As thoughts turn to a slower, Summer-holiday pace, a dreamy long holiday in a picturesque French country house might well do the trick, but in the meantime here's how to re-create a touch of French country calm in your own bedroom...
Mapleton Floral linen in Blue (LFY21830F): £POA, Ralph Lauren Home. Madeleine Chandelier: £260;
French Blue Cube: £140; Provencal Linen Lady's Chair: £475; French Grey Painted Rattan Bed: from £1395 for kingsize
Think French shabby chic meets smart French Riveria blues and whites. Mix it up - distressed white painted textural rattan, natural linen upholstery, with a combination of varying shades of white, from crisp white bed linen through to almost-grey off-whites, against preppy blue stripes and country cottage florals is so relaxed and pretty. Introduce florals through the carved detailing in your French furniture too - whether on a French mirror frame or dainty bedside cabinet. Then just fill the bedroom (or indeed the whole house) full of papery fragrant blooms in crisp whites, perhaps also some delicate cornflowers for a cobalt blue hit.
Background wallcovering - Oxford Stripe wallcovering in Indigo: £49.50/metre: Ian Mankin. Top left & middle images - Blue Striped Vintage Linen Grain Sacks, from a selection, Parna. Cote Bastide White Honeycomb Towels with Blue Stripes: from £6.95 for a guest towel, Atelier Home & Garden. Piped Ticking & Striped Cushions, from a selection, Ian Mankin
A key print in French classic styling has to be ticking, particularly with a beautiful herringbone weave like the wallcovering from Ian Mankin above. In fact all types of blue and white stripes will make the look - from wide to thin pinstripes, a group of cushions or a blanket featuring them will help to add depth to a white palette and the look becomes more relaxed - imagine them on your white painted Louis XV bed or on an iron day bed. Think vintage stripes too - antique French grain sacks (some complete with the added charm of featuring someone's embroidered initials) can be transformed into all sorts - from long accent pillows or cushions to the upholstery fabric for an elegant French bedroom chair, dressing table stool, even a bedroom sofa or panels on an upholstered headboard - for a truly authentic piece of French style furniture!
Delphine Shaby Chic Dressing Table: £275; Delphine Distressed Painted Stool: £220.
Pale Blue Goose Down Powder Puff: £49.50; Ivory Goose Down Powder Puff: £49.50, Floris London.
Lac Du Bourget Room Spray: £22. Heart Shaped French Soap: £1.50 each, La Maison Bleue
Pretty accessories are essential for a French country dressing area or powder station. An antique white dressing table with its ornate carved details and curvy lines cries out to be adorned with little treats for the everyday - stem vases filled with country cottage meadow flowers in all colours for a relaxed, romantic and fragrant space, luxe feather powder puffs from London perfumers Floris for a decadent nod to the traditional, or simply some dainty little shaped guest soaps for your en-suite / bathroom - dressed country chic that looks so temptingly tranquil, you'll want to spend more time in your boudoir this Summer!
Author: Georgia Metcalfe, Managing Director, The French Bedroom Company, purveyor of beautiful French Furniture!
