The timeless beauty & romance of French-style furniture & accessories

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: , , , , , |

Mention the term ‘French-style furniture and accessories’ to any interior designer and you are likely to see their demeanour transform into something trance-like as their eyes glaze over. It’s almost a ‘spiritual’ reaction. The reason is simple: the indescribable charm of a French-style decor aesthetic has captivated the design world for centuries. It is synonymous with a relaxed sophistication and comfortable elegance that designers and homeowners cannot help falling in love with. 

 

But there is another reason why the refined romance of French-style furniture and accessories is so desirable: an innate ability to seamlessly blend classical charm with modern aesthetics. 

The enduring popularity and versatility of French-style interiors allow any homeowner to effortlessly incorporate a subtle chic aesthetic. Committing to this aesthetic will seamlessly enhance contemporary spaces.

The allure of elegance and grace

A French-style decor narrative is famous for soft colour palettes, luxurious fabrics, ornate detailing and artisanal craftsmanship. These elements combine to create an atmosphere of gentle opulence that has stood the test of time. 

French design is a celebration of artistic flourishes and attention to detail. From intricate mouldings and decorative wall panels to elaborate furniture and chandeliers, each element contributes to a sense of understated grandeur. 

The enduring popularity and versatility of French-style interiors allow any homeowner to effortlessly incorporate a subtle chic aesthetic into contemporary spaces

The lasting appeal of French-style reproduction furniture and accessories transcends trends and draws inspiration from the rich history and cultural heritage of France. Rooted in the opulent designs of the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods, a nod to French-style accent pieces perfectly fuses decorative elegance with graceful curves, creating a soft and layered aesthetic that balances minimalistic contemporary interiors. 

The celebration of quality craftsmanship 

French-style furniture and accessories are, without a doubt, the epitome of impeccable craftsmanship. Traditional techniques – such as hand-carving and gilding – are often employed to create pieces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also built to last. Investing in high-quality French-inspired furniture ensures that your home is adorned with pieces that celebrate style and durability.

Whether your taste leans towards the classic or the contemporary, French-style interiors – Farmhouse, Provencal or Chateau – can be adapted to suit various preferences, making it a timeless choice for any home.

French-style furniture and accessories are the epitome of impeccable craftsmanship

The mixing of French-style pieces into modern homes

One of the key reasons for the continued popularity of French-style items is their versatility. Whether you prefer the ornate Rococo detailing of Louis XV or the neoclassical simplicity of Louis XVI, there’s a French-inspired piece of furniture or accessory to suit every taste.

The adaptability of these designs makes them a perfect choice for modern interiors, beautifully complementing a variety of decorating styles.

  • Mix and match: Embrace a harmonious blend of old and new by mixing French-style pieces with contemporary elements. Juxtapose a sleek, modern sofa with an ornate French chandelier or introduce a Louis XVI-style chair to your minimalist dining room to create a visually intriguing space.
  • Neutral colour palette: The colour palette of French-style furniture makes it easy to integrate into a modern interior. Opt for bleached furniture or pieces in muted tones such as ivory,  grey, or beige, and soft pastels – pale blues, muted greens and blush pinks – to create a classic and calming French aesthetic. Then use bold, modern accessories to add pops of colour and personality. These colours create a calming atmosphere while maintaining the classic French aesthetic.

The colour palette of French-style furniture makes it easy to integrate into a modern interior

  • Accent pieces and accessories: If you’re not ready to commit to larger furniture pieces, consider incorporating French-style accessories and accent pieces. Looking to add a touch of French flair? French antique mirrors with ornate frames, Aubusson rugs, and intricately designed candleholders will instantly meet the brief.
  • A French-style focal point: Make a statement by designating a specific area or corner in your home as a French-inspired focal point. A grand armoire or bombe chest is a bold design move. Looking for pieces that draw the eye? Oversized antique mirrors, chaise lounges, or conversation settees all anchor a space and become captivating centrepieces.

Armoires make a bold French-style statement in modern homes

  • Luxurious fabrics: Opt for sumptuous fabrics such as velvet, silk, and brocade for upholstery and curtains. Rich textures and patterns contribute to the distinct feel of French design.

Artfully blending classic French-style antique furniture and accessories with contemporary pieces becomes a beautiful and harmonious mix of old and new, showcasing an intelligent pairing of cultural heritage and modern influences. This is just the bespoke twist that interior designers love and that homeowners find so inviting.

