Country / Provincial Style
If you find traditional furniture too formal for your lifestyle or home and contemporary furniture too…well…contemporary, you might consider a country look. Before images of knotted chairs bound with rope and twiggy tables leap to mind, take inventory of all the alluring country styles on our website. Country furniture started out as practical and utilitarian versions of traditional court furniture for the populace, and retained charm and beauty in its new incarnations. A majority of popular styles, like Mission or French Provincial, are far from rustic, and provide comfort and durability that turn your home into a welcoming haven from the hectic, modern world outside.
European Country
English Country — This is a handy catch-all phrase for the multitude of styles that stemmed from English country living. However, an underlying trait these styles share is the use of more cost effective and indigenous materials like oak, ash and elm mixed with some walnut and mahogany pieces. Far from the elaborate pieces seen in English salons, the construction was more functional and less ornate.
French Provencal/Country — The variety of designs that make up French Provencal furniture are indicative of the varied lifestyles of France's 18th and 19th century middle and lower classes. Some French Provencal styles evolved as simpler, locally crafted versions of French Court furniture built for wealthier landowners and merchants desiring trendy home furnishings. Other styles were original to the provinces that nurtured an aesthetic and functional ideal far removed from what was happening in the vogue epicenter of Paris palaces. Despite this, there are some general characteristics that these styles share. Decoration is simple, but nevertheless charming and graceful, with splats, painting, and bas relief carvings. Craftsmen used walnut, ash, poplar, chestnut and fruit woods like cherry and pear to construct the furniture, and often included marble or wrought iron embellishments.
Spanish Colonial (1600-1840) — While Spanish Colonial furniture took inspiration from traditional furniture, it was also shaped by Spanish Catholicism, with furnishings often destined for churches and monasteries as well as ranches and homes. Mesquite, cedar, walnut and cypress woods were used to construct refectory tables that sported lyre-legs, along with chests and other pieces. In rural areas, locals adapted these designs to suit their more practical needs and simple tools, constructing flat paneled, slated furniture with A-frame legs. Popular today in ranch-style and colonial homes, the furniture's versatile, sturdy style blends well with the life of the busy individual.
American Country
Early American/Colonial (1640-1700) — The most elementary time in American furniture, the Early American style was utilitarian and manufactured from local materials, including indigenous woods like maple, walnut and pine. English styles were either simplified in the colonies or brought from overseas to furnish homes of the period. However, some important American innovations, like the iconic rocking chair, were developed during this time and would go on to become well-loved additions in country homes today. Other furniture pieces commonly found in the Early American style home include trestle tables, canopy beds, cupboards, and chairs with ladder backs and rush or cane seats.
Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish (1720-1830) — Infused with Germanic influences, Pennsylvania Dutch furniture was simple and practical. Colorful accents came from folk painting applied to the case goods.
Shaker (1820-1860) — Constructed by a religious group in the United States by the same name, Shaker furniture exhibited a spare, straightforward design. The solid wood pieces were light in color with smooth and tapered lines, woven chair seats, rounded wooden knobs, and proportioned for optimal functionality. The result is a look that's clean and unfussy, but well-crafted.
Mission Style/Arts and Crafts (1880-1910) — The Arts and Crafts style, also known as Mission style, played a hugely significant role in furniture design in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Arts and Crafts movement focused on functionality and the belief things were meant to be used. While the philosophy seems to set-up decades of fabulously boring furniture, it was anything but. Rather, Arts and Crafts furniture was beautifully designed, with manufacturers relying on exquisite craftsmanship and finishing techniques to add serene elegance to an item. Joints, such as the ubiquitous mortise and tenon joint of the time, were in clear view and enhanced an otherwise simple appearance. Wood was often quarter-sawed for the lovely way it presented the wood grain, and nails were usually hammered in by hand, with gleaming nail heads complementing upholstery. Wood slats, stretchers and handcrafted hinges of pewter and copper further embellished, without ostentation, these masterworks.
Southwestern — Rich colors of the Southwest landscape provide warmth and joyful spirit to this style. Furniture is more basic and naturalistic and makes frequent use of mortise and tenon joints. The look is enhanced by turquoise or silver accents. Full achievement of a Southwestern look may require some Navajo rugs and other indigenous accents.
