“French country is known for earth tones, off-whites, and wonderful terra-cottas,” says Solomon. The color palette from the south of France is a large part of this style’s appeal. Larger pieces that channel French country include antique armoires (usually the focal piece of the room), rustic rectangular dining-room tables, living-room settees with curved mutton legs, and bakers’ rack “shelves” made of iron with brass detailing. “The chairs, especially armchairs, are most identifiable by either straight or curved cabriole legs-though ladder-back chairs are also popular-with seats made from rush or cane.” When seeking out French country accent chairs, look to the legs and seats, Webb recommends.

“You’ll also notice these pieces have a fruitwood finish or a painted finish in creamy ivory, so the design is soft, airy, and rather feminine,” adds Webb. “The best French country pieces are crafted from oak, pine, walnut, and olive wood, with simple lines, balanced form, and joinery made from pegs-with few, if any nails,” says Solomon. “While the upper class could afford the finer furniture, the country folk weren’t as wealthy, so their homes were furnished with simpler styles, local woods, and less ornate carvings,” Webb explains. Typically, French Provençal or country-style furniture is more rustic and rougher-hewn than its Parisian counterparts. So how do you add un petit soupçon of French country to your little château ? Here are some elegant decorating ideas to help you pull it off in style. An integrated URC control system paired with Lutron Radio RA lighting keypads were installed to control the AV, HVAC, lighting and solar shades all by the use of smartphones.The popularity of French country style gained even further acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s, with movies and books about the region (such as Peter Mayle’s “A Year in Provence”) inspiring home decor, notes Beverly Solomon of the eponymous design firm. The spacious walk-in closet serves several purposes, which include housing the apartment’s new central HVAC system as well as a sleeping spot for the family’s dog. The master suite features a bio-ethanol fireplace wrapped in blackened steel and integrated into the Tabu veneered built-in. The kids bathroom across the hall is decorated with custom Lego inspired hand cast concrete tiles and integrated pull-out footstools residing underneath the floating vanity. Continuing down the hall, and through one of the walnut veneered doors, is the shared kids bedroom where a custom-built bunk bed with integrated storage steps and desk was designed to allow for play space and a reading corner.

Down the hallway of wide plank ebony stained walnut flooring, a compact powder room was built to house an original Paul Villinski installation of small butterflies cut from recycled aluminum cans, entitled Mistral. Posing as kitchen cabinetry, a hidden integrated door opens to reveal a guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom. Hafele bi-folding pocket door slides were used in the Living room wall unit to conceal the television, bar and display shelves when not in use. The once enclosed living room was demolished to create one main entertaining space that includes a new dining area and open kitchen. For clients that are big wine connoisseurs, the focal point of entry and circulation lies in a 400 bottle, custom built, blackened steel and glass, temperature controlled wine cabinet. Thus, the existing configuration was completely abandoned with new programmatic elements being relocated in each and every corner of the space. StudioLAB was presented with the challenge of re-designing the space to fit a modern family’s lifestyle today with the flexibility to adjust as they evolve into their tomorrow. The resulting units, while large in size, lacked the continuity of a single formed space. Over the years multiple hotel rooms were combined into the larger apartment residences that exist today. Boasting views of the Museum of Natural History and Central Park, the Beaux Arts and French Renaissance style building built in 1900 was once home to a luxury hotel.

French country decor catalog