Secret Spaces and Hidden Places

Recycling

Recycling Furniture and fabrics has been around a lot longer than most of us think.
In this day and age we have finally woken up to the reality of finite resources and I would like to blog a little about Shabby Chic.
Please click here for more information on recycling

Background of Shabby Chic

As per Wicipedia”The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork and unassuming 'good' taste.

The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to the sentimentally cute Pop-Victorian.

These days Recycling old furniture and fabrics is an important aspect of it.The early forms of shabby chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decoration.

These range from 18th century Swedish painted decoration, the French Chateau as well as the American Shakers where simplicity and plainness was essential.Shabby chic is mainly popular in interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.

Shabby chic items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in Faux Painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens.

Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style .

Another form of Recycling is Utilizing space, and leads on nicely to utilizing secret spaces , I know I should have been a TV Anchor

When visiting one of our Noir Furniture suppliers, I saw some wasted space.

Namely the base of the wardrobe.

The old version of this did not utilise this space, so as per usual we requested a modification to design, and the next day voila a secret drawer.

Here are some other items we stock with Secret Drawers:

FW2062 Ladies Dressing table/Writing Desk

LPF1011- French Dressing Table and Mirror

We have been able to negotiate with the suppliers and these wardrobes will cost no more than the current ones and do give an extra dimension to the product.

The Head of Marketing often comes out with some inspiring sentences, like “It’s hidden in the detail”, “The antiques of tomorrow”, but when vigorously demonstrating the secret drawer to the staff caused a groan when he said

“Noir you see it Noir you don’t”

Anyone like to head hunt our Head of marketing…..Please….

Ralph.

Recent Sourcing Trip

Returned from my sourcing trip the beginning of December , should have been for one week , ended up over five weeks (Need to choose the perfect time to hand in my expenses ! ). The crowning Glory was the latest additions to the Noir Range and Venetian Mirror collection .


My favourite piece from the Noir Range was the Noir Chaise , and some other items soon to be released to complete the Noir Bedroom range . Watch This Space.

It’s all in the detail


I must have visited over 40 suppliers and seen literally thousands of items of French furniture, Mirrors and Objet’d art.

From these I choose about 150 new items .

It’s very easy to be rushed and taken in by the Sales patter and “Working Lunches” (Must join a gym ) , but I always insist and watching various stages of production , and slipping in some of the companies extra requirements .

What catches my eye is an item with outstanding craftsmanship .

It must be so easy to mass produce , but where is the passion and pride?

It’s quite amazing to watch how many different disciplines are involved in the hand making of furniture. Take for example a chase.

Hand carve the detail
Assemble joints
8 Stage painting of Wood
Upholster
Final Sign off / Certification
pack and Box

Because these items are so well built , they will last .
Ralph

Care Tips for Painted French Furniture

Many customers have asked us for tips to keep their Painted French Furniture in good condition.

Fine furniture is an important purchase and and proper care will help you get the best out of your investment.

Our advise is simple things like keeping the furniture dust free and clean will increase its life and keep it looking good for a long time. Always dust your furniture with moist soft cloth. Dust can scratch the finish if not removed properly. Use a soft damp cloth and avoid coarse and abrasive materials. Do avoid using soap and water as this will penetrate the finish and cause more harm than good.
French Furniture
Carved motifs which are the main feature of Baroque and Rococo furniture should be dusted with soft banister brush or small areas with a pony hair brush.

Waxes are not required, however if you do use a wax make sure it is a white creamy type on light painted items as this will not discolour the original finish of your furniture.

Avoid using oils, oil treated cloths and polishes containing oils as this will spoil the painted finish of your furniture.

The environment in which the furniture is kept is also important. It is best to keep furniture away from sources of heat like radiators if furniture suffers from excessive heat it can cause the wood to dry out and get damaged.

Similarly keep furniture away from direct sunlight as this will also have an adverse effect on the finish. Last but not the least use coasters on surfaces to keep it from scratching from things like clocks, ornaments, vases etc and if you do decide to cover the surface of a table/chest with glass make sure you place small pieces of felt between the painted surface and glass top as it will stop the glass from sticking to and damaging the paint.

I hope these tips will help you in keeping your Painted French Furniture in excellent condition.
It was nice writing this piece and will soon be back with more helpful tips.

Jo

Welcome to our new French Decor blog!

Hi and welcome to our new blog on classic french decor and interiors - specifically created for those keen in all things french for their homes.

As dedicated specialists in French Furniture we are well placed to offer up to date news, product launches and events in the world of French decor and home interiors.

We intend to keep you posted as often as possible - and with the odd sale we maybe having over at our main website www.thefrenchfurniturecompany.co.uk
theres sure to be something here to keep you informed and entertained.

feel free to leave comments - we would love your input and if there are any of you out there who would like to guest blog then let us know - we would love to hear from you!

Jo