Back in the 60s when, as a teenager a month out of high school, I married my first husband, French provencial was all the rage in home furnishings. There was a department store in Birmingham, Loveman's, where everyone loved to shop. That's where my husband and I bought our bedroom suit, a Bassett Versailles design. The magazine ad above shows a set just like mine in cherry. I have the bed, large dresser, and a chest of drawers not shown. I don't have the vanity. My MIL later bought the dining room set in the ad and living room furniture in the same style not shown. I have her end tables from her living room.
I've kept that furniture all these years. And that's what's in my guest room that I'll be redoing in the coming weeks. A bed just like the one in the ad is what my blue quilt that I showed you yesterday will go on.
My furniture really needs refinishing I suppose. But I'm not up for that right now. So I'm going to give it a good treatment with my Old English Lemon Oil and call it good.
I like Country French, or French Country (I can never remember which it is). I also like Country Cottage. So I figure I can combine my French Provencial furniture with those two styles and throw in a little Susan with it and make it work.
I've been searching for blue-and-white bedrooms online, but I can't find one even close to what I'm thinking of. So I might have to totally rely on my imagination this time. If you have any blue bedroom photos to share, I would sure like to see them. The photos below, although not exactly what I'm thinking, are nevertheless inspirational, so I'll share.
This photo indicates that green can also look great with blue. But I think I'm going to stick with red or raspberry.
They made a lot of French Provencial in white during the 60s and 70s. I've thought of painting mine white, but that was before I swore off painting entirely.
Very French, I think.
Ooops! Back to green and pink.
What I love about this photo: the banner across the window that looks like either vintage hankies or vintage linens. But the room looks way too crowded for my taste. I do, however, want one of those wicker breakfast-in-bed tray thingies. I saw one at the store where I bought my pink chairs. Wish I had got it now.
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On 04/08/2010, Debi said ...
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Try this link. She has some great things in her house.
On 04/08/2010, Vicki W said ...
Yesterday when you said that the furniture was French Provential from the early '60s, I thought "Hmmm, that's interesting because my furniture is FP from the early '60's". Because now that I pay attention you your photo IT'S THE VERY SAME FURNITURE THAT I HAVE IN MY GUEST ROOM! I am from Bassett, VA where the furniture was made. My uncle worked there and he and my Aunt had that furniture. When I was 16 they were remodeling and they gave the set to me. I still have it and I sleep there when Chris is snoring too loud. I have the bed, dresser, chest and 2 night stands. It's in pretty rough shape but I still love it. Some day I will find someone who needs furniture and will cherish it like I have because I'd really prefer to have a queen bed in the guest room! Once, about 20 years ago I saw a craft idea in a magazine about repainting furniture and it was that dresser that they had painted. I was horrified that someone would paint solid cherry furniture! They really don't make furniture like that anymore! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
On 04/08/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
I well remember FP and AMIL has end tables and a coffee table in that style.
Blue and brown (on the furniture) looks so nice together and I imagine you'll be pleased with how your guest room comes together. Is there room for an upholstered chair? Do you need a bed skirt?
I think plates on the wall would look French and Cottage Country and just plain charming. Do you need plate hangers?
Please call the store where you got the cute chairs to see if they still have the bed tray!
Hugs!
On 04/08/2010, Jan said ...
Love your ideas for the Guest Room Susan and I think the added "red" will be the absolute perfect touch! "Red" happens to be one of my favorite colors, so that choice was right up my alley :) Can't wait till you get started!
On 04/08/2010, Bro. AJK said ...
Like Vicki, I have some of that same furniture. When my community moved, I took the hutch for a bookcase and the sideboard for threads and other sewing stuff.
On 04/08/2010, Jen in NY said ...
My parents had the same type of bedroom furniture...although it was white with gold accents...never knew it was called French Provincial! Those blue and white rooms you showed are so pretty...it's such a clean color scheme. I like the idea of the red thrown in.
On 04/08/2010, Jen in NY said ...
My parents had the same type of bedroom furniture from the 60s...although it was white with gold accents...never knew it was called French Provincial! Those blue and white rooms you showed are so pretty...it's such a clean color scheme. I like the idea of the red thrown in too!
On 04/08/2010, KAI said ...
It's such fun seeing all these possibilities! But the REAL fun is watching YOU examine and carry out YOUR possibilities! You are transitioning and I can literally FEEL Vann smiling and hear him saying, "THAT'S my girl!" LOVE YOU SO MUCH, SUSAN!
On 04/08/2010, jeanne said ...
I love French Country or Country French too. Blue and white is how I decorated my guest bedroom in the cabin. I also added yellow. I do love those colors. I just don't get tired of it. I think the furniture isn't as important as the decorating and your furniture will be perfect. The linens are the focus in my way of thinking. Concentrate on lovely fabrics to make your colors pop and you will have a lovely makeover. Painting the walls is huge too. No one will even notice the furniture just the walls and linens etc. that also include the right prints or paintings. I can't wait to see the finished room.
Hugs, Jeanne
On 04/09/2010, Pat said ...
Very inspirational! Love the cherry finish - I'm thinking leave it as is. It's quality and an heirloom! I have my MIL's bed (maple) that she ordered from Sears before she married at 20 and she is 91! Wouldn't touch it with a paintbrush... I like the raspberry color idea, too.
On 04/10/2010, Suze said ...
OH MY...I have that furniture set as well..when DH and I were getting married and were building our furniture collection, my Granny gave us the name of a lady whose Dad had to go into a nursing home and was getting rid of his furniture..we got the bed, the dresser and mirror and one night stand and two gold velvet chairs for $150..the lady said she was using the other night stand as a telephone stand in her house and that we could have it if she ever redecorated..but we lost touch with her...
Our set is still in good condition..I use Howards RestorAFinish on my wood pieces every so often and that keeps them looking nice..(its not any harder to use than furniture polish..)
On 04/12/2010, Mimi said ...
Bassett Furniture! I used to see that in the pages of Seventeen Magazine and when i was 16, I got a Bassett bed, dresser and bedside table for my birthday. It was a four-poster bed, and my mother has it now - she always wanted one, and I guess that's how I ended up with one as a teenager. It was very simple - maple - with clean lines. This post brings back memories.
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