French Country - Petite Haus

Angelina September 9, 2014 French Country

Floral Arrangements in the Tulipiere

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A while ago a blogged about tulipieres. For my birthday this year I received a tulipiere from my parents! (I think they read the blog post!).

I have enjoyed putting flowers in this wonderful vase. You can break it down and have 3 separate vases OR you can have one tall vase! That’s one of the reasons I love it.

Let’s take a look at some of the pictures I’ve taken through the Summer!

tulipiere with ranunculus, daffodils, and purple stalks

I had taken better pictures of the one below but I can’t find *any* of the pictures other than this crummy one from my phone. Oh well, you get the idea… I used mums and stalks.

The tulipiere displaying… tulips! It takes about 3 dozen flowers to fill the thing up!

What’s so neat about this vase is that you can create a HUGE impact with it. Below is one that my husband had waiting for me when I got home from a trip! *awwww* He did a good job, didn’t he?

The tulipiere stands at almost 3 feet tall! I LOVE it! I love how full this arrangement is.

a sunflower for the end of Summer!

I hope you enjoyed looking at my pretty flowers! I enjoyed having them!

Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

Linking up with these fabulous link parties: The Scoop!, Inspire Me Tuesday, Wow us Wednesdays! What’s it Wednesdays, Centerpiece Wednesdays, Creative Ways,Tablescape Thursday, Treasure Hunt Thursday, Home Sweet Home , Feathered Nest Fridays,G’day Saturdays,

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Angelina July 7, 2014 antique

French Quimper Plate Find!

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Recently at the Pasadena Flea Market I found… a Quimper plate!

French Quimper Plate

It was the first thing I bought at the show… and can you guess how much I paid for it?

$2! Yep! TWO DOLLARS! That’s it! Can you believe it?

Based on the markings on the back of the plate, I believe it was made sometime between 1922-1968. Not too bad! Not antique, but definitely not new!

French Faience plates on the wall

I put the plate above this painting which is with my other Faience plates. Now that I put it above the painting… I think I may need some more to go above the painting as well? What do you think?

Here’s a picture of what the other plates look like up close: ( I remember we paid $40 for the set of four)

French faience plates

Hope you enjoyed my little flea market find.

If you have Quimper plates and would like to know more about the marks, check out THIS WEBSITE which has all the different marks on it.

I’ve linked up with:The Scoop! at Confessions of a Plate Addict/Stone Gable, Metamorphosis Monday’s at Between Naps on the Porch, Inspire Me Tuesday at a Stroll Thru Life, Do Tell Tuesday at a Vintage Zest, Wow us Wednesdays! at Savvy Southern Style, What’s it Wednesdays at Ivy & Elephants, Centerpiece Wednesdays at The Style Sisters , Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours, Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage, Home Sweet Home at the Charm of Home, G’day Saturdays at Natasha in Oz Sunday Best Showcase at Twigg Studios. Be sure to check out all of these fabulous blogging parties! A big thank you to all of the wonderful hosts!

Written at http://peoniesnandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

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Angelina June 26, 2014 French Country

French Baskets

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I’ve been meaning to blog about my French basket find for a little while now.

I purchased all three of these for $20 total. Aren’t they cute?

These reminded me of some baskets I have seen at Restoration Hardware.

They have replaced my ugly plastic waste baskets in the house!

I’ve linked up with:The Scoop! at Confessions of a Plate Addict/Stone Gable, Metamorphosis Monday’s at Between Naps on the Porch, Inspire Me Tuesday at a Stroll Thru Life, Do Tell Tuesday at a Vintage Zest, You’re Going to Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E, Wow us Wednesdays! at Savvy Southern Style, What’s it Wednesdays at Ivy & Elephants, Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours, Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage, The Charm of Home, Sunday Best Showcase at Twigg Studios. Be sure to check out all of these fabulous blogging parties! A big thank you to all of the wonderful hosts!

Written by http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

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Angelina June 18, 2014 French Country

French Country Tablescape Ideas!

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I’ve had my Summer tablescape up since, well, early May. However, down here it’s been feeling like Summer since April!

