Ivory Pearl Interiors Blog

I love French beds!!!!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:52:00 +0000

Don’t you love French style beds? They are beautiful, romantic, girly and make a bedroom look like a boudoir!

French furniture and shabby chic furniture are luxurious and smart, but if you can only invest in one item, a French bed will add a touch of style and class to any bedroom.

These are some of my all time favourite French beds. Tell me what you think of them!

Pure dramatic Parisian luxury: Moulin Noir Bed

One of my all times favorite: Rococo bed

Beautiful Louis XV Black Rattan Bed

A French Headboard is a great choice if you already have a divan bed.

A French bed to die for: Moulin Noir 4 Poster Bed

Iconic furniture

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:22:00 +0000

There are some pieces of furniture that are so iconic that most people can recognise them and name them.
Here are a few photos. Can you recognise and name any of them?

Barcelona mirrored dressing table

Eames chair

Barcelona stool

What other iconic items should be here?
Let us know!

Crazy about shabby chic furniture

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:39:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I just LOVE shabby chic furniture!
I know it’s a style with a lot of followers, but it really doesn’t make sense, does it? We shouldn’t like anything shabby, it’s not logical, but somehow we love this French style furniture that is called 'shabby chic'.

Shabby chic and pink! What a girly combination!

I guess it is because - in a way - we can turn our home into an old French house, with beautiful pieces of French furniture that look like they have witnessed the passage of time, generation after generation, and have acquired that priceless natural distressed and antique look.

In the 21st century, there are too many modern and new things around us, so a bit of shabby chic furniture is a breath of fresh air. Everything doesn’t have to shine and look like it’s brand new, engineered and manufactured following the latest technology advances.
An old and distressed look is soooo very nice, specially with a French touch!

Are you a fan of shabby chic furniture?
Let me know your comments!

The retro look – A Vintage revival

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Interior design, just like fashion and music, has its trends, and sometimes these trends come and go, and then come back again. For example, 80s music is fashionable again, and 1920’s couture is so en vogue nowadays.
The vintage look in our homes is something very popular now too. It’s lovely to mix some retro looking items with modern ones to bring a more contemporary feel. Ideally, the retro items should be recognisable and iconic to ensure you achieve a wow factor. An iconic design is the Barcelona chair. Designed by Mies Van der Rohe in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the Ibero-American Exposition, the chair was named ‘Barcelona’ as that was the city hosting the exposition. The shape of its legs has been an inspiration for many other pieces, such as the Barcelona stool, the Barcelona mirrored dressing table, and many other.

A modern bedroom may be cold and uninspiring, but placing a Barcelona mirrored dressing table with a matching Barcelona stool will add that glamorous touch of retro sophistication. The mirrored surfaces will reflect the light and will add depth and brightness to the room, making it more attractive and welcoming.
Mirrored furniture first appeared during the 1930’s. Art-deco style embraced Mirrored furniture and made it extremely popular. Nowadays, many manufacturers, inspired by the designs of the Art Deco period, produce fine pieces of mirrored furniture ideal for our modern homes. A mirrored chest of drawers or a mirrored cabinet are stunning items that belong to the 1930’s just as well as the 21st century.

And why not choosing a Chesterfield sofa for your living room? That’s another old design that we have embraced in the last few years.
These trends are also noticeable in home accessories. Vintage looking lamps are more fashionable than ever: Arco floor lamp, Tripod Director’s floor lamp, etc…

The key lies on not overdoing it. You have to choose a few retro looking items and combine them with modern ones. It needs to look natural, not forced or exaggerated.

How to achieve an elegant and comfortable living room

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Your living room is by far the most used and lived in room in the house. It’s where you relax and watch TV, where you entertain and look after your guests, where you sit down and enjoy chatting to friends and family.
Basically, it’s one of the very few places in your home where you share your life with everyone else.
That’s why, decorating, furnishing and dressing your living room is one of the most important tasks in interior design. A living room or family room needs to be comfortable, well lit up, welcoming, warm and functional. It shouldn’t be bland or boring. Ideally you want it to be that room you feel at ease in, a room you love spending your free time in.
In order to achieve all of these, it’s important to choose the right furniture and the right home accessories, but above all, it’s essential to be able to combine them in a harmonious and elegant way.
To start with, a lick of paint will definitely help. Giving a fresh look to your walls will give you a blank canvas to do your interior design magic. A nice touch is to paint one wall in a different colour, as a feature.
Then you should move onto the floors. A nice rug, a natural cowhide or a beautiful goat skin will give warmth and elegance.

