A couple of weeks back we were asked to select a style and present its true historical characteristics. I drew French Country 18th Century.
Anyway, bottom line is that perception of a style is not always the same. If someone likes Victorian,clearly it doesn't mean they want everything covered with heavy floral wallpaper and doilies. What is it about the Victorian style do they admire? How can they subtly and properly be worked into the home? Broad categories for sure need lots of further discussion.
I really thought I knew what this style was (my husband will tell you I have quite the collection of roosters and a love of celadon green), and was surprised to find out it was far more elegant than I thought (Thank you, Pierre Deux). I love French Country for its warm homeyness - the way that eclectic pieces all fit seamlessly together - the color palette taken from the sun-washed natural surroundings. The furniture can take two paths: the more Rococo-reminiscent refined pieces that were en vogue in Paris years earlier or the more rustic pieces that many of us associate with French Country. Many had natural motifs such as flower, fruit (pomegranates!) etc. Because of the nature of the smooth walls, there are no real door/window or wall mouldings. Hardware varies from the very simple hand forged iron work to slightly more intricate work typically found on buffet locks etc.Fabrics were often hand blocked prints of florals, or fruit (my favorite - the cherries).
This assignment started from a discussion about what is 'French Country'? If a client says "I want a French Country kitchen", what does that mean? We've all seen some of these themes take over and places begin looking hokey and theme-park-ish. For example, my main project this semester is a mountain vernacular home in Virginia, and by mountain vernacular the client is not looking for a home that resembles a Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. There are kinder, gentler, more fashionable and historically accurate ways to suggest a style. The twist was to also add your assigned style to the design as well. So French Country Mountain Vernacular it was.
I am not the world's best hand -drafter by any means, but below is an early draft of the bar hutch I drew for the client (we eliminated the wine holders for space to put coffee/toaster). I wanted them to have an elegant space, but make use of some of the natural materials - so the back of the top two shelves of the hutch are natural bark. The lines in the hutch are meant to make the piece more furniture than cabinetry. The French doors and mimicked french doors above the refrigerator drawers are meant to look like those gorgeous windows seen in the French provincial homes. Plenty of lit glass cabinets to highlight pieces brought home from the couple's latest travels. Not a rooster in sight!
Anyway, bottom line is that perception of a style is not always the same. If someone likes Victorian,clearly it doesn't mean they want everything covered with heavy floral wallpaper and doilies. What is it about the Victorian style do they admire? How can they subtly and properly be worked into the home? Broad categories for sure need lots of further discussion.
