French Interiors

To go along with my most recent post, I want to give some ideas for the interior of a formal French style house.  These elements are exact reproductions of mantels that would be found in houses throughout France and millwork that would be found in the same houses as well as houses throughout the United States in the 1920s and 30s.  Some of these are much more formal than is typically found in average 1920s and 30s houses in the United States but are very popular today. 

As far as other interior details go, one thing I really don't like at all is the common air vent found in most homes today.  While these vent covers tend to add up in cost if you do them throughout your house, placing them in formal living and dining areas, entry halls, stair halls, etc. can add a touch of style that will formalize your rooms.  They can be stained or painted and are a detail rarely found in houses today.

Here are some examples of products that can add a very formal French flair to some rooms.  One is a medallion that can be used as a recessed light cover.  I would only recommend this in living rooms, dining rooms, entry and stair halls, galleries, etc.  I have also included a panel that can be built into paneling and/or wainscoting.  It is important to have the proper scale with all of these as well as the correct elements to go along with them.

Finally, I recently built this cornice for my daughter's room.  This cornice is to hang above her silk drapes.  It was built, painted and gold leafed with a glaze over it to age it.   It is very difficult to find cornices like this with the correct scale and details so I am considering building these on a regular basis to sell.   The picture taken is showing the cornice prior to hanging.  Once the drapes are hung, I will edit this post with the completed piece.

As with everything on my blog, if you find interest in anything I post, please contact me to purchase.