French Furniture Inspirations

What better way to celebrate Bastille Day than a dedication to the un-paralleled style of the French… From the iconic cabriole silhouette to the globally imitated French farmhouse aesthetic, the French have pioneered more than just one revered interior style.

Nailing the look of elegant indifference, Parisian interiors expertly merge the old and new to stunning effect. Antiqued gilded frames sit next to a modern furniture piece with seemingly effortless appeal, while historical silhouettes are often updated with of-the-moment materialities and textures. Case in point: my Wolseley Marble Coffee Table. Exhibiting a sleek, highly reflective silver frame with all the allure of the cabriole profile and finished with a marble surface, the Wolseley Coffee Table promises an enduring, yet on-trend aesthetic – certainly a challenging element of design to master.

Emulating the French attitude, albeit in furniture form, my Ava Chaise personifies the nonchalant attitude that many of my Parisian friends demonstrate. Casual, yet stylish, reclining on a chaise is perhaps the ultimate in French panache. With a novel by quintessential French novelist Marcel Proust by your side, it hardly matters on which continent you were born; there’s no more intrinsically French scenario than this…

If nautical treatments and sea-side influences whet your design appetite, it should come as no surprise that the French have shown design aptitude here too. Look to the French Riviera for manicured gardens, striped umbrellas and a general air of luxury, all executed with the cool elegance the French can’t help but display. Alfresco dining, French Riviera style, is only enhanced by the addition of my Sancerre Indoor/Outdoor Striped Rug, despite your outlook perhaps lacking the jaw-dropping dramatic scenery of the sheer cliff drops.

Of course, the French provincial and French farmhouse aesthetics can hardly be overlooked when one reflects on French furniture. Light oaks, antiqued white finishes, classic profiles and swathes of textured linen define a casual French interior and promise relaxed sophistication.

Renowned for their romantic tendencies, Parisians look on the characteristics of antiqued furniture with a loving eye. My Juliette Wood Frame Bench, featuring classic hand-carved timber frame, nailhead trim and tufted upholstery takes cues from traditional antiqued ottomans to provide that quintessential French charm to any interior, and all with the enduring appeal that an antiqued influence promises.

No matter your style préféré, it’s a safe bet the French have infused it with their very own – recognisable - flair.