Xavier Furniture Blog: June 2011

Monday, June 27, 2011

What is French Provincial Furniture

Typical Aged Patina finish of painted French Provincial Furniture.

The Ladder Back Chair is typical of the French Provincial Style.

Marlina French Provincial Dining Table and chairs and Hutch.

Furniture made in provincial centers such as Blois and Orléans in the Loire valley, and at Lyon or Liège (never part of France politically but within its cultural orbit), followed at some distance the design innovations that were initiated in the luxury trades of Paris, often with a time lag that could amount to decades. [1] Wikepedia.

Features typically associated with French Provincial furniture include cabriole legs, and simple scalloped carving. Dining chairs often have a wheat pattern carving reflecting the country surroundings of the maker. The ladder back chair with a woven rush seat is the typical French Provincial dining chair.

Finishes vary though common to all colours is the accumulation of polish or grime in the carving over time resulting in an aged patina and emphasis on the carving regardless of whether the furniture painted or stained.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

What is the Hamptons Style, really?

There are lot of people bandying about the term Hampton Style. So let’s just get it right, it’s not just white and blue and it is not the Australian interpretation of aged Oak and it is especially not boxy 2 Pac white furniture recently being flogged as Hampton’s Style by a well known furniture retailer. No way! My evidence is that this is neither what we see in Veranda or Traditional Home Magazines nor the actual Hampton’s homes or design stores themselves.

The key to Hampton’s style is, quality fashionable fabrics on timeless traditional style furniture, a generous layering of accessories that is decidedly American, it is where lovingly collected French, English and country style pieces arrive at their new beach home. There is sense of care and attention to the room as a whole coupled with an investment in quality furnishings that one's dream home deserves. That is the look that is uniquely Hampton’s.

Xavier Furniture displayed a selection from their Hampton’s Style Furniture range in our Sydney Agent's showroom late last year, the display was inspired by interior decoration seen in homes of the Hampton’s and the movie "Something’s Gotta Give". Apologies for using a snap shot instead of a professional photograph but it does give you the idea.

For photos of The Hamptons visit our photo gallery.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Pied-à-terre in Brisbane

We take a tour a through a pied-à-terre style apartment redecorated with French style furniture in one of Brisbane’s original heritage Deco buildings, The Rothbury on Ann.
The building was originally Shell Petroleum’s Brisbane headquarters before being redeveloped into the Rothbury on Ann Apartment Hotel in the late nineties. A visit to the building will reveal its endearing, Deco style features including wood paneled lifts and iron stair case.

To modernize the décor of the apartment in a style in keeping with classic traditional feel, timber venetian blinds were replaced with drapes and to compliment the existing dental block cornices wall moldings were installed. A bold colour scheme was softened by professionally applying suede effects paint instead of a flat wall colour and no shiny fabrics were selected.

Furniture was predominantly from the Louis Henri Range by Xavier Furniture specially ordered in a honey stain, with accent pieces in pickled cream, green & gold and several gold gilt mirrors. The Sofa is the Riviera Sofa by Xavier Furniture. For more photos visit our photo album.