liquor. These wooden boxes were very much in style from 1850 to 1900. Locks were of utmost importance as to keep the household help from taking drinks.

ilbalon.it

My favorite antique liquor serving box is the tantalus. Originally patented in 1881 by George Betjemann, a tantalus is a wooden container for usually four glass decanters and the addition of cordial glasses which were usually etched and even embellished with gold. The box was meant to be opened to display the beautiful glassware inside. Most popular were the ebony boxes but as you see in the image the natural wood tantalus box was also beautiful.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

This is from my dining room and shows my tantalus box. It took two years to find one.....this is where the patience pays off. The ebony boxes were usually inlaid with brass strips and strings. As you can see they usually contained a tray for the bottles and glasses to sit on.

weschlers.com

When closed the antique liquor tantalus makes a beautiful box for display individually or in a group. Whether ebony.......

caseantiques.com

or other natural woods you simply can't go wrong with these wonderful wooden boxes.

countryliving.com

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Antique wooden boxes for holding perfume, or scent bottles are also charming collectibles.

Here is an elegant Napoleon III wooden box with silk lining holding a set of four French perfume flasks featuring hand-painted gold bottle stoppers.

heantiqueboutique.net

Enhanced with alternating veneers set in a chevron pattern, this beautiful wooden perfume box contains bottles hand-painted with gold stars.

chambersinteriors.com

blackrockgalleries.com

Tunbridge ware is an exclusively English form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes. The famous makers were in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent and their most celebrated work was from about 1830 to 1900.

stashla.com

The decoration on these antique wooden Tunbridge boxes consisted of thin strips of different colors and grain of wood that were glued together and pressed down tightly in blocks. When the glue was dry, the blocks were cut across the strips to produce thin sheets of patterned wood, which were then applied as veneer.

via Pinterest

Tunbridge boxes are known for their elaborately striped and feathered bandings. These wooden boxes could be used for documents, jewelry, or a wide variety of other storage.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I was able to find this Tunbridge box at an estate sale for a very good price.

theglampad.com

Antique wooden boxes display beautifully on center foyer tables like this one. Desks, mantles, side tables, coffee tables, and shelves are also wonderful places to create vignettes including a box or two.

theglampad.com

southernchateau.blogspot.com

thepolohouse.blogspot.com

These boxes have been increasing in price lately and are becoming harder to find.

North Bayshore Antiques

Antique wooden boxes offer interesting and useful accents to any room in the house. Tea caddies look wonderful in the kitchen or dining room. Use boxes like the above in your office for important documents.

jfhillipsdesign.com

An antique wood box is a perfect gift idea for your favorite collector!

gingerbarber.com

bhg.com

arcaneobjects.patternbyetsy.com

Towards the end of the 18th century travel desks became popular. Called writing slopes they provided access to a stable surface to write upon with handy storage for pens, paper and ink.

gadaboutvintage.com

When the writing slopes are closed they make beautiful wooden boxes that today are sought after by collectors everywhere.

thehoarde.com

Dutch writing slope box with Parquetry of geometric designs.

etsy.com

Many of these stunning wooden boxes tended to have thick veneers of mahogany, rosewood, yew or fruitwoods. Writing slope boxes display wonderfully in vignettes!

marhamchurchantiques.com

As do these charming 17th century carved oak boxes.

traditionalhome.com

elledecor.com

These beautiful antique wooden boxes look wonderful in a variety of decorating styles from Old World to Contemporary.

hedgerowantiques.com

Antique wooden boxes are one-of-a-kind items that you can keep, treasure yourself, and pass down from generation to generation.

thepolohouse.blogspot.com

With antique wooden boxes it doesn't matter if you have a small display........

nytimes.com

or a large accumulation. This is one collectible that looks good in any number!

ivyleagueboys.tumblr.com

fineart.ha.com

Society has changed quite a bit since the popularity of these beautiful antiques. Plastic is king. But if you love the look of luxury, nothing can beat a fine antique wooden box.

via Pinterest

Best of luck with your treasure hunting!! You never know what delightful box might turn up at a yard or estate sale!

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/11/decorating-with-elegant-old-world.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Elegant Old World Seashell Décor

2022-11-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the revival of the old world maximalism style of decorating, beauty, craftmanship, and history can be collected and appreciated in your homes and you can enjoy beautiful treasures once again. Maximalism is by no means a modern trend but one that veers towards a reinvention of European traditional décor.

This blog post features one area of 17th century maximalistic collecting and display called conchylomania (the collection of seashell art and specimens). Curiosity cabinets would be populated by all sorts of objects of amazement and thanks to the influx of exotic shells and coral to Europe, via The Dutch East India Company, a seashell display cabinet would also have been part of the 17th century home's "wunderkammer" translated from German as a "wonder room". Shells and corals were so popular that the mid-eighteenth century Rococo style derives its name from the French for shell.

Seashell art and display has become popular as today's residents are enjoying the old world obsession with cabinets of curiosities. There is an art to creating beautiful and authentic old world style shell décor. It is not about gathering shells at the ocean and displaying them in jars, baskets etc. It is about marrying these beautiful fossils of the sea to old world display stands, plinths, and other lovely antiques objects, making sure your set the stage with other works of art and beautiful collectibles and treasures from another time in history. And thanks to maximalism you can let your appetite for collecting run free!

Many of us NEVER opted for a minimal interior but maybe this is your first time to collect and curate a beautiful living environment. Notice I said curate! Maximalism has never been about about hoarding unattractive junk. It’s about embracing color and pattern and beauty from across many eras and styles.

Do your homework and learn how to make your seashell collections and décor old world spectacular and awe inspiring! I hope these images will help some of you modern day conchylomaniacs out!

handbookcostasmeralda.com

The Renaissance ushered in an interest in natural objects of beauty to put in cabinets of curiosities. Because of their attractiveness, uniqueness, and rarity, shells and corals became a large part of these collections.

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Courtesy Bibliotèque centrale du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Towards the end of the 17th century, people began looking at shells with scientific interest as well.

vivelareine.tumblr.com

Still-Life with Tuft of Marine Plants, Shells and Corals by Anne Vallayer-Coster, 1769.

Seashells were everywhere and were often featured in Dutch still-life paintings ( pronkstilleven ) popular in seventeenth-century Holland.

handbookcostasmeralda.com

Beautiful trompe l'oeil cabinet of curiosities with the beginnings of a seashell display.

architectdesign.blogspot.com

Conchylomania filled curiosity cabinets across France, England, the Netherlands, and eventually the United States with as many unusual specimens of seashell, coral, and seashell art as one could acquire or create by hobby.

thisiscolossal.com

The Dutch East India Company already held a monopoly on the spice trade but also imported porcelain and shells from beaches along the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a sight never before seen by most Europeans. Exotic and newly discovered specimens were especially prized.

habituallychic.luxury

girlgonegallic.com

It was a time of obsession with all things shell and many wealthy people of the time had a cabinet of curiosities where they kept seashells, corals, and semi-precious stones.

nationaltrust.org.uk

Even the common folk collected and displayed their seashell treasures.

theappendix.net Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Frans Francken’s Kunstkammer, 1636, detail.

chintz-of-darkness.blogspot.com

By the Victorian era the introduction of the modern public museum caused the wonder room interest to wane. Families might have seashell collections but cabinets were of less interest.

William Huggins 1820 – 1884, Portrait of a Victorian Conchologist

Shells were born of the sea just as, according to Greek and Roman myth, Aphrodite/Venus was. Therefore, shell collecting was deemed highly suitable for ladies as a symbol of love and femininity. Decorating rooms with shells was a popular pastime for ladies of leisure. Centuries ago ladies worked on seashell art much like they did their needlework.

philamuseum.org

Parlor Domes art form started in France and England and became very popular in America during the Victorian era. One in your parlor was a decorating must! The domes made for the formal parlors were full of wax flowers however seashell arrangements were also highly desired. You would find them residing on a table in the center of the room.

via Pinterest

Ladies took classes to learn the art of creating seashell flowers. They bought kits that were ordered by mail. The seashell flower domes could also be purchased at jewelry stores or other gift stores.

the-saleroom.com

Sometimes they were in pairs and would adorn the fireplace mantle. Even Queen Victoria was a huge fan of seashell art and would often commission gifts of shell work for her friends.

theriaults.com

A fun collectible made by Victorian ladies at the height of the trendy seashell décor of the day was shell encrusted figurines and even small pieces of furniture.

1stdibs.com

Another form of Victorian seashell art that was popular with ladies of the day was seashell covered boxes. They have become popular recently and are being crafted again by DYI's. However, if you wish to collect true antiques here is a bit of advice. A good way to detect if you are purchasing a true antique is to look at the shells. They will be worn and will have acquired some patina.

via Pinterest

The box should be covered in shells that are a bit more unique than what is now found in craft stores. A seashell called pelican’s feet were favorites of the day and are extremely hard to find now.

brunkauctions.com

Also look for keyholes, keys, and hinges that are of the era and not modern. Many antique boxes will have had some repairs yet this will not diminish their beauty or worth.

bien.hu

You can see how pretty seashell art boxes are grouped as part of a vignette whether antique or reproductions like these made today.

sothebys.com

During seashell mania the nautilus was esteemed and highly favored for use in décor.

via Pinterest

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries “sailors’ valentines” were extremely popular. You would find designs such as hearts, flowers, and nautical symbols made by gluing hundreds of shells (collected by the sailors themselves) onto cotton batting that could be framed with wood and glass. Many times the sailor would spell out “Forget Me Not” with tiny shells. They would be given to wives and loved ones upon the sailor's safe return home.

asteboetto.it

One of my favorite ways to decorate with seashells and corals, in an old world style, is with beautiful specimens gracefully arranged on antique bases.

via Pinterest

I love the old world refinement these beautiful pieces bring to a space. There are so many interesting pieces to choose for a base. Tip: Make sure your shells are not bright and shiny!!

asteboetto.it

Remember you want the seashell art pieces to look like old world artifacts.

via Pinterest

An antique base decorated with a sea fan, barnacles, fossil shells, and coordinating fragments. Sea fans bring a fragile texture and pattern to a piece of seashell art that just seems to elevate the piece in such a beautiful way. Remember to show restraint in creating these beautiful pieces of seashell/coral art.

Lisa Farmer, Eye For Design

On my bedroom mantle I have a large piece of coral and a sea fan coral I glued to a small bronze urn on a marble plinth. I then surrounded the base with some small scallop shells and broken bits and pieces of coral (which you can't really see in the image). If you create you own shell art just make sure to present it in an old world way and that will depend on your choice of display stand.

Lisa Farmer, Eye For Design

beachwood.com.au

Elegant and aged to perfection, a collection of seashell/coral art pieces like this would make a stunning addition to an interior style reminiscent of the ancient Italian grottoes.

liveauctioneers.com

Candle holders make great bases for seashell arrangements. The chunkier types are best. Plus look for wooden ones as they look more old world than shiny brass. If you do choose metal just make sure it has patina.

portamarina.com

It is important that you surround your seashell art sculptures with other old world aesthetics to create an authentic atmosphere so they will look like they belong.

a-l-ancien-regime.tumblr.com

Photo courtesy of Féau & Cie Boiserie

The distinguishing characteristic of precious coral, or red coral, is their intensely colored red or pinkish orange skeleton. These corals make stunning seashell/coral art to be displayed elegantly throughout your home or as a collection.

(@portamarinabyserenella) on Instagram

Coral art under glass......perfection!

@vicdeland on Pinterest via ft.com

Corals and seashells display so beautifully together and evoke a bygone time of fascination with the unusual elegance of nature.

deyrolle.com

greyfreth.com

If you crave shell art with old world appeal but don't feel comfortable trying to create them yourself, Greyfreth has been a go to source for several years now.

greyfreth.com

theappendix.net Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Isidore Leroy de Barde, A Selection of Shells Arranged on a Shelf, watercolor and gouache, 1803.

Seashell inspired art was very popular centuries ago.......

wayfair.com

and also is trending today. You may not be able to purchase fine oil paintings but there is lovely art to be had today.

all images via pinterest

Just make sure it has old world charm and isn't "beachy" art.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

victoriamag.com

Urns and seashell/coral fossils are just meant to be together.

Annie Brahler, designer

Seashell art adds to the antiquity attributed to old world urns and pedestals. You really can't go wrong displaying shells and corals in this manner.

Lisa Farmer, Eye For Design

When I told my husband several years ago that I was bringing in one of the garden urns for a seashell display he thought I had lost my mind. It gets so many compliments he has changed his.

Lisa Farmer, Eye For Design

Don't fill the urn with shiny shells you buy in craft stores as that won't provide the authentic old world appearance. Make sure to add in some large shells as these were the much desired, hard to find specimens used in cabinets of curiosities.

irishtimes.com

architectureartdesigns.com

Maximalism seashell collections and décor makes bringing nature into the home enjoyable as you curate your collection.

cottages-gardens.com

These seashell cabinets are not only beautiful conversation starters but they also make for charming pieces of furniture for displaying nature's beauty.

confettistyle.wordpress.com

Like Victorian collections, your cabinet could also display unique finds from the sea as you continue to add shells and corals to your décor.

mossandivy.wordpress.com

Be creative and find unique ways to display seashell art while keeping it old world.

eyefordesign.blogspot.com

deyrolly.com

There are many ways to make a seashell feel like a work of art. Display them on shelves, mantles, use them in vignettes on tabletops, make your own cabinets of curiosities.

vogue.com

Just remember...... maximalism is decidedly more fun than minimalism.

