- Follow us:
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017
What’s French Romantic without a little taste of wine? Featured here is the Hooker Furniture Dining Room Studio 7H Wine Rack 5465-50002-MWD.
French. Just the very word makes you think of style and elegance. Whether you’re thinking of architecture, food or design, it’s all the same. The French have also mastered the mixture of classic with contemporary which makes them a dominant force to reckon with.
But are there really secrets to their style? Or are there characteristics that you can confidently use right in your own home?
Find Comfort in Juxtapositions
As mentioned, you have to be able to mix the traditional elements with the contemporary stuff. Do not afraid to experiment so that you get to see the different possible combinations of furnishings.
A truly chic French Romantic home should be able to stand the test of time. it must be resilient to the interior design trends. It must also balance the Old World charm with the contemporary style. Make it a point to stimulate the five senses with the design elements that you bring into your home. Visually, the objects must be there but they must also satisfy the tactile sense through the textures.
Design is not about being perfect, it’s about defining, redefining, experimenting, making errors, correcting them, and finally arriving at a style that you can truly call your own.
Basically Chic
French romantic interiors are basically simple. They make use of a neutral color palette so that balance can be achieved in the living spaces. Pair the complementary colors which sit on opposite sides of the color wheel. These hues will naturally jive without you even trying.
A neutral palette is also awesome to use because it is easy to live with. It is not complex, so, a wave of calm will automatically be felt when you enter a home in these calming colors.
Add a Touch of Vintage
The French are also known for their rich history. Just pay a visit to their museums and architectural marvels, even their streets, and you would see how amazing the people are.
Mix modern with traditional by, say, adding bronze furnishings to parquet flooring. You can also hang artworks and vintage sculptural pieces on walls. Find interesting vintage pieces from our collection here.
Bold French art can also add a different level of fun to your home. You don’t have to be serious all the time. Even the French know how to have fun now and then so inject some abstract paintings on the background or even some of your framed black and white photographs. Even your sketches – when properly framed – can become the conversation pieces in your home.
Century Furniture Bedroom Atlanta Low Post Bed With Upholstered Headboard – King Size 6/6 I29-146
Learn to Layer
Paris is known for its robust flea markets so be able to layer your furniture, décor, lights, paintings, knickknacks, mirrors, and even your silverware. Use an anchor palette then slowly build from there.
The layers throughout your home should add a level of sentimentality that your guests can feel the moment they enter your place.
Mix and blend the artworks, colors, and furniture in a surprisingly fresh way. The rooms are supposed to be opulent, of course, you’re recreating French lavishness, but you also have to add a dash of roughness to the refined pieces.
Mix attitude with a little warmth. Group furniture and artworks according to textures or create intrigue by making the pieces as diverse as possible.
Say Yes to Blush Tones and Gilding
Paris is no less than the most romantic city in the world so create the fairytale charm that it is supposed to evoke. Use gilded bronze furnishings. Add blush pieces to the mix and you’ve just recreated Marie Antoinette’s le salon.
Tags: French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furnishings, French interiors, French Romantic, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on French Romantic: The Splendor of Things Vintage
Wednesday, June 21st, 2017
Experience Old World laidback dining with the Stanley Furniture Dining Room Arm Chair 007-21-70 and table.
If you choose European interior design as the theme for your revamped or newly-constructed home, then you’re in for a lot of surprise. Europe, after all, offers diverse cultures and rich histories. Other trends were also interestingly forged in Europe’s growth; with some in response to the inhabitants’ diversity.
Europe’s Effect on American Design
There are a few things in American design that have been hugely influenced by European culture, architecture and design. The interior designs in modern Europe are greatly admired by Americans and there are a lot of reasons for this admiration.
The roots of this European-inspiring-American interior design can be traced to a group of designers in Europe. They were the ones who founded the Bauhaus school of design. In 1919 in Germany. This movement supported an ideology that centered on the performance rather than the overuse of fashionable accessories. This was no different from the minimalist Nordic style.
European Design and You
The Old World style focuses on accessorizing and how to best apply it in your own home. The key is to remember that your design and your home represent who you are. Welcome the European design but never forget to give a piece of you in the design.
