Monday, May 8, 2017

My French Living Room.......Pictures As Promised



I usually (with the exception of last year due to illness) post an Open House Tour of my French style home with the halls decked for Christmas. However, I have had several newer followers ask why I don't post many pictures of my home on Facebook or on the blog. So, as promised, I will make a blog post featuring each room this year. 

My style is European Eclectic but is predominately French. I love French Chateau Style and my favorite period is Louis XIV when Versailles was a hunting lodge and country home. My taste seems to run more towards a soft yet masculine French look as opposed to the fru fru of later French styles. I try to make this a home where a man can enjoy French flair without the feeling of femininity that goes along with most French looks.

Our home is approximately 120 years old and is the childhood home of a former State Senator. It had become two apartments when we bought it and had to be turned back into a home. In other words.....this French style home is a labor of love and an on-going affair. You will see changes in even these pictures as we constantly curate the space.We hope you enjoy.


Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

We have 12 foot ceilings in this old house which are fun to work with. All fireplaces in the house are still there but over the years someone drywalled over this one. Because I didn't want the mess of opening this one up, I found the mantle in an antique mall and have used it for years. Just recently painted faux tiles and added an old surround and metal summer door.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I'm not the greatest photographer and the sun kept coming out and going behind clouds so here is another with the lights on. 

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Found a great antique lithograph and put it over the mantle instead. It is of the grand canal at the French chateau Chantilly with 18th century people strolling the grounds and a few naked fellows playing in the water. You can see the chateau in the background and it reads Veue du Grand Canal de Chantilly Prise a sa Source. 

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I just recently found the large Verdure tapestry I have been searching for. It's been hard to find a big vertical one. Also picked up the French trumeau mirror at auction. The old oil painting of an colonnade and castle on the edge of a lake that was originally over the mantle is now above the door.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I also changed this table around a bit by adding an old urn filled with fossils and some different candle holders.Unlike most decorators, I have no problem with silk floral arrangements as long as they look lifelike. When making my arrangements I always look for quality flowers that actually exist, and only in colors that are theirs by nature. No blue magnolias please! Silk arrangements took a hit when people started making bouquets out of weird colored, unlifelike flowers that made the whole look seem artificial. In the UK silk flowers are making a comeback so I hope enough time has gone by here to erase the memory of all those horrible silk flower arrangements of the 80's and 90's. Of course I prefer real flowers but I want them there all the time. Who can afford that? If you can't, my advice is to invest in some well arranged, quality silk bouquets.
Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design
Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I had been wanting to replace my tea table with something more interesting. I found this capital table in a place most of you would not even go in to. I was actually scared myself. But I came away with a treasure that left me with money in my pockets.....and my life.  I thought it would look good in a French style interior.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

We enjoy our house the most in the evenings when the rooms take on such a pretty glow. I have a camelback sofa that has been with me for a long time and I am quite sentimental about. I am looking for a French sofa but it is not a priority yet.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Another recent addition is this antique French clock with a shepherdess and her goat.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I adore these clocks and collect as many as I can find and afford.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Another passion of mine is needlepoint and petitpoint. The French fauteuil, footstool, pillows.......

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

......and picture of Marie Antoinette's children (which came from an old farmhouse in England) are all needlepoint.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Also in this corner is a painted French chest and one of a pair of antique French altar candelabras.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

French demilune table with sphinxes and inlaid brass sunburst is a treasure I found at an incredible price. You have never seen anyone move to buy something as quickly as I bought this.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I adore cane back French furniture. This chair is covered in faux Mongolian lamb fur.......just for fun.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

My style is not French country but more Chateau or Maison style. I am most comfortable with the look of a French country home but not too rustic.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Behind the antique French desk is a needlepoint covered French fauteuil. I found the large portrait in the French frame at a run down second hand shop. I love those places!!