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/11/decorating-with-chinese-wallpaper.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Chinese Wallpaper

2022-11-06T10:04:00.001-08:00

If your interiors need an injection of the exotic......fantastical oriental scenes and sinuous, stylized flower and bird motifs, then you might consider a redo using Chinese wallpaper. Chinoiserie, from chinois, the French word for “Chinese”, is a interior style that has witnessed a recent surge in popularity and stunning walls of Chinese inspired wallpaper will create the perfect backdrop for rooms filled with beautiful and exotic furnishings, fabrics, and porcelain imports.

Heavily influenced by the Orient, Chinoiserie style made its way into Europe in the 18th Century, were it has been prominent ever since. The Chinese wallpaper was then called “painted paper”, and had become extremely popular with the aristocracy. Chinese hand painted wallpapers and murals were expensive with orders for custom designs taking as long as 18 months to receive. The French and English rapidly embraced the style after trade routes between Europe and Asia became more accessible. By the late 1700's Chinese wallpapers, started to be exported to the West where the style became a great part of the Gilded Age.

Still crafted today this painstaking process and level of artistry and work can take 20 hours to create one panel and you can imagine the number of Chinoiserie panels needed for a medium-sized room. This is why hand painted Chinese wallpaper remains a luxury. However, there are affordable alternatives so don't think your walls can't have the "wow" factor papered with some of the lovely Chinese wallpapers available today.

I hope you enjoy the images I have gathered to help inspire you beginning with old world interiors and ending with modern traditional rooms. The common factor......a touch of exotica!!

proantic.com

Chinoiserie was embraced in the palaces and chateaus of France.

Here in the Château de Haroué, as well as many others Chinese wallpapers played a pivotal role in their beauty.

cntraveller.com

France and England, in order to capitalize on the trend, began to produce Chinese inspired wallpapers. Even these imitations could not satisfy the large demand for Chinese wallpaper from the wealthy nobles in Europe.

hellomagazine.com

England won the battle for design preeminence with the display of Chinese wallpapered interiors in a great many of the grand manor houses of the English aristocracy. Even here in the dining room of Buckingham Palace wonderfully detailed birds, flowers, trees, and scenes of Chinese life were an immediate hit........

onekingslane.com

as these beautiful Chinese wallpapers still remain even today, some centuries later.

newyorksocialdiary.com

Here at Chatsworth, as with many of the great houses of Britain, a Chinoiserie room was usually enveloped in beautiful Chinese wallpaper or murals. Chinese wallpaper actually became a defining feature of the British country house interior.

afflante.com

One thinks of exotic florals and birds when considering Chinese wallpaper. This style paper tends to add a romantic softness to a design that works particularly well in bedrooms such as this one found at

Brocket Hall, one of England’s finest stately homes.

willowbrookpark.blogspot.com

However, in addition to floral, there were many scenes depicting everyday life...... figures presented in landscapes of mountains, trees and water, engaged in agriculture and industry. Many times the scenes would show buildings, gardens and even festivals.

wonderlandphilosophy.blogspot.com

(@anglophileclub) on Instagram

Chinese wallpaper is still produced in much the same way as it has been for centuries with every piece featuring hand-painted designs. Tempera or gouache is used to paint the intricate incredibly rich and vibrant designs on 100% silk material. Silk gives the luxurious appearance and since the wallpaper also features rice paper backing, the acoustics of a room is also softened. Also rice paper helps to slow deterioration. Today you can still have custom wallpapers made the same way.

Via Pinterest

Chinese culture attaches certain values to colors and there are several colors used over and over as a base in the design of Chinese wallpapers. Let's take a look at some popular colors. Green is considered the color that sends the idea of health, purity and cleanliness. It is also the color that represents the spring season, the season when everything comes back to life.

tkkatherineblog.tumblr.com

Here a green base is used to support a stunning and detailed pattern of graceful roses, flower, and exotic birds. Since green is the color of nature it seems the best background for these designs. Chinese wallpapers with green backgrounds were (and still are) extremely popular.

Source: instagram.com/maureenme

Designer, Edward Bulmer

via Pinterest

Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire

Yellow is another favorite base color for Chinese patterned wallpaper. Yellow is viewed as the color of the earth and a symbol of it's treasures. It is the color of late summer and stands for empathy, stability, warmth, and good faith.

royal-oak.org

The Chinese Windsor room in Belton House, named after Edward VIII and wallpapered in soft golden yellow tones. The real prize was that it was expensive hand painted wallpaper that only the rich could afford.

pinterest.co.uk

More important in Chinese culture, brighter yellow is considered a royal color and symbolizes majesty, power, and prosperity. This image is of Queen Victoria's apartment at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

townandcountrymag.com

Chinoiserie bedroom at Cliveden House with it's yellow Chinese wallpaper and pagoda inspired fireplace.

veranda.com

I love this beautiful Chinese wallpaper with orange base color. The ancient Chinese associated the color with harvests, happiness, wealth, and abundance. Who would have thought that your wall color choice could usher in such good fortune. Might make you want to think twice about decorating with orange!

Source: www.instagram.com/maureenme

During the 18th century, many of the rooms designed in the Chinese taste were considered the feminine rooms in the house, like bedrooms, dressing rooms, and boudoirs. This image is of the newly decorated Howard Bedroom at Belvoir Castle, with handpainted de Gournay Belvoir Chinoiserie wallpaper in soft peachy orange tones.

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And then there are the blue Chinese Wallpapers.

m.lodgers.ru

Blue has always been a popular base color for Chinese wallpaper.

orientallyyours.tumblr.com

Blue stands for healing, trust, and long life. Chinese wallpapered rooms in base shades of blue would have been used to decorate homes for longevity and harmony.

degournay.com

cworthland.tumblr.com

In Chinese culture brown represents the earth and is therefore associated with being grounded, fertile, and industrious. Rooms papered in brown chinoiserie patterns are so elegant, rich, and warm!

martynwhite.london

Designer, Charlotte Moss

architecturaldigest.com

Home of Laura Sartori Rimini of AD100 Studio Peregalli

Chinese wallpaper can effortlessly be combined with design elements (such as furniture and accessories) from other periods and styles. I believe this is one reason for it's ongoing popularity.

Nicky Haslam, designer via houseandgarden.co.uk

The color gold symbolizes wealth and riches in Chinese culture. Many Chinese wallpapers have a gold foil base which certainly lends to the idea of opulence.

thefoodogatemyhomework.tumblr.com

Even Chinese wallpaper with painted gold background gives the feeling of luxury to a space.

twitter.com/englishheritage

Another plus! Since Chinese wallpapers create a mural effect that has a non- repeating pattern it is easier to paper gracefully around windows and doors. Plus the fact that it does not repeat means every inch of your wall is totally unique.

via Pinterest

If you want to incorporate the look into your interiors but don't like the idea of a room saturated in Chinese wallpaper, here is a way you can still use the wallpapers and ride the Chinoiserie wave.

salonprivemag.com

Try using some framed wallpaper panels to inject Chinoiserie exotic beauty into your home. It will be less expensive yet will give you the look of murals.

Image Source: Mark D Sikes

Renvy Graves Pittman's estate via veranda.com

You might also try a Chinese style wallpaper that lends more to fretwork than florals. Even though the walls are entirely covered it will feel less saturated and more open and airy.

traditionalhome.com

Chinese wallpaper is the kind of luxurious wall covering that looks chic and sophisticated in your foyer, living room, bedroom, or even a stylish bathroom.

fschumacher.com

Though it is an old world style of interior design, the look and feel of today's Chinese wallcoverings lend themselves to both classic and modern interiors.

emilyaclark.com

Photography: Natalie Dinham for elle.com

The beautiful London apartment of Hannah Cecil Gurney, director of the de Gournay wallpaper company, proves that if your style is bold, colorful, and eclectic, Chinoiserie will fit right in.

amalkapeninteriors.com

Today's Chinese inspired wallpaper will add a sense of history to a modern traditional interior.

housebeautiful.com

atlantahomesmag.com

And what a great way to add drama to an otherwise neutral room.

hadleycourt.com

The dining room is a perfect space to redecorate in Chinoiserie style.

Miles Redd, designer

Here the richness these Chinese wallpapers bring to a room is evident.

veranda.com

iksel.com

And of course bedrooms are as beautiful papered in Chinese wallpaper today as they were centuries ago.

Chinoiserie And Chintz on Instagram

Love, love, love this bedroom! The fabulous wallpaper sets the stage for a lovely supporting cast.

coveteur.com

housebeautiful.com

Remember that Chinese inspired wallpapers today need not be used to set a "themed" room the way it was routinely done in the 18th century. You can pair Chinese paper with unexpected colors and accessories that instantly modernize a space.

architecturaldigest.com

cococozy.com

houzz.com

If you only want a bit of Chinoiserie wallpaper you can't go wrong with a bathroom makeover.

veranda.com

Chinese wallpaper will update and add a romantic and glamorous appeal to you bathroom.

livingetc.com

Chinese wallpapers tend to be muted and softer in colors. However, if your style favors more boldness you are in luck. There is a new generation of artists and designers out there bringing with them unexpected patterns and bold coloring.

hibautdesign.com

Although historically associated with the old world, Chinese wallpapers are being used in bolder ways in modern traditional style homes. Chinoiserie is being embraced once again. It can be elegant and even whimsical.....have fun with it!!

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/10/decorating-with-walking-stick-and-cane.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Classically Styled Black And White Bathrooms

2022-10-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe it is the sophistication, maybe it's the contrast. One thing we know for sure is that the classic black and white bathroom never seems to lose it's appeal. The popularity of these elegant bathrooms have endured and as we prepare to head into 2023 there seems to be no sign of that changing.

Black and white are true opposites that pack a powerful punch when wedded together and used in designing interiors. And whether your style runs toward classic or contemporary elegance, the black/white color combination works beautifully as a go-to palette for the bath.

This blog post is directed to those who like an old world classic style bath and are especially enamored with the bold, high contrast refinement of the black/white combination. Hopefully the images below will give you ideas on how you too can create a timeless black and white bath as well as make it uniquely your own.

housebeautiful.com

One of the easiest ways to bring classical style into your black and white bath is via your flooring. The harlequin (or checkerboard) floor is that iconic pattern that’s been used for four millennia so I don't see it going away…ever. A claw foot tub and French chair complete the classic look

РЕНЕ СТОЭЛТИ ......via admagazine.ru

Now this is my idea of a stunning old world bathroom. The black and white tile floor sets the overall old world feel and when you add in the French Empire chandelier, grisaille papered walls, and that fabulous bathtub....well you simply have perfection!!

loveisspeed.blogspot.com

Lovely black and white bathroom from Château de Chantilly. I love the portieres! If you are looking for a creative style that draws the eye and gives your space a grandiose feel, checkerboard marble flooring has retained its sense of luxury enough to bring class and drama to your space.This flooring is so elegant and opulent that it was used in the Queens Staircase in the French palace of Versailles.

John Jacob Interiors

Since the elegant black and white checkerboard pattern has withstood the test of time it is the perfect choice for a classical black and white bathroom.

madeinpersbo.blogspot.se

This lovely bath is not exclusively black and white but still comes across that way. The flooring, beautiful black and white claw foot tub, and old world antique accessories make this a very elegant bath. Visit their blog for more picture of a lovely home!!

apartmenttherapy.com

homesandgardens.com

This classically styled black and white bathroom is saturated in marble which is trending at present. Add in the geometric 3D flooring and you have a bit of contemporary mix that looks great in a classical bath.

interiorcollective.com

The owners of this predominately white farmhouse style bathroom have still brought in the black and white theme through use of the harlequin floor. I think that even though it is considered old world this flooring works with all decors...... modern, farmhouse, traditional......

mylovelythings.blogspot.com

and vintage like this great black and white bathroom.

elledecor.com

Interior Designer Frédéric Méchiche's apartment in Marais Paris

via Pinterest

In this black and white bathroom a solid black floor really makes the white tub pop and the FRENCH CORNER sliding shower enclosure from DreamLine will make you feel like you are staying in a European hotel.

atlantahomes.com

A freestanding bateau bath sitting majestically in the center of a black and white bathroom oozes high-octane glamour.....minus the cow picture of course.

markdsikesblog.com

A glam black and white bathroom with iconic Dorothy Draper appeal.

Nathan Kirkman Photographer, via housebeautiful.com

There are so many styles of black and white flooring to choose from. This homeowner has used black, white, and gray hexagon tiles to create a classic floor for their bathroom. This geometric shape is currently on trend and offers endless opportunities for customization.

Also we're seeing more and more gold fixtures in black and white bathrooms these days.

ando-studio.co.il

This personality packed black and white bathroom definitely exudes the "Oh la la" factor. Bold geometric flooring is right on trend as is the stylish free standing tub and the sculptural chandelier. Put all this against the old world boiserie and that fabulous mirror and you don't have a bathroom, you have a bathing experience.