Now you can focus on furniture and accessories.
Let’s start with furniture. If you already have some furniture, there is no need to discard it. You can use it, and combine it with some other new pieces. French furniture is glamorous and elegant, so incorporating a Louis XV style armchair or a Chateau style side table by the sofa will change the mood of the room.
A great way to update the style of your living room is using new and beautiful accessories such as mirrors. If you have a fireplace, a beautiful overmantle mirror is a great option.

Lighting is an extremely important part of interior design. The way you light up your living room is essential. Bright rooms cheer people up, so make sure the lamps and chandeliers you choose make your living space justice.
Table lamps are a great option too. They bring concentrated light to certain parts of the room, and they are highly decorative.
To finish off, some nice home accessories are a great option. A beautiful candelabra or a nice painting on the wall are nice details that everybody appreciates.

Look out for us in this months Vogue and on everywoman.com

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

We've had a busy couple of weeks since our last post at Ivory Pearl Interiors but fear not we are back!

We are very happy to be in this months issue of Vogue which has just hit the newsstands with a number of items from our Silver Furniture range which is oh so popular at the moment.

We're also featured at www.everywoman.com a fantastic online resource for female entrepreneurs and women business owners. Their founders have just been made MBEs no less so we are in good company and wish them all the best.

Just before we sign off, have you managed to fill that empty space in your reception ? that lonely corner of your lounge ?

We thought not ! Well we have just the thing, how about your own fab Mannequin? She really is adorable and needs a nice bright home this summer.

The Ivory Pearl Team

Happy Easter from Ivory Pearl Interiors

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:11:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

All the team at lvory Pearl Interiors wish our friends and customers a very happy and relaxing Easter break wherever you are.

We are going to be bringing some exciting new finds to the shop after the break. To give you a sneak preview have a look at our new collection Papillon, in our Silver Furniture range. We love it and we are sure you will to.

Our photographer is going to be a busy and happy bunny in the next couple of weeks.

Kind regards,

lvory Pearl Interiors

Baroque 1620-1800, Style in the Age of Magnificence

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:29:00 +0000

Baroque style inspired stool

The fantastic V&A museum in London are hosting a great exhibition from the 4th of April until the 19th of July showcasing the grandeur of the Baroque style

The name of the exhibition: “Baroque 1620-1800, Style in the Age of Magnificence”.

Nowadays, Baroque is considered the first style to have a significant impact all over the world.

When talking of Baroque, people immediately think of architecture, art, music, sculpture, but somebody like me, crazy about interior design, also thinks about furniture.

In the 17th century, Baroque style finally saw the birth of refined furniture, more symmetrical, with smooth lines and exquisite details. Overall, furniture became more flowing and harmonious in design.

Baroque furniture had a heavy Asian influence due to the trading relations between several European countries – such as England and Portugal – and India as well as the Far East. That’s why, the predominant taste for “Oriental” elaboration made craftsmen across Europe imitate the Asian decorative techniques.

Italian Baroque furniture was elegantly carved, finished in gold leaf, decorated with cupids, shells, cherubs and foliage.
In France, many furniture items were lavishly covered by tortoiseshell and brass, creating intricate patterns. Gilded bronze was also used as ornament.

In England, new processes took over the techniques of the 16th century. Marquetry became a real art, creating lavish and intricate floral pattern n furniture surfaces.

Overall, Baroque style saw the birth of new forms of furniture, more practical and comfortable, such as chaises longues, chairs upholstered in velvet and silk, writing desks, etc…

I am visiting this amazing the exhibition at the V&A this Easter weekend, and hopefully a small part of the exhibition will be dedicated to Baroque furniture

But whether Baroque furniture has an important role I this exhibition or not, I am convinced it’s worth visiting!

HISTORY OF FRENCH FURNITURE

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:58:00 +0000

For all those people out there who, just like me, feel passionate about French furniture, here is an interesting summary of French furniture history. This may help you choose the perfect French furniture item! Have a read and enjoy it!

