PIECE BY PIECE

This style’s fascinating mix dates back to 18th-century Provence and the Loire Valley, explains interiors expert Suzie Anderson, whose Moss Vale store is a rustic French provincial treasure trove. “After the French Revolution, a lot of fine pieces were stolen from chateaux and sold at brocantes,” she explains. “These finds added elegance to people’s simpler, locally produced furniture pieces.” Today, the kitchen might have as its centrepiece a farmhouse table in scrubbed oak or pine, while the living room boasts furniture with a finer profile. In the bedroom, a carved timber bed frame could be the drawcard.

TO FINESSE THE LOOK in your own home, search for items of furniture that make a statement. “Start with a few key pieces such as an antique timber dresser or armoire, a beautiful curvy armchair, that solid timber dining table that serves for a gathering or a work table, and an interesting candelabra,” suggests Karenza. “Don’t forget the curvaceous armchair with quality feather and foam cushions to sink into, finished with carved timber legs and a nature-inspired fabric or heavyweight stone-washed linen.”

“It’s a look that borrows from different areas, from the rustic to the ornate” ~ Karenza Jewell, interior designer

DESIGN: “Provincial style favoured cabriole legs with their feminine, curved lines, and carved details in the crest at the back of the chair,” says Suzie. COLOURS: At base is a neutral palette with subtle warm undertones, says Dulux’s Andrea...

FINISH: Think natural wear: “Pieces were stripped timber, painted and waxed to a mellow finish,” explains Suzie.