Steven Harris

Loving the bold flooring in this black/white combination bathroom.

haneens-haven.com

A great mix of classical and modern is demonstrated in this stylish black and white bathroom.

mixandchic.com

Great use of mermaid scale tiles in this black and white bathroom. They definitely give direction and make you feel like you are floating downstream.

housebeautiful.com

Gone are the days of bathroom flooring just blending into the background!! Try building your black and white bathroom around a vintage claw foot tub you have found and painted black.

masters-mind.com

To make a classic black and white bathroom your own, add pattern for extra visual appeal. Just be careful. This is a look that can go south on you real fast!

decorpad.com

decoholic.org

Elegant and classically styled black and white bathroom. The claw tub and modern traditional sink station bring the old world charm. Even the geometric rug has the feel reminiscent of a classic harlequin floor. The modern lighting and accessories update the look.

housebeautiful.site

Interior designers love black and white because it is such a winning combination. Used in a bath it never fails to elevate the overall aesthetics of the room. Sleek and sophisticated, but with an appeal that is timeless. Try adding unusual focal points, such as a feature wall.

trendland.com

Another way to show personal style in your black and white bathroom is through the lighting. Be sure the lighting is good as one of the main bathroom design offenders is inadequate lighting. There's nothing worse than a poorly lit bathroom!

SuzAnn Kletzien via housebeautiful.com

If you are going in the direction of black walls and ceilings in your black/white bath, consider white wainscoting and/or decorative molding. These features will soften the look for you.

hgtv.com

Or just dive into the black paint pool wholeheartedly. Your white sink and toilet will really look crisp and clean. Don’t forget to add framed art or other decorative objects as the finishing touches!

living-preppy.tumblr.com

A black tub on a background of white subway tiles. The black grout makes these white tiles almost seem to pop off the wall. Also they give this vintage black and white bathroom a modern twist and help a small bathroom really come alive.

houzz.com

Remember you can add the classic combination of black and white to your bath with wallpaper and fabric. Toile is a good choice for a rustic French farmhouse look.

mydomaine.com

decoholic.org

Striped wallpaper is such a classical look it will be perfect for a timeless black and white bathroom.

housebeautiful.com

Black and white is such a stark contrast, there is no need to try and make a statement in any other way. However, if you like black and white bathrooms but monochromatic is not your thing, by all means have fun and add a pop of color.

thisoldhouse.com

A black and white bathroom is a classic style choice, but it is easy to stamp your own personality onto it and make it something uniquely yours.

Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-old-world-appeal-of-copper-bathtubs.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Decorating With Walking Stick And Cane Collections

2022-10-02T16:03:00.002-07:00

Decorators and collectors are once again bringing to prominence a utilitarian object that at one time symbolized power, class, and influenced fashion. Pretty big achievements for such a small object. I am speaking of the walking stick or cane, as it is commonly referred to. Today their popularity is soaring once again as elegant and interesting sticks and canes are being appreciated, collected, and displayed en masse in interiors that embrace an old world aesthetic.

Carried by tribal chiefs, royals, and the aristocracy, walking sticks have a long history. In the 18th century, when France influenced style and fashion, the walking stick was a requisite of the fashionable dress. Louis XIV was never seen in public without his cane. However the walking stick's golden age was during the Victorian era from the 1830's to the latter half of the 19th century. The walking sticks and canes lost their popularity when society became less fashion-conscious and ended their demand. They were then relegated to the inferior rank of medical equipment for the aged or disabled. That is until now!!!

agathachristieobraeautora.blogspot.com

Ahhhh yes, Agatha Christie's fictional Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot carried one. There was a time when an elegant walking stick or cane was the must have accessary as were gloves and hats.

traditionalhome.com

thefullerview.tumblr.com

The fashionable gentleman owned several canes for different occasions.

Photos via Pinterest

During the early 1900's even women owned canes for special social events.

splendorinthesouth.tumblr.com

A walking stick/cane collection was seen in the foyers of most grand residences.

nytimes.com

And I might add these cane collections look fabulous displayed in blue and white transferware!

jjmedia.com

twofeet-oneworld.com

The word "cane" comes from the fact that shafts of most canes were made from bamboo and other rattans. Cane became the mostly widely used material for the production of walking sticks

vogue.com

Today antique canes are extremely popular with collectors who love an old world genteel and elegant style.

Designer Bunny Mellon, via gardenandgun.com

A collection of almost anything can add personality to a home.....

Designer Ralph Lauren, via architecturaldigest.com

and walking sticks are high on the list for antique items making a resurgence for decorating purposes. And as you see collecting them can become quite an obsession.

veranda.com

houseandgarden.co.uk

Displays don't have to consist of expensive antique sticks and canes. A display of simple canes can help to add warmth and charm to your home's entrance.

thepolohouse.blogspot.com

Because they've become a hot decor trend, walking stick and cane collecting is no cheap endeavor.

myapplemarketplace.com

However, if you enjoy treasure hunting and have patience, you can still run across the occasional stick or cane at estate sales, antique/vintage malls, even thrift stores. I found a beautiful walking stick with hound head at a yard sale.

bhg.com

parisbao.com

Canes and walking sticks can be topped with gold, silver, a jewel of some sort, carved wood or ivory, porcelain, or glass. The variety is what makes them so collectible.

awonderfulpalmettolife.tumblr.com

The length of the cane shaft was often highly decorated and beautifully carved.

tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogsp...

Canes and sticks work well with other types of collections you might enjoy decorating with. Here it is antique hats.

via Pinterest.de

Add some vintage umbrellas for a fun and interesting display of canes and sticks.

holdhard.tumblr.com

How about some old golf clubs? I also have a set of antique wooden golf clubs mixed in with my cane collection by the front door.

antiquecaneworld.com

People love them because the are small elegant symbols of a more romantic, bygone era.

architecturaldigest.com

A cane collection is a welcomed décor element in any foyer.........

www.mrsblandings.com

or any other room of the house for that matter.

tidbitsandtwine.com

There were also "gadget canes". These were designed to hold a sword blade, dagger, pistol.......

dailymail.co.uk

or in Poirot's case a telescope.

inspirationsdeco.blogspot.fr

via Pinterest

Many walking sticks were crafted by folk artists and could be whimsical.

nonamehiding.com

Sailors also crafted canes and walking sticks from ivory and whalebone.

nehomemag.com

It is easy to get the false impression that a walking cane collection is only for masculine décor. Hopefully the pictures below will change your mind.

vintagehomecollection.tumblr.com

How charming is this space......walking stick collection and all!

lizmarieblog.com

The collection of canes and sticks adds to the coziness of this mud room.

quintessenceblog.com

See how pretty a cane collection looks with a few umbrellas tossed in the mix.

inspirationsdeco.blogspot.fr

And if you still have lingering doubts, you just can't get any more feminine than this vintage collection!

traditionalhome.com

chinoiseriechic.net

Even a Chinoiserie space can benefit from a walking stick collection.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sotheby's

lisagilmoredesign.com

This eclectic entry proves that a walking stick/cane collection is at home in a variety of decorating styles.

sothebys.com

There are many lovely ways to display canes and walking sticks. Of course there is the walking stick stand.

via Pinterest

swaineadeneybrigg.com

I prefer a less structured, more interesting mode of display. Select a large beautiful piece of pottery to display your collection in.

thepolohouse.blogspot.com

burkedecor.com

Cane collections are a good choice if your decorating style leans towards equestrian.

pascaltherme.com

Try something a bit more whimsical.

brasslanternantiques.com

thelittlecorner.tumblr.com

Even a basket will make a great cane holder. This one is a military basket, a kind which was used in both WW1 and WW2 to transport artillery.

Designer, Laura Hunt

Your cane collection can be small and yet very elegant.

realhomes.com/(Image credit: Colin Poole)

domino.com

You can also go large and decorate your space with a grand collection!

King Tut, who had to use a can most of his life, had no less than 132 sticks buried with him!

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/09/decorating-tabletops-with-objets-dart.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating Tabletops With Objets d'art Collections.......Maximalism Style!

2022-09-12T09:29:00.001-07:00

With the return to elegant old world maximalist interiors, learning to display your treasured collections, or as the French say, objets d'art, is a must. Objets d'art literally means "art object" (or work of art) in French. In English it is used to describe works of art that are not paintings, large or medium-sized sculptures, prints, or drawings. Usually these treasures are small, three-dimensional, quality bits and pieces.

While there are many ways to display a collection of heirlooms, this blog post will be featuring the tabletop display reminiscent of English interiors. The English perfected the look during the Victorian era when collecting hit its peak, and unique collections were seen as a symbol of status and wealth.

In recent design trends, we see a move away from sterile minimalism and carbon copy design that can be purchased by anyone on the showroom floor. The trend now is the embrace of unique personalization. Preserving and displaying antique treasures and family heirlooms is one way to ensure your home isn’t like everyone else's. The days of cookie cutter homes is over!!

Have fun collecting and enjoying your objets d'art. I hope you take away an idea or two from the images I have gathered to help you style tabletops in old world maximalism style.

via Pinterest

Maximalism is making a comeback in interiors everywhere and displaying curated collections of objets d'art are not a problem as long as you do it the right way. Just remember Curated.......NOT Cluttered!

via Pinterest

Recently the design world is seeing a move away from uninspiring minimalism. The new trend is all about imagination and the art of layering. The new mantra is definitely More IS More.

Robert Zellinger de Balkany in Paris

Maximalist décor is all about embracing and displaying excess. Purchasing antiques and other objets d'art to pack in boxes and store or relegate to curio cabinets because you are afraid of damage is first of all, no fun whatsoever, and secondly, just not the trend of the day.

newyorksocialdiary.com

A side table in Brigid Berlin's home is filled with tortoise shell snuff boxes and other favorite items. Display your collections and stop worrying about dust! It's really not that hard to keep things tidy. Someone told me recently that dusting their objects d'art just made them remember why they fell in love with the piece in the first place. To which I replied, " well said!

newyorksocialdiary.com Brigid Berlin

Decorating on old table or desk with your beautiful treasures is the perfect way to display and ENJOY them!!!

A maximalist vignette from the late Mario Buatta's Manhattan Apartment

a-l-ancien-regime.tumblr.com

photo by Féau & Cie Boiserie

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of the antiques and collectibles hunt as you look for an interesting piece to add to your tabletop collection. Highly recommended!

Bunny Williams, designer

The line between a decorative collection and unattractive clutter can be a bit tricky. This is especially true when it comes to arranging small items. Curation is key. Curation is the act of organizing and maintaining a collection through careful selection and coordination of objects for presentation.

quintessenceblog.com

You should showcase items you love by layering them using different heights and depth of field. This image s a great example of these two principles. A maximalism style collection can definitely go south on you unless you display according to the principles of three-dimensional design.

John Rosselli

Consider placing some pieces on boxes, plinths, or other items that will provide a different level and give you more options. Your display will be more interesting this way.

newyorksocialdiary.com

Enrich your home with a collection of exquisite pieces as in a room in Susan Gutfreund’s apartment designed by Henri Samuel.

timothy-corrigan.com

Three-dimensional designs should look equally good from the front, sides and back so be sure to inspect your tabletop arrangement from all angles.

newyorksocialdiary.com

Here, a unique and colorful lamp is a sculptural focal point next to treasured collectibles on this maximalist tabletop.

John Rosselli

chinoiseriechic.net

Maximalist English tabletops full of treasured collectibles were many times displayed on tablecloths. This look is gaining in popularity again today.

Waddesdon Manor. (Chris Lacey (c) National Trust Waddesdon Manor)

cartonmagazine.com

A collection of eye-catching objects d'art belonging to Coco Chanel. Enjoy treasure hunting for that extraordinary piece to display on your tabletop vignette.

Designer, Jacques Garcia

Some items lend themselves to small tabletops

Howard Slatkin via “Fifth Avenue Style” (Vendome Press)

Enhance your primary display by adding in some smaller items. These smaller items really provide the charm. In this maximalist tabletop display by Howard Slatkin the colors are from the same color palette which helps bring cohesiveness to the variety of items.

theglampad.com

This display reveals how a lamp adds vertical interest to a collection of treasures spread out on a tabletop.

scalaregia.blogspot.com

In order to display your collection of well chosen treasures for maximum visual interest, make sure to vary their size and shape.

wsj.com

A table top bronze objects d'art collection in designer Jacques Garcia's luxurious 17th-century Norman estate, Champ de Bataille.

Howard Slatkin

belclairehouse.blogspot.com

A desk acts as the next best thing to a tabletop for the display of an objects d'art collection.

thingstodopost.org

timothy-corrigan.com

Tabletop collectibles scene from Timothy Corrigan's home in Los Angeles. Try adding books to your display.

Kenneth J Lane via newyorksocialdiary.com

Of course pictures can also be worked into tabletop displays.

thetailoredbibliophile.tumblr.com

The tabletop objets d'art display is perfect for anyone who wants to finish their space with a highly-curated feel.

lynn-byrne.com

Collect items that are a similar size or color as seen here featuring antique tortoise shell treasures. Then make an impact by gathering them in one spot such as a tabletop.

A lovely collection of tortoise shell objets d'art by designer Charles Faudree.

traditionalhome.com photographs by Jenifer Jordan

Use trays to group similar items and to help keep a collection of small objects orderly. Displayed here is a small enamel trinket boxes collection from Halcyon Days, a British company supplying luxury home goods.

milieu-mag.com

Harmonize objects of different shapes and sizes with an asymmetrical arrangement. Balance a tall, large object with several smaller ones.