A French-style experience at The Crown Collection

Successfully curating the layered simplicity of a French-style aesthetic in the same space as modern trends is where The Crown Collection – an emporium of handpicked antique, French and contemporary furniture and accessories – steps into the mix.  

As you gaze upon our impressive and exclusive offering of French-style chandeliers, mirrors, chairs, armoires, bombe chests, console tables, candelabra, chaise lounges etc. – which can be bleached, gilded, stained or painted – you, too, are likely to succumb to a trance-like state of wonder. 

Whether you’re a connoisseur of all things French, or simply want to enrich your design by infusing your home with some French antique pieces, then we suggest you start by shopping all our French-inspired furniture and accessories. Shop online or in-store at 20 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston.

 

Pairing antique crystal chandeliers with concrete elements

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: , , , , |

Unusual and daring combinations – in landscape design, fashion design and interior design – are an avant-garde source of inspiration in pushing the boundaries. Opposites attract. By cleverly juxtaposing contrasting elements, you will create a captivating visual harmony with a little unexpected wow factor. One such intriguing combination – for indoor and outdoor spaces – is the fusion of concrete and crystal.

The raw masculinity and brutalism of concrete benches, urns, busts or obelisks paired with the sparkling femininity and delicateness of a crystal chandelier is nothing short of decor genius. 

This ‘marriage’ of stark earthy concrete elements with decorative heavenly crystal details is simply sublime and no space in your home is off limits. 

The art of pairing such disparate elements highlights how contrasting materials work beautifully together; boldly transforming any decor narrative.

Embracing eclecticism 

Living in spaces that reflect your personality and showcase the things you love is always the first rule when it comes to curating furniture and accessories in your home. This is where experimenting with a mix-and-match philosophy – pairing antique elements and modern pieces – allows you to play with design.  

Pairing antique crystal chandeliers and modern concrete pieces allows you to play with design.  

Fusing modernist concrete items with antique crystal chandeliers is an easy starting point to add a little history and contemporary flair to a space. It’s all about having a little fun with materials and shapes, and the interplay of contrasting pieces illustrates the powerful influence of the law of opposites. 

Surprising harmony

Design cohesiveness is the foundation of any design – no matter how you mix and match pieces. Even though combining concrete elements with antique crystal chandeliers creates an intriguing contrast that captivates the eye, there still needs to be visual harmony.  

Combining concrete elements with antique crystal chandeliers creates an intriguing contrast

Here’s how it works:

  • Texture: The rough, tactile feel of concrete against the ornate fragility of crystals of an antique chandelier creates a visually stimulating contrast
  • Colour: if you are looking for a dramatic and striking composition, then the cool, neutral tones of concrete are a beautiful balance to the opulence and reflectiveness of antique chandeliers.
  • Style fusion: The design collaboration of minimalist industrial concrete with timeless crystal chandeliers combines contemporary and classic aesthetics, resulting in a one-of-a-kind design.

Bringing the look to life

Although mixing and matching concrete and crystal pieces may seem like you are breaking the rules, there are still some functional design principles that need to be at work to successfully pull off the look. 

Functional design principles to successfully pull off the concrete and crystal look.

  • Placement: Strategically position your concrete elements – busts, urns or obelisks – within visual distance of your antique crystal chandelier to create a cohesive look. (For example, place a concrete bust on a pedestal beneath the chandelier to draw the eye upward).
  • Lighting: The overall effect of pairing concrete items with antique chandeliers is amplified when you consider the lighting effects. The soft, warm glow of the crystal chandelier light contrasts beautifully with the cold, matte finish of concrete, creating a cosy yet sophisticated ambience. (Ensure that your antique chandelier is well-lit to emphasize its intricate details). 
  • Balance: Maintain a balance between the number and size of concrete pieces and the chandelier. Too much contrast can overwhelm the space. If you have a grand, ornate chandelier, opt for larger concrete urns or busts to match the scale. Conversely, if your chandelier is more petite, smaller concrete pieces can maintain the equilibrium of the room. (Due to the visual weight and commanding presence of concrete pieces, they can become overwhelming if overdone). 
  • Versatility: Concrete pieces, such as urns, busts, and obelisks, are incredibly versatile, fitting into various design styles – from rustic and industrial to contemporary and minimalist. This adaptability allows you to experiment with different aesthetics while keeping the crystal chandelier as the central focal point.

Concrete and crystal at The Crown Collection

A trip to The Crown Collection emporium is a one-of-a-kind antique store experience. The design choice to mix concrete and crystal elements will always invite conversation.  

