Home Decorating Overview
In home decorating, add French period style with just a few important accent pieces, or
create a
period room with architectural details, furniture and accessories all relating to
one place and time. For an eclectic look (collected over time), use
one period as the dominant theme for the room and then add some accents from a
period either right before or after, i.e., a
predominantly Louis XV room with references to Louis XIV or Louis
XVI. The Home Decorating Period Chart is a reference
for understanding the attributes which
define the key French periods. In general, the classic form
was designed and produced for the king, so it tends to be more elegant and would
have appeared at court first. Regional styles are more rustic and
functional. They were inspired by the royal pieces, but
appeared later and changed slowly. Time periods are approximate
and overlap. For definitions, please see the French
Dictionary of Home Decorating Design Terms.
Home Decorating Period Style Chart
| Period |
Dates |
Characteristics |
Furniture |
Materials/Color |
| Louis XIII |
1610-1661 |
simple forms, spiral
legs, bun feet, diamond point, |
upholstered chair, canopy bed,
armoire |
inlays, ebony, silk, velvet,
damask, tapestries, Colors (entire room matched): red, olive,
purple, beige, white |
| Louis XIV |
1661-1715 |
French classicism, luxury
(Versailles), symmetry, sun motif, scroll leg, bronze elements at corners |
silver furniture,
fauteuil (1650), canopy from ceiling, daybeds, X- stools, armoire |
ebony, marquetry, marble, gilt,
silver, bronze, tortoiseshell, silk & velvet
with gold embroidery, tapestries, Colors: red, blue, green, white |
| Louis XV/
Rococo |
1715-1774 |
golden age of French furniture, craftsmanship, refinement, curves, asymmetry,
branches, flowers, shells, monkeys, dolphins, latticework, cherubs,
wreaths |
bergère
(1730), occasional tables, escritoire, bureau plat, commode with
serpentine front, drum table |
carved wood paneling, lacquer,
gilt, painted wood, marquetry, vernis Martin, caning, petit point, Sevres plaques, gilt bronze Colors: black & gold lacquer, exotically colored woods |
| Regional/
Provençal |
|
inspired by Louis XV & XVI,
exuberant, functional, rustic, local flora & fauna motifs, bun or
scroll feet, metal fittings, hinges |
panetière, kneading trough, armoire, 2-3 drawer chest,
2-tiered buffet |
burnished iron, lacquer, local
woods, limited: painted wood, marble, marquetry Color: olive green, red & green |
| Louis XVI/
Neoclassic |
1774-1789 |
Greek & Roman,
symmetry, perfect proportions, delicate, straight lines, geometric shapes,
fluted legs, swags, ribbon bows, flowers, rosettes, urns, laurel,
trophies, cupids |
demi-lune, mechanical tables
& desks |
marquetry, bronze beaded
molding, walls w/rectangular paneling painted white
with gilding, exotic woods, painted woods, wallpapers, silk Colors:
pastels |
| Directoire/
Empire |
1789-1820 |
Egypt/Imperial Rome, diamond shapes, curved Greek leg, scroll arms, winged female sphinxes, quivers,
palmettes, lions, wheat, bees, eagles, swans, winged
victories, laurel wreaths, "N" |
dining room table, guéridon, casters on large pieces,
jardinière, bookcases |
draped fabric walls, printed
fabrics, brocaded silk, striped paper &
fabric, elm burl, gilt bronze, gilt copper, silver, blued
steel Colors: crimson, emerald |
| Art Nouveau |
1895-1914 |
naturalistic, roots, bent
branches, corkscrews, concave edges |
|
chased bronze, inlays, enameled
iron, ceramics, glassware, stained glass |
| Art Deco/Designer Decor/Moderne |
1918-1939 |
rectilinear, no reference to
the past, ornamental motifs eliminated |
|
steel tube frames painted or
chrome plated, stainless steel, brushed aluminum, mirror, shagreen, velvet
w/ geometric printed pattern, parchment, eggshell, ivory, mother-of-pearl,
polished veneers and lacquers, silver and gold leaf. Color:
White, beige, gold lacquer |
Louis XV (Rococo) 1715-1774 (Regency 1715-1730)
Louis XVI (Neoclassicism) 1774-1789
Directoire 1789-1804 Empire 1804-1820
Empire (late Neoclassicism) followed the discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It draws Imperial references from the Roman Caesars to glorify
Napoleon. Egyptian motifs are also used to commemorate his invasion there.
Percier and Fontaine were responsible for the remodel of Malmaison and
its interiors and published the definitive book for this style.
Modern (Art Deco) 1918-1939
Named for the 1925 Expositon
Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The stars were
Rene Lalique, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Jules Leleu and Jean-Michel Frank
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