Make good use of textures and colors that are available to you. Just make sure that each element adheres to your chosen theme.
European interior design is all about balancing out all the elements. The classical look was hugely influenced by the Romans and Greeks so you must not fail in creating large-scale ornamentation.
Use a fireplace. This is the best kind of ornament that you can have. Use it effectively as a focal point in the bedroom, also in the living room. If you’re feeling a little bold, then have a fireplace at the dining room and the kitchen.
Use natural materials such as stones for your flooring. Cotton and velvet are your go-to fabrics if you want to achieve an elegant ambience.
When you want to mix different designs but in a European way, then be sure to have the floors and walls done with deep textures.
European Furniture
Here are the large-sized furniture pieces that you could use for your Old World turned Modern styling –
Tuscan
French country
Spanish
French Chateau
Mediterranean
Italian Villa
Focus on these listed styles or you can mix and match with other designs. For example, you can pair a Tuscan kitchen with a unique Italian Villa living room.
Remember that European furniture is always decorated. Majority of the pieces are, that is. French regional furniture are decorated with turquoise, cream, lavender, or a gray-green color. These hues can provide the room a relaxed feeling.
European pieces also have curves though they are unobstructed and free. The more comprehensive the carvings are, the more superior the value of the furniture piece is. The carvings are often there to highlight the artistic beauty of the piece.
In seats, the carvings can done on both the back and arms. Sofas often have the carvings on the edges of the furniture.
Don’t be surprised to find fluted legs. The French regional style, specifically, displays these fluted legs. These can be distinguished by the channels running right beside the leg or column.
European furniture is also often upholstered. Many of the French style chairs have upholstery on their seats, arms or even on the backs. A few seats just have upholstery on one part, generally the seat.
Sleep like royalty in this Hooker Furniture Bedroom Arabella King Mirrored Panel Bed.
Trends and Mixed European
When it comes to trends, practically is acceptable. In 2016, modern European style embraced pink for a more dramatic setup.
The latest American trends unsurprisingly descended from European and Nordic areas. This means that you have a lot to look forward to. You can look forward to seeing Victorian, Tuscan, even Baroque pieces in homes.
Tags: European interior design, European interiors, European style, French design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Elegant European Design Made Modern
Monday, June 19th, 2017
BLOG 1. Hooker Furniture Bedroom Arabella King Upholstered Panel Bed: The Arabella Collection shares its take on French interior design through these neutral yet stunning pieces.
Elegance is the first word that would come to anyone’s mind when French style is mentioned. Whether you’re thinking about French clothing, food, wine or their interior design, there simply isn’t anything bad to say. French interior design, in particular, effortlessly combines both the traditional and contemporary ways of design principles.
The French Personality
French interior design is sophisticated, daring yet chic. It can also be quirky as well as personal. If you would travel anywhere in France and would take the time to look inside French homes, you would notice that no two homes are look or even feel alike. Their confident vision in terms of designs is the key to getting away with the one-of-a-kind flair.
So, are there any rules in going French this summer season? At first glance, you may think that there aren’t any. The truth is, French interior design also has some do’s and don’ts.
The French Do’s
Still from the Arabella Collection: Hooker Furniture Living Room Arabella Four-Door Credenza
The French Don’ts
Now it’s time for the do nots. Of course you would also want to know about these so that you won’t go wrong with your chosen design –
French Colors
French style also centers on what sort of hues you are allowed to use – think of royalty, regal beauty, and sometimes, even simplicity. After all, after the French Revolution, more and more people turn their back on frilly aesthetics and went for things that are simple – you should do the same.
French interior design is flexible when it comes to colors. Just allow your personality to shine through to your palette. If you want calmer surroundings, then go for white, off-white, mushroom, taupes, gray, light green or powder blue.
If you are bold enough, then try teal, shades of red or emerald green. These will surely create an interesting feature wall, for instance, if not some pops of color in a mainly neutral backdrop. Nothing is every practically off limits when it comes to French interior design.
