Get the Look of Old Provence in Your Home

French Provence decor is a reflection history, culture and the beauty of natural surroundings. Natural wood, old world stone, wrought iron and natural fabrics bring a Provence home to life.

Old Provencal style decor calls for natural materials. Wooden beams on the ceiling, woven textiles and nature inspired furnishings and accessories celebrate elegance, simplicity and luxurious textures, like cotton, wool, natural stone, and brick. Colorful Provencal home decor fabrics reflect the landscape outside its doors with sunflower yellows, lavender, olive greens, blue seas, and brick reds.

Rooms in a Provencal style feature a minimalist and even “cool” decor, because the Provence region is very hot and sunny, so the interiors tend to be a shady oasis from the sun. Even with the “cool” feeling in a Provencal home, it is always welcoming and comfortable. French Provencal Style is timeless and widely popular due to its warm colors, natural materials and charming relaxed appeal. This decor is as much at home in a small farmhouse as it is in a stately manor.

To find Provence style furnishings for you home, take a look at Belle Maison’s Old Provence collection.

Sunny Colors of Provence Decor

One of France’s most beloved regions, Provence has a rich tapestry of colors that constitute it’s palette. The furnishings and decor take their cue from nature and the surroundings. Under the bright Provencal sun, the colors of earth, stone, trees, fruits, and flowers give this region its unique character and beauty. Relaxed, warm and subtly elegant, the colors of the Provence will undoubtedly cheer up any home.

Sunflower yellow is a common color in Provencal homes not only on the walls, but on the furnishings as well. The overall effect is bright, cheerful and welcoming.

The kitchen is the heart of the home in the French countryside. Food is not only to eat but to display and admire the beauty of. Natural fabrics and materials are often used throughout the home like these rattan woven chairs which are simple and understated, yet colorful.

 

Blue is also a traditional color for a Provence-inspired home. What could be a better color for a bedroom? Soft, soothing and dreamy. Having lavender fields outside your window or a vintage hand-painted vase by your bedside adds to the dreamy effect! It certainly wouldn’t take long to drift off to dreamland in this beautiful bedroom.

Bringing the earthy, sunny colors of Provence into your home can be as easy as adding one colorful item into your decor and embellishing the surroundings with natural materials such as shown here. The use of flowers, a wicker basket, gourds and wood transform this sideboard and gives it a distinctive rural charm.  Enjoy the colors of Provence in your home today!

Provence interiors are the darling of French country interior decorating: relaxed, warm, and subtly elegant. – See more at: http://www.dreamhomedecorating.com/provence-interiors.html#sthash.ekmPWXHS.dpuf

Provence interiors are the darling of French country interior decorating: relaxed, warm, and subtly elegant. – See more at: http://www.dreamhomedecorating.com/provence-interiors.html#sthash.ekmPWXHS.dpuf

Provence interiors are the darling of French country interior decorating: relaxed, warm, and subtly elegant. – See more at: http://www.dreamhomedecorating.com/provence-interiors.html#sthash.ekmPWXHS.dpuf

Find the Perfect French Bench!

Available in many shapes and sizes, French Benches and Ottomans are sure to add a chic elegance to your decor.  Benches have the bonus of having a huge visual impact, yet the space they occupy is often minimal. The settees below are generally defined as small sofas or benches with a high back that may or may not have arms.  Try an upholstered armless bench pushed up to a dining table rather than traditional chairs or use a lovely settee in a foyer for an special place to take off shoes.

Ethan Cane Back Bench            Carved Antoinette Settee               Upholstered Armless Bench

Hall benches were originally put there for guests of a king or queen who,  if kept waiting outside their chambers,  were given a comfortable place to sit. Today, hall benches add sophistication and style to an otherwise empty space. Set the bench under a piece of artwork and instantly create a focal point and fill up that low, horizontal space. Try a soft-palette upholstered French Bench to add a bit of color or for a more shabby chic style, neutral tones of natural fabrics.

Dusty Blue French Bench                  Parisian Hall Bench                Pillow Top Vintage Bench

Upholstered bedroom benches are really an ideal solution if you have the room. A luxuriously tufted bench at the foot of the bed is functional but also an elegant touch to a bedroom. Demilune benches with all their beautiful curves are very popular. Scripted ottomans can also add a bit of French flair with whimsical scripted French words on a tufted seat.

