Monday, February 18, 2013

Decorating In The Primitive Colonial Style

This post about elegant colonial interiors was like a trip down memory lane. In my early 20's I was in love with primitive colonial decor. My Bible was a magazine called Colonial Homes. In fact I bought a beautiful corner cupboard with the first pay check from my first job. I put it on lay away and paid the antique store monthly until I had it paid off.

 I was blessed to find an old two story colonial home to restore and fill with my obsession. I had some beautiful pieces, did the stenciling like you will see in some of these photos, bought pencil post canopy beds, spinning wheels, Chippendale sofas, made some gorgeous reproduction samplers (which I plan to do a post on shortly) and had a home that looks alot like some of these homes.  I only have one picture of my kitchen left because I had many old photos and items stored at my parents whose home burned in 1990.

I recently visited the old house which has been turned into a photography studio and the stenciling and murals have all been painted over. It was sad but people have the right to their own styles. Even my tastes have changed since then to more of an old world elegance. I do have a very special place in my heart for the design style of this post. It is more of a lifestyle, and there is a quite elegant quality about it that is relaxing and calming, much like the French Provence style. It is a beautiful look that will always be in style because it is timeless.




Girl With A Lamb

prettyoldhouses.com

All colonial houses must have a couple of Windsor chairs!

This lovely tigers eye maple four poster bed is dressed out in a pretty quilt and fishnet canopy.

If you are considering this style, you must collect some old wooden bowls, and a few egg baskets like the one on the corner cupboard.

nskwood.net

Stenciling was a popular way to decorate walls during colonial times.

pic90.picturetrail.com

This bedroom contains many items popularly used when decorating the colonial home. You see a flax winder pierced tin lantern, pencil post canopy bed, apple cone, homespun coverlet, and crockery.

google.com

Pineapples are the sign of hospitality and were commonly used in some form in colonial homes.

Harvest table and Windsor chairs are the center of attention in this colonial style kitchen.

Another pretty bedroom complete with pencil post canopy and stenciling.



This colonial bedroom features a hand painted mural.


This was an early picture of a portion of the kitchen in my old colonial in 1983 before I stenciled the walls. The stencil pattern was very similar to the one below so use your imagination.


Antique pewter is another staple of the colonial home.


This reminds me so much of my TV room in the old house. I had flame stitch chairs almost identical to these and an old plantation desk like the one in the corner except mine had a door. The room was stenciled very similar to this.


fhwebsite.homestead.com

The primitive home is very pretty when decorated for Christmas. The simplistic use of all natural elements creates a warmth that adds such charm to the interiors.

google.com

Colonial portraits, quilts, hurricane globes candle stands are all accessories associated with primitive interiors.

Beamed ceilings look wonderful in colonial rooms.

Colors popular for trim and woodwork include grey, muted blue, red , and gold.




This table is surrounded by comb backed Windsor chairs.

Accessories to collect for your colonial home include, antique toys, baskets, crockery, wooden utensils, and pewter.

Blue and white were popular colonial colors. Here is another example of a fishnet canopy The corner cupboard is filled with crocks and coverlets.

Wide pine flooring was used frequently in primitive homes. Many pieces of furniture were also made of pine, poplar and maple.


Camel back Chippendale sofa in a flame stitch pattern.


Pierced tin chandeliers are best for lighting fixtures in a primitive style home. Ladderback chairs surround this harvest table.

smartin.supremecenter300.com

A Deacon's Bench sits under an antique hooked rug in this colonial foyer.


You might also enjoy Decorating Colonial/Primitive Bedrooms  http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2014/07/decorating-colonialprimitive-bedrooms.html 


Click here to see the previous post!

This blog post was published by
Lisa Farmer