Nancy Lancaster, designer

Maximalist design schemes work better when a balance exists between visually light and heavy pieces. Don't forget the use of flowers and plants!

David Hicks, designer

A tabletop of your favorite treasures adds an instant personalized touch of style to your living space.

houseofbeautyandculture.blogspot....

decoration-ancientandmodern.com

Nancy Lancaster's famous butter yellow library in England. This room is the epitome of the English country manor's tabletop collections display.

emilyevanseerdmans.blogspot.com

Another view of the tabletop display.

littleaugury.blogspot.com

Tabletop collections of objets d'art play an important role in the opulence of the maximalist Parisian apartment of Counts Hubert et Isabelle d'Ornano.

via Pinterest

Close-up of one the the tables in the image above.

tweedlandthegentlemansclub.blogspot.com

You can't go wrong today whether you choose to display a mixture of your favorite treasures ......

armchairoxfordscholar.tumblr.com

or make an impact with multiples of a single item. Here it is globes!

newyorksocialdiary.com

Here an ivory colored whippet collection is lovingly displayed en mass by John Rosselli.

via Pinterest

This stunning malachite collection is proof perfect of how a maximalist tabletop display can elevate your space.

Interior designer Timothy Corrigan's Château du Grand-Lucé

The best part about collecting art and antiques is that you get to live with them. Your objets d'art collection can be displayed in grand style or you can enjoy even the small spaces!! Just remember you shouldn't accumulate stuff just for the sake of accumulation. That is what ends up looking like clutter. Be selective and enjoy the hunt for the perfect piece.

Click below to see the previous blog post.
https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/06/decorating-interiors-in-classical-greek.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Botanical Prints

2022-06-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

Botanical prints are no longer the wallflowers of interior design. Floral prints, big and small, have been a trend on the runways and as we know, that always trickles down to home interiors as well. Floral and plant prints are a fun and feminine trend that always cycles back into favor and this year their popularity is skyrocketing. I personally am glad to see florals blooming again after a long hiatus because of over saturation in the 1980's. This post features the botanical print and how it can give a room instant charm and personality.

In the 1700's and 1800's, known as the Golden Age of Botanical Art, there was a growing interest in nature so the botanical illustration was an important tool to record the plants being collected by explorers from all over the world. These beautiful water colored illustrations detailed plant growth from the seed to the flower and included the Latin name for each specimen.

When you look through decorating magazines or on line decorating blogs you will see that it looks as if there has been a return to Science 101. Botanica is everywhere and in almost every decor style. Framed botanical prints will add a timeless touch to even he most contemporary interior.

Add a burst of nature to your own interiors with a few well placed botanical prints.

via pinterest

Gardening became very popular in the late 1700's so illustrations were needed for magazines and catalogs. The illustrations usually documented all parts of the specimen........seed, roots, stalk, leaves, flower and fruit.

juliabostonantiques.blogspot.com

This room has a lovely combination of framed botanical styles. The small leaf specimens appear more like the classic botanical print while the florals on black background take on a more current look.

interiorcanvas.com

A grouping of framed botanical prints, especially historic reproductions, are perfect for the Traditional interior.

www.1stdibs.com

Always popular Flora Danica dinner service features a botanical theme. Organic greens, fresh limes and soft pastels make up a popular palette of colors as well as soft tones of watercolor blues, pinks and yellow.

housetohome.co.uk

The floral lampshade and drapery fabric ties in wonderfully with the framed botanical prints. While floor to ceiling florals are back in style, many homeowners just want a touch of feminine charm.

onekingslane.com

This type of decoration is an easy way to connect with nature and refresh your home interior

wisteria.com

Another great way to incorporate the botanical trend into your interior is by purchasing a piece painted in leaf motif or attempting it as a DIY project.

bhg.com

Or try other fun ways to display some botanical prints.

There are so many lovely fabrics with botanical print themes on the market today. This Robert Allen Fabric bursts with energy, color, and wild abundance, showcasing lavish digitally printed botanical florals, inky block prints, classic damasks, and more. This thriving garden of styles captures the whimsical and diverse beauty found in the natural world while paying homage to current urban trends.

theswedishfurniture.com

Isn't this a wonderful chest? It is either painted or probably decoupaged with botanical prints.

newyorksocialdiary.com

When hanging your prints, group them to create a high-impact gallery wall. These shades of olive, gold and ivory recreate the look of antique botanical prints.

sissynickels.com

Whether you prefer to frame them in a gallery or display them in another unique and artful way, they are sure to add some unique personality to your style.

Original image from Ethan Allen catalogue.

Botanical print walls makes it easy to keep the furniture and light fixtures the same and go for the small details. Plus you will have a beautiful new look without breaking the bank.

tidbitsandtwine.com

Botanical prints work beautifully alongside striking patterns for bedding, cushions and accessories.

via pinterest

Botanical prints have a watercolor softness about them that makes them the perfect choice for the bedroom.

carolinarusica.com

This grouping of framed botanical prints helps to bring a vintage quality to this room.

AnastasiaC @ percivalroad

Hang a large print on your wall or you can also try to find a vintage botanical book and use the pages with drawings to create a group of smaller prints.

source unknown

Fabric manufacturers are taking the historic botanical prints and injecting them with 21st century flair.

blog.sndimg.com

If you want to saturate a room with botanicals there are collections of matching wallpaper and fabrics that will help you do just that.

www.hometone.org

Botanical prints make stunning gallery walls. They work beautifully in neutral rooms as well as those with "pops" of color.

payaljaggi.wordpress.com

Another lovely alternative is to create gallery walls with botanical prints in monochromatic tones. If you don't care for florals, these plant specimens are the perfect choice.

houseandgarden.co.uk

Just remember you can display your botanical prints in unconventional ways. Be creative!

Yellow Verde Botanical Wallpaper By Kathy Ireland Home

You will see an increasing number of products on the market that incorporate prints and patterns that are inspired by nature. It is easy to refresh your décor with one of the many botanical print wallpapers, upholstering fabrics, home décor items, and even flooring.

freshideen.com

the-vintage-nest.com

This wall has been papered with pages from botanical print books for a shabby, vintage look.

www.houseandgarden.co.uk

Botanical prints are a great way to introduce a blend of print, pattern, and texture into the home.

laurelberninteriors.com

Not to mention color. Botanical prints can make your interiors feel like gardens.

toneontoneantiques.blogspot

via pinterest

I think it is lovely the way that an antique botanical print reflects the simple beauty and fragility of the flower it portrays

via pinterest

I love the botanical drawings that have black backgrounds. The colors pop in such a dramatic way.

littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

twostraightlines.typepad.com

If you are looking for a large botanical print, especially on a black background, you will see that they are hard to find. This one and several other styles can be purchased from theevolutionstore.com. The reproductions can be framed...............

ksarahdesigns.typepad.com

.........or you can hang them like this one. To get a more antique feel simply rough up the edges like this homeowner has done.

www.housetohome.co.uk

Create your very own secret garden by embracing the botanical prints trend that looks to be a popular design element for this year.

Designer, Nicolas Fairford

It just makes sense that a décor theme featuring nature would be such popular trend at present.

Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2015/03/decorating-in-chinese-chippendale-style.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating Interiors In Classical Greek Style

2022-06-14T14:17:00.003-07:00

British architect James Stuart (known as the "Father of the Greek Revival") visited Greece with Nicolas Revett in 1751 and the rest is history. Stuart and Revett then published the multi-volume Antiquities of Athens and the classical Greek aesthetic was born and the style become extremely fashionable. It reached it's height of popularity in England and other European countries in the 1820s and ‘30s. In America, the classical Greek style dominated all styles that came before it, trending for almost 30 years.

Today classic motifs are again popping up all over the place as the classical Greek Revival trend seems to be on the horizon. It’s a reboot of the ancient Greek home with elements of design also sought after for today's modern home.

Considering a makeover? If you are tired of minimalism but still enjoy a clean interior, you will definitely want to embrace the classic Greek revival style.

I have gathered some images of amazing interiors that will hopefully give you ideas plus tips on how to bring this classical and luxurious decorating style into your own homes.....even if on a smaller scale. Enjoy!!

aesthetically-thinking.blogspot.c...

The temples of ancient Greece were the inspiration for America's first truly national architectural style. Americans were fascinated by all things classical and Greek with temple-fronted façades on the nation’s churches, banks, town halls, and houses.

cindyhattersleydesign.co

The trend is back and classical Grecian elements are being welcomed again to help create beautiful interiors.

athoughtfuleye.wordpress.com

The classical Greek design style encourages luxury through art and sculpture.

myluxury.it

No classical Greek interior is complete without standing sculptures.

carlaaston.com

architecturaldigest.com

thisivyhouse.tumblr.com

If you have the space, don’t hold back. A large statue will complement any classical Greek designed space. Sometimes you can find them at auctions and estate sales. You never know what you might find while treasure hunting.

Luis Bustamante

If your classical Greek space is limited and a life sized statue is not possible, by all means look for your statuary in the form of a painting or another type of wall art.

architecturaldigest.com

Perhaps the most iconic example of ancient Greek décor is the bust sculpture.

acroterium.co.uk

A classical bust provides the perfect way to add Grecian style to a console, bookcase, or side/coffee table.

another2bohemians.tumblr.com

michaelhampton.blogspot.com

Just make sure the busts you choose are Greek or Roman. The beautiful French busts will look out of place in a classical Greek interior.

via Pinterest

Natural stone flooring, especially marble or limestone, creates a coolness that is associated with classical Greek interiors.

houseparts.tumblr.com

The harlequin floor also looks splendid in a Grecian style interior and adds warmth.

mcalpinehouse.com

One way you can create a classical Greek look in your home is by adding beautiful columns. Columns draw the eye upwards which helps to emphasize the greatness of everything in the room.

Luis Bustamante

Remember you don't have to attach your columns to the walls or ceilings. I love free standing columns..... unless you have children or large dogs.

pictureofelegance.blogspot.com

Larger faux columns can also be installed in entryways or throughout your space to create an air of luxury.

elledecor.com

Here faux millwork columns, black urn themed table lamps, and the x-shaped curule seat combine to create a lux modern Greek interior.

Diane Burn, Designer

Shorter columns can be a great addition throughout your home to be used as a decorative pedestal or side table for potted plants or other accessories. Column capitals are stunning when used as coffee or side tables.

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

Although my living room is more French in style I do use a faux capital to add more classical appeal.

Designer Bobby McAlpine

The attention to the walls in the form of painted classical elements give this home a definite historical Greek feel. Another great element is the use of hanging drapes to separate spaces. And of course there are the columns.

Murals were incredibly popular in historical ancient Greek buildings. They were usually painted or created from tile mosaics. You can find beautiful mosaic wall art in today. These two pieces come from Houzz and Etsy.

architecturaldigest.com

Grisaille is a painting technique executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish color. It is particularly used in large classical decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture which makes it perfect for the classical Greek interior. You can have a space painted or cover your wall in any of the beautiful grisaille wallpaper murals available today.

Or you may want to try an architectural themed border in classical Greek style.

luxefurniture.net burkedecor.com

Research some of the beautiful Greek inspired wallpapers on the market today!

via Pinterest

You can even add large Greek themed art to set the stage for your new makeover.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc.

Jacques Garcia

Collect Grecian figurines and other sculptures to display on tables, shelves, et cetra. The classical Greek style interior can be clean like minimalism yet impressive because of the wonderful added accessories.

onlyobelisks.com

Ode on a Grecian Urn.....Keats knew what he was talking about!! Collect urns and also obelisks for display. They will bring an instant sense of history to your classical Greek interiors.

via Pinterest ashmolean.org

The rich colors of Greek inspired painted pottery will bring the artistic and historical appeal to your home. Classical Greek style can be on the cool side if you surround yourself with neutral walls and marble or stone statues and busts. This stunning style pottery will help to bring warmth to the space.

SJSDesignsGallery on Etsy

inigo.com

While wall colors in a classical Greek interior are usually painted or stuccoed in shades of white, there are others colors that will look equally amazing. Terra cotta is one such color. This color creates a great background for making your statues and busts "pop".

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I chose this color for my own bedroom and also added some black accents. Black pairs well with classical Greek décor so you can never go wrong with adding some through your Greek inspired accessories. I also like the way deep red looks with terra cotta for a classical space.

Joe Chaffer (@vagabondantiques) on Instagram

Try a deep teal on the walls for a classic look.

architecturaldigest.com

Because of the Aegean Sea and white sand beaches, blue and white are colors associated with the Greek isles. This color combination works well for the Grecian interior. Just add in some classical elements and you are good to go.

Another outstanding color! I love the deep red walls in this classical interior designed by Nicky Haslam. Set some busts on top of your bookcases and add some Greek style vessels on the shelves alongside your books. And of course there are iconic relief sculptures! Here the relief sculptures form a continuous relief around the ceiling but as you will see below there are other ways to incorporate them.

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I have a few on the walls of my bedroom as well over the desk in my office beyond. I love the way they instantly bring a Greek feel to the rooms. I also stenciled a Greek Key design on the walls of my office.

Renzo Mongiardino, Designer

The relief sculptures, classically painted walls, statuary, and other Greek style accessories help to create a truly stunning interior. Even without the soaring ceilings you would have a fabulous room. No bright colors! Only strong muddied shades will do whether you use them on the walls or the furnishings.

theacienthome on etsy

There are wonderful reproduction reliefs to choose from!!

