Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Decorate With Grey Painted Chests.........French And Swedish Style.


While French and Swedish palaces were resplendent with gilded and ornate furniture, white-washed or painted furniture was the mainstay of the country home. The petit chateau and Swedish farmhouse would have been decorated with furniture painted in shades of grey and soft cream. It is these painted country pieces that are presently in high demand on the antiques show circuit. This blog post focuses on those beautiful grey painted Swedish and French style chest of drawers that we all covet.

Guaranteed to beautify any home, the addition of painted antiques to your interiors will give depth and texture to a home's decor by bringing balance to the use of natural wood finishes. A grey painted chest will provide an artisanal, rural, understated elegance that doesn't overwhelm a space.


FleaingFrance Brocante Society

Grey painted furniture automatically creates visions of the interior of an elegant French chateau or a wonderful old Swedish mansion.


This warm and comfortable furniture style is so well loved throughout France and Sweden that it never goes out of style.


A gorgeous distressed pale grey chest with soft cool grey details. These muted palettes of color, the chalk whites and wonderful warm greys are what makes Swedish and French painted furniture so warm and homey.

Swedish Gustavian grey painted chest of drawers.


via Pinterest

This chest features weathered wood and an elegant greyed green paint.

source unknown

Another example of a chest painted grey with a hint of green.


These grey painted chests are wonderful for creating vignettes of crystal girondles. Grey and crystal........perfection!


A chest like this, painted in a delicate grey and coupled with aged patina, will help bring sophisticated country elegance into you home.


Wonderful period Swedish Baroque chest of drawers painted in a pale grey. Grey pieces get along very well with any other color, this orange for instance.


Today, one of the strongest decorating trends is the use of "tone-on-tone" color. This means if you are painting yourself, you want to use different shades of a given color to get a textural aged appearance.


French and Swedish grey painted chest looks equally at home in the salon of a chateau or a small cottage style bedroom.


chelseatextiles.com

When an old chest needs a breath of new life, you might consider painting it grey. Just make sure you do your homework so you can make it look aged. Painting without giving it patina just doesn't work.


I especially like a touch of gold on aged grey pieces. This, and the following two images, are of beautiful grey chests from georgialacey.co.uk.


You want an accumulation of polish or grime in the carving whether the furniture is painted or stained. This is what gives the piece an aged patina.


This chest is painted in a cooler bluish grey.


A painted grey chest like this would be a treasure for any home. I love the Greek key frieze.


If you like Chateau Style, you must pick up a painted grey piece. A chest is a good place to start.

House Beautiful Magazine

Grey is the color of stone. Because it is an elegant organic neutral it is very pleasing to the eyes. Grey painted chests work well in any room and get along very well with shades of pink and red. So gorgeous against a creamy vanilla background. Notice I said cream and not stark white.

This is a lovely grey painted chest. Remember you want to create an aged patina if you are embarking on a DIY project.


Swedish and French grey chests look so pretty against a soft greyish taupe wall. This is a wonderful combination and I love the aged turquoise stone accessories. Grey is such a great neutral and adds a clean, modern feel to just about any space.



Cute little grey chest with cream accents fits perfectly in a nook of this pretty bedroom.

Jane Moore Interiors

As long as grey painted French and Swedish chests emit warmth and comfort, they will continue to be perennial favorites.

horchow.com

A lovely distressed, pale gray Belvedere Chest with gold-leaf accents. Perfect if you love painted furniture but want a more formal style.



Last but not least......stunning grey and gold painted chest of drawers.



Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2016/05/decorate-with-desk-at-foot-of-your-bed.html






This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Friday, May 6, 2016

Decorate With A Desk At The Foot Of Your Bed



I am an advocate for sumptuous, lavishly appointed bedrooms that feature luxurious fabrics, antique furniture, and decor with a boudoir feel......a private retreat. Many of today's bedrooms simply look like hotel rooms or just a place to sleep that the homeowner deems not really worthy or decoration. 

I also prefer to have something interesting at the foot of the bed. This post features how to use a writing desk in this space and is the follow up to an earlier blog about seating areas at the foot of the bed. http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2016/03/decorate-with-seating-area-at-foot-of.htmlchic.

I love a writing desk placed at the foot of the bed. Now before we go any further, I do not recommend an office desk or work space complete with computer etc. The kind of desk I am talking about is a writing desk where you can read, jot down notes, catch up on some correspondence either by writing or using something small like a tablet. No computers or laptops please!!

A small desk at the end of the bed can add functionality and interest to your room as well as provide a comfy place to catch up on small tasks. Just remember to keep some perfume close by for scenting those love letters you might compose on the writing desk at the end of your bed.


Unfortunately these days the foot of the bed is often one of those overlooked spaces, However people are returning to a more refined and romantic style and the bedroom is a perfect place to start the process. There is just something elegant and romantic about a writing desk in the bedroom, especially at the end of the bed.


It was common place to use desks at the foot of the bed in times past. It just makes sense.

Princess Diana's childhood home via spencerofalthorp.com

Chatsworth House via Pinterest

I like my bedroom and enjoy spending time there besides sleeping. Having a desk at the end of the bed will allow you to use and enjoy your bedroom during the day.


lisafarmerdesigns.com

Here are two pictures of my own bedroom with a painted desk at the foot of the bed. These were taken at Christmas last year.


The desk is painted in a muted green with black lacquered top and a grid of fleur de lis on the sides. Normally there is a chair but I used it somewhere else at Christmas.

Furlow Gatewood, designer photo: Paul Costello

When you place a small writing desk at the foot of the bed it becomes a space-saving location that's also aesthetically pleasing.

source unknown

A lovely antique desk can transform the foot of a bed.


Charles Faudree

A simple writing desk, or in this case vanity, is a nice addition to the foot of the bed. It is how you use the desk that makes it romantic and not just a work space.

via Pinterest


I realize not everyone lives in a historic home, however you can still bring that elegant look into a smaller home with smaller rooms. This is such a lovely space and as you can see it is quite small yet big on style.

Cottage Company of Harbor Springs

A desk will help you add style and refresh the foot of your bed.


Consider using a desk at the end of the bed if you are short on space and really in need of a small desk.

A desk at the end of the bed extends your bed and makes it seem more grand. Any style decor can benefit,  from exotic .......

......to traditional.

Nate Berkus

Even a colorful trendy bedroom looks great with a desk neatly placed at the foot of the bed.

A streamlined desk and bench are perfect for the end of the bed in a contemporary style bedroom.

Herzog & de Meuron Photo by Angelika Gruendler via curbed.com

This painted French style desk at the foot of the bed adds a touch of glamour to a modern traditional bedroom.


The bedroom can serve other purposes than for just sleeping. I like having a small writing space at the foot of the bed as a cozy place to get some work done! I know my feng shui friends don't agree with a desk being in the bedroom but obviously I am not a follower of the laws of feng shui.


Here is a space you will be able to do such things as quietly make a phone call, write, enjoy a good book, make to do lists, and read your mail.

Be creative in the pieces you choose as desks for the foot of your bed.


Use unconventional pieces of furniture for your end of the bed desk. There are many unique tables and desks to choose from. Visit antique and collectible fairs, flea markets, antique malls and yard 
sales.


Click to see previous post.

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2016/04/conservatories-and-garden-roomsback-by.html


published by Lisa Farmer
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