Tags: French design, French furnishing, French furnishings, French interior design, French interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | Comments Off on Summer a La French
Thursday, July 14th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Sanctuary Four-Drawer Thin Console may appear distressed but it also offers a bluish hint. This makes it unique.
Many designers have been approached by clients and asked if they can create a French style for their house. This may not be the correct term to use but if you ask enough, you would then learn that what clients mean are whitewashed furniture, candleholders, lanterns, chandeliers, white lace and linen towels. Silver trays work, too.
Apparently, French style actually means French provincial or shabby chic. Some can even see elements of this style inside French homes. So, what makes a home essentially French?
A Little Geography Lesson
Each region in France comes with its own identity and style. There are also different decorative materials and building structures. These give the regions their own distinctiveness along with a unique regional culture that is too hard to ignore.
Don’t think of Versailles as the capital of everything that’s French. This could prove to be true if you were living in the time of King Louis XIV. His was an era of royal debauchery and the excesses the monarchs had unsurprisingly led to their downfall.
If you’re thinking of going French then you have to learn to do things in moderation. Being excessive like Louis XV is not going French. In fact, moderation is the very concept of French style. Use deliberate designs but not in such a way that they are no longer discreet. The features must look effortless.
Even children’s bedrooms that are done in French style should be minimalist. The color palette should be simple and the rest of the space, clean.
Aim for Harmony, Not Luxury
Almost all French people don’t like vulgarity and garishness. To them, what’s elegant and beautiful are those that have zero glitz, shine, travertine, gold brocade, polished mahogany or fine silk. The lesson here is, for as long as the design elements feel right to you, then they’re just that – they’re right for you.
Materials that are good for French style are wood, terra cotta, stone, plaster, iron and steel. You should consider using prewashed linen because it is soft but has creases, it’s never perfect but it feels just right.
All’s Not White
French people don’t live in an all-white home. While many people believe that white is the fundamental color of anything French, this isn’t the case at all. French people actually feel that this color is too impersonal.
If you want to do it the authentic way, then you’d have to settle for neutrals. The French palette is all about being subtle so use a lot of gray, beige, light blue, black, taupe, brown, or sage. The patterns have to be discreet just like the rest of the design elements.
Orient Express Furniture Bar and Game Room Harper Barstool – Stone Wash Bisque French Linen 6415-BSUP.SW BIS
French Can Be Colorful, Too
When you have to use color, then you’ll have to embrace the vibrant hues that tend to make a statement. Make sure that you keep it simple, though. Use no more than dual colors since having too many colors in a room is just wrong.
Since French homes tend to be small, they use color in order to maximize space or to define zones. A one-room apartment, for instance, would do well to reduce its clutter and to have small cabinetry and accent colors in lime green, peacock blue, terracotta orange, red, hot pink or mustard yellow.
French Is Eclectic
If you’re also thinking that going French also means being traditional, then you’re wrong again. Instead, you’d have to embrace eclecticism. This is because the French have undergone evolving civilizations; hence, there isn’t a single French identity. So go ahead and mix styles and eras and you don’t even need to apologize for that.
The French has a complex history so if you try to sum it all up in one box, then you’re going the wrong way. While you can use whitewashed furnishings, you are also welcome to use anything rustic.
Tags: French, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, French interior design, French interiors, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2016
Artistica Dining Room Axiom Wood Back Side Chair 560-021
While baroque may have a certain characteristic that is entirely its own, it has different versions to offer from Europe to Latin America. While they have a slightly different look for every country, there is a reason why only a single term is used to describe them. All come from a common aesthetic beginning.
Baroque, in Spain, originally referred to an oddly-shaped pearl. In Italy, this term is used to describe a sophistic argument with little dialectic worth. It soon became known in every European language and most used it to define anything unusual, extravagant, irregular, even absurd.
A Little Baroque History
During the second half of the 19th century, Heinrich Wolfflin together with his followers brought a whole new meaning to the term baroque. This Swiss critic used the term to define more specific features such as movements (e.g. a curving on the wall or a water feature showing different water patterns).
Baroque could also be used to represent infinity. So this could be used to define the whole horizon or a trick of mirrors which can alter optical perspectives.