Jaya Ibrahim

Green is another great color to incorporate into a classical Grecian style room. Collect pictures of urns, vases, or classical architecture to display.

mlbinteriordesign.com

The Greek key design is one of the most common designs in ancient Greek art and is symbolic of eternity. While the Greek Key design is iconic, timeless, and classic, it also fares well in sophisticated modern Grecian style interiors.

mrsblandings.blogspot.com

Look for the Greek Key motif on fabric goods such as pillows, throws, tablecloths, and window treatments. Even accessories like picture frames and vases that feature the motif will add some Greek flair to any room.

Images via Pinterest

zsazsabellagio.com

What a stunning entrance these gorgeous portieres with Greek Key design make.

privatenewport.com

mrsblandings.com

Don't hesitate to bring that outside garden urn into your Greek themed interior!!

Furlow Gatewood

Greek sofas were called klines and may have actually been modeled on Egyptian beds. Eventually lines became softer and much use was made of subtle and elegant curves. French daybeds like the one in this image would be a good sofa choice for a classical Greek interior........

Amelia Handegan, left

Thierry Tenars, right

as would a French Empire style sofa like the image on the left. Even the Knole sofa on the right evokes a classical Grecian feel.

greatshomedesign.blogspot.com

A free standing claw foot tub is a must have for the classical Greek bathroom. You can still find the old Victorian type and use faux marbling techniques to create your own old world tub.

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I marbleized and gilded this antique bath tub as well as an old mantle I found, then added a leopard fur border with acanthus leaf paper strip underneath around the ceiling. I have painted the space under the mantle black now...... just have not taken a picture yet.

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I added in some classical elements like this lidded urn which lends to the neoclassical feel of the space.

veranda.com

William McLure

Hides and furs add an air of sophistication to a classical Greek interior. Texture plays an important part in today's Greek style so the fur and the rustic nubby textured rug looks perfect against the highly polished stone?? (it is hard to tell) floor.

Ramon Garcia Jurado

Another shout out to fur! This Greek style bedroom really benefits from the faux fur spread. Add in the column, wonderful Greek painted pottery, and other perfect accessories and you have a fabulous space. Classical Greek interiors can be a bit strong. I love the black walls but if it is too masculine for you ivory walls would soften things up a bit.

architecturaldigest.com

A softer bedroom with classical Greek accessories. The lyre shaped side table is the perfect addition.

aquilamattia.it

This image, and the one below, emphasizes the fact that a touch of faux fur, in this case leopard, is stunning in a classical Greek home.

aquilamattia.it

1. archzine.fr 2. trishatroutz.com 3.estate sales.net

Look for mirrors that have a classical Grecian flair when designing this style interior. The arch with classical elements like the urn and swags is perfect. A Federal bulls eye convex mirror will also work in the Greek space as will any mirror with a pediment like #3.

Jean-Louis Deniot

In fact keep pediments on your mind as you look for décor to add to your classical Greek interior!!

thehandbookauthority.tumblr.com

For more blog posts to help you with creating a classical Greek inspired interior just click on the following links.

Decorating With Neoclassical Relief Sculptures

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2019/03/decorating-with-neoclassical-relief.html

Decorating With The Greek Key Motif

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/06/decorating-with-greek-key-motif.html

Decorating Your Home With Classical Lidded Garden Urns.......Inside And Out!

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2018/07/decorating-you-home-with-classical.html

Decorating With Classical Busts

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2018/01/decorating-with-classical-busts.html

Decorate Your Interiors With Classical Statuary

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/01/decorate-your-interiors-with-classical.html

Decorating With Grand Tour Souvenirs

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2018/06/decorating-with-grand-tour-souvenirs.html

Decorating With Columns

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/02/decorating-with-columns.html

Decorating With Faux Finishes And Old World Textures

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2015/06/decorating-with-faux-finishes-and-old.html

Decorating With Grisaille For Soft Elegant Walls

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/07/decorating-with-grisaille-for-soft.html

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/05/decorating-bedrooms-with-elegant-four.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Sedan Chairs........A Beautiful Way To Travel

2022-05-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

A very popular mode of European transportation for centuries was the sedan chair and it's use spread from Italy to France and on to England and Scotland. The name is probably from the Italian 'sede' (Latin sedes),which gave rise to seda ("seat") sit, however, some say they were named after the town of Sedan in France.

The sedan chair was a popular means of transport for a number of reasons including shelter from the weather and notoriously dirty roads as well as safety from the many horse-drawn vehicles which made the streets congested. Also you could make good time in a sedan chair and avoid carriage traffic jams because the sedan chairs were legally allowed to use the sidewalks. They could easily be carried through the streets of many European cities that were too narrow for a carriage. All this made the sedan chair very appealing for the wealthy who could travel in their own private enclosures.

The sedan chair made it's first appearance in England late in the 16th century but didn't really gain popularity there until 1634 when Sir Saunders Duncombe introduced the sedan chair for hire in London. Chairmen wearing uniforms and an official scarlet badge would wait until the aristocracy had their footman summon a chair by standing in the street and shouting Chair! Chair! Then the competing chairmen rushed forth to provide the service.

So there you have it.....the first taxi. Bet you didn't know that about these exquisite sedan chairs. There is more history below.....hope you enjoy the info and images I have gathered.

thegoodlifeinfrance.com

A collection of exquisite sedan chairs (or Chaise à porteur in France) on display at the Palace of Versailles.

en.chateauversailles.fr

These portable covered chairs, used in one form or another in other cultures since ancient times, consisted of a seat inside of a cabin with windows, a hinged roof, and door at the front. Sedan carriers called chairmen inserted long wood poles into metal brackets on either side of the chair. The poles were long and springy and provided a slightly bouncy ride. They were arranged in such a manner that the chair would remain in a horizontal position as the carriers climbed up steps or steep slopes.

en.chateauversailles.fr

The sedan chair was a common sight on the streets of European cities. Passengers entered and exited between the poles if they remained in place. Chairs for the wealthy were richly carved, painted, and decorated on the exterior and extravagantly upholstered in silk on the inside. Those for the lower classes were of a simple design.

via Pinterest

The interiors of these beautiful sedan chairs would have been damask, brocade, silk, or velvet lined.

chairish.com

Of course the sedan chair had the ever present curtain used for privacy as well as keeping out dust and providing shade from the sun.

casaroccapiccola.com

On the more ornate sedan chairs, painters would create beautiful scenes on panels mounted on the sides.

soyouthinkyoucansee.tumblr.com

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the chairs stood in the main hall of an affluent city residence to be used at the owner’s convenience. A lady could enter and be carried to her destination without setting foot in a filthy street.

And of course the sedan chair had to be painted and decorated to match the interior décor.

nationaltrustcollections.org.u

Men traveled in sedan chairs. Their choice was usually black and dignified, made of leather and embellished in gold.

Painting by G. Borgelli

The sedan chair became extremely popular with the women because they provided cover to the extravagant wigs and gowns that were currently in fashion. They were usually much more decorated than those of the men.

chateaudechimay.be

Sedan chair in the great hall at Château de Chimay.

1stdibs.com

18th Century Louis XVI Period French Sedan Chair

mrs-mcwinkie.livejournal.com

reggiadicasertaunofficial.it

Alexander Roslin

The roofs could be opened to allow passengers to wear tall hats, feathers or elaborate hairstyles

1stdibs.com

Passengers had to put their trust in the chairmen's competence. Their movements had to be completely in sync and their surefootedness was also very necessary.

stepfordwasp.tumblr.com

A sedan chair was quite weighty before a person even sat inside therefor a chairman had to be strong and healthy to even lift it. However, there seems to be no requirement for height.

Château d'Ussé Photo by Morio60 on

flickr......nia Pinterest

Even with the best there were still accidents. Can you imagine one of these with an elegantly dressed lady inside toppling over with glass breaking, doors flying open and occupants tumbling out onto the dirty road.

anticoantico.com

Pedestrians were run down because they were slow to get out of the way by flattening themselves against the wall or they failed to hear the chairmen's warning shout of "By your leave !".

littlemagonline.com

When you see these beautiful sedan chairs you immediately think "how glamorous". Not really the case! The chairmen were notoriously foul mouthed and were regularly fined for cursing loudly in public. Not only that but unless your chair had glass windows instead of just curtains it was open to the air and when it rained the vehicles became unpleasantly soggy inside.

gramho.com

There was sedan sickness because of the swaying from side to side as well as the up and down movement especially when the chairmen were moving at a pretty good clip. Don't forget it had to be stuffy inside and when you are corseted to the max and wearing so many layers of clothing you have the perfect condition for a good faint.

Watercolour on paper by Louis Emile Benassit

A Young Lady In A Sedan Chair And Three Gentlemen

commons.wikimedia.org

proantic.com

www.baroque.it

Chairmen then were like taxi drivers today. They had to be licensed and display a number to prove it. A trip within the city cost sixpence, and hire for a whole day, four shillings. The chairs were available around the clock, but after midnight the chairmen would be paid double the fare. Journeys were usually limited to two miles. A similar system later operated in Scotland.

antiquitesbaptiste.com

Like modern taxi stations, the Sedan chairs were supposed to have a separate station from where passengers could hire a chair. The wealthy, however, did not use these stations. Moreover, some even kept their own chairs which were elaborately decorated with family crests.

cambiaste.com

A sedan chair in black leather with a coat of arms in gilded wood from the 18th century.

Any chairs like this with a symbol of nobility were destroyed in great numbers during the French revolution.

Sedan chairs from designer Jacques Garcia's Château du Champ de Bataille

Since these portable chairs could be carried inside with anonymity for the passenger they were perfect for those naughty noblemen and women who were dallying in romantic trysts behind their spouses backs.

1stdibs.co.uk

They also made it easier for people who were evading the law to go about their business in secret.

From the series Les quatre saisons à Versailles et au Trianon : La chaise à porteurs by Maurice Leloir

Sedan chair on display at Maison Louis XIV, Museum in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France.

google.com.au

Painting by N. d Roever

silkdamask.org

Sedan chair attributed to Christopher Huet, circa 1750, with a Vernis Martin finish. This finish was extremely fashionable from the mid 17th century through the early 19th.

flemarie.fr

Created to imitate Asian lacquer at the end of the 17th century, the French invented lacquers of different colors with polychrome decorations.

anticswiss.com

French lacquer or "Martin varnish" lacquer was created by the Martin brothers who were varnishers to the king and had made a specialty of decorations for sedans, coaches, sedan chairs, sleds…

christies.com

denverartmuseum.org

Many French sedan chairs featured Rococo panels painted with romantic scenes.

The Martin brothers were able to offer the most beautiful and fashionable decorations because of their partnerships with the greatest painters of the time such as Boucher.

theriaults.com

Another popular style of the day was the Chinoiserie themed sedan chair decorated with intricate Asian scenes.

via Pinterest

Also it was the French who added wheels to the sedan chair.

thehistoryblog.com

Most people think French when they think of the sedan chair. However, many European countries had these lovely portable chairs. This one is Venetian and is in the Museo di Palazzo Venezia.

Christies

Another Italian ormolu, giltwood, and polychrome decorated sedan chair with painted panels attributed to Giacinto Diano. Circa third quarter of the 18th century.

via Pinterest

An 18th century Sedan chair at the National Museum of Scotland.

The Italian sedan chairs were exquisite. This chair belonging to Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj is displayed in his Rome residence.

This sedan chair belonged to Queen María Luisa of Spain.

ustainabilitea.wordpress.com

The wealthy also used sedan chairs in the cities of colonial America. A sick and feeble 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin travelled to meetings of the United States Constitutional Convention of 1787 in a sedan chair.

1stdibs.com

There were also sedan chairs for multiple passengers. This would usually take four chairmen.

cotedetexas.com

Here is another beautiful example of the double sedan chair in the corner of this lovely French room belonging to designer Ginny Magher.

Sorbi, Raffaello (1844-1931)

The public sedan chair began to fall out of use in the early 19th century. The end of the tradition came because of better paved streets and the rise in popularity of the more comfortable carriages and coaches.

Château d'Anet

rocaille.it

dailymail.co.u

An exquisite Faberge sedan chair believed to have been made for the Russian Royal family more than 100 years ago.

all images via Pinterest

The sedan chair has been popular in decor and featured in many beautiful porcelain pieces.

theriaults.com

There are also lovely miniature sedan chairs coveted by antique toy collectors.

proxibid.com

proantic.com

Louis XVI Chaise à porteur.

houseandgarden.co.uk

Sedan chairs are still sought after by today's antique collectors. Purists display them as they were meant to be while others make them into curio cabinets and other repurposed furniture pieces.

belgiumantiques.com

These magnificent, once utilitarian objects, are sought after today by serious collectors for use in their old world interiors.

chairish.com

They can be quite expensive to obtain going as high as $10,926.36 at auction. Seems like these beautiful treasure of the past will always belong to the wealthy.

Click here to see the previous post

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2020/04/decorating-with-italian-florentine.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I would be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Romantic and Elegant Four Poster Canopy Beds

2022-05-19T12:13:00.002-07:00

I love the fact that the four poster canopy bed is one of the fastest growing trends as residents today are making the sharp turn to a more elegant and traditional style of décor. Sales of four-poster beds have rocketed since last year!!