Let’s take a look at my French country table setting:

French country table with French rooster placemats, lavender, and green plates - Peonies and Orange Blossoms

French Country Table Setting

The dried lavender is from my parents’ garden. Smells great!
My Mother made me these great placemats quite some time ago. I was putting the Easter green plates away and set one on top of these placemats, and, voila! Turns out the green looked really good on them!

French Country Tablescape with lavender and hens

The faux-lavender in the Anduze pot is from my favorite little store in St. Helena in Napa Valley.

I love this French country table setting. Don’t know when I’m going to take it down!!

Do you have any French country table settings to share?

linking up at: amaze me monday Heart and Home Monday The Scoop! BNOTP Mon Inspire Me Tuesday Cooking and Crafting with J&J Wow us Wednesdays! Lehman Lane Moonlight and Mason Jars Share Your Style Thursday Favorite Things, Thoughts of Home Home Sweet Home Feathered Nest Fridays The DIY collective Craftberry Bush Foodie Friday & Everything Else Shabbylicious Friday Best of the Weekend Share it One More Time Sundays at Home Dishing it and Digging It

Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com/

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Angelina June 5, 2014 antique

Ultimate Guide: French Chairs, Louis style!

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I *love* French Louis chairs. However, there are four different types of Louis chairs. I see them frequently mislabeled so I’ve created a guide on how to tell the difference!

There were four French Kings named Louis and they each had a different style. The styles take us from Late Renaissance, to Baroque, to Rococo, to Neo-Classical style. The arm chairs of Louis XIII start of very throne-like, then they become very feminine and low to the ground, then eventually geometrical.

A guide to French Louis Style Chairs

Let’s get started…

Louis XIII chair style

Louis XIII (1610-1643) – Late Renaissance. These chairs have a straight back. They always have turned legs. They frequently have curved arms. On the bottom of the chair, they frequently have H form stretchers on the bottom to hold it together.

Louis XIII chair source

Louis XIII Chair source

Louis XIII chair source

Louis XIV chair style

Louis XIV (1643-1715) – Baroque. These chairs are more linear and more massive. Frequently they have motifs in tortoiseshell, gilt bronze or silver. Some may have classical motifs of fluting. These chairs were meant to impress! Remember, Louis XIV was the “Sun King” who built the Chateau de Versailles! He needed large chairs to fill up his large palace! He apparently had solid silver pieces but had to melt them down for a war. Shame! The chairs were also big to accommodate the fashions.

I think these are pretty similar to the Louis XIII style, but the easiest way to tell the difference is that these chairs never have turned legs.

Louis XIV Chair source

Louis XIV chair source

Louis XV chair style

Louis XV (1715-1774): Rococo. These chairs have S and C curves with the curved cabriole leg. They have lots of gilding and exotic motifs. They are more delicate and more feminine. Intimate. You’ll note that these arm rests became shorter to accommodate the large hoops in the women’s dresses of the time. The easiest way to tell these chairs apart is the curved cabriole leg.

Louis XV chair source

You’ll also note this bergere Louis XV chair looks very similar to the very last picture of my Louis XVI chairs but it has the cabriole leg.

Louis XV chair source

Now you’ll note this chair below looks similar to the Louis XVI style, but it still has cabriole legs so you know it’s Louis XV!

Louis XV chair source

Louis XVI Chair style

Louis XVI (1744-1972): Neoclassical. These chairs have tapered straight lines with fluted legs. They are decorated with fluted columns, oak and laurel leaf wreaths, and Greek patterns. They are trying to imitate furniture of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The easiest way to tell these apart is the fluted leg.

Louis XVI chair source

Louis XVI chair source met museum

And now for my Louis XVI bergere chairs… for more information see my blog post here.

Louis XVI bergere chairs

Now, let’s review:

Louis XIII: Late Renaissance turned legs

Louis XIV: Baroque pomp and rigidity.

Louis XV: Rococo intimate and feminine with cabriole legs

Louis XVI: Neoclassical elegance with fluted legs.

What style is your favorite? I like the Louis XV and XVI styles the best.

Here are some chairs I have rounded up that you can shop.

