Expressing Your Eclectic Side

Eclectic style is a term used when several interior design styles or elements that are from different periods and origins are used in one space. Often it is a beautiful mish-mash of creatively curated pieces that connects a person to a space. It can combine styles like mid-century modern, contemporary, Colonial, Art Deco, Moroccan, Scandinavian, and more. Many people who create eclectic spaces have a deep love and understanding of each element they bring to the room. Perhaps they purchased a piece of furniture on holiday, received it when a loved one had passed, or they simply know the story of the piece and how it came to be. Their reasons to bring each piece to their space helps to create a room that they love.

One of our favourite Pinterest pin boards is our eclectic spaces board. There are thousands of creative eclectic spaces to be found for interior design inspiration. When creating an eclectic space, keep these key points in mind:

• Combine pieces that have a likeness, but do not match
• Consider furniture from different eras, origins and materials
• Add colourful accents like art or textiles to tie in larger pieces
• Fill up your space – eclectic design is based on the idea that more is more
• Play with different textures, from glass and metal to wallpaper and fabrics
• Include great lighting to highlight your space
• Have fun with it and love every piece

Many people only consider a room to be a design success when it is perfectly coordinated, when furniture is accurately to scale, and if the pieces are all logically connected to the period of the room.  Where mainstream design is thought to be a melting pot of elements, perfecting combining all ingredients, eclectic design is a tossed salad, combining tastes and textures that work in perfect harmony. Eclectic style is appealing to the eye and that is why it is such a great success.

Style Files: French Provincial

French provincial style furniture is a favourite amongst those looking to add a touch of refined elegance to any space. The sweeping curves, elongated proportions, neutral palette and natural finishes of French provincial furniture means the style is great for those looking to create a classic, sophisticated interior with the additions of comfort, ease and practicality.

There is some variety amongst French provincial furnishings as the style draws from different periods; however most of the style was established during the 18^th century when furnishings and interiors were influenced by the illustrious courts of  Versailles and the three King Louis’.

The origins of the style took hold in the Baroque period during the reign of Louis XIV. This was France’s golden age of culture and enlightenment and saw the rise of an elaborate style of furnishings – often carved, gilded and intricately decorated.

This affluent style spread through the capital Paris and slowly trickled down to the provincial farmers and rural inhabitants of France. Life was beginning to thrive in rural France during the Golden era of Louis XIV due to the boom in local commerce. The result was a new up and coming wealthier middle class, able to mimic the Parisian style of fashionable furnishings, but rightly pared back so as to more aptly suit the country lifestyle. This was the rise of French provincial style, the unique combination of the beauty and design flair of Baroque and Rococo fashionable furnishings and the more practical, pared down style of country living.

The provincial artisans in the country had ample access to the timber of surrounding forests and were apprenticed for up to 8 years, resulting in very skilled craftsmanship and quality production. Artisans chose rich but affordable woods like beech, walnut and oak to fashion pieces from the ladder back chairs and large farm tables to carved oak hutches and classic armoires. The wood was either left in a natural state or completed in a soft satin finish (unlike the highly polished mahogany pieces of fashion capital Paris). Other pieces were either limed, colour washed or painted in soft pastels with stencil motifs incorporating elements of French country life (roosters were popular). In metal furniture, iron, rather than bronze was used because of its wider availability in the countryside.

One of the reasons the style has sustained its popularity is that unlike other traditional styles, French provincial lends itself to a seamless integration with more modern furnishings. The style is easily mixed and matched with cutting edge modern pieces, adding a touch of the homely.

Collectors of French provincial furniture should be aware that a lot of poor quality reproduction French provincial style furniture has been manufactured over the years.  As with most reproductions and copies, the lines are usually a bit off to the trained eye so the best protection is to view many pieces of furniture, becoming familiar with the style and comparing design quality.

Most period French furniture was not constructed with nails or screws, instead cabinetmakers used dowels and joinery techniques such as dovetails in their construction. So if screws and nails are present, be suspicious.  Remember also that just because a piece of furniture is old, French and made outside of Paris does not automatically categorize it as French provincial. The design aesthetics, style and elegance of French provincial furniture should approach, and in some case actually rival the quality of furniture made in Paris during the great periods of French decorative arts.

HFOC has a number of beautiful French Provincial pieces, below is just a small taste of what we have in store.

French cheese curing shelves, $1,450.00 AUD.

 

 

 

Rustic pitchfork, $190.00 AUD.

 

 

Green tis the colour of the season

Between reports of melting polar ice caps, vast expanses of plastic garbage in the Pacific and the extinction of rare animal species, it’s fair to say that most people these days have a sense they should be doing something to minimize human impact upon this injured planet of ours.

Opting for used furniture is a really easy and smart way to care for the environment for a few good reasons. Reusing existing furniture saves your money (it’s always cheaper) and saves the use of natural resources used in production. Reusing furniture reduces the pollution and environmental impact associated with making new products and minimises the quantity of bulky items entering landfills that contaminate soil, air and water. Moreover, by buying used wooden items, you are helping protect the forests, wildlife and waterways that are not sustainably managed. Design-wise, vintage or used furniture adds a certain warmth, history and interest-factor to any home. It’s also so satisfying finding a used piece you love that is not mass-produced or generic, but particular to your home.

But going green certainly does not mean you have to do raids on council pick-up day for a new occasional chair. Although by all means go ahead…

In fact, businesses such as our own are recycling high end furniture in mint condition, so it feels as if you are buying brand new but without any of the associated environmental ills. We have a beautiful selection of near perfect condition furniture that has been consigned to us, available to view in our showroom or online. Come and see us for your next eco-savvy design purchase.