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Looking out into the front hall at a great little painted piece I got recently. I painted my hall in a faux limestone effect several years ago and have loved it. The pictures are antique lithographs after French painters Antoine Watteau and  Nicolas Lancret.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Adding another update.....I found a wonderful old Chinoiserie papered screen for this corner.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I love the antique engravings of men fencing from Angelo 1763 L'Ecole des Armes Fechten Fencing Escrime. Dominico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo (1716-1802) was born in Italy, studied in France, came to London in 1755 and became instructor in fencing to many of the English upper class and members of the royal family. Establishing his own school in 1763, he published his 
instructional book illustrated with plates depicting various positions and movements.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

This picture features an old cupboard I bought with my very first paycheck. I was all of 19 and the collecting bug had already bitten. You can also see a recent purchase of mine......the accordion. 

Lisa Farmer- Eye For Design

I found this accordion in the basement of an old antique mall in Georgetown, KY. It was in the 50% off corner. It was filthy and after a good cleaning has become display worthy. It is made by Augusto Torio and Sons, NY. Torio came to America from Italy and became one of the first accordion  manufacturers in New York City.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

I also collect antique military hats, etc. I found these recently and the trunk they came in. The feathered hat sits on top of an old wig makers mold.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Behind this desk is a French curio filled with my collections of Limoge boxes, antique compacts, various miniatures, and my favorites, the petit point purses. I love the French inspired ones with Watteau style images of lovers in pastoral settings.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

The purses are so beautiful, wish you could see them in person. They are each approximately 5 X 6 inches and so delicate, some with beads, and intricate clasps.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

The castle on the left and the black one are favorites......but I love them all. I have some great antique enamel compacts too.

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

Lisa Farmer-Eye For Design

The floral purses are lovely too. I have another display cabinet in my office with several more.



Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2017/05/old-world-style-green-bedrooms.html


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Friday, May 5, 2017

Old World Style Green Bedrooms



My followers know I am old world at heart. I do, however, believe your bedrooms can be classic yet still on trend by observing current popular colors and other small modern details you can work into your spaces. With Greenery being the Pantone Color of the Year, there will be a lot more green in the world of interior design in 2017. The purpose of this blog is to put the spotlight on beautiful old world style bedrooms that happen to be green in hopes that they will make you "green with envy" enough to embrace this currently trendy color yourself.

The modern English word green comes from the Middle English and Anglo-Saxon word grene, from the same Germanic root as the words "grass" and "grow" and is the color most associated with nature. Today everyone seems to be environmentally conscious and "going green" takes on a whole new meaning. This is not about political correctness. I'm publishing this blog just because I think green old world style bedrooms can be aesthetically pleasing and why not now that this color is so popular.

flowerduet.com


Green has always been a popular color. There were three main green pigments on the Renaissance colour palette, blue-green Verdigris which was the most vibrant green available during the Italian Renaissance and Baroque. Then there was Verona Green or Celadonite, and the third green was bright-green Malachite.The Romans also had a great appreciation for the color green. They also used the pigment verdigris, made by soaking copper plates in fermenting wine.


These first two images have examples of "green on green" bedrooms. This means the room has been designed in a monochromatic way featuring the color green. The fabrics. wallpaper, woodwork is all painted in a coordinating shade of green. We tend to break up the look today with accent colors but it was very popular at one time. A bedroom decorated in this  manner tends to shout old world no matter the color especially if you fill it with antiques or vintage. It can be tricky but can still be done beautifully in today's bedroom.


Through the ages green has always been a popular color for bedrooms because it is calming and peaceful. In fact the German poet and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe declared that green was the most restful color, suitable for decorating bedrooms.


Diane Burn is my favorite designer. She does fabulous work in old world environments but also can age a newer interior in a way that you are sure it is ancient. Here she has had the wall painted and stenciled. Green and cream toile dresses the bed. Add in other coordinating patterns and this green bedroom takes your breath away.

Not every one has a ceiling like this......I get it. However all the rest can be accomplished in any home to create a stunning green old world bedroom. Chinoiserie pattern in predominately green on the walls and mixed green patterns on bed and chairs. Throw in some solid green on the windows, headboard, and bench and you are good to go.


cdni.condenast.co.uk
I love this old world style bedroom with it's green chinoiserie walls and lovely pop of mustard. To complete the look they have added creamy white lace pillow shams and a great green velvet pillow.

Interior-design firm McMillen, Inc

This old world style green bedroom evokes the the feel of waking up in a garden thanks to green Chinoiserie wallpaper that features birds, trees and flowers. The garden theme is enhanced by painting the four poster bed in an herbal green and embellishing it with hand painted flowers .