So, we invite you to wander around  – online or in-store – where you will be introduced to our concrete and crystal chandelier collections. By boldly embracing the contrast between the raw and the refined, you can confidently create an aesthetic that is both visually alluring and deeply engaging. 

Explore the juxtaposition of materials and let your interior design imaginations run wild as you embark on a concrete and crystal decor journey. 

How to mix smart and casual furniture and accessories

Categories: Blog, Style|Tags: , , , , |

Fashion and interior design principles have always overlapped, with one influencing the other. ‘Smart casual’ is a fashion term that has successfully transitioned into the world of interiors, being the inspiration for spaces that are a blend of refined, stylish, elegant, rustic, eclectic and relaxed. Mixing and matching antiques with modern pieces has always been popular, but that is evolving to embrace the collaboration of smart and casual furniture and accessories. 

Mixing smart and casual furniture from different design eras is a relatively new decor philosophy, although the French have always been at the pioneering forefront of this look. 

When you are brave enough to curate different styles, colours and textures together in one space, the result is always a welcoming ‘lived-in’ feel that celebrates an effortless narrative that is both strikingly smart and casually informal. 

The ‘smart casual’ design brief is open to interpretation and the scope of furniture and accessories is vast.

The ‘smart casual’ design brief is open to interpretation and the scope of furniture and accessories is vast. Antique furniture can be both, and contemporary pieces also straddle the fence with formal and informal options that speak to all personal decor preferences. 

So don’t limit your decor approach by assuming that the smart casual look is only limited to pairing an antique item with a modern piece. It is so much more fluid than that. 

The smart casual approach to ‘dressing’ a room

As with fashion, mixing trendier pieces with classic antique staples mitigates an outfit or room looking too formal or that you tried too hard. The goal is a space where the furniture pieces and accessories look pulled together but in an interesting and approachable way. It’s all about playing with design elements.

You have 3 choices:

#1 The top-to-bottom approach is where you start with smart or formal lighting options such as an antique crystal chandelier and then your dining room table, living room chairs, bed or side table choices are casual, relaxed pieces. (This is akin to the timeless look of sneakers and ripped jeans paired with a silk blouse and diamond earrings.).

#2 The bottom-to-top approach is simply the decor inverse. You may have a really formal dining room table, living room chairs or Persian carpet, and then as your eye travels up the room, you add casual hanging lanterns for lighting or fun informal artwork or mirror collages on the wall. (Imagine stilettos and smart trousers with an oversized cotton shirt and denim jacket).

The smart casual approach to dressing a room when using antiques

#3 The eclectic-ensemble approach is where the rule book is thrown out the window. This is a daring experimental mix-and-match approach to smart and casual furniture and accessories. Take a smart antique Persian carpet,  a really rustic dining room table, in-your-face bold modern chairs, a smart chandelier and a couple of casual bookshelves or a Riempie bench. On their own, the individual pieces wouldn’t seem to sync with each other, but once placed together, a cohesive story emerges and the look just makes sense. (High heels, casual jeans, a T-shirt, a blazer and a crossover bag are your fashion inspiration for this look). 

Avoiding a ‘mismatched’ smart casual look 

Knowing how far to go and which smart antique, vintage or modern furniture and accessories will best complement casual pieces does take a little skill to create a cohesive aesthetic. There is a fine line between restrained and effortless versus over-the-top and chaotic. 

Making an overall room work often comes down to colours and textures that you pull throughout the room.

#1 Choose a common, repetitive thread. This could be a furniture style – such as French or mid-century vintage – or a colour, pattern or texture that weaves through the room to anchor the look and make sense. Once that starting point is decided on, building up the layers by adding a few smart or casual furniture or accessories as a counterbalance will do the trick. (This works particularly well in monochromatic schemes).

choose a common repetitive thread when mixing smart and casual furniture and accessoires

#2 Let the colour wheel guide you. If you love a little colour personality, then a neutral base shade with two complementary colours always works.  (You can also use different hues of a specific colour to up the ante for additional design interest). Using a darker palette in your furniture with lighter accessories and walls – or vice versa – will be a successful decor dialogue.

#3 Less is more (in principle not necessarily pieces). The principle of ‘less is more’ will be the restraint to make sure that you cleverly curate the collection of pieces that make it into any space of your home and don’t mix and match too many different types of antiques, colours, styles or eras in one space. You can always slowly build up a look, but overdone is overwhelming and the goal is to avoid visual noise and clutter. Your eyes need to have the opportunity to rest and enjoy well-placed and carefully chosen smart and casual furniture and accessories in a room. 

