Live in (French Country) Style

Parlez-vous Françes? Don't worry - you don't need to speak French in order to enjoy the bright, comfortable and classic style of French Country in your home. From weathered walls to wide wooden tables, it is not hard to achieve the French Country look using the following guidelines.

French Country style is all about well-used, worn-in, imperfect but beautiful architectural elements, furniture and accessories. Forget sleek lines, fine china, and black, white and gray color combos. Instead, fill your house with chunky wood tables, dozens of sweet-smelling flowers, and brightly patterned couches, curtains and pillows styled after the look of Provence, the southeast region in France that borders the Mediterranean Sea.

When choosing a French Country style home, think along the lines of cracked wood beams, curved panels, hand-carved decorations and raw material flooring and walls, like stone or exposed brick. Raw or distressed wood also can be used to cultivate a French Country atmosphere, as do uneven plaster walls.

Don't worry about that spider crack in the paint in your kitchen, or the slight discoloration of the paint in your bedroom or living room. In French Country "speak", these imperfections simply add character.

Other French Country architectural features include shutters for your windows, narrow, deeply cut window sills, and striped fabric awnings over windows to afford the home dweller extra protect from the heat.

But what if you just want to add some French Country flair to the home you already have, without changing its walls, floors and windows? No sweat. Rustic furniture is a key element to the French Country style. Think oversized rectangle or round wooden dining room tables, with a dull waxed or natural finish.

Chairs and occasional tables of the French Country style can be curved or boast carved designs in the woodwork. Dining room chairs can have a ladderback style or vertical slats. Also, large armoires are well-suited to the French Country look, giving the owner a nice cool place to store dishes, linens, or even clothing.

Finally, achieve that French Country style with the perfect fabrics and accessories that have that certain je ne sais quoi. Use toile material, a gauzy linen or cotton, in white, cream or yellow with bright contrasting colors. Choose themes such as monkeys, Chinese patterns, and eighteenth century courting scenes, all of which are predominant in French Country design.

Large, thickly woven baskets, chunky clay or old metal pitchers, Chinoiserie pottery, and iron garden shelving units all fit in nicely with the French Country look. So do ceramic plates, tiles, tablecloths and curtains sporting motifs of roosters, sunflowers, beetles or lavender. Save money by hunting for these and other accessories at flea markets and antique stores.

The final touch needed to makeover your home in the style of French Country is the addition of flowers. Fresh sunflowers, lavender, and geraniums especially all say "French Country", and the more the better!

Put flowers in old pitchers or copper pots, in window boxes, and glass vases. Use a variety of colors, and make sure the arrangements don't look too tame or stylized. Natural grasses are another way to bring the French Country look into you home.

Whether you decide to go full out, adding wood beams and stone flooring to your home, or whether you just add a nice chunky wooden dining room table, carved chairs, or a roomy armoire to your existing furniture, the French Country look can be achieved by anyone who wants to bring a little of the Provence countryside into his or her everyday life.

http://www.homeandliving.com

Please find the original article and more information about this subject at http://www.homeandlivin g.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=FrenchCountry

When Yale graduate, BatSheva Vaknin is not writing helpful and insightful articles like the one you just read from http://www.homeandliving.com, she writes plays, screenplays and short stories. In fact, she has just completed her first novel.

If you would like to publish this article on your own site, please feel free to do so. Please let us know the url of the posted article by emailing the url to batsheva@homeandliving.com. All we ask is that you include the whole article, without changes, including the link to the original article location, author information, this disclaimer and the following link.

Find great home furniture online at http://www.homeandliving.com

---

A Look at Solid Hardwood Floors

Solid hardwood floors should neither be installed over a concrete slab nor below ground level because of high moisture sensitivity. Unsightly gaps appear when moisture dries and... Read More

Home Lighting - Important but Overlooked Aspects

Home lighting is something that doesn't get the attention it deserves. There are so many TV shows that focus on home remodeling projects, and speak very little... Read More

Learn Some Feng Shui Guidelines For Your Childrens Room

Feng shui indicates some specific guidelines regarding children's spaces and bedrooms. The way we decorate them and the way we distribute the furniture should be done by... Read More