Dusty Blue Bench              Curved Provencal Bench             Rectangular  Scripted Ottoman

Ottomans are the perfect marriage of comfort and function. Set one in the middle of a seating area as a place to put your feet up and simply add a tray on top to create an instant coffee table. Having storage space in an ottoman makes it easier to keep your living area clutter-free by providing a generous area to store your things. Another benefit is they can also provide comfortable extra seating around a fireplace without blocking the view.

Rectangular Provence Ottoman        Round Scripted Ottoman        Square Elm Wood Ottoman

Smaller stools can also be a terrific choice for extra seating and can be easily tucked away under a table when not being used.  They can be so pretty on their own, yet a pair of them would look fantastic under a console table until ready for guests. The smaller benches are also an ideal choice for a vanity table with their cozy cushions and feminine lines.

Scroll & Medallion Bench                Provence Relic Stool                  French Antique White Bench

French Provencal Style – Get the Look

French Provencal Style is timeless and widely popular due to its warm colors, natural materials and charming relaxed appeal. This decor is as much at home in a small farmhouse as it is in a stately manor. We have selected a few gorgeous examples of Provence-Style spaces from our Pinterest board that show you exactly how to get the look with items from Belle Maison Francaise. Start making your wish list today!

French Settee, Gilded French Chandelier, French Wood Coffee Table

Elm Creek Distressed Oak Chest , French Country Dining Table, French Country Wire Mesh Cabinet

La Reine Daybed,  Diamond Carved Entry Chest,  Scroll & Medallion Bench

Parisian Flea Market Bench,  Paris Scroll Pillow,  French Carved Table

Old Provence Dining Table,  French Carved Dining Chair,  San Lorenzo Parisian Candlestick – Pair

French Country Buffets and Sideboards

French Country buffets and sideboards, traditionally used to store dishes, are now used as expression pieces in a dining area to showcase decor in addition to storing dishes, linens and treasured items. Many pieces have functional drawers to keep flatware and linens in their place with an additional display space for stemware or serving pieces. Fabulous choices for a large dining space in need of more storage and surface area to serve your guests.

French Cuisine Credenza              French Country Chef Buffet       Black Rhapsody Credenza

A terrific choice is a hand-painted sideboard that is artfully distressed to give an old world appearance. With French Country design based on local traditions and treasured objects handed down for generations, adding these pieces to your decor will combine old world character with a fresh, modern flair.

French Rooster Buffet                      Painted Rooster Buffet                    Whimsical Back Sideboard

Artistic sideboards are particularly popular today and serve as statement pieces in dining rooms. At six feet long, these sideboards could make a terrific choice in a room other than the kitchen or dining areas. How about using one in a bedroom or bath as a vanity? Or using any one of these sideboards as a media cabinet in the living room and setting a flat screen TV on top and media devices inside? You can also get these pieces finished in the color of your choice!

Whimsical Painted Country Sideboard     Rhapsody Flair Sideboard    French Toile Sideboard

Perhaps more surface area and storage in the kitchen is what you are looking for. The sizes and functional storage in particular buffets would make them ideal kitchen candidates. With more of a French farmhouse feel, these buffets will add casual warmth to your kitchen. Whatever your style, you’ll find what you need at Belle Escape.

French Country Cupboard  French Country Basket Buffet  Old Wood Nail Studded Sideboard

Vintage French Mirrors

Originating in Egypt thousands of years ago as religious ceremonial devices, mirrors are now used primarily for grooming, but also as interior design elements to make a room appear larger, add more reflective light to a space or simply to add a touch of sophisticated elegance to a room.

France’s King Louis XIV can be credited with elevating the popularity of mirrors by creating the Hall of Mirrors at The Palace of Versailles, and voila, a new enduring trend was born. Eventually, mirrors became a status symbol of class and refinement indicating its owner had impeccable breeding.

Gold Medallion Mirror          Lattice Fleur de Lis Mirror      Vintage French Antiqued Gold Mirror

Antiqued glass need not be perfect. Silvering is often worn and small chips may be present to give a vintage look to a room. Large gold mirrors have classic styling that is both simple and elegant. A mirror can also be a more decorative than functional piece that will add light and style to a room.

