From the Floors Up

Decorating with Paris Flea Market Style

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Shopping in Paris is a dream for decorators and design lovers. Wandering around Paris flea markets, finding antiques and treasures, and decorating your home with your finds might not be a possibility for you. But this doesn’t mean you can’t decorate your home in French flea market style.  There are many online resources that import French antiques as well as local merchants and flea markets that have similar furniture and objects to the French markets.

French flea market style is an eclectic style that mixes antiques, salvage and garden decorations to create a romantic, nostalgic style room.  Imperfections are welcome as they show age and give character to furniture and objects alike.  Flea market finds in artwork can decorate your walls with beautiful still life or anonymous portraits.  Transforming finds into something new is also a hallmark of French flea market style. For example, a wood urn can be turned into a table lamp.

Anderson | Tuftex Kensington Color: Pembridge

French grays and beiges create a neutral but sophisticated palette. Pale wood floors or painted wood floors work well with this style, as do faded antique or vintage rugs.

Look at blogs and magazines that feature French flea market style for inspiration. Build your collection one piece at a time for a beautiful room inspired by the flea markets of Paris.

Design Inspiration: Blue and White China

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Design inspiration can come in the form of many things.  You can find rooms to inspire you on blogs, on TV, Pinterest, and in magazines. Taking inspiration from different elements in a designer room allows you to create a room that’s uniquely you.  Other design inspiration can come from objects.  A painting, a fabric, a piece of china can all inspire a room design.  One classic source of design inspiration is blue and white china.

Blue and white china has been inspiring interiors for hundreds of years. First imported from China, blue and white porcelain was coveted throughout Europe. It created a design craze that resulted in Europeans replicating the porcelain and colors into their own unique designs.  You’ll find blue and white porcelain, ceramics and pottery from a number of European countries, including Holland, England and France.

Both the color and patterns of this famous china can inspire design throughout the home. Textiles and rugs are two of the many design elements influenced by blue and white china.  Patterns and colorways replicate the designs on the china. Wallpaper is another place you’ll find blue and white inspired designs.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles used for floors and backsplashes are other materials inspired by blue and white china. Delft tiles from Holland date back hundreds of years and are still being produced today. These can be used in kitchens and baths as accents or backsplashes.

The classic combination of blue and white can work in any decorating style from traditional to transitional. Look around your home for objects that inspire you.

Adding Pops of Color

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If you follow design shows on TV or read design blogs (like this one), you’ll be familiar with the beloved “pop of color” used by designers.  The pop of color is that burst of accent color that adds life and energy to a design.  It can be a single color, contrasting colors, or multicolored. These pops are typically accent pieces and accessories.  Even a large piece of furniture in a color can be a pop of color if it is in a neutral space. More commonly the pop of color is something small that can easily be swapped out for another object, should the mood strike.

In this living room, predominate colors are neutral.  Neutral color upholstery on the chair, neutral wall colors, and the neutral carpet make for an almost monochromatic room. The dark brown TV stand/cabinet creates a focal point for the room.

While layers of tonal colors can feel sophisticated and chic, interest in this room comes from the small pops of color.  The purple accent pillow on the chair and area rug add a nice layer of color. The green and red bottles as décor on the TV stand/cabinet also add more depth.  Any of these colors can be swapped out and the effect would be the same.

Art on the wall introduces other colors to the room and becomes its’ own pop of color. The fact that the painting colors don’t perfectly match the other accent colors makes the combination more interesting and less matchy-matchy.

Let Unique Elements Spark Your Home

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Are you fortunate enough to have some unique furniture or accessories to add character to your home, but aren’t really sure how to incorporate them into your more standard décor? With some effort, they can add a strong element of the exotic while still working with your current pieces.

First, see them as accent pieces. Look for a space in your home that can let this chest shine. A foyer or some other transition space such as a stair landing or the separation between your living and dining room will allow you to showcase a piece like this without having other furniture near that might lead to comparisons unfavorable to one or both.

The candlesticks are tall and heavy, so be sure to find a spot that can handle their size without looking flimsy or small in comparison. These fit nicely placed on the floor, as shown in the photo.

Keep the lanterns and candlesticks in separate rooms. The similarities yet differences of the two makes placing them apart a better option. Also, since all tones are brown and gold, including the carpet, one or more area rugs with jewel tones and an oriental style would help pull everything together while adding color.

The painting is lovely and beautifully framed. It would shine above a fireplace or a dining room – somewhere that guests can enjoy it from a distance and up close. Spend time finding just the right spot for something this special.

Enjoy your unique pieces and let them shine in your home. They will add charm and personality to your living space.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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