In Renaissance architecture, baroque is the right term to use when describing churches and palaces. These could be royal palaces, cathedrals, parish churches, monastic buildings, country mansions, etc.
The Baroque Building
A structure can be given form in various ways. It can be a piece of sculpture in the middle of a building. It can also be a mere box which is given definition by regular-shaped walls. As a skeletal framework, it is what architects see as a mass that needs to be worked on.
Churches during the Baroque period were always built with vaulted ceilings, hence, the term cathedral ceilings.
Manipulation of Light
The light that focuses a certain point in a physical structure may vary but the effect that it renders will always be the same. So imagine using the same kind of lighting on a brick wall and a smooth, granite one. Baroque architects used this fact to give emphasis to texture and proportion. The difference now lies on the level of appreciation that the spectator shows for each rendition.
Accessories Uttermost Beatriz Baroque Mirror 07673
A Touch of French
The greatest look that the French were able to contribute when it comes to the baroque style could not be found in architecture. You will appreciate French baroque if you take a careful look at beautiful landscape gardening. Baroque gardens have always been Italian in nature with small parks, flower beds and plants. It wasn’t until Andre Le Notre, a landscape architect that a new perspective for garden landscape was born. The French garden often stood at the center of the palace with gravel-filled carriage areas, gates, and the drive all around it. The French-inspired baroque style was the inspiration for The Netherlands and Belgium architecture.
Urban Baroque
Grand staircases are reminiscent of the aristocratic buildings during the 17th century. Having these in your home would be a good way to let people know that you mean to use the baroque style.
Baroque, more often than not, is a kind of art illusion. There are scenery paintings and other false perspectives, sculptures abound, ornaments everywhere.
For a more modern baroque style, try to use a lot of white. The elegance of marble is most welcome, as are opulent moldings, curvaceous lines, jewel tones, and gilded finishes.
You can also mix eras to create a result that is surprisingly baroque. An example is installing metallic wallpaper, and mixing it with a painting of a raven on the wall, a glass chandelier, and a modular credenza.
To cap the baroque design, make sure that you create a focal point that is sure to catch everyone’s attention. A well-placed chandelier or a wooden sculpture will do the trick.
Tags: baroque, Baroque design, baroque furniture history, baroque style, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, French furniture, French interior design, French interiors, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Home Office Archivist Writing Desk
Paris is a place that has been made synonymous with elegance and romance. Parisian style is effortless in the incorporation of both traditional and modern aesthetic elements. This is the right style to use when you want to have an air of sophistication in your home.
Use a light color palette as the base for your design while taking the freedom to add vibrant colors in works of art and polished topiaries. Refined elements can be effectively mixed with grandeur. Use velvet pillows as haute statements.
French Furniture History
French monarchy during the 17th and 18th centuries has been partial to the florid surpluses as well as feminine lines. This brought about a revolutionary change in furniture design which we all know of today.
French royalty insisted on having only the highest quality in interior design aspects. They hired the most skilled European craftsmen.
French furniture history can be divided into three time periods. The Sun King, King Louis XIV was first, then the reign of King Louis XV followed, and the reign of King Louis XVI (executed through the guillotine) all featured the most beautiful French furniture.
It is easy to spot French furniture. just look for the cabriole or curvy chair legs. Look also for serpentine lines, swirling scrolls, embellishments, and the most intricate designs.
Boullework surfaces are also common. These are made of brass inlaid to tortoiseshell or ebony. Bronze is also treated to represent gold and pastel silk upholstery with a lot of florals is also common.
The Empire Style
This was a propaganda that Napoleon brought about. He insisted on a tyrannical centralization of the artistic productions back in his day. He declared that furniture production (and other art media) was to be controlled by Paris and then overseen by Fontaine and Percier (both renowned architects). Jacques-Louis David was also commissioned to oversee the projects.
Noble people were then impoverished or were all in exile. The elites who have risen owe their fame and fortune to the partial master who imitated works of art without embarrassment. The resulting style was a huge success and, eventually, there was uniformity in all of France.
The Empire style is dominated by the Greco-Roman models. Their features may be a bit stiff and imposing because of their sharp corners and flat surfaces.