Urn And Cornucopia Mirror             Vintage Hall Mirror          Vintage Shabby Trumeau Mirror

Trumeau mirrors are French wall mirrors originally manufactured in the 18th century. The word Trumeau describes the space between windows where the French would like to add a decorative element and reflect more light. They were rectangular in shape with a decorative element on top and the mirror below that. Often made from wood, they could have detailed carvings and an old world feel.

French Arch Antique Mirror   Crowned Pottery Fragment Mirror  Mansard Architectural Mirror

Sometimes when a room lacks elaborate architectural elements, a decorative mirror can compensate, instantly adding a sophisticated focal point to the room. To add elegance to any decor, architectural mirrors cappear to have been plucked from the facade of a historic building and brought into your home to admire. Lovely!

Carved French Trumeau Mirror         Aged Provence Mirror         Hand Carved Wood Mirror

Art and function all in one! Imagine a collection of these gorgeous mirrors placed together to create a sparkling display as in our main photo at the top of the page.

Elements of French Decorating

French decorating encompasses styles from many periods in French history and regions throughout France. Whether it be French Country, Vintage French or Old World Chateau , all of these styles can be distinctly French, yet would not necessarily blend well together in one room design. Choose pieces with similarities in color palette , fabric, wood or style that complement each other. The three choices below are great examples of how curves, color and elegance can blend together into a feminine flair that is clearly French.

Adele French Settee      Arched Cabinet With Glass Doors      Ornate French Carved Table

What says French-style more than anything is a magnificent chandelier. Romantic, glamorous, glittering works of art that add the perfect amount of light to any room. You can go stately and sublime or large and dramatic. Ranging from wood to metal, crystal or glass,  a chandelier can definitely be the crown jewel of a home

French Shabby Chandelier            Elysee Chandelier           Gilded Versaille Chic Chandelier

One of the best ways to incorporate the illusion of space and light is to add a mirror to a room. This is often a quick way to infuse a room with a French feel. French accent mirrors provide that extra architectural element or sparkle of glamour as well. There are many gorgeous French mirrors to choose from, so finding one to suit your preferences can be simple. Try a traditional trumeau mirror or the large gilded variety to make a bold statement. Antiqued and masterfully crafted, these mirrors will reward you with a finished look to your space.

Aged Provence Mirror     Vintage French Antiqued Gold Mirror     Lattice Fleur de Lis Mirror

Elegant burlap? Is it even possible? Oh, yes and a very popular way to modernize a traditional french designed couch or chair. It is a trend that appears to have staying power. Easy to maintain and care for, burlap and natural linen fabrics offer a common color scheme and a greener choice for fabrics. French burlap fabrics are often seen as scripted or vintage coffee sacks integrated into country decor, but this more modern take on tradition is more formal and chic.

Of course nothing is more luxurious and elegant than velvet. What could be more vintage French than an expertly tufted and upholstered velvet sofa? Lovely lines, soft features and so comfortable, it is no wonder velvet fabrics have been used in French design for centuries.

Vintage French Canopy Chair           Tufted Chateau Sofa           Petite Skirted Sofa

Vintage French decor can be country casual or vintage formal, but normally not minimal. Accessories play a key role in a French inspired room and are usually abundantly placed throughout. Every detail adds to the overall style you are hoping to create  -it’s all in the details. Add interest and character with accessories to let all who enter know your home is your castle. For a truly authentic, antique look try adding aged, white pottery.  It is a timeless way to add instant Old World charm to your decor. For finishing off your French design, remember you don’t always need to follow the rules, just suivez votre coeur (follow your heart).

Fleur Crown With Cross  Antiqued White & Gold Candlesticks  Distressed French Creme Pottery

Choose Your Perfect Sideboard

French sideboards are both artistic and functional. These lovely pieces of dining room furniture are traditionally used to store your best flatware, china and linens for entertaining. The interiors usually have spacious cabinets, drawers or both and a flat surface top that can be used to serve buffet style. Some are a showcase piece in itself with hand-painted details, while others have glass doors that highlight the beautiful serving pieces shown inside.