Spaces that are warm, comfortable and inviting, but that also boast a sophisticated designer edge start with the flair of mixing smart and casual furniture and accessories. Even if you only collect antiques, are a fan of exclusively mid-century modern furniture or are only in love with modern pieces, the interior design philosophy will speak your unique decor language.

So have a little fun by starting your mix-and-match journey at The Crown Collection; the home of handpicked smart and casual antique, French and contemporary furniture and accessories.

Decor tips for choosing a chandelier to suit your space

Categories: Articles, Blog|Tags: , , , , , , |

From understated glamour to a bold signature wow factor, chandeliers transform spaces – any spaces. Richard Kelly, designer and pioneer of architectural lighting concepts, said that “visual truth lies in the structure of light.” His descriptive terminology – play of brilliance, focal glow and ambient luminescence – speaks to the bewitching, whimsical and sculptural beauty that is a modern, vintage or antique chandelier.

 

Lighting is one of the most important interior design elements; it can make or break a space. Choosing a chandelier to thoughtfully communicate with the other decor elements in a room is necessary to create customised style harmony and a show-stopping moment. 

The Space

Your space will always be a determining factor of the type and size of chandelier you choose. Although chandeliers are extremely versatile (and there are no real rules), there are some basic design principles that are worth considering before making the investment. 

No matter how beautiful, or how much you are in love with a certain chandelier, it needs to still make sense in your space. “Too many starlets in one room will create endless drama.” -Kelly Wearstler, interior designer. 

It’s all about visual decor hierarchy. 

VIntage & antique chandeliers to suit your space

  • If your room already has a number of statement pieces, a simpler, more understated chandelier will create balance and not be a visual distraction, fighting for your attention. 
  • If your decor style tends to be minimalist, then an ornate crystal chandelier will certainly create some much needed visual drama and anchor the space. Or go for a more modern sculptural or mid-century sputnik chandelier.  
  • Longer, narrower spaces (passages, entrance halls, kitchens or bathrooms), will benefit from a more linear chandelier to complement the spatial proportions. 

The Placing

Depending on the layout of your room, there are various solutions as to where to hang a chandelier (or two). Traditionally, they took pride of place in the centre of a room. But the current consensus is that furniture layout and functionality should dictate the placement.

  • If a chandelier is placed in an open space, where it can be walked under, the lowest point of the fixture should be a minimum of 2m from the floor or 30cm above head height. 
  • Over a dining table or kitchen island, there should be a 76cm to 90cm gap between the tabletop and the bottom of the chandelier. 

The placement of chandeliers

The Sizing

The scale of a chandelier should be in proportion to the room. The traditional (and imperial) ‘rule-of-thumb’ formula is as follows: room width (in feet) + length (in feet) = diameter of the chandelier (in inches). To convert that to the metric system, multiply your answer in inches by 2.5 to get centimetres. e.g. 12 feet (W) + 14 feet (L) = 26 inches (diameter) = 66cm. This will give you the minimum diameter size.

But the one cardinal rule to always follow, when it comes to chandeliers, is to go bigger rather than smaller. 

The Materials

All that glitters is not gold. But when we are talking about modern, vintage or antique chandeliers, then all that glitters is crystal, brass, bronze, glass and even wood or wrought iron. No wonder there is a chandelier to fit each and every space. 

Move aside soft furnishings, wallpaper and wooden floors, because chandeliers bring just as much texture, layering, warmth and functionality to a room. (They don’t just look pretty!). 

Types of chandeliers

  • Brass: The timeless elegance of antique brass and glass lanterns retains a simple contemporary edge. Brass is a warm metal and a wonderful complement to a variety of decor styles and eras. Traditionally ornate or modern minimalist, brass chandeliers create a sense of intimacy and they never go out of fashion. 
  • Crystal: It’s not hard to fall under the spell of a sparkling crystal chandelier; the way they transform a room and reflect soft light is breathtaking. From feminine romance to grand elegance, there is no excuse to not include a crystal chandelier somewhere in your home. There is also nothing more beautiful than combining a crystal chandelier with rustic accessories. And if you have smaller spaces, an alcove or just want a chandelier to hang on either side of your bed, then  “Chandelettes” (mini crystal chandeliers) are an ideal decor solution. 
  • Wood: Not everyone is drawn to the more classic crystal or brass chandelier aesthetic. If you prefer natural materials, then chandeliers made from reclaimed wood, wooden beads (or even shells) are just as desirable and will up the ante in mid-century and modern spaces. 
  • Wrought iron: Whether it is a set of smaller lanterns, a large square lantern, a hexagonal lantern or an ornate chandelier, wrought iron fixtures are durable, timeless and versatile. The artistry and craftsmanship that goes into wrought iron chandeliers add immediate charm and interest to any space – indoors or outdoors.