This furniture style lacks moldings thus, offering beauty and grandeur.
George Jacob was king of the Empire style in furniture. Boat beds, decorated only on one side, became widespread. The minister desk and the psyche mirrors also became famous. Characteristic of the Empire table are the numerous versions of gueridon type which were often used as dining tables.
Mahogany seating is quite common with backs that are often upholstered. It was rare to find small pieces which were used for more specific purposes. Console tables appear more solemn and rigid with their rectangular and marble tops.
Orient Express Furniture Living Room Humphrey Ottoman – Bisque French Linen 6460
Materials and Methods
Mahogany was a popular choice in Parisian furniture making. Because of the blockade that took place, this wood became unavailable, and in its place rose the beech, burled elm, walnut, ash yew root, boxwood, maple and olivewood.
Ornamentation
Ornaments are often marked with precise symmetry. Common motifs include the bee, eagle, the initials I and N, and the stars. The imperial laurel crown as well as figures bearing swans, palm branches, rose wreaths, lions, grape vines, etc. were also used. Those who embraced an Egyptian motif used squares, circles, ovals, octagons and squares.
It’s time to bring the magic of Paris right into your home. Mix chic pieces with neutral ones. Use soft yet glamorous colors. Add iconic designs with the contemporary ones in order to capture the combination of traditional and contemporary.
Tags: 17th century, 18th century, French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furniture, French Romantic, history, luxurious home, luxurious interiors, luxurious living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Parisian style, Parisian theme
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Corsica Dark Queen Panel Bed 5280-90250.
The French Mediterranean style came from the countries situated at the north of the Mediterranean Sea. These countries include Greece, Spain and Italy. This is a style that is referred to today as Spanish modern.
Mediterranean furniture pieces range from the mere functional to the most formal. Most of these pieces are short and have ornate legs and feet. The wood used is often heavy and burnished. The walls of Mediterranean homes are often textured, with the bullnose edge being a common design on fireplace mantels.
Mediterranean Colors
The hues of these regions echo the beauty of the sky and the sea. Depending on the region, though, the hue could be lavender, a cool yellow, or the warmer terracotta.
Stucco finishes and tiled roofs dominate Mediterranean style houses. Spanish histories display a lot of these as do other states with warm climates.
Influences come from Italy, Portugal., and mainly Spain. Other countries from the Mediterranean regions also have some design contributions.
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Corsica Dark Round Dining Table with 1-18in Leaf 5280-75203
Mediterranean Architecture
Architecture under this style that is found in North America was quite popular from 1918 till 1940. The designs echoed the beautiful haciendas of New World Spain. Features included arches, red tile roofs, and plaster made to look like plastered adobe. Various homes in Florida and California were built in this style.
Pretty soon, developments from other European nations were already found in Mediterranean houses. Influences came as far as the Balkans and France. Cypress, Turkey and Lebanon provided the Asian inspiration together with North African nations like Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
These days, a lot of the ornate homes that fuse the different countries’ elements are categorized as Mediterranean or Neo-Mediterranean. Other features include courtyards, terraces, porticos, stucco finishes, and balconies.
During the 1920 till the 1930s, many Hollywood movies featured Mediterranean settings. Celebrity magazines also plastered stars living in Tudor, Spanish colonial or castle-like dwelling places. These years saw the peak of construction of Mediterranean houses.
Home building was dampened by the Great Depression, though. Following the Second World War, the focus was turned to stucco tract housing. In the 1960s, though, Mediterranean homes had a marvelous comeback. The rest of the United States, mostly those from the South, embraced the Mediterranean look.
Hooker Furniture Bedroom Corsica Metal Floor Mirror 5480-90009
Famous Mediterranean Homes
Some of the homes that are immediately thought of when the word Mediterranean is mentioned are the Frances Marion and Fred Thomson house; the Smith-Heberton house; and the house of Fred C. Aiken.
These homes had one or more of the key features of a Mediterranean house. The red tile roof which was copied from the Mexican and Spanish missions were made of bricks and clay pots. The half tubes were able to shed water effectively.
