Larger pieces that channel French country include antique armoires (usually the focal piece of the room), rustic rectangular dining-room tables, living-room settees with curved mutton legs, and bakers’ rack “shelves” made of iron with brass detailing. “The chairs, especially armchairs, are most identifiable by either straight or curved cabriole legs-though ladder-back chairs are also popular-with seats made from rush or cane.” When seeking out French country accent chairs, look to the legs and seats, Webb recommends. “You’ll also notice these pieces have a fruitwood finish or a painted finish in creamy ivory, so the design is soft, airy, and rather feminine,” adds Webb. “The best French country pieces are crafted from oak, pine, walnut, and olive wood, with simple lines, balanced form, and joinery made from pegs-with few, if any nails,” says Solomon. “While the upper class could afford the finer furniture, the country folk weren’t as wealthy, so their homes were furnished with simpler styles, local woods, and less ornate carvings,” Webb explains. Typically, French Provençal or country-style furniture is more rustic and rougher-hewn than its Parisian counterparts. So how do you add un petit soupçon of French country to your little château ? Here are some elegant decorating ideas to help you pull it off in style. The popularity of French country style gained even further acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s, with movies and books about the region (such as Peter Mayle’s “A Year in Provence”) inspiring home decor, notes Beverly Solomon of the eponymous design firm.
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