Today’s French event is about French fabrics.
So how can you give your home a French accent using fabric?
NOTE: Most traditional French fabrics are vibrant and colorful, but today I’m talking more about how to give your home a French feel using neutral fabrics. Go to the blogs mentioned at the end of the post, if you want to see more vivid colors. Now onto the post.
TIP 1: The fabric doesn’t actually have to be from France to look French.
It just needs to evoke a French feeling. Not many of my fabrics are actually from France. Much of the linen fabric I use for my slipcovers came actually from Italy.
TIP 2: Tapestry
French fabrics include a range of fabrics from rustic, simple homespun linen to fine silk and tapestries. That is why often country French design is completely different look from refined French style . On a recent trip to Paris, I didn’t see any rustic fabrics on furniture, everything was shiny and shimmery. And in the South of France, the Provencal colors are bright reds, blues, and yellow.
TIP 3. Drop cloth
I like to use homespun linen, and some cottons when sewing. If you are on a budget, drop cloth fabric (from the hardware store) works in a pinch. I used drop cloth fabric for the bedding at our tree house. Why waste linen there, when the animals might tear it up?
TIP 4: Linen.
Linen is my favorite type of fabric to work with. It has a look that is impossible to replicate with other fabrics. Yes it wrinkles like crazy, but those wrinkles are what tell you it’s the real deal. If the fabric content includes synthetics, I prefer to keep moving. I grew up forced to wear polyester, because it ‘didn’t wrinkle’ and I hope to never see it ever again.
TIP 5: French ticking
So what is French ticking? It’s striped cotton or linen fabric that looks like it could have been used on a mattress. Remember it doesn’t have to actually be on a mattress or actually French.
TIP 6: Toile
I don’t really think I need to explain this one. Toile screams French.
TIP 7. Use textiles from France.
As I said before, the fabrics don’t have to be from France, but if you can find a few to use, they are a lovely addition. The bedding rolled up at the foot of my bed is an antique French coverlet.
See the beautiful embroidered detail? And it is linen!
TIP 8. Lace
I love lace and it does give a room a quiet elegance. Just… don’t use too much. We don’t want so much lace in a room, that a man would be uncomfortable there.
TIP 9. Grain sacks
Some may see them as trendy, but I don’t. They are a classic in my book. The rustic fabric has so much character, especially the ones with a monogram. They look fabulous stuffed with a pillow, or used to make a chair cushion or for upholstering a chair.
I hope this gave you lots of ideas for your home.
Please join the other blogs on the tour today.
Great tips, Anita and I adore the coverlet from France rolled up at the end of your bed.
Thanks Kim.
Your beautiful fabrics make such a lovely addition to your home, Anita! I love the look of linen, too! I’m enjoying being a part of our design group! Hugs…Debbie
I’m enjoying it also Debbie.
Love it all!
I am sharing today Anita on FB. Love french fabrics. Great tips! Big hugs! Happy Sunday!
Denise thank yo so much!
Luv your use of linen. I am also a cotton and linen girl. Wrinkles and all!!
Anita this was a wonderful post and I just pinned away!
Thanks Kathy Sue!!
I love all this and it’s certainly given me some ideas. A question. Your bedspread on your bed, what is it made out of?
Jane
I think it’s cotton. It’s a vintage bedspread Jane.
Love your french fabrics Anita!
How do I get the French Source PDF and other PDF pubications? I already get blog posts and emails but never got them.
Vikki I just emailed those to you.
Great tips Anita for achieving the look of authentic French fabrics without buying them in France…but I have to say that I HEART that French coverlet at the end of your bed!!!….
I agree that grain sacks are definitely not trendy. I absolutely love them for pillows and table runners.
Pat
What lovely, inspiring images. Such great tips.
I just returned from France where I toured the Les Olivades factory and went to the Souleiado fabric museum. I am sharing the history of Provençal fabric and the images from my time in Provence that you might enjoy on my blog today.
http://www.decortoadore.net/2014/07/beautiful-french-fabric-factory-tour.html
Love your style Anita! I especially LOVE the long ruffles on your beds and chairs. I had my SIL make me some covers for my breakfast bar stools and she thought i was crazy wanting a 15 inch ruffle – they look fabulous. I’ve got to get back into sewing.
thanks!
Hello – New to this site, and love it! Could you tell me where I could purchase the white rocking chairs on the screened-in porch, also showing an iron day bed, plus other. I am only interested in the rockers. Thanks so much.
Shelby
I think you are talking about my back porch. Those rockers are old. Try googling Adirondack rockers.
I love French inspired décor. Love the ticking and toile! Toile is so classic and elegant. It is one of my favorite fabrics to work with.
Lots of beautiful inspiration and eye candy here, Anita…thanks for sharing your tips!
So much deliciousness here, Anita. I love linen too, and agree the soft wrinkles are half the point. The blue and white tabletop above is so lovely. I also must ask where your wonderful dining chair covers are from (the flax coloured linen with ruffle)? I know I say this every week, but I feel like I won the lottery having found this community of French loving home bloggers. It had started to seem to me that everyone was re-doing their homes in bland mid-century modern and even the traditional home magazines were starting to get too contemporary. What a privilege to have found this group of like minded people… 🙂