SHABBY CHIC FURNITURE | FRENCH STYLE FURNITURE | MIRRORED FURNITURE
Distressed, elegant, aged and distinctively timeless are all terms used when commonly describing shabby chic furniture.
If we are looking to date shabby chic furniture back to its origins then we have to look no further than King Gustav III of Sweden. Keeping rein of his throne from 1771 to 1792, Gustav was a hugely passionate king who was in awe of the fashion and styles used in theatre and art. From the long colourful and elegantly draping dresses the women would wear when watching a local theatre play, to the pulled up socks or clean cut shin length boots the men would so eloquently wear… it was easy to see what made him fall in love.
As a lover of art and theatre, this drove Gustav to frequently visit the French court. At that time the French were under the long reign of King Louis XVI, an equally passionate man who also was partially fond of the arts. During his visits Gustav became a huge admirer of the commonly used neoclassical furniture style. These styles predominantly featured lightly warn and distressed antique French pieces upholstered in a variety of unique floral fabrics. Once falling in love with the neoclassical style, it was only a matter of time until Gustav began creating his own luxurious furniture pieces, taking huge inspiration from the French. All Gustav’s pieces where created with style and to such a hand carved high quality, all where no doubt set to for the test of time and to last generations. The first thought that comes to mind when we think shabby chic in England, is the old house country cottages, each with its own personal character, all with small yet charming exterior features… But delving deeper inside, we can initially picture the old and lightly distressed chest of drawers opposite a natural wood crackling fire. The large and beautifully coloured bookcase filled with novels and the creaking yet sturdy stairs leading up to a bedroom filled with stunning aged accessories and ornaments. The tranquil and picturesque setting of shabby chic at its finest.
So how did it come to be? Well, as Gustav III crafted and carved his furniture to such a high standard, no surprises were to be made when his furniture was still around centuries later. This is when the originating term, distressed appeal was invented. With the quality and well made furniture pieces all still in one piece and perfectly functional, the only difference was they had aged. With the pieces showing slight aging on the wood and minor scuffs they still epitomised quality and exuberant luxury… this was the truly the start of shabby chic. With its timeless design and quality reputation of solid furniture, it’s no surprise how it has lasted centuries… Fast forward to the 21st century and we can still see the hugely popular shabby chic furniture in homes today, all enriched with styles and designs from Gustav III’s legacy. From practical sturdy wardrobes to small décor features such as plant stands and photo frames, the shabby chic furniture style has developed and branched out into all forms and will no doubt continue prosper for centuries to come.
Now to look at some of our shabby chic furniture piecesHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Furniture Rangehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128
A couple of TV cabinetsBergere Antique French Style TV Cabinethttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bergere-antique-french-style-tv-cabinet-p7476
Wooden Antique French Style TV Cabinet
Shabby chic bedroom furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130 A couple of shabby chic bedsEstelle Antique French Style Bedhttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/estelle-antique-french-style-bed-p35217
Antique French Style Bedhttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/antique-french-style-bed-p41010
A couple of shabby chic dressing tables
Rococo Antique French Dressing Table Sethttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/rococo-antique-french-dressing-table-set-p16850
Estelle Antique French Style Dressing Table Sethttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/estelle-antique-french-style-dressing-table-set-p40371
Be sure to check out some of out other rangesHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Cheval MirrorsHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Chest Of DrawersHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Console TablesHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic ScreensHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic ManequinsHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Bedside TablesHomes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Bathroom Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bathroom-c2162 Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Dining Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/dining-c2163 Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Seatinghttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/seating-c2165
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The following post Shabby chic furniture neoclassical origins is available on Homes Direct 365 French Furniture via Blogger Shabby chic furniture neoclassical origins
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One might think that beds are purely functional. After all, we are unconscious for most of the time we are using them. However, over time they have been, and still are, status symbols of the highest importance. They are or can be also one of the most expensive items of household furniture that we buy. A trip to a furniture store unfolds a dazzling array of these things we hardly ever really see. The price ranges are enormous and the variety astounding.