In the Louvre in Paris, there is a whole section dedicated to chairs! Visit HERE

chair museum Paris source

Check out my French chairs pinterest board and follow me here:

Sources:

1. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/louis-xvi-style-revolutionary-97088

2. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/style-glossary-the-louis-style-141762

3. http://www.designsponge.com/2009/09/french-chairs-diy-project.html

4.

Other chair pic sources:

1. yellow chair

2. sketches of the chair types

3. Louis XV chair

Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

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Angelina April 5, 2014 DIY projects

French Country Curtains

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Some exciting news!

I’ve got new curtains! Ever since I looked through my first Charles Faudree book, I fell in love with French country style. I have been trying to achieve that look, slowly but surely! I have had my eye on the Chelsea Textiles check linen for a long time. And… I finally got some!!

So let’s talk about the before. I had some burlap drop cloths as my drapes. It was cheap, on-trend with burlap, and cost a total of under $20. However… they are so boring. And, they aren’t really drapes. But they did the job.

BEFORE with burlap drop cloths:

Yes, the only picture I have of them is with the Halloween tablescape.

AFTER!! Oh my gosh I’m in love… with some fabric. I suppose that’s what happens when your mother is an antique linen collector… runs in the genes!

swooon, aren’t they pretty?

I love how they go with my French farmhouse table and French Louis XVI dining chairs!

Ok, now let’s talk about the process. First, my design goals are pretty much summed up on the cover of Charles Faudree’s French Country Signature. He has checks, toiles, French furniture, and antiques.

my favorite designer!

Another designer, Mario Buatta, uses check fabrics too. And hey! I just noticed the floral fabric on the bed is the SAME pattern I chose as a 5 year old to wallpaper my room. Talk about being stylish at age 5!

Mario Buatta

Ok, so I like checks on the curtains.

Next question, big checks or small checks?

Here’s a picture with smaller checks…

Cathy Kincaid

And larger checks…

John Stefinidis

After scouring the internet and my design books, I decided I wanted a large check for my curtains. I think the smaller checks get lost from further away and blend into one color.

Next question, what color?!

Well, we’re limited on colors based on the colors in the room. So, I started with the rug. Here are the 3 options I narrowed it down to.

Seafoam left, seamist center, sand right

Hmm, can’t decide. I think the Seamist looks the best. They all look good. Let’s look at it against the couch…

Seafoam left, seamist center, sand right

Well, geez, that didn’t help much. The seafoam looks a little too white. I like the sand the best.

Sand left, seafoam center, seamist right.

Well… the seafoam looks really good against my toile chairs.

The brown looked the best with everything… but brown is so boring! It’s not much change from the burlap that I had. Seamist in person looked the best with everything and it is the color I went with. It may be a little hard to tell in the pictures.

Ok, fabric ordered, time to make curtains! I want to give a shout-out to my mom, the best mom in the world. She can make curtains. I need to learn this from her. She said the secret to good curtains is a great sewing machine.

The Pfaff, our trusty Pferd (translation, Pferd = Horse in German!)

Choosing pleats… we went with the two finger. Debated between the two finger, French, and goblet.

This is where I came back in to help (besides picking the colors)… laying out fabric/measuring. Excuse the mess!

One side is up!

And now the other side. Love it!

Now I just need the paint the walls! Don’t these new drapes look great?

This is a picture from nighttime, so you can see how the colors change at night.

Slowly achieving my goal of decorating in the French country style. Toile French chairs? check. French dining chairs? Check. French farmhouse table? check. Check curtains? check. All I need is some transferware, more antiques, and a petit gâteau at the table and we’ll be good to go!

To read about my French toile chairs as pictured above, click here!

Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

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Angelina March 11, 2014 antique

Antique French Bergere Toile Chairs

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

My Favorite Toile Chairs!

I’m sharing with you my favorite chairs I have here in my house. It was a project that my mom and I took on one Summer.

We found a pair of antique chairs at one of our FAVORITE antique shops in Portland, Oregon “Harvey & Steve’s Gallery” . The only thing was… they were pretty beat up.

The previous owner of the chairs had a cat and the cat destroyed the fabric portion of the chairs.

That’s okay, that meant two things: 1. A good price and 2. we got to choose some new fabric!