The stucco walls are next which protected the exterior walls from extreme temperatures which are common in Mediterranean climate. Arches are also features that go back all the way to the Roman times. These self-supporting structures are also found in beautiful Mediterranean homes. Just imagine the architectural magic of these arches and you are sure to marvel. Every stone depends on the keystone at the top of the arch, with side columns having their weight distributed on the sides then downward.
Tiles are also common, especially the mosaic tile designs. Bring this same beauty into your own floor or your kitchen backsplash. Simulate the look of a lovely mosaic tile with a stenciled mosaic border on the walls, floors or on your furniture. Wall textures can be layers of glaze and paint or sand-textured.
Mediterranean accessories include filigree light fixtures, burnished bronze urns, and wrought-iron fireplaces. Heavy wooden doors complete with ornate carvings welcome the visitors of every Mediterranean-inspired home.
Tags: French design, French Mediterranean, Greek design, Italian design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Mediterranean interior design, Mediterranean interiors, Mediterranean style, natural stone, Spanish, stone, wood, wood elements
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2016
The Wesley Allen Bedroom Dawson Complete Bed CB1053 features the ornate designs that were distinct features of Art Noveau.
Art Noveau became fashionable around 1890 till the First World War. This style was a reaction to the 19thcentury designs showing so much of history, especially Neo-Classicism. Art Noveau pushed the idea of design and art being crucial parts of everyday living.
Artists, from then on, did not overlook the simplicity in everyday objects. To them, aesthetics were added to make the functional more visually pleasing. New Art is Art Noveau and it was applied in all forms of art including architecture, applied art, fine arts, and decorative art.
Art Noveau was partially rooted to the Industrial Revolution, also the Arts and Crafts Movement. It also shows Japonism influence especially the Ukiyo-e prints brought about by great minds like Hokusai and Hiroshige.
Celtic designs were also common.
After the 1900 Exposition Universelle held in Paris, France Art Noveau spread across the European continent, even to Australia and the U.S. The Italian name for it in Italy is Stile Liberty, in Austria it is known as Sezessionstil, and in America it is called Tiffany style.
Art Noveau as Style not Philosophy
Art Noveau is perceived as a style more than being a philosophy. This is a style that wanted to break free from the bonds of historicism. It sought to bring about a fresh analysis of natural forms, functions, and aesthetics. Some see it as useless patterns but once you see the art with your artistic eyes, you are bound to see a marvellous sequence that was never before noticed.
Art Noveau represents many different moods and looks. We can be reminded of the gentle breeze, of the harshness of the stormy waters, you can even just see ornate vegetation. Everything is organic, though, as this style focuses on making sense out of life’s order.
Accessories Uttermost Santena Round Metal Mirror 08133 will look perfect inside an Art Noveau-inspired home.
Art Noveau: Characteristics
If you are trying to look for a single definition for this style, then you will be looking in vain. There isn’t a single definition for it. It has, however, several distinguishing factors.
Art Noveau is all about the application of art into everyday living. No stuff is too functional or beautified.
Art Noveau also thinned the line between the principles of fine arts, decorative art and applied arts. This style is a beautiful reaction to the concise mathematical representations of the Neo-Classical era.
Art Noveau also presented a fresh graphic design language. It has gone far from the classical models that were embraced by art academies in the past. There are various stylistic interpretations for Art Noveau. There are artists that prefer low-cost materials while others give value to high craftsmanship.
Art Noveau features flat yet decorative patterns that can be employed in many forms of art. Typical elements include tendril, leaves, the curvaceous shape of a woman, and other organic forms.
When it comes to architecture, architect Antoni Gaudi from Spain exaggerated the bulbous forms. Hector Guimard, on the other hand, gave the world his stylistic Parisian Metro entrances.
Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Malawi 2 Light Kitchen Island Light 21248 can bring the beauty of Art Noveau to your kitchen.
Art Noveau in Interior Design
This style has two distinct looks that you need to keep in mind – the linear look propagated by artists like Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the beautiful, elongated lines. Other features include vertical lines to highlight height and the whiplash line.