Let’s look at how beds have evolved and changed over the years.In pre-history, beds were very rudimentary affairs. Maybe a pit was dug and grass and hay thrown in with a goatskin on top for a bit of added comfort. This lasted for a very long time, and it was not until the renaissance period that beds started to be thought of differently. The people of this era were much more ostentatious in their outlook and status was becoming very important to the wealthy families of Italy and France particularly. The idea of this kind of status also permeated into Great Britain. A look at the contents of the bedrooms of some of the grandest houses in the UK demonstrates this almost obsession with grandeur and decoration. Baroque and rococo bedrooms had huge four poster bed in them. So, not only had the bed risen off the floor, it now also had walls. Photo source: http://www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk/assets/uploads/images/CWP%20new%20rooms005.jpg
Photo source: https://www.theritzlondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/royal-suite.jpg
For the sleeper, the most important part of a bed is the mattress. Not only did raising the bed off the floor eliminate pests and vermin, it also provided a decent platform for a new innovation, the mattress. The first mattresses were usually made of hay or some other suitable organic material. They progressed into being cotton stuffed and then to being stuffed with feathers. These beds were, however not as comfortable as some would wish and a great deal scientific inventiveness went into the design of mattresses. There were two breakthroughs roughly one hundred years apart. There is discussion about the geographical origin of the first but there is no doubt about its roots. In the late nineteenth century, a German engineer produced the first car. Of that, there is no doubt. That car needed to have a smooth ride. Somebody invented coil springs in order to achieve this. The original leaf springs did not suit the rich people who owned cars. Thankfully we have some very comfortable mattresses today as a result in the evolution of technology and peoples love of sleep and comfort, here are a few from our selection: https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/grand-mattress-p39598 Sleepzone® springs, providing almost twice the support of bonnell units Traditionally tufted pillowtop for superlative comfort Multiple fillings Damask top Vertical white damask border No turn – rotate regularly Mattress depth: 30cm Handles: 4 Vents: 2
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/pearl-memory-support-sealy-mattress-p40253 Comfort Rating: Medium / Firm Sealy PostureTech 620 spring system Memory foam comfort layer Correctly supports and aligns the spine in its natural shape, helping to reduce aches and pains Eco-friendly Tencel fibres help keep you cool and dry
What does this have to do with sleep? Somebody realised that a whole bunch of coil springs spread flat with a nice cotton covering to keep the springs away from the body would be a really great surface to sleep on. The coil spring mattress was born. The second breakthrough was also, possibly, a result automotive engineering. One of the properties of a liquid is that it cannot be compressed. This idea was used in hydraulic dampers for car suspension systems. It is also used for the transmission of power. Somebody filled a very large bag with water and sat on. The water did not compress, it cannot, so it moved aside. This somebody felt that sleeping on such a hydraulic platform might be very comfortable. So, roughly one hundred years after metal springs to sleep on, we have hydraulic dampers. Hail the waterbed. Still, science has not finished with sleeping innovation. NASA, the USA space agency, also got into the act. They needed to keep their astronauts comfortable whilst weightless. The result of this need was, yes, memory foam. This product is now widely used and readily available. Who says the space program is a waste of money. You can view a timeline of mattresses over history from humble straw to NASA (memory foam) in this following article:
So with all the history and science out of the way shall we now look at some of the range of beds from our modern & contemporary bedroom furniture sets? Items from our Contemporary Bedroom Furniture Range(https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/bedroom-furniture-c2051)
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/minuet-bed-p20771 Minuet BedManufactured in a combination of tropical hardwood & veneers with a beautiful Wenge finish the elegant Minuet bedroom collection is a delight to behold. Complete that look that you desire with our fantastic award winning furniture, and brighten up your home with this stunning Minuet Bed https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/baltimore-low-foot-end-bed-p35295 Baltimore Low Foot End BedWe are proud to welcome to our collection of modern and contemporary furniture this exceptional bed from the Baltimore collection. Handcrafted and carefully built by experts, this bed featuring a low foot end is sure to impress. Working wonderful brightening uo your home either on its own or alongside our other ranges.