1300 -1500 - Medieval Style
Furniture from this period is often described as “Gothic”. This is an obscure period dominated by rectangular shaped furniture, heavily carved, and made of solid oak.

1500 -1610 - Renaissance Style
During this period, furniture is still heavily carved, with the introduction of pillars and columns framing the furniture pieces. This period includes the Reign of Henri III (1547 – 1559).

1610 - 1643 - Louis XIII Style
During the reign of Louis XIII, craftsmen started the use of turned wood to form legs, stretchers and decorative columns, as well as mouldings, especially in diamond shaped patterns. The period saw the introduction of the French armoire, which took over from general chests of drawers.

1643-1715 - Louis XIV Style - BAROQUE
Louis XIV – “le Roi Soleil” – ruled from 1643 to 1715, the longest reign of any European monarch. Also known as ‘Le Grand Monarque’, he declared himself the Church and the State.
The reign of the French king Louis XIV commences what I would call the start of 'elegant' furniture design in France. French furniture became more refined in design, less bulky, with a lot more emphasis on flowing, symmetrical design. Louis XIV saw the birth of Baroque style. The Versailles Palace was decorated in a strong, dramatic and exuberant style echoing the king’s strong leadership in a period of war and colonial empire building. The French classical Baroque style was grand and impressive, a symbol of the king’s power.

1715-1723 - Regency Style
When Louis XIV died in 1715, his five year old great-grandson, whose parents and brother had passed away, became Louis XV. As he was too young to take the throne, his uncle Philippe, the Duke of Orleans, was appointed Regent until the king attained legal majority in 1723. The transitional period between the opulent baroque period and the less formal rococo era of Louis XV became known as French Regence (or Regency).
The Regency style is very much a transitory period in which pieces from the Louis XIV period were transformed by the use of bronze fittings rather than reinvented. This period refined Louis XIV designs to be more practical and comfortable for every day use. The Duke of Orleans introduced an era of lighter, more graceful French furniture. The beginnings of the Louis XV style start here, with the flowing curves, scallop shell and acanthus leaf we associate with the Louis XV Rococo style becoming prominent.

1723-1774 – Louis XV Style - ROCOCO
Regarded by many as the Golden Age of French furniture, Louis XV’s reign was a time of peace and prosperity, and soon became one of the greatest periods in French furniture design: Rococo style. It was frivolous and decadent, just like the King Louis XV and his official mistress Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, also known as Madame de Pompadour. The Parisian aristocracy embraced new furniture items, such as the chaise longue and the “bergere chair”. Frames were usually gilded or painted. The rococo style featured love, music and nature-inspired motifs and themes, including shells, waves, birds, foliage, vines, flowers, seaweed, rocks and serpents, along with nymphs and cherubs, plus farming motifs like corn and wheat. Ribbons with streamers and hearts were also fashionable.
Towards the end of the Louis XV period, French furniture became perhaps too decadently rococo, with curves everywhere, no symmetry and lavish decoration.

1774-1789 – Louis XVI Style – NEO-CLASSICAL
Rococo began to be considered frivolous and a classical revival was inspired by the discovery of Pompeii in 1748 – the resulting style became known as neo-classicism or the classical revival. Designers also looked back to the more architectural French furniture of the Louis XIV period.
Curves were replaced with crisp, clean straight lines, but with fabulously carved detail running the length of the piece. Corners of tables and cabinets were square instead of rounded, legs were straight. Commodes and bookcases took on more angular forms.
Oak was used widely for solid carvings and carcasses, walnut, ash and burled walnut was used for seating. Mahogany also became popular during this period and can be used both as a carcass wood for painted pieces and as a veneer. Ebony and satinwood was also often used during this period. Gilded wood became popular again, and was used for ceremonial chairs and mirrors.
Bows, sashes, garlands and floral bouquets were popular adornments.

1789-1804 – Directoire Style
This style of French furniture takes its name from one of the elected groups that held office after the French Revolution in 1789. Monarchy officially ended in 1789 and in 1793 Louis XVI was executed by guillotine.
Directoire style was mainly a continuation of the Louis XVI, although designs became simplified and austere. It represented a break away from the lavish royal styles of the past. Geometric patterns were less extravagant and classical Greek themes became popular ornamental designs, with the sphynx, and Greek style tureens and medallions used. Painted furniture continued to be popular, often with highlighted features, and was generally constructed in beech.

