Enjoy 20% off all sale items. Enter 'SPRINGSALE' at checkout; Is it possible to modernize a French Provincial chair so that it fits into a more contemporary setting? We’re debating whether we should throw away this old chair and upgrade our furniture to something that better fits our room design. I’m fascinated with the modernization of vintage furniture pieces. The first year I attended the design show, my eyes gazed at everything in sight, as if each piece held a secret waiting to be discovered. The damsel of the ball that caught my attention was a vintage armchair, with a twist. It had a traditional front, although the back of the chair was upholstered in a modern and funky pattern. It was a classic piece mixed with modern elements. I struck up a conversation with the manufacturer of these fabulous chairs. I was inspired by his sketching process. It seemed after many years of working in the industry, the spark that fueled his passion was still alive. I remember leaving that day and telling myself, “We’ll work together someday.”

Today, we collaborate on many projects and they have been faithful clients of ours for many years. Funny how long term relationships can start from a single “hello”. Last Saturday, I came across a stunning vintage chair at a flea market. I work on a tight budget, therefore price was the mitigating factor in deciding whether this chair was coming home with me. I looked at the tag and saw the price of “$25.00”. I couldn’t believe it! A stunning chair at a more than affordable price. I purchased the piece and did what can only be described as the “clown car effect” while trying to get the chair in my car. I drive a very small sports car, the type of car that one wonders where you would place the second bag of groceries when shopping. After much effort, the chair fit in the car and we were off. A DIY project was about to be born! – Stud upholstery nails – Black and chocolate brown scrapbook ink pads – Stencil of your preference – Black paint (General Paint – Crow’s Head (CL 3167N))

Sand and paint the chair legs in black (General Paint – Crow’s Head (CL 3167N)). Hammer the nail studs, leaving an inch between each stud, into the lower front of the chair. Then, hammer nail studs in the upper back of the chair following the upholstery seam. Apply a stencil at the back of the chair and ink the entire chair back. Be sure to layer the black and brown ink. Remove the stencil and Voila! You now have a modernized vintage piece that fits into an eclectic design style. How to Clean a French Provincial Sofa and Chair Don't damage the original patina when cleaning antique furniture. The wooden portions of genuine French Provincial furniture, which was produced in the 18th century, is typically solid wood, making it easy to clean with basic supplies and techniques. Extra care is necessary to preserve the aesthetically pleasing patina and the weathered appearance of the wood. Because of its age, fabric upholstery in sofas and chairs must be cleaned delicately.

Easy Does It Ladderback chairs, aged patina finishes, scalloped carvings and cabriole legs are all characteristics of authentic period French Provincial sofas and chairs. Refinishing antiques typically devalues them, so most collectors and conservators keep the original patina by avoiding harsh cleaning products, chemicals and abrasives. A soft cotton cloth and warm, soapy water are usually sufficient to remove ordinary dirt, but a toothbrush helps remove build-ups within intricately carved designs. dining room chair leg extensionsA mild furniture polish or a layer of beeswax applied in the direction of the wood grain provides a barrier against grime or oil from fingers or food. cheap big round swivel chairDelicate aged fabrics in the sofa or chair's upholstery are typically treated with a dry foam extraction product, which is applied gently, then worked into the fabric with a nylon-bristled brush. best high chair convertible

Light dabbing and pressing with a clean cotton cloth generally pull dirt to the surface. References Xavier Furniture: What Is French Provincial Furniture? Michigan State University Extension: Antique Wood Furniture - Care and Cleaning Photo Credits Image Source/Photodisc/Getty Images"Design your own French provincial bedroom: Shopping resources, ideas and pictures of real country French bedrooms." It doesn't have to be antique - even French country reproduction furniture can make a French provincial bedroom look "authentic" - even if your toile  fabric was printed somewhere in Asia and none of the contents of your 'country French' bedroom have ever touched French soil.cheap funky lounge chairs For antique country French bedroom furniture, or a mix of old and new elements, tryfolding chair bed ikea

Alternatively, get lucky and find exactly what you're looking for on ebay: Our first French bedroom decorating example (above) is located in Haut Languedoc (to the west of Provence, an hour's drive inland from the Mediterranean coast). This is a very simple, sparse country French bedroom, typical of the the mountain villages in this part of France. Many stone houses of Provence and Languedoc are hundreds of years old, and bedrooms just have a simple wooden platform bed or an ironprice of lazy boy chair bedstead (pictured further down).buy baby high chair online malaysia The white bedcover is awhere to buy french provincial chairs weave, made to look like the quilted boutis coverlets from Provence.where to buy x rocker gaming chair

The photo left shows the same bedroom from a different angle.  stone washbasin was inserted into the wall when the house got running water. (There's only one tap -  cold ! ) [More about French country bathrooms here]. When you compare the rush-seated chair and simple table under the window to the furniture in the painting below ... ... it seems that French bedroom design in the South of France hasn't changed that much since Vincent van Gogh painted his own bedroom in 1888 (with a bit of added color). Occasionally, you'll come across bedsteads in antique French bedrooms. Apart from the bed, the only other pieces of French provincial bedroom furniture are the large oak chest and built-in shelving. (The piece of fabric in the foreground is a hammock strung between the rafters and the doorframe.) This may look austere, but the reality is that life in the Mediterranean parts of France takes place outdoors.  Have your dinner on a terrace shaded by roses, looking

out over lavender fields and pasture - and you won't mind sparse interiors that much. On the other hand, there are more French provincial bedroom styles than the antique version above.  For example these fun,(Check them out, or continue your current trip around France to our next stop, Burgundy!) Burgundy, in eastern France, extends all the way to the Swiss border. It is known for its stunning medieval villages, ancient Romanesque churches and abbeys, and it is also a place of pilgrimage for food & wine aficionados. This attic bedroom is furnished quite simply, but it's the details that make it so charming, and they're easy to copy (well, apart from the warped old beams): For the next country French bedroom, we'll stay on the eastern side of France but move 300 miles further north, to the green forests and rolling hills of the Ardennes mountains. This country French bedroom (the last one on this page) is the epitome of traditionalist French country decorating.

Filled with French country reproduction furniture, this bedroom has it all: The warm color scheme gives the room a wonderfully cosy, 'country' feel, even though the furniture would be equally at home in an elegant aristocratic retreat anywhere in France. The DO's & DON'Ts of French bedroom design! Find a French country bed to buy - there are choices galore! Would you like a white iron bed, a black metal bed, a canopy iron bed? For more information on decorating a French country bedroom, check out the pages on French provincial bedroom furniture and decor in Paris Regions, and the page about Country French Bedroom Decorating. To turn a so-so bedroom space into a French country retreat, go to town with Bedspreads are the perfect choice for a traditional-looking French country bed. Decorating With Toile has great potential and even greater pitfalls. 40+ tips & tricks to help you get it right. For country French bedroom windows with attitude, check out the page about