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/montpellier-antique-french-style-bed-p30780 Montpellier Antique French Style BedMade From Solid Mindy Wood Slatted Base Easy Assemble This Item Comes Flat-Packed
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/montpellier-blanc-antique-french-style-bed-p31353 Montpellier Blanc Antique French Style BedNatural Solid Mindi Wood Whitewash This Item Comes Flat-Packed
Items from out contemporary dressing table setshttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/montpellier-dressing-table-set-p30770 Montpellier Dressing Table SetSolid Mindy Wood Stool & Mirror Included Freestanding Mirror To Be Fixed On wall
(https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/minuet-twin-pedestal-dressing-table-set-p20767) Minuet Twin Pedestal Dressing Table SetComplete that look that you desire with our fantastic award winning furniture, and brighten up your home with this stunning Minuet Twin Pedestal Dressing Table Set. Hand crafted and carefully built to the highest quality, Minuet Twin Pedestal Dressing Table Set will be sure to amaze
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/baltimore-dressing-table-p35309 Please Note Stool & Mirror Not Included
Come and have a look at our bedroom furniture over at Homes Direct 365Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Bedroom Furniture (https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/bedroom-furniture-c2051) Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Bedside Tables Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Chest Of Drawers Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Wardrobes Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Cheval Mirrors Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Blanket Boxes & Ottomans Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Chaise Longue Benches Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Chairs & Stools
The following post The history and evolution of the bed and mattress was first seen on Homes Direct365 Furniture via Blogger The history and evolution of the bed and mattress Homes Direct 365The feng shui modern & contemporary bedroom furnitureWhen we think modern and contemporary furniture what initially springs to mind… Is it the futuristic room sets from your favourite sci-fi film or perhaps you envisage it placed throughout multi-billion dollar start-up companies? Well it is in fact all around us, and has been since the late 19th century. Historically bedroom furniture was crafted by hand. Just imagine all those painstaking manual labour hours used to carve your favourite extortionately priced bedroom chair or dressing table piece alike… it was truly only for the very wealthy. That is until mass production first came to light. The theory of hugely accessible and affordable furniture pieces all machine made where too popular to turn down and appealed to the masses. Also referred to as functionalism, this helped popularise the modern furniture designs that we have come to know and love today. With affordable furniture pieces available in mass, this encouraged designers and craftsman to think more ‘outside the box’, experimenting with an array of materials such as woods, metals, plastics and glass, the future of modern and contemporary furniture was arriving. With designers constantly thriving to outshine one another and develop the next best thing, this trend was evolving… and evolving fast it was! From solid glass bedroom furniture pieces to cut fabric furniture, interior designers and manufactures are constantly pushing the boundaries to create a uniquely modern and abstract envisioned future.
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/crystal-mirrored-sideboard-p42390
So, is there a huge difference between modern and contemporary furniture I hear you ask? Well contemporary furniture is often referred to as modern furniture and can essentially be classed as the same thing, predominantly featuring smooth simplistic designs that can be placed in an array of settings. Take the dressing table for example, once sought after was a highly luxurious dresser finished in gold leaf, now however, the dresser is a classic and often at times over simplified practical piece. If we go back to the early 16th century, extravagantly designed antiqued furniture was tremendously popular; it would be rare to find an ornate crown or delicately carved scrolls on any piece. From handcarved solid wood chests to luxurious detailed grand beds, there was no hiding from big, bold and hugely decorated pieces. As time developed and the world’s economy improved, inventions advanced and trends changed, the antique style was gaining much less popularity. The phase ‘more is less’ defiantly applies to current furniture trends. Moving away from big ornate designs and favouring simplistic clean-cut pieces, this steadily gave way to what we know and call modern and contemporary furniture.
Kingsize Annecy Weathered Bedhttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/kingsize-annecy-weathered-bed-p35293
Montpellier Blanc Antique French Style Bedhttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/montpellier-blanc-antique-french-style-bed-p31353
Industrial Aluminium Coffee Tablehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/industrial-aluminium-coffee-table-p36626
With fashion trends rapidly changing, day to day places and ‘moods’ are now becoming highly influential by designers and crafters. Take a small delinquent and smoothly polished coffee table which is said to be inspired by ‘calm’ compared to an abstract and twisted leg table which is said to represent the ‘hustle and bustle of urban life’. We now have the choice to select furniture pieces based on what mood we are trying to achieve when designing our bedroom! With the Chinese philosophical term ‘Feng Shui’ now a popular word used when describing bedroom arrangement (wonderful examples here), modern and contemporary furniture is a very suitable choice. The theory of feng shui symbolises an environment that is calm and harmonised, so it’s easy to see why the current modern clean cut designs appeal very aptly. Check out our modern furniture ranges below
Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050
Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Bedroom Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/bedroom-furniture-c2051
Homes Direct 365 Lounge Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/lounge-c2116 Homes Direct 365 Contemporary Furniture Setshttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/matching-ranges-c2073
Homes Direct 365 Industrial Style Modern Furniturehttps://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/contemporary-modern-furniture-c2050/industrial-c2117
https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/blog/2017/08/concealed-meaning-in-your-bedroom-furniture/ https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/blog/2017/07/modern-bedroom-furniture-versus-antique-style-bedroom-furniture/ https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/blog/2017/07/different-types-bedroom-furniture-used-today/
The feng shui modern & contemporary bedroom furniture is republished from Homes Direct 365 French Furniture via Blogger The feng shui modern & contemporary bedroom furniture |
Company BioHomesdirect365 are an online only retailer specialising in antique French furniture, shabby chic furniture, mirrored furniture & french bedroom furniture available for all rooms of the home from bathroom vanity units to decorative mirrors to gorgeous bedroom sets. Archives
March 2023
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