The French have always been trend-setters when it comes to architecture and design. Who hasn’t dreamed of living in a French Chateau with it’s charming architectural details and stylish decor? I sure have. There’s just something about the character of these spaces that I’ve always been drawn to.
So, when this photo of Chateau de Varennes came across my feed, I couldn’t resist exploring this look a little further. What I love most about this space is the bright red sofa. I mean, wow! It’s a bold splash of color in an otherwise neutral space. But, neutral doesn’t mean boring. Not in this case. The herringbone wood floor and interior french doors make sure of that. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, they threw in some gold leaf paint for good measure.
But, most of us don’t live in a French Chateau. So, how do you recreate the flavor of this look in a standard white living room? Well, I have a few ideas for you. Here’s what I have in mind. Start with gray hardwood floors installed in a chevron pattern. Then, paint the walls an antique white and add some furniture pieces with carved wood panels to replicate the architectural details of the chateau. I found a nice armoire that gets the job done.
To add the gold details, try a modern gold chandelier or ivory and gold rug like the ones in the mood board below. Or, even something fun like a gold tambourine wall piece. Of course, you’ll want to add some details to style the room like textured pillows, white curtains and one of your favorite red handbags.
A tassel throw blanket would also be a nice touch for this look. So would a round ottoman with lots of texture and I would definitely want to include the dress form. Wouldn’t that be a fun way to hold your extra throw blankets or scarves?
These are the pieces I used to create the mood board above…
1. Reclaimed Gris Laminate Flooring in Parusian Chevron | 2. South Cone Bruce Velvet Sofa | 3. West Chester Weathered Oak Armoire by Avalon Furniture | 4. Avalon Square Throw Pillow in Borwn/Cream from Bed Bath & Beyond | 5. Marled Grey Knit Throw by Arhaus | 6. Dooney & Bourke Belvedere Lock Hobo in Red
1. Avalon Square Throw Pillow in Brown/Cream from Bed Bath & Beyond | 2. Rowan Gold Chandelier by Worlds Away | 3. South Cone Bruce Velvet Sofa | 4. Reclaimed Gris Laminate Flooring in Parusian Chevron | 5. White Irish Linen Fabric from Online Fabric Store | 6. Vintage Abstract Bleached Rug by nuLOOM | 7. Marled Grey Knit Throw by Arhaus | 8. West Chester Weathered Oak Armoire by Avalon Furniture | 9. Agastya Fashion Mannequin Female Dress Form by Willa Arlo Interiors | 10. Dooney & Bourke Belvedere Lock Hobo in Red | 11. Prado Round Pouf by Crate&Barrel | 12. Joanie Tambourine by Amigos de Hoy
The color palette is simple for this look, but the pop of red keeps it from being bland. Simply layer an antique white with an assortment of ivory, beige, tan, taupe and gold for the neutrals. Then, add a pop of spiced apple red in a couple pieces for a bit of drama. Don’t overdo the red though. Just a little dab will do ya’.
So, what do you think of the French Chateau look? Do you think you could transform a plain white living room into a beautiful, chateau-like space?
If you like this look, you might also like my Spiced Apple product roundup and Popular Gray color trend post.
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