Let Your Wall Art Define You

Wall art can be defined by family portraits or historical paintings adorned on the walls of a home. In a home with young children, wall art can... Read More

Discount Mini Blinds

As with other discount items you want to buy, discount mini blinds are available, but sometimes come with a tradeoff between quality and price.For that reason, consumers... Read More

A Guide to Interior Shutters

We've all heard of exterior shutters. We see them on houses in every town in the country. Their warmth and beauty welcome us home after a long,... Read More

Displaying Posters: Some Ways You Never Thought Of

How many ways can you display posters? With the easy availability of thousands of inexpensive posters online, you can turn any house or apartment into a unique... Read More

How Do You Choose Art for Your Home?

You have just moved into a new home. Perhaps it's your first real home that you plan to invest time and money into decorating and styling. You... Read More

Tiffany Lamps - The Artistry of Dale Tiffany

The art and craftsmanship of the original designs are evident in Dale Tiffany lamps. Dale Tiffany is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of quality reproductions and... Read More

Your Heritage and Personal Decorating Style

Ethnic traditions, customs, and attitudes carry forward our family values. Paying tribute to family heritage and tradition also gives our children a strong sense of family ties.... Read More

The Power of Candlelight

In this day and age, everything is about health and wellness. The products range from nutritional, mentoring/self growth and soy/veg candles. Yes, soy/veg candles because they're virtually... Read More

10 Tips to Care for Your Antique Glassware

Antique glassware needs a gentle hand. This month we'll give you some useful tips to help you care for your antique or modern glassware.1. Avoid putting glassware... Read More

Eastern Influences On Western Interiors: Japanese Décor - Part I of II - Color, Texture and Contrast

The topic of eastern influences on western interiors is a very broad subject. Many countries, such as China, Japan, Tibet, etc., have had an influence. Therefore, I... Read More

Tips for Choosing a Safe Paint Color for Your Walls

Are you STILL thinking about painting your walls with color?Many people are afraid to make the leap from 'builder's beige' to a more daring color choice. What... Read More

Easy Dining Room Makeover

A dining room can be such a fantastic place to entertain, but it can easily be underused if you often eat in the kitchen or in front... Read More

A Review of Popular Ceiling Fan Manufacturers

Nearly every residence has at least one ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are so common that many people have difficulty sleeping without one. Ceiling fans appear in bedrooms,... Read More

The Benefits of Wood Cook Stoves

Wood cook stoves have been used for hundreds of years. Before the advent of electricity, people cooked all of their food in wood cook stoves. Wood cook... Read More

Where to Buy Wholesale Picnic Baskets

Perhaps you are a vendor who would like to begin offering picnic baskets at your deli, grocery store, hardware store, gift shop, or other retail outlet. You... Read More

How To Install Window Treatments Like A Pro

Tools needed: a battery operated screwdriver, screwdriver bits (Phillips and standard), hex head driver, tape measure, and scissors. Although no special tools are usually required when installing... Read More

Bedrooms ? Should Be A Safe Haven

We spend a great deal of time in our bedrooms, hopefully 8 hours, and decorating ideas for them should reflect that and be well thought out. Very... Read More

Replacement Sofa Slipcovers Can Instantly Give Your Home A Fresh New Image

Giving you home an instant makeover can be as simple are replacing your sofa slipcovers. The beauty of furniture slipcovers is that they can be changed whenever... Read More

Kitchen Island Ideas for Great Custom Kitchen Islands

Use kitchen island ideas to better understand how to create a more functional and comfortable kitchen. Using custom kitchen islands means having the most appropriate island for... Read More

Top Tips for Keeping Your Home Tidy

You've got so much tidying to do, so little time. So what's a person to do? You can either lower your standards and just ignore the mess,... Read More

A Hidden Jewel In Home Decorating, The Powder Room

Typically a small space consisting of just a sink and toilet, you most likely know them by a more common term "half-bath" or "guest bath.Ever wonder where... Read More

The Importance of Home Air Filters

Many people are not aware that the air inside our homes is five times harmful than the air outside. Because of airtight home and office building constructions,... Read More

Home Care for the Monsoon

Given that the monsoon season lasts for a few months in India, there are many aspects that need to be looked into while considering home care needs.... Read More