We somehow gained access to the Seattle Design Center and had so much fun looking through all of the designer housewares, furniture, and fabric.

At the design center, I fell in love with Hodsoll Mckenzie’s “Ladies and Gents” toile pattern!

It’s funny, because I actually saw this fabric on a French bergere chair in either Veranda or Architectural Digest. I remember thinking at the time, I wish I could find that fabric. And then one day, I did!!!

Now, let’s take a look at the chairs!

the chairs

The fabric is a linen fabric in a soft blue/grey color in the background with a creme pattern. I think the chairs are from around the 1920s. Not super old, but it will do!

the fabric

A look at the back…

the back

I wish we had more fabric as Hodsoll Mckenzie no longer manufactures it. But it came at a premium price so I know why we don’t have more fabric!

I just love my bergere chairs so much! The fabric really is a home run.

love these chairs!

While I was googling the fabric, I found some other people using the same fabric.

I wish I could find the article when I first saw the fabric in a picture!

A guest room is draped in this blue-gray Hodsoll McKenzie toile. The wall is covered in the same fabric.<br/>

Notice they covered the wall in it, picture from http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/living/home/hgregents/23.html

UPDATE * This post was just featured at What’s It Wednesday #115 at Ivy & Elephants!

I’ve linked up with The Scoop!, Tablescape Thursday, Wow us Wednesdays!, Open House Party, Feathered Nest Fridays, Seasonal Sundays & Oh the places I have been, life of the party, the style sisters, Favorite Things Blog Hop, and What’s it Wednesdays. Be sure to check out all of these fabulous blogging parties! A big thank you to all of the wonderful hosts!

Written by Orange Blossom at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com

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Angelina September 9, 2013 French Country

Bed Cornices

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Bed Cornices

I LOVE bed canopies and cornices. I have been looking at inspiration recently to make my own bed cornice. Here’s the deal, my guest bedroom is really boring. I need SOMETHING to make it look better.

This looks nice! But not mine!

Now, here’s a picture of reality:

my BORING guest bedroom. No, there’s no bedframe. I can’t afford one right now! So, what else to do?!

I was thinking, since I can’t afford a bed frame and I *love* cornices, a cheaper alternative would be to make my own!

Here are the different type of bed canopies and cornices.

Different type of bed cornice/canopy options.

Let’s look at some inspiration!

Don’t you love this! Love the bed cornice! Also love the bed and the bedding. And the room.

Love this one as well.

While this one is decorated for Christmas, it seems very simple to be able to DIY.

What I love about this one is the sides of the cornice fabric are toile and the backdrop is a check. I would want to do the same thing. Or do one in all white.

Ok I’m noticing a pattern. I’m a sucker for blue and white bedrooms, French furniture, and toile!

This one seems really easy to DIY.

I love this! What a great day bed!

These cornices are something that I could probably easy copy with a DIY cornice idea I found on pinterest!

This was a DIY using curved curtain rods. The sheets of sheer fabric are attached to the curtain rod with ribbon. found on Pinterest.

A DIY cornice for a crib from My Love of Style

This was a DIY cornice. Tutorial here

This is an inverted wall shelf with fabric stapled to it.

a DIY cornice tutorial found here

OR you can buy a cornice. This one is $164 from the Bella Cottage. The Bella Cottage has a lot of cute shabby chic/French furniture too. You should check it out.

Sorry for the poor quality. I like this bed crown, it’s only $86, and it is in two of the above pictures I found up above!
It is here. They also sell a few other bed crowns that I like!

Why do I like bed cornices? Because they make you feel like a King/Queen! If you’re going to be King/Queen of your own Castle, you need to have a bed to prove it!

Marie Antoinette’s bed in Versailles

Marie Antoinette’s bed at the Petit Trianon. How CUTE is her room?! Home girl knows how to spend money.

Whew! That was quite a lot of bed cornices to look at! Which one is your favorite?
Follow Peonies & Orange Blossoms’s board Bedroom on Pinterest.

I’ve linked up with The Scoop! Visit Confessions of a Plate Addict blog, Tablescape Thursday at ‘Between Naps on the Porch’, Wow us Wednesdays! at Savvy Southern Style, Open House Party at no minimalist here, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, and life of the party at the grant life!