The four poster canopy bed is said to have originated in Europe, Austria to be precise, during the 15th century although reportedly they have been in China since as early as the 4th century. Called the "bed of kings", documentation shows that in 1485 Richard III brought one to Leicester and Louis XIV is said to have had 413 canopy beds.

I have always had a canopy bed so for me they never completely went out of fashion. I admire a well dressed bed and it seems like so do a great number of you. Now that the four poster canopy is back, look for it to remain on trend for a good number of years. If you are considering a bedroom make-over, I hope I can convince you (via these beautiful images) to seriously consider investing in a romantic and elegant four poster beauty.....with all the trimmings!

tatler.com

Historically the four-poster canopy bed, sometimes referred to as the great standing bed, was frequently the most expensive piece of the household and regarded as an essential possession for any aristocratic family.

Eastnor Castle, via Pinterest

Although we now consider the romantic four poster canopy bed purely decorative, it's original design was functional.

thestylesaloniste.com

Before central heating castles were cold and drafty. Canopy beds with curtains that could completely enclose the bed and create a barrier against the cold were essential so noblemen and ladies could sleep warm.

theladyintweed.tumblr.com

These four poster canopy beds dressed in heavy curtains were also needed for privacy. Medieval families slept in the great halls of their castles, and usually their attendants slept in the same area.

jessicaminiermabe.wordpress.com

The idea of a four poster canopy bed was to create a cozy room within a room. The design was a sign of wealth as only the most well-off had them. This bedroom is in Castle Howard.

Sudley Castle via House and Gardens Magazine

housebeautiful.com

During the summer and in warm climates, the canopy bed was draped with some type of light, airy fabric, netting, or gauze to keep mosquitoes away.

Château de Fléville (@chateaudefleville) on Instagram

In the early 17th century the French took the canopy bed up a notch with the creation of the “Chambre” which became a bedroom/sitting room in chateaux and noble houses. This suite of rooms became a formal reception space and high-ranking individuals often received visitors while in bed. The four poster bed was the most important part of the room, and was often an elaborate canopy style called Lit à la Polonaise, which is one of the most romantic of canopy beds.

To see more about the French Lit à la Polonaise click here

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-lit-la-polonaiseelaborate-and.html

Barry Dixon, designer

The four poster canopy bed is now just a decorative accent. Rather than using heavy brocades or rich velvets, today's canopy beds use many new fabrics that are lighter and airier.

theartoftheroom.com

Still, there are owners who find the heavy curtains a comforting addition.

veranda.com

You don't need to live in a castle to sleep like royalty. You can transform the look of your bedroom with the purchase of a four poster canopy bed. It will most important piece of furniture in your bedroom as well.

thesixthduke.tumblr.com

A four-poster bed can be placed against a wall or set as a free-standing centerpiece in the middle of the room. This would have helped assure a breeze from open windows on all sides in days gone by.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Today modern heating renders the curtains useless so present-day owners often choose to leave the posters at the foot of the canopy bed bare of curtains and only decorate the head posters. That is what I have chosen to do with my own four poster bed. I have light fabric curtains at the head which is a bit hard to see in this photo. The look is simpler yet still stylish and formal.

another2bohemians.tumblr.com

While not as elaborate and over the top as some four poster bed dressings, this style still maintains an impressive appearance and size as can be seen here in Wardington House.

santaeurasia.it

homesandantiques.com

The half curtained designed canopy bed suits any setting.

www.lhw.com

As usual a four-poster canopy bed becomes the focal point of any bedroom suite.

yorkavenueblog.com

Beautiful mural clad rooms can offer the perfect backdrop and make bedrooms with four poster canopy beds absolutely stunning. Here a trellised wallpaper is featured in a bedroom at Ballyfin, a 5 star luxury country house hotel in Ireland

lindamerrill.com

Don't forget the Chinoiserie style bedroom. Try covering the walls in an Asian inspired paper to set off your four poster bed.

eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com

There as so many styles to choose from when considering a canopy bed. Some may choose a four poster with an elaborate decorative wooden cornice to hang their fabric canopy from.

hadleycourt.com

This highly decorative style four poster canopy bed cornice is indicative of the Georgian period.

architecturaldigest.com

Designer Diane Burn Photography by Durston Saylor

Others prefer a more simple and elegant cornice for their canopy bed.

niermannweeks.com

Add interest by creating a focal point on the wall or curtain behind your four poster bed. Try displaying an antique mirror, art, or an antique cartel clock.

hopestatestyle.com

Interior-design firm McMillen, Inc., enlists the artisans at DeAngelis to resurrect an 18th-century-style canopy bed.

Also there is something to be said for painted four poster canopy beds. A four poster bed painted in old world style with swags and florals will immediately give a room a historic atmosphere.

mccormickinteriors.com

Or they can be painted in one color like this ivory example. My advice is if you choose to paint, make sure you create beautiful, interesting canopies and dressings.

decordesignreview.tumblr.com

thestylesaloniste.com

If you want your four poster canopy bed to look especially feminine, add a curved canopy.

Penny Morrison

Interior designers love designing with a four-poster bed because they are so fashionable and are a welcome addition to any style of décor. You can be creative when working around a four poster bed, even adding some extra lighting behind the scenes.

Designer, Furlow Gatewood

Depending on the carvings, type of wood or other material, the four-poster bed can fit beautifully into a feminine or masculine bedroom.

acquiredobjects.blogspot.com

If you want an instant Old World bedroom, take advantage of the framed space behind the bed to showcase an antique tapestry.

castelloprocopio.com

You can also opt for smaller carved rope style posts for your bed if you want a simpler look in your Old World bedroom.

architecturaldigest.com

Just add in all the classic European influences through your bed dressings, walls, and accessories and you are good to go!

Michael S. Smith, designer

The soft aged glow of an antique brass four poster canopy bed brings a romantic and elegant old fashioned coziness to this bedroom.

ballyfin.com

With wallpaper making a huge comeback it is easy to create a sumptuous yet charming background which is perfect for a delightful traditional four poster canopy bed.

eyefordesign.blogspot.com

Boho chic décor is still very much in fashion and four poster beds dressed in this eclectic, interesting, and unconventional style demand attention.

Photos by Brian Vanden Brink

Eventually canopies didn’t need to serve an actual purpose so they were made with lighter dressings. That’s where the sheer curtains, lace accents, and light linens came in as well as the fishnet canopies like the one in this image. This style is very popular with the colonial and primitive style interiors.

via Pinterest

Modern vintage interior design is all about mixing and matching both old and new elements. If your interior is decorated in vintage style, meaning at least 50 years old, the four poster canopy bed is the perfect accessory when dressed in sheer curtains, lace canopies, and beautiful old linens.

rachelhalvorson.com

Or maybe your favorite style is farmhouse simplicity with it's rustic charm and categorized by its coziness and warmth. It is relaxed, comfortable and begging for the four poster canopy bed!

Maybe even a set of twins like these via architecturaldigest.com

veranda.com

Traditionally made from wood, four poster canopy beds are also now made from other materials such as stainless steel and wrought-iron.

Designer Gary McBournie via traditionalhome.com

Even though they are modest in design, these canopy beds can be beautifully dressed with drapes to achieve the aesthetic you prefer.

William R. Eubanks. Photo by Kim Sargent Photography

Whether your four poster bed style is elaborate and "royal".......

jamesmichaelhoward.com

or just simply stunning, a four poster canopy will be the star of the show.

Michael S. Smith Inc.

The classic four poster bed was designed to bring splendor to the bedroom. And in today's modern home they will still supply refinement, style, and sophistication.

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/04/decorating-with-putz-sheep.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Decorating With Putz Sheep

2022-04-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

I have recently fallen under the spell of the collectible Putz sheep. Building a flock of these wonderful old wooly, stick leg, German sheep can become an addiction...... so let me warn you!! I enjoyed researching Putz sheep for this blog post so I could learn all about them myself. I have gathered some images and information to share with you!

The Putz originated in Germany and the word putzen means "to decorate". The Germans were responsible for many old Christmas customs and building "Christmas cribs" were a long-standing tradition of the Moravian church, a Protestant denomination in Germany. The Moravian Putz probably had the same origin as the Christmas nativity that was set up in Christian churches at Christmas time featuring the stable at Bethlehem, with figures of the Holy Family, the infant Jesus, three kings from the Orient, oxen, a donkey, shepherds and, last but not least, SHEEP.

Today these old nativity Putz sheep are a favorite of collectors and sought after with an unquenchable thirst. I dare any of you to leave the post unsmitten with these little guys. Enjoy!

Jennie Trein's authentic 1908 Christmas putz at the https://glencairnmuseum.org/

Building the Christmas Putz was exciting for the Moravian family. Parties were held and children would have fun searching for materials to build their Putz such as moss, ferns, gravel, and colorful stones. The culmination of the event was when the figures, animals, and these cute wooly Putz sheep, as well as the plaster variety, were added.

https://glencairnmuseum.org/

The Moravians brought the custom of Putz building from Germany as they migrated to America. The flocks of sheep were always very popular with children AND adults.

@hjulsager on Pinterest

The holidays are a perfect time to display your collection of Putz sheep. They are so endearing with their black dot eyes and painted on nostrils.

@bill4862 on Pinterest

Christmas villages are another traditional way to showcase a small group of Putz sheep during the holidays. These elaborate scenes can be displayed on tables, mantles and even under the tree.

thecrankycrow.blogspot.com

Of course you can still collect the Putz sheep to add to your nativity scene at Christmas or do as most collectors do now.....just use them in displays of your choice.

whiteandfaded.com

Today's collector can find a plethora of ways to feature these Putz sheep at Christmas.

@rita_2016 on pinterest

Instead of using them in nativities try displaying your Putz sheep on a tabletop with some bottle brush trees for a wintery Christmas forest scene.

sharonlovejoy.blogspot.com

Here some wooly Putz sheep have been added in to make a Christmas mantle even more charming and merry.

via Pinterest

vanmijenco.nl

Putz sheep are perfect when used in vignettes of Swedish /Nordic/French brocante antiques. There is something shabby and chic about these cute sheep.

trocadero.com

via Pinterest

One thing that makes collecting Putz sheep fun and easy is the fact that you don't need much space. A shelf or small cupboard will do just fine!

Lisa Farmer- Eye For Design

My flock of Putz sheep is displayed in my kitchen in an antique carved fruitwood French estanier.

rugsandpugs.blogspot.com

How can you not fall in love with the faces of these sweet Putz sheep?

@jolandabrocant via Pinterest

It is trendy now to decorate all through the year with your Putz sheep in little vignettes around the house.

boutiquenaindejardin.bigcartel.com

@brocante-victoria on instagram

@jminard118 on Pinterest

Putz sheep often get passed down for generations as they become beloved reminders of Christmases past. Four of my flock came to me that way, in a box of ornaments.

reggiedarling.blogspot.com

picturetrail.com/theprimitivestitcher

Putz sheep are delightful when displayed in large groups like here in this primitive cupboard.

Mark Kimball Moulton

The solitary Putz sheep is equally endearing.

brocante-charmante.blogspot.com

sheepyhollow.wordpress.com

The body of a wooly Putz sheep is made of plaster or composite and wrapped in wool.

via Pinterest

Their faces are usually painted in an almost childlike naïve style.

@ninapagano46 on Pinterest

This makes the Putz sheep desirable for the primitive home interior.

whisperofvintage.tumblr.com

Sometime you can find a Putz sheep with a bit more elegant face. These are usually more expensive.

AlteredArcheology on Etsy

Originally a Putz sheep would have a ribbon or colored paper band around their necks. The band would usually say "Germany".

earlyamerica1815shoppe.blogspot.c...

Some are found with bells still in tact which make them more expensive.

@RuLuOz on Pinterest

Stick Legs are a feature of the German Putz sheep. Sometime they are called matchstick leg sheep.

thepastoraldollmaker.blogspot.com

via Pinterest

Putz sheep come in a variety of sizes. They are normally 2.5" in height but can range from 2.75" to as tall as 5"

via Pinterest

You can also find Putz sheep pulling carts. Remember Germany was known for creating wonderful old toys.

ebay.com/str/briggsantiquesandinteriors

Don't forget that a Putz sheep collection can easily transform into a fun Easter scene. Here they are mixed in with some lovely old German rabbit candy boxes.

via Pinterest

How cute is this wooly Putz sheep pulling a vintage papier-mâché Easter egg.

@annasxmas via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Maybe a barnyard vignette is more to your liking. Look for an antique toy barn and collect a flock of Putz sheep to display in and around it. Looking for the perfect piece in which to display your sheep is half the fun!

brocante-charmante.blogspot.com

These lovely little Putz sheep are affordable and can be found at antique and vintage malls, on-line selling platforms and auctions. Even estate sales are good places to look.

serviesenbrocante.blogspot.com

Of course condition is everything and the better the condition the more valuable they are so the price goes up.

@Sharon Randall (@sharonran1) on Instagram

Since they are relatively inexpensive a collection is usually in order. They are hard to pass by as they are all different and it is fun to happen upon one you don't have.

coerdefleur on etsy.com

Putz sheep have their own individual personalities which makes them pretty irresistible to collect.

earlyamerica1815shoppe.blogspot.c...

