To achieve the French Country look, try incorporating some or all of these features:
• Wrought iron and metal furniture and light fixtures
• Dining tables are usually rectangle or round with a low sheen finish to make it look more like raw wood.
• Dining table chairs are usually ladderback style or have vertical slats with a small amount of carved details.
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• Armoires are common in many rooms to store clothing, linens and tableware.
• In the kitchen and entryway aged terra cotta tiles, natural stone or even brick will create a French country look.
• Exposed beams in the ceiling also add to the country feel.
• A stone fireplace with a wooden beam mantle is also a common element in French Country decorating. The hearth should be made of clay or brick.
• Plaster walls roughly stained or painted are also a must.
• Windowsills are deep and windows are usually tall and narrow. Shutters are usually used, and growing vines are planted around windows and doors to accent and give added charm to the look.
French Country can blend with a Victorian theme home too. French country hues include mustard, butter yellow, celadon (a light olive color), salmon, cornflower blue, sunny yellow, soft gold, fiery red, burnt rust, bright grass green, dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones. To define pieces and give a strong base to all these beautiful colors, black and dull grays are used often.
Shabby Chic which may be defined as a close cousin to Victorian, has many Victorian features. Here are some tips on searching for just the right piece.
• Look for old glass doorknobs, mantles, moldings and other architectural items at flea markets or antique stores. Use these in your home to add interesting detail.
• Older yet imperfect items such as chipped teapots, old mirrors and lamps can all be used in the shabby chic décor, simply clean them up and perhaps paint them to match your room.
Shabby Chic is accurately described as eclectic and requires designers to use their imagination. . .that is, to use items for something other than what they were intended. Use a chair to hold a vase of flowers or display some other item. Use stacked wooden boxes for books and other trinkets, use a picnic bench as a coffee table, and so on.
Here are some suggestions for Shabby Chic decor:
• Any vintage looking fabric even if it is new can easily fit into the shabby chic décor.
• If you find a print that you absolutely adore you can make it look vintage by using tea to stain it.
• Combining stripes, checks and floral patterns gives shabby chic its gathered look, but try to keep at least one common color in the patterns so that it doesn’t look too random.
A close cousin to Victorian decor is Shabby Chic decorating which brings up ideas of summer cottage gardens. This vintage style of decorating brings together floral fabrics, garden furniture, and elegant elements such as chandeliers. To decorate your home or just one room in the shabby chic style, use the soft color palate with roses. Victorian Lampshades Online
Fabrics are works of arts. Tapestry wall hangings, rugs, table cloths and runners are examples of fabric art. Choosing the right fabrics can be the difference between nice and stunning! A fabric that has depth, often time, is one with texture. Slubby silks, multiple layered chenilles, embossed velvets, and jaquard fabrics are examples of texture that adds another dimention. Add these different fabrics into your decor and make sure each peice is your favorite. Don’t be afraid to add a light fabric with a heavy fabric, even this mix of textures will give the room a unique and beautiful finish! Victorian Lampshades Online
After determining the main function of the room, and what you would like the room to ‘feel’ like, your search can include magazine picture, decor books, internet sites and even friends homes, for ideas. Often times a piece of furniture, lampshade or other item can serve as a decor start and span out from there. It takes time normally to finish a room, so don’t rush the process. Enjoy the job and look forward to the end result! Victorian Lampshades Online
Different rooms in your home serve different functions. Often the function overtakes the feel of the room. Instead think of how your Victorian theme can be pleasing to the eye but also serve well for the more utility uses of the room. For example, the bedroom serves as the best place to sleep and change clothes, but the bed itself can be a focal point in the room. Not only do we want comfort, but a decorated bed can be inviting! Victorian fabrics can either be light and airy or heavy and colorful. Since your bed is most likely the largest piece of furniture, don’t underestimate the importance of fabrics, tassels, bed lights, and headboards to your room. Victorian Lampshades Online
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