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Angelina July 31, 2013 French Country

Chelsea Textiles

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Let’s talk about a wonderful fabric and furniture company called Chelsea Textiles. I was first introduced to them when I was in the Seattle Design Center in the early 2000s when I stumbled into a beautiful wall of fabrics. Love at first sight!

Chelsea textiles produces hand embroidered fabrics. They reproduce designs from the 17th and 18th century in addition to more modern patterns. Let’s enjoy:

Tree of Life collection in faded moss, above. Don’t you like the deer in it? Chelsea Textiles is also known for the check printed fabric, as above on the bench.

The tree of life with birds, above. I love all of the colors!

Exotic tree collection, above. I love the one with the elephant!

These dog needlepoint pillows crack me up.

A close look at the tree of life pattern, upper left and right. A vine pattern bottom left, and an insect pattern bottom right.

And now for some inspiration at home:

All of the pictures above were taken from Chelsea Textiles website.

I would LOVE to have some curtains from their fabric. Someday I also hope to cover some chairs in their beautiful check fabric, like this:

When we were in London last year, we ventured over to the Chelsea Textiles showroom. It is a short walk from the Harrods in Knightsbridge. You walk through a beautiful neighborhood that looks like this:

As a souvenir, I hauled this pillow all the way back home, stuffed into my carry-on. Isn’t it lovely? I think most people in their twenties wouldn’t be hauling back fancy pillows from London.

But this… this is a lifetime pillow.

Look at the detail on the squirrel! (pictures above are my own)

As you can imagine, hand-embroidered delicate fabric by Chelsea Textiles costs an arm and a leg. For the tree of life curtains: your first born!!

Several years ago I purchased the below bedding set from Pottery Barn. Doesn’t it remind of you of some of the patterns of Chelsea Textiles?

It appears to be hand woven, but I don’t think it is.

The bedding pattern was called “Alissa”. You can still find it on eBay. I did not take a picture of my own bed because right now I have the summer bedding on… no comforters when it is 100 degrees outside!

Wasn’t that fun? Did you choose which cushion you would like? If you ever visit New York or London, visit their showroom! Or you can continue to drool online.

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Angelina July 23, 2013 French Country

Nursery Decorating Ideas and first blog post!

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Welcome to my new blog!

Hello! I’ve decided to create a blog about fashion, antiques, decorating, food, and whatever else is on my mind. After countless hours of deciding on a name, I’ve decided to go with Peonies and Orange Blossoms. Why? Well, peonies are my absolute favorite flower, and orange blossom is the scent of perfume that I wear! So, what’s on my mind today? The future new King of England!

I’m sure you are all aware that the Duchess of Cambridge, nee Kate Middleton, gave birth to Prince *he who does not yet have a name*. She came out of the hospital today, looking wonderful, of course. How would you like to just have a baby and come out of the hospital 30 hours later to have the whole world staring you down? No thanks. Her hair stylist was seen entering the hospital the night before. Who can blame her for that? Any guesses on the new name? I’m betting either George or Philip.

I wonder what the royal nursery will look like? Here are some nurseries worthy of a royal baby:

Mariah Carey’s Nursery, from Life & style magazine

source for above image

And below, the actual nursery for Queen Victoria’s children in the Isle of Wight

source for above image

DROOL. My favorite is the one above!

Restoration Hardware makes some beautiful cribs worthy of a royal baby

Roselle Crib

Which nursery is your favorite?

Alright, that should do it for now. Thank you for visiting and come again!

Google search terms:
nursery ideas
restoration hardware nursery cribs
nursery decorating ideas

Floral Arrangements in the Tulipiere

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French Quimper Plate Find!

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French Baskets

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French Country Tablescape Ideas!

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Ultimate Guide: French Chairs, Louis style!

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French Country Curtains

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Antique French Bergere Toile Chairs

My Favorite Toile Chairs!

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Bed Cornices

Bed Cornices

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Chelsea Textiles

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Nursery Decorating Ideas and first blog post!

Welcome to my new blog!

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