Like WHO could resist this guy?

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2019/05/decorating-with-antique-french.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

Putz sheep have own individual personalities which makes them pretty irresistible to collect.

Decorating With Antique French Barometers

2022-03-25T13:00:00.002-07:00

I love the way that centuries ago the most mundane utilitarian objects were still so very beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Take for instance the subject of this blog post, the antique French barometer. A necessary instrument for keeping track of the weather was at the same time a gorgeous decorator piece. The French mindset was "Hey, if you must look at it on a daily basis, why not make it fabulous"! I tend to agree. Fast forward a couple of centuries and well....there are no words.

It is clear that craftsmen of the 17th -19th century were devoted to making barometers of the time in beautiful and intricate cases. Antique French style barometers in particular are extremely lovely with their elegantly ornamented cases. And they are highly sought after today by antique collectors. In fact, take a look decorating magazines, social media platforms, et cetera, and you will see just how popular decorating with these beautiful barometers has become.

Evangelista Torricelli is credited with inventing the first barometer in 1643. A physician and mathematician, Torricelli had moved to Florence to assist Galileo. While performing various experiments concerning the nature of air and vacuums, he uncovered the basic principal of the barometer and set in motion the use of mercury in the measurement of atmospheric pressure. Soon, his principles were accepted by scientists throughout the continent. Then in 1843, the French scientist Lucien Vidie invented the aneroid barometer, aneroid meaning without liquid.

So, there you have a bit of history of the barometer. Now let's get down to how to decorate with these beautiful antiques. I hope you will enjoy the images and take away an idea or two of how to make an antique French barometer the center of attention in your home.

charltonhallauctions.com

Highly decorative, this French antique barometer would certainly enliven any wall beautifully. With its ability to foretell weather changes, the barometer became a common tool for mariners and the aristocracy who were the only ones that could afford them as mercury was incredibly expensive. Plus an elaborate case would only add to the price.

1stdibs.com

The French barometers, like most everything made for royalty and rich aristocrats, were unique and of the highest quality imaginable.

Carolyne Roehm Interior

However, by the early 1800's many homes had a barometer hanging on the wall. They were trendy but most home owners had no idea what to do with them. High tech for the times!!

victoriamag.com

"Oh, the perfect wall accessory for a study, or library" you might say. And you would be WRONG. The antique French barometer can become a stunning focal point in every living area space you chose to display it!

Try "floating" a French barometer on a mirror. The dining room can be a great place to show off your treasure.

onlyprovence.com

This style antique French barometer (and those in images above) are the aneroid kind. As you can see there is no mercury used.

proantic.com

We may not use them in the way they were intended, but the antique French barometer can absolutely be repurposed into a gorgeous work of art!

blog.asmarainc.com

The fragile glass tube holding the mercury on this style barometer is usually mounted to pieces of wood. Then the cases around the French barometers are often heavily carved, ornamented, and gilded.

anticstore.art.com

Another popular type of antique barometer, first produced in the late 17th century, is called the stick barometer. Those made in France are usually gilded and can be extraordinary. This is a style that I really admire. I prefer the French to the English stick barometer which featured natural wood cases.

via Pinterest

Because they often incorporate a dial and have a similar shape, the antique French barometer can be mistaken for a clock.

Sometimes they were sold as sets. For more information and images of the French cartel clocks visit my blog at

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2019/05/decorating-with-french-and-swedish.html

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I recently found this antique French barometer at an estate sale. This one features a bronze case featuring a man holding a flag and a bird and is similar to a clock.

cotedetexas.blogspot.com

houseandgarden.co.uk

Owning a French barometer in the early Georgian period was considered a basic necessity. Barometers appeared in the retail shops of clockmakers, instrument makers, and even cabinet makers.

thingsthatinspire.net

Antique barometers as wall art can be warm and charming in a casually elegant French country interior.

habituallychic.luxury

They are equally at home in a classically elegant Old World interior.

ltlwicked.tumblr.com

An antique French barometer will instantly add sense of history and elegance to any home.

Paolo Moschino Ltd

These gorgeous French gilt barometers pair extremely well with antique tapestries.

As you can see from this image of a Charles Faudree dining room, adding a French barometer to your wall décor collection will definitely enhance the space.

patrice-besse.com

When reading a barometer, remember the following: falling pressure denotes stormy or rainy weather, rising pressure indicates a return of fair weather and steady pressure means there will most likely be no significant change. Since the late 17th century, barometers were marked with the following (or similar) indications, which remain accurate today: Very Dry, Settled Fair, Fair, Changeable, Rain, Much Rain, or Stormy (or a variation of these).

styleblueprint.com

veranda.com

Use you antique French barometer as part of a charming vignette.

southernhomemagazine.com

amymeierdesign.com

Angel Studio (@angelartlife) on Instagram

Here the antique barometer is used in a classic French bedroom. Why not! These lovely instruments will look stunning as well in today's French, vintage, or old world style bedroom.

via Pinterest

A French barometer is perfection when used with other old world antiques. Be sure to toss in some antique books......the two just seem right for each other!!

Via The French Tangerine

elledecor.com

These elegant barometers have enough presence to stand alone on a wall.

1stdibs.com

A delightful 18th Century French Louis XVI Barometer.

Brian J McCarthy

An antique French barometer is 3D art that looks marvelous when used with other works of art like paintings.

thefrenchprovincialfurniture.com

architecturaldigest.com

southernhomemagazine.com

Whether you purchase one or collect many antique barometers to form a nice display, they will give your space that Old World charm.

houseandgarden.co.uk

I think the gilded French barometers are beautiful when used in a tone on tone interior.

Lauren DeLoach Interiors

Especially a neutral French interior à la Provence.

atlantahomesmag.com

Although they can be quite expensive, often times you can find these beautifully gilded French barometers at estate sales and auctions.

trouvais.com

These beautiful antique barometers are certainly an asset to the Belgium, Swedish, and Nordic French style interiors.

Designer, Kara Childress

Even though you may not actually NEED a barometer, their form and craftsmanship make them a desirable objet d’art for decorating interiors.

theartoftheroom.com

What a fabulous antique barometer!!! I love how it is hung on the library shelves.

trulia.com

proantic.com

A wonderful French barometer from the 18th century.

Carolyne Roehm

For centuries beautifully designed barometers have graced the walls of palaces, chateaus, and manor houses. Today they are still at home in the simplest, casually elegant French country interiors adding a sense of history and sophistication to any home

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/03/decorating-with-french-vernis-martin.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.

How To Create Stylish Formal Dining Rooms......Yes They Are Back!

2022-03-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Yes! Yes! Yes! I have always been an advocate for the separate dining room and have maintained a formal one through the ebb and flow of their popularity. I like classic dining rooms and think they should be decorated in such a way that it is a definite treat to be invited for a dinner party. And YES, I love dinner parties, boardgame night parties and entertaining in general. Unfortunately it is harder to get people together these days so I don't have the chance to entertain as often as I use to.

For years now homeowners have been opting to forgo the formal dining area. I am so pleased that the trend of converting the dining room into every kind of room imaginable is a thing of the past. Finally, with sit-down family meals making a comeback, people are once again wanting to stay home to cook, entertain, and foster a better connection with the ones they love. Architectural Digest reports that more and more young buyers are requesting a separate dining area to entertain family and friends. Good for them I say!

During the past decade people have opted to go out to a great restaurants. However now couples are realizing that the same kind of atmosphere can be achieved in your own dining room. The restaurant is being abandoned for old-fashioned dinner parties as people are wanting to create a room for a grand celebration for friends and family

With the formal dining room undergoing a current revival perhaps it’s time for you to bring back one of your own. Remember that "formal" has a different connotation today than it did in the past. Today's dining room is generally much more comfortable and casual while still maintaining a chic, elegant style. Below are some images of dining rooms in various styles that hopefully will convince you to embrace the fact that dining rooms are back, and help you create a stylish one of your own.

chilternsporting.com

The formal dining room like this one in Waddesdon Manor, was considered a symbol of wealth and privilege in the past. This is the room where you wanted to "wow" your guests.

Miguel Flores-Vianna

While I have always loved old world dining rooms, most people today simply can 't decorate in THAT grand of style. However, even today, you can create lovely dining rooms that will still provide the "wow factor".

veranda.com

Today's homeowners desire spaces unique to their use, and we're seeing more separated dining rooms.

kimberlywhites.blogspot.com

Recently there has been a bigger push for families to come together around the dining room table again to actually sit down for a meal.

lauracaseyinteriors.com

It is nice to have a room free of TV screens or computer monitors. Just a place for family, friends, food, and good conversation.

www.guestapartment.com

The dining room style is a matter of personal preference. All sorts of possibilities present themselves, but let's look at some examples that might pique your interest if you are considering jumping on board the trend. The French dining room normally has a comfortable elegance that makes a room interesting and chic without the overdone matchy, matchy look Americans, especially, have come to expect in a dining room. Tip....start out with some great chairs.

sothebys.com

You don't have to be "formal" to breathe new life into one of the most important rooms in your home. Two French looks, the farmhouse and the chateau, are extremely popular today because they are naturally loaded with a quite, elegant, charm that is very appealing to homeowners.

zarahome.com/gb/

A rustic farm table, used with more elegant tableware and beautiful flowers, makes a grand statement for any dinner party.

e-magdeco.com

And whether the casual elegance in the dining room is French......

bibleofbritishtaste.com

or English in style, the rustic farmhouse style dining room is still very popular.

cathy-kincaid.com

You can choose to show off your lovely table........just remember you can choose to match or unmatch the chairs and table. No longer are dining room "sets" popular.

housebeautiful.com

These chairs are certainly not matched to the table but the look is stunning. Cane back chairs, popular for use in 18th century country chateaus of the French aristocrat, bring a light airy look to any modern dining room.

via Pinterest

Or you can choose to dress your table in layers of cloths for a warm chateauesque style.

Lisa Farmer - Eye For Design

I have just changed to this style myself after years of keeping my table au naturel. Also I have opted to use an antique cane back sofa and country French rush bottomed seats together for a casual French look. Guests love sitting in the settee, something they don't normally see at the table.

Keith Irvine, Designer

Learn to think differently about the definition of a the dining room chair. For an elegant dining room look simply pull up a couple of wingback chairs for the ends of your table.

molyneuxstudio.com

Make your dining room table interesting by using contrasting materials and styles. Here a rustic wooden top rests on a couple of classic faux architectural salvaged stone columns. Today's dining room look is all about contrasts.

architecturaldigest.com

Today's dining room calls for a playful sense of style. Shiny stone surfaces, dressier finishes, and glass tops are more popular than ever.

afflante.com

Understand that the only furniture in a dining room need not be a table and x number of chairs with matching china closet. Other seating and interesting pieces can be added for charm and interest as well an functionality. Since it's a space that sparks conversation that might not happen in any other room of the home, why not include more seating.

images via Pinterest

Creating beautiful table settings has become popular again,

surfacefragments.blogspot.com

as traditional formal tableware for the dining room is also making a comeback. Ask anyone!!!

Thomas Jayne via Architectural Digest

Update your dining room using contrasting materials and styles. Try using contemporary furnishings with rustic or antique pieces.

source unknown

My favorite thing about the desired look for the new dining room is the feeling of casual elegance. Gone is the "all pieces must match, go to the store and by a dining room suite" mentality. Now it's all about mixing pieces and using them in different ways.

Designer, Mario Buatta

Make your dining space traditional with a single table but also consider setting up two restaurant type tables.

Via Victoria Magazine

Since we are seeing the return of wallpaper from the scorned and rejected area, try adding a beautiful pattern to your dining room walls.

Leta Austin Foster, Designer

Or consider a beautiful mural or trompe l'oeil painting on the walls of your dining room.

haute.decoration.over-blog.com

Atlanta Homes Magazine

Since the new dining room design is all about eclecticism and using interesting pieces, it should be decorated........and that doesn't mean you just add a table, chairs, and traditional serving pieces and then stop. It means bringing excitement and personality into your dining room.

architecturaldigest.com

A dining room is the space where you can let your personality shine no matter which style décor you prefer.

rusticks.com

Look for alternative spaces for your dining area. This is so cozy......just tucked away on a landing.

Tara Shaw

As for dining room lighting, a classic chandelier is always glamorous.

theenchantedhome.blogspot.com

gypsypurplehome.tumblr.com

A French style crystal chandelier is a good investment and will always survive the trends.

mylushciouslife.com

However, with a plethora of stylish lighting out there, your options are unlimited.

via Pinterest

Consider an interesting industrial fixture,

houzz.com

or lanterns for your dining room space. There is something for everyone.

Susan Ferrier via House Beautiful

Although a big bouquet is still gorgeous, your centerpiece doesn’t have to be a vase of flowers.

myinnerlandscape.tumblr.com

Here sea shells take center stage.

ladolcevitablog.com

In olden times, dining rooms used to be just for.......well, dining. This is now an outdated trend as more and more homeowners are choosing to combine their dining rooms with a home library or study space. I like the idea of a "double duty" dining room.

havesomedecorum.blogspot.com

The return of the formal dining room is major interior trend.

elledecor.com

Catch the fever!

architecturaldigest.com

For more dining room ideas you might like: Decorate With Round, Skirted, Dining Room Tables, Decorating With Banquette Seating, Decorating With Slipcovers, Decorating With Mismatched Dining Room Chairs

Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2016/09/decorating-with-french-wine-bottle.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Decorate With Blue and White Buffalo Plaid

2022-03-07T16:32:00.002-08:00

As the title says this post spotlights blue and white buffalo plaid interiors but let's first have a history lesson to learn more of this fabrics interesting history and how it got it's name.