Flowers, peacock feathers, spider webs, thistles, and locusts were found on wallpaper, accents and many furniture pieces. Iridescent glass, exotic woods, semi precious jewels and silver were also the distinct materials that represented Art Noveau.
Art Noveau furniture is renowned for the high-backed chairs and the glossy black lacquer finish. Conservative options included curvy shapes, floral fabrics and upholstered items. Glassworks also came in opaque matter and precise etchings. Silver and pewter also dominated much of the ornaments.
Period colors for Art Noveau are always elegant yet subtle. Say yes to sage, brown, olive, mustard, gold, shades of purple, salmon, peacock blue, and robin’s egg blue.
Tags: art, European interior design, European interiors, European style, French design, French interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Neo-Classical, Spanish, Spanish design elements
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016
Maitland-Smith Dining Room Arm Chair 4130-812 is simply gothic.
Gothic interior design or those medieval interiors both represent like eras. But do not imagine creepy mansions and artwork when thinking about gothic style, instead, think of architectural beauty and intricate furniture pieces.
Victorian gothic is, in essence, an architectural design that started as early in the 1740s. Compared to modern gothic interiors, they are similar because they show opulence and elegance. Gothic architecture first took the spotlight around 1150 AD. This was during the Medieval Period and it immediately became a significant part of every building design. Back then, it was called the French Style.
Examples of the gorgeous Gothic style can be found in abundance in the U.K. and the rest of Europe, more so in Paris, France. Gothic cathedrals are the perfect examples of gothic architectural wonders that have endured centuries.
Gothic Design Today
These days, gothic structures stand as a testament to the unique ability and solid engineering that are used hand-in-hand in their creation.
Have you heard of the flying buttress? This is one of the most recognized gothic elements in the world today. This was created during the Medieval Era. One can be seen in the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris.
Gothic’s got a pointy sort of style with ornate doorways, beautiful archways and perfect symmetry. Architects need to use balance in all aspects of a gothic home. This doesn’t mean that their brains have been hardwired to create everything that’s dark and gloomy, though. With the right set of eyes, you can appreciate the artistry that gothic design stresses. These great minds have been trained to value the beauty of old cathedrals and other majestic structures.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Black Marble Vase 2100-302 has all the elements of gothic style – a dark, rich color and its ornate metallic design.
A great way to wrap your mind around this unique interior design is to imagine intricate and ancient churches instead of dreary places. These are actually sanctuaries with stately windows complete with stained glass. Designs of roses or trefoils are also quite common as are majestic fireplaces situated below exposed beams and wooden rafters.
Beautiful candelabra should complete this divine style.
Gothic Interior Design: A Vertical Style
The gothic design is mainly a vertical style depicted by the looming peaks and arches, with windows growing larger and larger as you walk in each room. There is also an increased amount of lighting and ventilation as the years pass. The gloomy feel of the Romanesque churches are long gone.
Victorian gothic furniture pieces are usually made with sturdy and heavy oak wood adorned with the designs that are reminiscent of the Medieval Period. Headboards, chairs, cabinetry come with beautiful legs, arches and spirals. Heavy fabrics encase these heavy furniture pieces with every upholstery displaying the most majestic colors.
Including benches, pews and altar chairs is an effective way to show the kind of crafts that was featured during that time.
Gothic colors tend to be dark and rich with sombre hues of ruby, purple, forest green, ochre, and gold. You may use black but do so sparingly. It is not good to fall into the usual gothic notion where rooms are dark and even probably haunted. Vibrant colors like deep burgundy, emerald green, dark blue and ruby red are all acceptable.
Uttermost Accessories Alita, Mirror 11587 B
Gothic walls are covered with greenery, flowers and heavy patterns. Homeowners also use stencil designs and heraldic symbols. Paint your walls with flat colors in order to replicate the stone surfaces.
Accentuate stained glass windows with full suits of armor, wrought iron, candles and pews. Cornices and carved ribbing are also common characteristics of gothic interior design.
Display wooden, carved sconces as well as pottery dishes. Wrought iron lamps should be able to cast that needed glow inside an otherwise dark room.
