French Country is Out?

I went to a great presentation last month by Michael Boodro, the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE DECOR magazine.  He presented 25 years of interior design from the pages of Elle Decor, discussed design trends and his new book The Height of Style.  He focused on why some interiors are able to hold their appeal and others….Basically, what is in and what is OUT!

The presentation was held at the beautiful David Sutherland showroom at the D&D in New York.  Michael was a fabulous speaker and started the presentation with design styles that are out.

  
I was ready!  Pen and paper poised… 1) Bare, stark walls.  2) Shabby Chic, wrinkly slipcovers.  3) Ashtrays.  4) Tall, towering plants.  5) Mission furniture was out, but is coming back.  6) French Country/Pierre Deux.  Wait, WHAT?  French Country is out?

I went full French County in my dining room 10 years ago!  I found a Pierre Deux wallpaper in 1998 that I fell in love with and carried a tiny scrap of it around in my wallet until I could finally use it.

When we moved, I took full advantage and decorated my dining room in French County with a vengeance.  I found French County chairs at a consignment store (5 of one style and 5 of another),  cleaned and reupholstered them.

 
I used three fabrics: two Pierre Deux florals, one in blue and one in white, and a blue Pierre Frey for seat cushions.

I found old candle wall sconces and had them wired for lights.

Quirky porthole prints from 1826 are on one wall and an eagle from my grandmother is on the other.

 
My chandelier is an old French fixture that I found at Metrolina Flea Market in Charlotte.  I had it repaired and rewired.  I painted the ceiling Benjamin Moore Almond Bisque to match the flowers in the wallpaper.

 
Even though we don’t use the dining room enough, when the table is set and the candles are lit, I love it.

Michael ended the presentation by telling us about the biggest changes in interior design: kitchen’s and bathrooms taking over the house.  He showed us some amazing slides of kitchens and bathrooms 25 years ago and today.  Some of the new bathrooms are bigger than my little French Country dining room!

The Height of Style is a gorgeous book with photos of over 220 rooms by top decorators.  I am keeping my French Country dining room for now, and maybe if I hang onto it long enough, it will come back in!

the wry home