1804-1815 – Empire Style
In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor, ending years of political instability. The Empire period dawned. The economy was booming and a new “haute bourgeoisie” and aristocracy was forming.
Empire furniture is typically sombre and architectural. Bold symmetrical designs replaced ornate carvings and rounded romantic shapes. Designs were often defined by architectural elements such as columns and pilasters. Mahogany, rosewood and ebony were used, and marble tops were popular.
Classic Empire furniture pieces have bold, protruding circular columns either side of the piece of furniture, from beds, armoires, night stands, tables, they all carry this feature through, often adorned with bronze circular cartouches.

1815-1830 – Restoration Style and Charles X
Napoleon’s love of empire and conquest led to his downfall. He abdicated in 1814 following heavy military losses and defeat. The French restored the monarchy, reinstating Charles X. The royalty and aristocracy wanted to return to their previous luxurious Royal lifestyle. This marked a return to delicate, rounded forms, and fine decoration in furniture. At the same time the middle class was on the rise, reflecting growing prosperity and providing an increasing demand for furniture. The massive forms and geometric styling of Empire furniture continued, but the harsh contours became softer and a playful touch was added.

1830-1848 – Louis-Philippe Style
By 1830 Charles X "had fallen from favor and was overthrown during three days of fighting known as Les Trois Glorieuses". Louis Phillipe, Duke of Orleans, became France’s new leader. He managed both royalists to his right and radicals to the left, while sympathising with the bourgeois class. Until now furniture had been sold piece by piece. The Industrial Revolution brought new production processes, and craftsmen began to make furniture sets for the bedroom and dining room.
Although the period 'ends' in 1848, the form of the style continues into the Second Empire, and much of the furniture from that period is often referred to as being Louis-Philippe in style. "Lits bateaux" continue to develop and form the shape we now commonly refer to as “sleigh beds”. Many pieces take on a rounded shape as machine tools become widespread and allow easy and speedy execution of that shape, thus explaining why these pieces are more widely available and more affordable. Mirrors are developed, and the classic 'rounded corner' design becomes popular, and continues to be used for many years.

1848-1870 – Second Empire Style
This refers to the period in which Louis Napoleon, Bonaparte’s nephew, declared himself emperor as Napoleon III. Second Empire was very much a continuation of the Louis-Philippe style, but later in the period the influences of the Renaissance, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles become prevalent: An eclectic mix of styles were inspired by the past 500 years.
There was a move away from skilled handmade pieces to furniture created by mechanical process. French furniture was mass produced and affordable. Styles and processes from other countries were more accessible too.

1870-early 1900's
A continuation of the diverse range of styles from the Second Empire, this period typifies the French Belle Epoque, with large quantities of elaborate furniture being produced to satisfy the demand of this wealthy period in French history.
From around 1890 to 1920 the Art Nouveau movement was expressed in a range of art forms from furniture, architecture and interior design to posters, textiles, pottery and glass.  This style was named after “La Maison de l’Art Nouveau”, a shop opened in Paris in 1896 by art dealer Siegfried Bing. Motifs were taken from sources as varied as Japanese prints and Gothic architecture creating thus a highly decorative style with fantastical elements.  Art Nouveau was also used for interior design, Maxim’s Restaurant in Paris being the best example. Tiffany lamps illustrate Art Nouveau’s ornate flowing lines.
Sadly the French Belle Epoque came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of World War I.

Art Deco  
Art Deco simplified the elaborate Nouveau style. Although the movement started around 1910, the term Art Deco was only used in 1925 at the Paris design exhibition. Shapes were elegant and sophisticated, featuring bold geometric designs. Interior designers experimented with exotic woods and new finishes and materials including metals, mother-of-pearl, ivory, wrought iron, unusual wood veneers, lacquers and plastics. Inspiration was taken from geometric forms, as well as motifs from ancient Egypt and the Empire and Louis XVI periods. As products became more mass-produced, the style became more geometrical and linear. The US took over from France as the spiritual centre of the movement. Art Deco declined in the 1930’s with the Second World War, but has enjoyed a revival since the 1960s. 