Buffalo plaid is defined as a broad checkered plaid pattern usually of two colors. The original was black and red and is a centuries old pattern that has an interesting history and whose timeless beauty has captured the hearts of homeowners and decorators alike. It was actually Rob Roy MacGregor tartan, introduced to North America by a descendant of Rob Roy - one Jock McCluskey, Indian trader, who bartered for buffalo pelts by using heavy woven Scottish blankets with the clans tartan signature red-and-black. Since these were most coveted among the Indians, Rob Roy blankets became known as buffalo plaid.

Buffalo plaid, like any other decorative element, can become dated, but over recent years its been given new life in updated wonderful new colors. Actually I believe designer Charles Faudree has made it a classic that will always be loved by a certain group.

Today one of the most popular color combinations for buffalo plaid is blue and white. Nothing can infuse a room with casual elegance quite like it. Rooms decorated with blue and white buffalo plaid are always fresh, sophisticated, and charming. Perfect for the primitive/country interior but equally at home with stripes, florals and even leopard, this timeless blue and white check can really add a big punch to a room.

This post is all about blue and white buffalo plaid and the lovely interiors that can result from it's use. Enjoy!

knightcarr.com

Blue and white buffalo plaid makes this room fabulous and sophisticated, but warm and cozy at the same time.

everydayliving.me

I think the clean crispness of this pattern is it's major appeal.

hookedonhouses.net

Yellow is a wonderful accompaniment to blue and white buffalo plaid. If you are a fan of French country, then this is your color combo.

traditionalhome.com

Blue and white buffalo plaid certainly has the ability to make a room look "country".

via Pinterest

I think the blue and white buffalo plaid draperies and table skirt are a wonderful choice for this dining room. Great decision in using two different sized checks. Makes it more interesting.

myhomeideas.com

Blue and white plaid works well alone.......

Charles Faudree

.....or as companion to other patterns like florals and toile.

Charles Faudree's style is always "in style". Here blue and white buffalo plaid fabric is mixed with the more formal red floral toile fabric.

houseandgarden.co.uk

The fact the blue and white buffalo plaid, as well as other colors of this fabric, has a more elegant simplicity than other plaids such as tartan or madras, makes it versatile and open to a wide variety of styles.

www.onekingslane.com

Since this pattern's roots are in the past, decorate with historical art, accessories, and antique linens and quilts you can find at flea markets, antique shops, or thrift stores.

source unknown

Blue and white buffalo plaid can make a room look cozy or formal and elegant, depending on what furnishings and accessories you use with it.

casasugar.com

It can be a bit fun and unexpected if paired with other modern prints.

thelaurelhedge.blogspot.co.uk

Swedish interiors with their rustic charm and white backgrounds can also benefit from the use of blue and white buffalo plaid.

Blue and white buffalo plaid is just the thing to complement all the blue and white transfer ware in the home of Furlow Gatewood. Also it looks great with the blue and white gingham sofa. If you too are a collector, your transfer will look fabulous with some of this plaid added in.

cozycanadiancottage.blogspot

Don't forget cottage interiors. This style lends itself well to blue and white buffalo plaid and gingham. This room also includes blue and white toile and transfer ware, the perfect supporting cast to blue and white plaid!

www.architecturaldesigns.com

This buffalo plaid goes a long way to warm up a formal dining room.

www.webstercompany.com

To me blue and white buffalo plaid is rather classic and a little bit of it can go well with most styles. The gorgeous mural is from Susan Harter.

via pinterest

Navy and white buffalo plaid is a perennial favorite.

leecarolineart.blogspot.com

There is such a crisp freshness that the navy blue and white buffalo combo brings to a space.

lonny.com

Try a touch of buffalo plaid in the form of a window treatment like in this lovely blue and white bath. Powder rooms and baths are good places to experiment with fabrics you like.

wayfair.com

Or use this plaid in a unique and eye catching way as a kitchen rug.

Charles Faudree

Don't forget the bedroom. A touch of blue and white buffalo plaid there can look splendid!

www.macys.com

The kitchen is a great place to use blue and white buffalo plaid where it can look down home.......

Robert Passal

....... or dressed up! This kitchen is decorated in modern country style and the blue and white buffalo plaid chairs are the perfect touch. See how pretty this combo is with green.

seldomsceneinteriors.com

I think it is the scale and graphic nature of the pattern that makes it so appealing.

nttreasurehunt.wordpress.com

For those of you who like a bit more formality but crave a dose of casual charm, blue and white buffalo plaid slipcovers are the perfect solution. The best of both worlds!

www.potterybarnkids.com

Perfect for a boys room, blue and white buffalo plaid adds a little fun without looking too juvenile. I love it as a wallcovering.

cainco.org

Lisa Luby Ryan

If darker blue is not your favorite, there are lovely, pale blue buffalo plaid fabrics to choose from. These pillows and draperies add energy to this neutral space in a soft, subdued manner.

bhg.com

Blue and white buffalo in a modern interior. This fabric pattern is very versatile!

traditionalhome.com

This soft blue buffalo plaid fabric is very charming on these antique French chairs. Chairs are a great way to introduce this pattern to your home in a small dose.

www.arquiteturadoimovel.com

This blue and white bedroom is proof of how well buffalo plaid coordinates with other patterns. It also shows how beautiful painted furniture compliments this blue and white print.

Click here to see the previous post

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2022/03/decorating-with-french-vernis-martin.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

For more buffalo checks check out this post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/02/decorate-with-buffalo-checks-for.html

Decorating With French Vernis Martin Antiques

2022-03-05T10:27:00.003-08:00

The import of lacquerware to Europe from the Far East, that emerged at the end of Louis XIV's reign, strongly influenced 16th century decorative arts. Fascination and growing demand, as well expensiveness and poor quality of lacquer produced in Japan during the latter part of the 17th century, led European craftsmen to develop a trend for copying Asian lacquer. This interest prompted the establishment of varnisher's shops in Paris as Europeans decided to delve into this craft themselves.

Amongst the most famous of these varnisher's were the Martin brothers of Paris whose name became associated with their varnishing technique Vernis Martin (Martin varnish) which was produced in France and is said to have been made by blending green varnish and bronze/gold powder with heating oil and copal ( a resin that was sourced from an exotic tree from South America) and then adding Venetian turpentine.

Guillaume and Etienne-Simon Martin created beautiful varnished pieces to which they would lend their name. Sadly, however, their names were eventually attached to lesser quality projects "in the style of" that they had no involvement in. Today in order see fine examples of the Martin Brothers Venis Martin pieces one must visit a museum.

I hope you enjoy the lovely images featuring the Vernis Martin finish as well as information about this historical style of lacquered French furniture.

beauchampantiques.com

Vernis Martin is a synonym for French lacquer art of the eighteenth century. Easily recognized, this iconic style became the standard for excellence for finishing beautiful furniture of the era.

1stdibs.com

One of the details of French Vernis Martin lacquer was the introduction of new colors and how it could be applied on all kinds of objects from furniture......

thegoodlifeinfrance.com

to modes of transportation such as Vernis Martin sedan chairs......

en.versailles-tourisme.com

and carriages.

invaluable.com

The Martin brothers lacquer was also well known for the creation of stunning personal items like this French Vernis Martin gentleman's snuff box from the late 18th century.

commons.wikimedia.org

Guillaume Martin in 1730 was given a patent to protect his particular recipe for this shiny, transparent, liquid coating substance made of copal resin. At the height of their fame the brothers directed at least three factories in Paris, and in 1748 they were all classed together as a “Manufacture Nationale".

bonhams.com

Two things were responsible for the popularity of Vernis Martin lacquer. Their technique was less costly plus the finish was less brittle and did not crack as easily. The Martin brothers secret formula gave the lacquer a somewhat elastic quality.

1stdibs.com

This is why the Vernis Martin laquer was the finish of choice for the furniture of the Louis XV period which was characterized by curved forms. It performed so well on the curvature of bombe chests and vitrines.

charlottenailantiques.com

The Vernis Martin method of layering paint and varnish to get a depth of image for decorative objects made it much in demand. One of the most noted collectors of Vernis Martin pieces was the Duc d'Orléans.

1stdibs.com

Vernis Martin is known for it's beautiful sheen and translucency.

artisansdupatrimoine.fr

There was a time when the best hotels in Paris were filled with beautiful pieces from the Martin factories. Sadly they have vanished and now you can only find them in museums.

kollerauktionen.ch/en

A piece like this would have been favored by Marie-Antoinette. To experience the Vernis Martin decorative style you might want to plan a visit to Versailles where there are a few pieces from from large wall panels to small vanity items.

antiques-atlas.com

A Louis XV bronze mounted, Vernis Martin style marble topped cabinet featuring a large beautiful panel depicting a shepherd courting scene.

christiandaviesantiques.co.uk

Another element associated with Vernis Martin style furniture is the panel formed in the shape of a cartouche enclosed within ormolu mounted frame as seen here on this Louis XVI Style French rosewood, marquetry & ormolu Vernis Martin escritoire.

antiques-uncommon-treasure.com

The Martins started by producing small furniture and personal items like toilet and vanity necessities such as hand mirrors, brushes, boxes and cases of all shapes and sizes. They established their reputation because of the varnish they applied which was considered the pinnacle of refinement of the French art of the 18th century.

eronjohnsonantiques.com

They truly excelled in the field of small luxury objects like this Vernis Martin Billet-Doux (love note) case.

aspireauctions.com

The Brisé fan was also popular. Here is a beautiful sample with it's ivory sticks painted and varnished in "vernis martin" showing nobility in a rural scene.

tudorroseantiques.co.uk

Even though their production was widely diverse, it was mainly composed of the small merchandise such as this charming mid nineteenth century lacquered French case.

Alain.R.Truong - WordPress.com

A Louis XV ,circa 1740 ormolu-mounted black and gilt Vernis Martin commode.

By the 18th century the popularity for chinoiserie was immense but only the aristocrats could own original East Asian furnishings. The Vernis Martin technique made it more affordable to the less wealthy.

bonhams.com

The Martin brothers, with their superior lacquer, helped spread the passion for the Chinese like style across Europe.

shackladysantiques.co.uk

Eventually however the Martin Brothers turned their attention toward oil painting and broke away from East Asian lacquer style.The most famous painter of the time, François Boucher, was responsible for depicting courting scenes which were becoming hugely popular in France. The furniture panels were decorated with eighteenth-century lovers and idyllic landscapes and then varnished with Vernis Martin.

charlescheriffgalleries.com

A Stunning Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted Vernis Martin ladies secretaire cabinet by Paul Sormani.

belgiumantiques.com

Another beautiful Vernis Martin piece is this French vitrine from the Napoleon III period. It is decorated with Rococo scenes and florals.

proantic.com

From the French word for glass 'vitre' we get the vitrine cabinet of French origin. A way to display articles such as china, objets d'art, these pieces featured a glass center door and side panels usually with a mirrored back making it easy to view the collection.

estatesales.org

They were introduced in a low key way in 18th century France and became popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The vitrine is what people usually associate Vernis Martin decorative style with.

antiques-atlas.com

They are often embellished with ormolu mounts and painted and lacquered with the Vernis Martin technique. The style was copied in England in the late 19th century when the Louis XV style was in vogue.

bonhams.com

I can imagine how stunning these pieces would have been before they darkened with age as most varnishes do.

antiquesboutique.com

A great example of a Louis XV revival Vernis Martin painted and lacquered vitrine display cabinet.

belgiumantiques.com

These vitrines were very popular during the first quarter of the 20th century when the interior decorating style was French.

canonburyantiques.co

The Vernis Martin style vitrine could come in many shapes, sizes and designs. Many styles have a pierced brass gallery.

invaluable.com

Louis XV revival Vernis Martin style vitrines can still be found by "treasure hunters" at reasonable prices.

sellingantiques.co.uk

I love this small Vernis Martin French bombe shaped commode/chest. The top depicts the typical lovers while the front (and I bet the sides) are decorated with further painted and varnished Vernis Martin detail.

1stdibs.com

French 19th century display cabinet in the Louis XV Vernis Martin manner.

proantic.com

Vernis Martin style was very much a part of the Romantic era, which was an artistic, literary, and musical movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century peaking between the years 1800 and 1850. There were so many lovely items to be considered, petit tables......

worthpoint.com

even chairs,

invaluable.com

and beds.

dragon-antiques.com

The Vernis Martin lacquered clocks were especially beautiful!

antiques-atlas.com

The Vernis Martin technique remained in use until the end of the century when it was replaced by a new industrial process.

butchoff.com

The purpose of this blog is to inform you about this style antique so if you are fortunate enough to stumble upon a fabulous Vernis Martin piece at estate sale prices you will know what you are looking at. Happy treasure hunting!!

Click below to see the previous blog post.

https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2021/11/french-renaissance-painted-beam-ceilings.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

In the event that I have not credited the correct source of an image, please contact me at lisafarmerdesigns46@yahoo.com and I will be glad to correct it.