Tags
18th century lifestyle, Antique beds, Antique Fabric, French Antiques, French design, Lit a la Polonaise
Been busy with projects…
but thought you’d like a glimpse of
a lovely French chateau with touches
of spring color and gorgeous textiles…
Since I’m definitely into neutrals
I like to see what just a touch of
a fresh accent color will do
to tone on tone interiors….
Are frames out?
Perhaps it’s the insouciance of “barefooted” dark oil paintings
floating on an expanse of bare wall that makes this so appealing…
Love the simple homespun linen on the Louis XVI Chair…
Colefax and Fowler “arbre de vie” at top of bed…
Believe it or not…that’s an Ikea bed…with a bit of faux
paneling and aging….
I have been more textile obsessive than usual lately after dipping
into Wendy Lewis’s pool of over 1000 listings of antique and vintage
European textiles on Ebay here. If you look closely at this shot there
is a red toile piece above the bed…and striped floral fabric pinned to
the wall. Ironically, the chairs are “déshabillé” (undressed)…except for
their jute underlay. The bed is dressed with a boutis (French quilt) in
motifs inspired by les Indiennes de Nimes and flags de procession
chines rest on the headboard above each pillow…
Gorgeous from the tip of the ciel to the lit to the pale gray floor…
Thanks to Wendy I’ve also become pelmet obsessed…
Usually used as decorative valances poised atop windows…
Love scalloped pelmets in a half circle at the ceiling to create
a bed crown, a ciel de lit. Now how difficult would that be?
Hmmmm……
From my Red Burnished Neutrals post here
Again…mostly neutral
with that stand-out color accent….
I’m not really a red person….
but when I look at this I want to be!!!
Gorgeous antique toile pelmets available here.
Toile fabric “papering” niche…
looks like the demi-lune table is
set into an open armoire…
Blogs just can’t do horizontal as well as an in your lap,
two page magazine spread. This view is just stunning….
Whimsical dog portraits on either side of the
rough-hewn door frame…fantastic symmetry
Campagne Decoration
Jan/Feb ’10
Interior decorator Catherine-Hélène Frei
Photos Marie-José Jarry
Trish
This is an interesting French Chateau — the walls and ceiling are very primitive almost barn like and the furniture — the light fixtures, fabrics and dinner ware, silver ware set and other wonderful decor pieces, are elegant, – the Ikea bed the fabric makes it The ‘ciel to the lit’ is exquisite a beautiful unique piece an interesting Juxtaposition — much more then the mere shabby chic design concept.
Thanks for sharing and I love how you study the photograph – for the interesting details like the toile
Joanny
Someday I may have to borrow your magazine stack! You always come up with an interesting group of images. Great feel in that place. Like the rough hewn-ness juxtaposed with the fine and worn, and sometimes not finished. Great. Thanks, Daniel
Hi Daniel. Wish I read French a wee bit better…I believe this an ancient Chateau with XIIIiem century foundations. Nice architectural salvage, n’est-ce pas?
What a lovely diversion. Pelmets are not difficult at all. I expect them popping up all over at Chateau Trouvais any day now. I just saw a pelmet (almost a lambrequin) for a country kitchen done in galvanized metal. Thought simultaneously of you and where the hell ARE my tin snips.
HBD…you ARE into metal these days! And of course…you’re hitting the nail on the head…this is sort of my metal frieze fetish moving right along to fabric. Frame-less paintings and framed beds.
That is one of my daily ebay stops! Gorgeous stuff!
This chateau is gorgeous – but I have to admit, I prefer paintings framed and furniture fully upholstered. However, bed crowns are one of my favorite architectural embellishments! I wish my ceilings were just three feet higher! And that toile wallpaper is a definite keeper!
Charming post – as always.
Hi Tristan. I agree…you need the right proportions. Have already mentioned to my husband how cool it would be to open up the ceiling!
Your blog is truly lovely! I’m so happy to have just discovered it.
These images are a gorgeous break on this hectic Friday 🙂
a beautiful start to a weekend. thanks so much, Trish!
Bonjour Trish,
Beautiful images! I have thing for bed crowns – high ceilings or not! Lots to dream about tonight.
Happy weekend,
Mimi
ok I’m going to try and stop drooling now……….. LOVE the scalloped edge to the bed cover – swoon
HI Trish,
Many thanks for sharing so many gorgeous images ~ love the pelmets and the bed crowns.
Lots of wonderful ideas.
Enjoy your weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
What a gorgeous post. Love the images as I have receently bought an antique ciel de lit and am now hunting for photos of how they were used in the past so your post is very well timed.
You will smile at this. A freind of mine who specialises in antique French fabrics came in with a piece of material and sa id that it was “me” i.e. fabulous and french. She then rushed off.
I washed and ironed the fabric very carefully and thought that it was an odd length for a curtain pelmet. But aftef looking at all your lovely photos I now realise that it is for a ciel de lit. Just hope that it is the right length for the one that I bought.
merci bien et bon weekend a toi,
Leeann
There’s a few chairs there that I would love to get my hands on.
beautiful! I would love to live in a chateau like this for a Spring…
xoxo Bardot in Blue