Black Painted Cartouche Sideboard  Distressed Country Sideboard  Elegant Curved Sideboard

Before choosing a french sideboard or buffet, consider how much space you have in your dining room. A sideboard should be set back at least three feet from the table to allow free movement in the room and no overcrowding. Think of the great possibilities to use the surface of the sideboard for decorating with lamps for soft lighting, accessories and floral arrangements. Larger surfaces call out for a lovely tea service, while a smaller surface might just need a couple of tall vases or some pillar candlesticks to add height and visual interest.

Rhapsody Flair Sideboard     Vintage Carved Cottage Sideboard     Whimsical Back Sideboard

How about adding a little flair to your living room with a whimsical painted sideboard used as an entertainment cabinet? It could perch a flat screen TV and hold electronics and DVDs inside. Or how about in the bath to rest a vessel sink on top and towels below?  Your home is a reflection of you and what you love. It is an opportunity to display treasured items, so choose a sideboard style that suits you and a color that works best with your style and decor.

Whimsical Painted Sideboard     Vintage Provence Commode    Painted Country Sideboard

Vineyard Escape Home Furnishings

Are you a wine lover who wants to share your passion with friends and family? Belle Escape features an array of furnishings that reflect the old world style of a French vineyard, including aged, rustic pieces with metal accents. Our Chateau Doors Armoire has all of these details and looks as if it is the secret doorway to an amazing cottage vineyard.   

Think about what inspires you about your favorite winery,  from the lush beauty of the scenery to the barrel rooms with native-stone facades. Or perhaps you just love the artistry of the wine labels!  How about our functional Weathered Wine Label Chest  to keep serving pieces, linens and wine openers in for your next tasting party? Or try our Solid Wood Wine Chiller with a metal insert to keep your white wines cold when serving guests.

Instead of a traditional metal wine rack, how about creating a statement with this beautiful Italian Iron Wine Cabinet to store your precious bottles. Our furnishings are hand-crafted with exquisite detail to capture the essence of a vineyard chic design. Our Vintage Beaded Chandelier with it’s antique bronzed finish and lovely wood beaded embellishments is a timeless beauty that is sure to warm up any room. Whether you prefer an old world chateau-style vignoble in the Loire Valley or a charming countryside winery in Napa Valley, we have items to fit each category.

Home Sweet Romantic Getaway!

What is the most romantic getaway you can recall?  Perhaps you spent your honeymoon strolling the streets of  Paris or your 25th wedding anniversary along the canals of Venice. Maybe you’re planning that perfect vacation in Provence or Tuscany.  With a few decorative touches it is possible to recapture these moments and turn your home into a dream escape.

Romantic Dinner in Paris. Photo Credit: Paris Perfect

Ah Paris–no one does “amour” like the French.  Intimate sidewalk cafes, beautiful architecture and artwork and, of course, the sparkling lights throughout what is often referred to as the City of Light.  Capture the romantic and chic feel of Paris in your home with beautiful French furniture that combines old world design with cosmopolitan flair.

Our "belle sejour en Provence" last summer

Provence, the perfect place to relax in the sun, enjoy fine cuisine and explore medieval sites. But what makes Provence so unique is the richness of colors on door fronts, the scent of lavender on countryside walks and the raw natural beauty.  For colorful pieces that capture the feel of Provence, see our French country furnishings.

Our Terrace View - Romantic Getaway to St. John.

Is there anything more romantic than a warm tropical getaway?  Create your own home oasis with pieces from our Coastal Cottage collection.  The collection features lighting fixtures as sparkling and blue as the ocean, distressed white finishes on furniture and accessories like our sea turtle pillow or coastal painted chest.

Romantic Getaway to Venice. Photo: Ann & Wayne Stumpf

Stunningly beautiful views in Liguria. Photo: Bernadette Madier LeRoy & Marguerite Maloine

What comes to mind when you think of Italy?  Is it the delicious food, the amazing countryside or the ancient cities?  Capture the dramatic landscape of the Italian Riviera or the regal and mysterious feel of Venice in your own home with Tuscan style furniture from our Tuscan Villa collection featuring warm aged finishes and classic designs.

Create the Perfect Escape at BelleEscape.com

Our belief is that everyone should bring a bit of their favorite romantic spot into their home and we can accomplish that with furnishings from our Vintage French, French country, Tuscan and Coastal Cottage collections.

What romantic destination spot inspires your home interiors?