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THE FRENCH COUNTRY BED
The French country bed is the largest piece of furniture and the most important, therefore it deserves the most attention.
It is unlikely to see heavily padded and fully upholstered headboards in a French country bedroom.
Fashioned out of wood or wrought iron, it will seldom have an upholstered base, and will have a head and a foot. These could be simply or ornately embellished; the wooden beds are often carved in the same style as the armoire and mostly painted a pale shade or limed. Headboards can also be wooden frames with cane or fabric inserts.
It is also not uncommon to see a simple four-poster bed as part of French country bedroom furniture.
Sometimes headboards are free standing and fixed to the wall.
There are minimum rules to what a headboard of this nature is made from. It could be a wall hanging, boutis, wall panel, folding screen, piece of pretty ornamental plasterwork, ornately framed mirror or picture….variations are endless. It could even be a piece of scrolled ironwork, originally forged as part of fencing or garden gate. Anything of interest can be adapted as a headboard, but notice that most examples given are something that’s been traditionally crafted and cherished, mounted in a place of honor.
Some beds have modest coronas with simple hangings. Others have posts and again hangings will not be elaborate, but rather light in design and weight, giving a soft and airy impression and most likely made from muslin or unlined linen. The canopy is often left unadorned or it might have a piece of fabric stretched across the frame, keeping it simple.
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THE FRENCH COUNTRY ARMOIRE
No French country bedroom would be truly complete without the icon of French country bedroom furniture… the trusted Armoire.
This versatile ‘cupboard’ traces it roots back to Charlemagne, when noblemen first used armoires to hold their precious suits of armor and weapons.
With time it re-invented itself to become a versatile cupboard with ample storage space, adapting to its contents in various styles and forms.
The French Country armoire is rather large and can be quite ornately embellished or pared down and simple, usually with double doors. However, the bonnetières was designed with a single door and its original function was to hold lady’s hats – the symbol of a lady’s status in society.
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Armoires can be polished wood, limed or painted, the most popular designs being from the ‘three Louis’ period.In the bedroom it is likely to be painted or limed, having ruched paneled or mirrored doors.
COMMODES
French Country commodes are also very popular pieces and are found in various styles and shapes. The most well known being the bombé commode from the Rococo period, recognized by its curvaceous lines and sweeping front curve.
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The above mentioned pieces of French Country bedroom furniture are only the basics. To this will added nightstands, tables or perhaps even a daybed.
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