Many of the ornate styles of furniture still popular today have their origins in France and traditional French furniture continues to influence modern design. The ultra modern Philippe Starck Ghost Armchair is based on a classic Louis XV design.
French Country style, however, is about a feeling, more than a specific type of furnishing. Unlike other “named” periods in French design (such as Louis XIV, Louis XV, and French Regency), French Country developed over time and combines elements to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
French Country style evolved in the farmhouses of rural France, where building materials included wood and stone and the ornate styles of Paris were adapted for country living. A dining room furnished in the French Country style might pair a thickly topped wooden table with a delicately carved sideboard bearing motifs of fruit and flora, both equally at home in the room.
While the Gothic and Mediterranean influences in France can also be found elsewhere in Europe, French Country style is distinctly French, incorporating regional elements such as Toile textiles and Provençal painted pottery.