French Country Style Interiors

Exactly where and how we developed our present ‘love affair’ with French Country Style Interiors is difficult to say though the ‘invasion’ of the French countryside in the last 50 years – particularly its farmhouses – by well-off English people seeking a comfortable second or retirement home has played its part.

French Country Furniture fits into this style very well. Many people like to mix-and-match these days rather than keep to the ‘purity’ of the original style; so antique oak chairs from Britain may be added to those from a French farmhouse to complete a ‘set’ for the farmhouse kitchen.

So that you know what to key in here is a Glossary of the most used terms:

ARMOIRE - a wordrobe or cupboard, normally with two or more doors, with shelves or hooks. It was originally used for storing arms pre 17th century.

BONNETIERE - a narrow wardrobe or cupboard with a single door originally used for ladies bonnets.

BUFFET - a sideboard, normally with two doors and often with a drawer or drawers above.

BUFFET A DEUX CORPS - a two - tiered buffet with the top half shallower than the botom. The top cabinet may have either wood or glass panels.

CANAPE` a sofa or settee

CHAISE - chair

CHEVET - a bedside table or headboard

COFFRE - a coffer or wooden chest

COMMODE - a chest of drawers

ENFILADE - a long buffet with three or four doors, an interior shelf and generally with drawers.

FAUTEUIL - a armchair or easy chair

WOODS

These are the usual woods used in French Country Furniture (French Provincial Furniture, French Farmhouse Furniture)

Pommier - Apple

Frene - Ash

H'etre - Beech

Merisier - Cherry

Chataignier - Chestnut

Orme - Elm

Acajou - Mahogany

Erable - Maple

Chene - Oak

Poirier - Pear

Peuplier - Poplar

Noyer - Walnut