Habersham: French country look, grand style are as popular as ever

The French country lifestyle look emerged as the clear trend leader in the Habersham showroom during a recent home-furnishings trade show in High Point, N.C.

According to the Toccoa, Ga.-based manufacturer, visiting interior designers and retailers from around the country responded enthusiastically to the grand European casual style the company created by bringing together a full range of residential furniture designs, kitchen and bath cabinetry, finish options and styles within its special Habersham Home French Country environment.

"French country is really all about sophistication and elegance. With our busy lives today, everyone wants a more casual home environment, but they do not want to sacrifice the elegance or design cache. Today it's all about comfort, luxury, richness and detail -- and Habersham speaks to that," said designer Gwen Seidletz of Sage Inc. in Great Falls, Va.

During the market, Habersham highlighted the French country lifestyle through representations of a foyer, great room, keeping room, dining room, kitchen and master bath. Reflecting a grand European casual look and feel, the lifestyle brought together pieces from the company's new Monet's Journeys licensed furniture collection inspired by the famed Impressionist's travels and works. The home feature also included other furniture designs from the main Habersham line, as well as custom cabinetry and an array of complementary hand-styled finishes and painted styles.

The living room brought some decidedly French, hand-finished furniture designs together with elegant upholstery and accents to create an inviting look. Among the pieces is the new Claudette cocktail table. Named for French artist Claudette Beauvais, the delicate design brings graceful curves together with rich, warm finishes.

"French country is an enduring design trend but we've been able to take it to the next level with Habersham's rich color palette and versatile furniture styles," said Jan Hedrick, head of design for Habersham Home. "The company's hand-distressed, antique finishes and custom-cabinetry capabilities open up a world of design possibilities."

A typical French country kitchen is spacious, casual and comfortable. Expanding upon this style, one of the most popular trends in kitchen design today is furniture-style cabinetry. Responding to both design directives, Habersham's cabinetry brings soft, hand-painted tones and florals together with custom-cabinetry designs -- complete with corbels and other accents for a true sense of French country elegance.

"Habersham offers an unmistakable look that appeals to consumers seeking ways to bring a unique and inviting sense of casual elegance to their homes today," said Tom Skipper, vice president of sales and marketing.

Making its debut during the market, the Chantilly bed provides a dramatic focal point for a romantic French country master bedroom. Inspired by styles found in grand country estates of Provence, the eloquent, curved lines of the hand-finished bed design are complemented by a number of other French styles, including the new Monet Riviera chest. Part of the Monet's Journeys collection, the design captures the Venetian influence that Claude Monet found in his travels along the coastal regions of the Italian and French Riviera.

The soft, feminine French country look also is carried through to the master bath. Hand-distressed finishes in tones of soft blues and crème provide the perfect finishing touches for custom-designed vanities and mirrors. The grand Bibliotheque design, inspired by an 18th-century French antique, brings a sense of scale and elegance to the room.

The powder room showcases the Oxfordshire vanity featuring a rich black background complemented by intricately hand-painted floral motifs and striking golden accents. The Chateau armoire offers a wonderful French accent. Elegant home elements such as the hand-finished trumeau mirror and Adelaide side chair serve as ideal complements.

Simple, clean designs, blues and yellows, floral prints and fringed and tasseled pillows are all key ingredients to French country style. And, Habersham can help tie them all together in a study, accented by pieces such as the new Montrell round cocktail table and the Monet Blue Salon cabriole sofa table.

A casual-yet-elegant dining environment brings together a variety of pieces. While each has its own unique influence, the overall effect creates an eclectic French country look and feel. Among the pieces are the St. Julien cabinet and the new La Claire buffet server. To complete the look, the Monet Balestrino dining table offers a light, airy touch.

With more than 30 years in business, Habersham Furniture Co. is a leading manufacturer of hand-painted and styled showpiece reproductions and original furniture designs. Its line features more than 600 pieces including trumeaus, armoires, chests and dressers, cupboards, media centers, occasional dining and work tables, chairs, desks and beds in 30-plus finishes. The company's expansion into kitchen and bath cabinetry and custom options in recent years allows consumers to choose from residential furniture designs, unlimited finish options and styles, and cabinetry to create a grand European or American casual lifestyle look that flows throughout the entire home.

For more information, visit www.habershamdesigns.com.

Information courtesy Habersham