Wrought iron lanterns & chandeliers

The Crown Collection

The curated selection of vintage and antique chandeliers at the Crown Collection interior decor emporium is extensive. No matter the size, the shape or the material – you are likely to find the exact fixture to be the lighting wow factor in your space. 

So prepare to be mesmerized as you shop the chandelier of your dreams – either online or at our studio at 20 Ballyclare Drive in Bryanston. 

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The Timeless Beauty of Vintage & Antique Chandeliers

Categories: Articles, Blog, Style|Tags: , , |

“I still love writing in my journal, wearing sparkly dresses and looking at old chandeliers.” -TaylorSwift

What is it about a chandelier that makes one look up in wonder? In fact, if you strip all other elements from a room and leave only a vintage or antique chandelier, the grandeur and elegance of the room remain intact and visitors to the space will still pause with a breathtaking gasp at the sparkling beauty. That is the irresistible charm and timeless allure of chandeliers and lanterns. From entrance halls to living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms, every home needs one and every home deserves one.

Writing about chandeliers almost seems like an exercise in futility, as words cannot do such decor show-stoppers justice. Their glamour and sophisticated luxury have a visual language all their own. That is the intrinsic magic of a vintage lantern or antique chandelier.  

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

The etymology of the word “chandelier” is simple; it comes from the French word, “chandelle,” which means “candle” – originally a simple design of 2 cross-shaped wooden beams with spikes at the ends to hold candles of animal fat. As the quality of candle making evolved, ornate chandeliers became luxury lighting items used in churches, castles and royal palaces. By the 18th-century gold, brass, lead crystal, Venetian Murano glass and quartz chandeliers were an enviable status symbol of the nobility. 

If you have fallen in love with antique chandeliers or vintage lanterns and are looking to add one (or more) to your home, then there are a few things to bear in mind.

Limitless options

Sourcing the perfect vintage chandelier or antique lantern can be overwhelming as the styles, designs and materials are limitless. (And they are all so beautiful). From  French farmhouse chic and modern industrial, to mid-century and traditional, there is a chandelier that will fit flawlessly.

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

Browse the many options out there online or in-store and decide if you want the ornate glamour of a 12 light antique wrought iron chandelier or the simplified sparkle of a smaller vintage chandelier. Or perhaps you are in love with the decorative elegance of an Empire chandelier, a brass hanging lantern or a  bold vintage wrought iron plantation lantern. Whatever you choose, your space will be transformed. 

No space is off-limits

When it comes to hanging an antique chandelier or vintage lantern, no space is off-limits. (Well, perhaps the garage). What you do need to consider though – from powder rooms and kitchen to ballrooms and bedrooms – is the size of the space. A chandelier should never be too big that it overwhelms a space and it should never be too small that it is underwhelming in a space. 

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

Limit your materials and colours

Considering the style, colours and other metal accents in your room will help you narrow down your choices. A vintage brass or gold chandelier will look out of place in an ultra-modern sleek space that is full of black or silver metallic accents pieces. Think about the tones and materials that are statements in your room. This will determine whether you choose crystal, brass, wrought iron or beaded chandeliers. A chandelier should always be a natural extension of the room’s aesthetic. 

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

No limits to the positioning of chandeliers

Although there are basic principles in the world of interior design, there are no real rules. Who says a chandelier or lantern has to hang from a ceiling rose in the centre of the room. There is no doubt that a central chandelier will always look beautiful, but how about hanging two smaller chandeliers on either side of your bed? This delicate framing of the bed accentuates the bedside tables, creating a striking sculptural and artistic element.

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

If you want to embrace the eclectic, then who says you can’t hang more than one style of chandelier over a kitchen island at different heights. Talk about a talking point! It is an unexpected yet exuberant and classy vignette that will make anyone swoon. 

VIntage and Antique Chandeliers

Unlimited choice at The Crown Collection

If you are looking for a chandelier to up the style and value of your home, then The Crown Collection emporium is ‘chandelier heaven.’ Our handpicked and specially curated collection of antique and vintage chandeliers and lanterns will mesmerise you. And with over 5000 antique, vintage, French and contemporary furniture pieces and accessories, your antique journey starts here. 

Browse and shop online or visit our studio at 20 Ballyclare Drive, Bryanston. 

Title

Go to Top