For the final touch, go full gothic by adding dramatic elements such as moldings, dark wallpaper and heavy curtains. Just like you would with any style that you choose, go all out in using the gothic interior design.
Tags: dark color scheme, dark colors, dark design, dark hues, dark-colored hues, French design, French design elements, French furnishings, gothic, gothic interior design, gothic interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Victorian gothic
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, January 11th, 2016
Wine bottles in this photo are from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection.
Choosing to highlight the rooms in your home with a vineyard or wine theme can add a casual ambience that is often linked to country French or Tuscan style. Wine accents permeate your place with a glamorous yet tranquil atmosphere. Pick hues that are commonly found in nature to harmonize with your wine accents. Use sage green, burgundy, and deep blue for a calming effect. Sunshine yellow and red, on the other hand, can make a room come to life. If you want to add a hacienda feel or mission touch, then use rustic textures.
This lovely wine rack is also from FFDM’s RayLen Vineyards Collection
Guidelines for the Innovative Vineyard Theme
First, what is a wine theme without bottles of wine, right? Keep those wine bottles in a wine rack made of wrought-iron. If you can find those with grapevine and grape bunch embellishments then do so. Display this kind of rack inside your Napa Valley design kitchen.
You can also set up a wine bar with different kinds of wines placed on a glass-topped, wrought-iron table. If you don’t want to take the risk on metal, then go safe with the traditional beauty of wooden racks. To add a country feel, wind some grapevines among the wine bottles.
As guests arrive, place fresh grapes with cheese board showcasing a number of cheeses, crackers, crusty bread, and fruits. Place a terracotta ice bucket complete with a vineyard logo and wine glasses and you’d be the talk of the town!
Now don’t think that the wine theme is just great for your kitchen. You can bring this same rustic look to your bedroom by grouping grapevine wreaths on the place where the headboard should have been. Embellish these with sunflowers to achieve the sunniest Tuscan atmosphere. Here, you should opt for faux grapes complete with dried herbs or some yellow starflowers.
Put this same treatment above the couch in your living room. You can pick one oversized wreath or settle with a group of smaller ones.
Of course, just like any design, one of the fundamental guidelines in achieving cohesion or balance is the use of a focal point.
Make a focal point inside the dining room or kitchen by using a wine puller collection showcased on a bead board backsplash. Put this on the side of the kitchen island or right above the counter.
You can reach a higher level for this look by filling up a pottery bowl (preferably brick red or muted yellow) with different fruits. Use purple and green grapes with all the other fruits, of course. Place this fruit bowl in the middle of your vintage farm dining table. None can be more perfect as a rustic centerpiece.
The bathroom can also be given an eclectic flair as you place vineyard-themed towels, bathrobes and a shower curtain. If you cannot have these theme towels made, then you can just combine white towels with towels in red or purple shades. Highlight the walls with wallpaper in the same hue or print.
Winners Only Dining Room 52 Inch Franklin Server DFD470B at McCreerys Home Furnishings
Designing a Wine Cellar
You may not be a wine connoisseur but if you enjoy a glass of wine after dinner, then it won’t hurt to use this unique them when you remodel your home. Here are some ideas before you set out to build or remodel –
Never think that the wine cellar is merely a storage area. This is an important room just as much as the dining or living room. Obviously, wine bottles need to be kept in a quiet, undisturbed, cool and private place. While this is so, you should not decorate the space as if no one is ever going to see it.
Add a wooden wine rack or cabinet, even a wrought-iron bar in the corner. These furniture pieces are not just there to beautify; they can also serve as storage units in your cellar or wine room. Add a framed artwork on the wall to complete the artistic vibe in your wine-themed home.
Tags: color harmony, country, country cottage, country style, country style interiors, eclectic, eclectic design, eclectic interiors, eclecticism, French design, French design elements, French furnishing, French furniture, French interior design, French interiors, French Romantic, harmony, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, Napa Valley design, rustic, rustic charm, rustic interiors, rustic look, rustic style, rustic theme, Tuscan design, Tuscan interiors, Tuscan style, vineyard theme, wine bar, wine cellar, wine cellar design, wine theme
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
