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Thursday, February 7, 2019

A BERGÈRE CHAIR FOR EVERY SPACE.

There's nothing quite like the perfect armchair in a living space. And of course, since I'm partial to French style in general, I just adore a good Bergère chair. It's a versatile and classic at the same time, and it's comfortable, a quality which is not to be underestimated
For those who aren't familiar with it, a Bergère is a chair designed in the Louis XV style, with upholstered back, and padded elbowrests on arms and upholstered frames, and fitted with a loose tailored seat cushion on an upholstered seat frame. This antique French chair typically featured either moulded or carved wood frames, which were either gilded or painted and upholstered with fine fabrics. 
Nowadays, we may tone down the gilding and silks, but the bergère chair remains as popular as ever, thanks to its design which allows to move it about to suit convenience, rather than being ranged permanently formally along the walls as part of the décor. And to me, these are the key features! Today, bergère chairs are often upholstered in simple fabrics, such as linen, ticking, or Toile de Jouy. In a pair, or all alone, these versatile chairs are still perfect for moving and can slide seamlessly into any design scheme, thanks to both their symmetry and the right proportion of upholstery, perfectly balanced by their open legs that create visual space. And that's what I love! As I've shared before, I love ornate French style, but my take is a bit more casual, to avoid fussiness: I like the combination of simple with elegant, the essence of casual chic style. 
So, here follows a small selection of my favourites in different styles and finishes:
1) Pale/white wood framed bergères covered in either simple crisp neutral shades of linen or white-and-blue stripe ticking fabric, for coastal/rustic casual flair.
2) The juxtaposition of traditional wood-toned or white-painted wood with more elaborated fabrics such as Toile de Jouy.
3) Caning accents, especially in a room with a passageway, to ease the transition from room to room while keeping the sight-line open.
4) Paired with a matching stool to create the perfect place to curl up with a good book.
If you're interested in giving your home a touch of 17th century French elegance, you can look for genuine vintage pieces at local antiques markets/stores. Sometimes there just isn't time to shop for those, moreover they can be more expensive than the reproductions are. So, if you're either in a hurry, or on a budget, or simply don't love "the chase", then one of the models found at stores such as Maisons du Monde or online at Westwing might just fill the bill!

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