A Howard Slatkin old world bedroom.

Bedroom of the Mercer house in Savannah Georgia

You can also choose to forgo wallpaper and simply paint your old world style green bedroom. Here I am going to insert a pet peeve of mine. Stark white woodwork like they use in newer homes NEVER looks good with colored walls regardless of what male contractors say!!!! It is too much of a contrast and is not pleasing to the eye. Instead choose a wonderful soft vanilla cream, like in this room, or a very pale shade of beige. Your room will not look so harsh....believe me. 

mydesignchic.com

Another option is to paint the wood work the same color as the walls so the room isn't all chopped up. This will depend on the size of room of course and the amount of millwork. Small rooms will look larger without the contrast. Punctuate a calm cool shade of green in your old world bedroom with a bright color like mustard, pink, shades of orange or reds that are on the orange side.


This bedroom' s walls are painted in rich green tones and I believe they are lacquered because of the reflection I see from the lamp.


michaelsimoninc.com

Most people opt for lighter old world style green bedrooms, which have a light and airy feel to them.........

loveisspeed.blogspot.co.uk

.....however dark green old world bedrooms like this one designed by Jacques Garcia can look very rich and luxurious, especially when paired with dark toned wood.

Studio Peregalli

A touch of red is a great accent color for green bedrooms. Just be cautious and choose your colors and patterns wisely. You don't want your bedroom to look like the north pole. Make it cheery but not Christmasy.

Mark Hampton

A cool mint green on the walls of this bedroom makes it a serene and restful retreat.Tall paned windows and delicate material draped over the canopy gives this bedroom a fresh and light feeling while adding a romantic touch and old world feel.

source unknown (please let me know if it is yours so I can credit)

In a resent sleep study 22 percent of respondents who slept in a green bedroom reported waking up feeling upbeat and positive.

via Pinterest

Green and pink is a classic and charming combination and in this bedroom it looks lovely. Just don't get carried away and make things too little girl like. Soft and feminine is the look you are after for an old world green bedroom accented with pink.


You might not have hand painted murals dominating your old world style green bedroom, howver, if you like the look, invest in some large oil paintings that depict landscapes or indoor scenes like these. 


via Pinterest

This old world style green bedroom has an abundance of hand painted boiserie. If you adore boiserie, have some modern millwork installed to give the effect. You can wallpaper the panels, stencil them, or even decoupage. Although I am not a fan of the bedspread and curtains, I do love the pop of orange sherbert on the beautiful antique French settee and chairs.

Southern Accents

The stately furniture, stunning green fabrics and matching wallpaper work together to create cohesiveness in this old world bedroom.

via Pinterest

Same wallpaper but a totally different look. Green and cream plaid coordinating fabric with plenty of cream accents give this bedroom a definite old world French flair.
Pistachio, and pale greens mix together wonderfully to create a bedroom that looks very sophisticated and classic.


Green and white stripes look chic and stylish even in old world style bedrooms.

Better Homes



If you are partial to old world floral wallpapers, this room by Timothy Corrigan and a few that follow will show you just how pretty green bedrooms can be when papered from top to bottom.


theregencyfurniture.com

via Pinterest

Green is especially pretty when paired with dark toned wood.


Green is such a fresh and natural color it is generally thought of as very easy on the eyes. If you have a master suite that you spend alot of time in watching TV, relaxing, having meals etc. you might consider this color choice.

SLC Interiors

Light, airy, and really pretty!


Sometime you can "green up" your old world style bedroom with just a big splash somewhere in the room. The space doesn't have to be totally saturated to be green.


Here a green chinoiserie inspired folding screen does the job in a neutral bedroom.
architecturaldigest.com

This lovely old world style bedroom would be considered green because of the bed dressings and painted millwork.

via Pinterest

Is your bedroom feeling a bit dull? Refresh it with green in large or small doses. It is a trendy color that is perfect for bringing a nature inspired freshness into even an old world setting


There are so many cool and warm green tones to choose from. The final shade of green you choose for your old world style bedroom will depend on your personal style and taste.



Click here to see the previous post

http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2017/04/decorating-in-modern-chinoiserie-style.html


This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

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