French Modern

When I realized that we were moving houses I knew that I could change styles as well. I did a lot of research looking through home magazines and touring homes around the world on the Internet trying to find a style that I could call my own.

I couldn't really find anything that would agree with how my tastes are changing and evolving.  I'm looking for a less cluttered asthetic but pairing that with glam and panache.

I finally decided to call my new style French modern.  I am a Francophile. I love anything to do with France.  I love the people I love the small cities on the beach I love the architecture I love Paris I love the Eiffel Tower I love the Arc de Triomphe I love Musées Dorsay I love the Louvre I love all the pontes and I love the styles, (decorating or fashion) I love the language and way of life.

Our country house is decorated in French Botanical.  It's lovely.  I've posted it on my blog before.

When we decided to buy this house I knew I wanted to stick with a French style. But didn't want to go French country or French botanical but I wanted French influences throughout the house.  

I found a gorgeous pair of refinished French style chairs at a local shop and as soon as I saw them I knew which direction I was headed.  A glorious blend of aged patinas and mixed metals.  I could see two modern wingback chairs in white leather with nickel nailhead trim opposite these two little aged beauties.

I wanted texture, which I usually do with fabric but this time I chose mixed metals and shiny finishes to add visual interest to the room.  

I made a 6 piece art collection focusing on mixing black, silver and gold metallic textures.  I chose white mattes to make the pieces jump off of the dark Sealskin walls.  The frames are mirrored and add that panache and glam I was searching for.

Adding to those seriously dark colors I chose a light celadon green silk for my drapes and put down a trellis patterned rug in celadon and white.  The pattern from the rugs brings the room together by pulling in the white leather chairs and the white mattes on the art.

I have a 6 foot tall green patina finial that was just begging to be brought in to balance the prissiness of the room.  Beside that I placed a modern style gold screen and hung an architectural print above that.  It takes up the entire wall without making it seem cluttered or over filled.

The final touch to bring the metals together is a damask velvet throw that features my silver, gold and grey.  I put 2 different trims to finish the edges.  It's pretty fantastic.

Here are before and after...

Stay tuned for more house tour...

All the best!

High Heel Holly