Country French  
Country French furniture style doesn’t refer to a historical period, but to a way of life. It draws from many eras, and represents relaxed country living. Designs are found in the country homes of Normandy and Provence. Large farm tables with ladder back chairs are typical of Country style.

We hope that this will help to inform and enhance your shopping experience with Ivory Pearl Interiors. With this article we try to cover the main characteristics of each period, but it’s important to understand that there was much overlapping of styles. French furniture designs changed and filtered through to the regions, sometimes not arriving until 50 years later. And although Paris was the epicenter of each style, the provinces had their own styles too, such as the Alsace style, characterised by ornately painted furniture. 

Cleaning white painted French furniture

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:04:00 +0000

We all know how incredibly popular white painted furniture is nowadays. Commonly called shabby chic, hand-painted furniture –finished in white or cream- is a bestseller.

To achieve a more antique look, craftsmen can hand-paint the furniture through a process to lend a distressed appearance.
Looking after your painted furniture properly is essential to keep its crisp and original colour, and will enhance the beauty of your furniture.

Take note of the following tips:

1. Everyday Care 
Painted French furniture is extremely easy to keep clean. Use a cloth dampened with water to dust or wipe clean your furniture. But watch out, make sure you don’t leave water spots on the surface, as they'll dry and could leave permanent marks. So use a dry cloth afterwards to absorb any water on the furniture.
You can also use a mixture of hot water and a tiny bit of liquid dishwashing detergent to rub off light stains. Immediately after, wipe off the surface with a dampened cloth and pat dry.

2. Special Care
 
If your piece of painted french furniture has stubborn stains or nicks and scratches on it, you can gently sand down any mars, taking care not to damage more painted finish than you have to. Sandpaper can damage painted furniture if used excessively, so only sand stains as a last resort.
I am a big fan of white shabby chic furniture, so I have my very own personal preferences: Instead of using fine grain sandpaper, I prefer fine steel wool, which is far more gentle on painted surfaces. My advice is to always test an unseen area first to see if the sandpaper or steel wool removes luster or reveals darker paint under the surface.
If a lot of sanding was necessary and the colour or texture of the surface has changed, you will need to add a fine lick of paint. Match the paint as best as you can or select a new color of paint to restore the piece to near-perfect condition. Only use specific wood paint on your furniture. Add an oil or wax finish for greatest protection.

Remember, the best maintenance is cherishing your French furniture

How to look after marble surfaced furniture

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:15:00 +0000

Hello friends,

As you may know, the use of marble in furniture, and particularly French furniture is very popular.

Marble and marble veneers are a beautiful accent to fine French furniture and will last a lifetime. Marble is a natural and noble material that brings grandeur to your home. It varies in colour, texture and veining, which make every furniture item absolutely unique. Versailles style furniture pieces such as console tables, nightstands, writing desks and coffee tables are usually covered with a beautiful marble top.
Caring for your marble surfaces and maintaining its noble and elegant features properly will enhance the beauty of your furniture and will provide you with years of enjoyment.

Take note of the following tips:

• Wipe off spills immediately.
• Use coasters on table tops under beverages: Acidic juices can etch the marble surface leaving dull spots.
• Use a cleaner and polish specifically formulated for marble surfaces.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners such as powders: they will scratch marble.
• Avoid using bleach on marble: it does not remove stains and may change its colour. Instead, use hydrogen peroxide or ammonia to remove stains.
• Waxing your marble surfaces is a great way to prevent damage, but watch out, wax on white marble could cause yellowing.
• Refer deep scratches to a professional.

We hope you will find these recommendations useful. See you next week with more furniture care advice. Have a lovely week!

Happy New Year !

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:44:00 +0000

To all of our valued customers and friends, Happy New Year 2009!

Here is to serving all your French furniture needs in the new year.

Kind regards,

The Ivory Pearl Team

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (The Ivory Pearl Team) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Well, this is a big welcome message from the The Ivory Pearl Team @ www.ivorypearlinteriors.com.

Over the next coming months we'll be posting some of the exciting and unique products we find at the wealth of furniture shows that start in January / February in Paris/Spain and Italy.

We will be bringing them to the store in 2009 and welcome all your comments and feedback,

Kind regards and Merry Christmas

The Ivory Pearl Team