French Country Style

So many of you have seen my ad in French Country Style Magazine,

a beautiful new lifestyle & decor publication from fabulous FiFi O'Neill...

I am happy to welcome you to my blog and share my French country style offerings with you!

The phrase 'French Revolution' has more than one meaning... 

With the recent popularity of the Oscar-winning film 'Les Miserables',

interest in French history, style, and culture is at an all-time high.

Both fashion and home decor trends reflect the influence of Parisian style.

While we may not be able to swing a trip to the City of Lights,

it is certainly possible to bring touches of Paris and the rural French countryside to our homes!

The color combination of black and white in the vignette above is a neutral scheme  

that works anywhere to reflect a lighter approach to decorating with French style.

It also serves as a perfect foil for the red, white and blue TriColor flag of France.

This classic look brings to mind a pied a'terre tucked away on a back street of Paris,

overlooking a patisserie and le tour Eiffel in the hazy distance...

This is a fresh interpretation of Classic French Style.

Eiffel Tower Black White Tissue Box Cover

Eiffel Tower French Flag Tissue Box Cover

Paris Tisue Box Cover

France Plaque

The bucolic charm of the French Countryside is captured in the vignette below,

combining warm wood tones with natural subjects in the art and accessories.

From the painting to the needlepoint pillow,

the flora and fauna of rural France is depicted with timeless charm.

The combination creates the illusion of being ensconced on a Provencal farm, 

surrounded by fields of aromatic lavender whilst sipping le grande cru wines.

This is classic, elegant French Country Style.

Combining two-dimensional art (such as my platter with a rabbit print)

with three-dimensional art (the two vintage bunny figurines)

brings interest and detail to home decor vignettes.

My beautiful products will fill your rooms with le style Francaise,
whether your own choices reflect French Classic or Country moods!

Sheep Canvas

Rabbit Roses Platter

French Rooster Canvas

Rooster Pencil Holder



Please visit my website for more beautiful items that reflect French Country Style...

robinkingdesigns.com

English Country Equestrian Style

Though it has been around for hundreds of years, English Country Equestrian Style 

was brought into the mainstream of the home and fashion design world 

by the talented American designer Ralph Lauren.

His new vision of how the look could fit with the American lifestyle

opened our eyes to a 'new' way to decorate - and a love affair with horses was born.

With origins emanating from the landed gentry of the English countryside, 

this rich and elegant style traditionally features the use of deep colors,

substantial furnishings in dark woods, and leather upholstery.

Today, because of Mr. Lauren's vision,

English Country Equestrian Style is interpreted in many fresh, new ways... 

the use of lighter colors, more modern lighting, and soft fabric textures

breathe new life into this venerable decor style.

While I have never owned a horse myself, this decor style is one I have always loved!

Creating a vignette of Equestrian items is simple...

The addition of an antique horse statue compliments the wall arrangement of plaque and plates,

along with one of my floral tissue box covers, a stack of books, and a pewter tray.

(This could be a personal riding award - or an antique shop find.)

Small items added to the vignette, like these elegant tassels and new wall hooks,

give the effect of the design evolving over time...

In order to perpetuate that 'old world' feel and fit the equestrian theme,

a new western-style wall hook is painted black and accented with gold paint.

Simple 'fixes' like this often make all the difference to an item's appearance.

A lighter, brighter interpretation is shown here...

the 'Horsewoman' plaque and companion pencil holder join with other accessories on a desk.

 Dog-themed items are a 'natural companion' to equestrian style, 

and of course a silver trophy cup holding flowers is a perfect detail.

You needn't live on an estate or 'ride to hounds' to enjoy this classic decor style -

a few simple touches of equestrian artwork can transport your humble home 

to the English Countryside

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I am pleased to offer you

the 'Horsewoman' plaque in the English Country Equestrian style, 

as well as four coordinating plate designs of riders on leaping horses...



To order the Horsewoman Plaque please click here



Coordinating Leaping Horses and Riders Plates are available here

 To purchase the  complete set of the 'Horsewoman' plaque and four plates,

please click here .

To see all the items,

please visit my online shop

www.robinkingdesigns.com

Elle Decor November 2012 Trend Alert: Tapestry

A big thank you to Parker Bowie, Market Editor at Elle Decor Magazine. Last Summer she contacted me about a Trend Alert: Tapestry article she was working on for the November 2012 issue. She asked for pictures of all my handcrafted decoupage tapestry-inspired creations.

      After viewing a number of different products of mine,
 she chose the French Lovers Plate.

And here is the plate on page 86 of Elle Decor November 2012.

I was so excited when I opened the magazine. ( I still am!)

The Trend Alert: Tapestry was a perfect fit for me. I have always loved tapestries and you can tell by how many are hanging throughout my home as well as a few other tapestry-inspired accents I have collected.

This tapestry was in my father's house as a child and then in my childhood home. I loved it then and still love it today.

I love mixing hard and soft elements in my home. That's why I have this heavy stone antique bust in front of the tapestry in my living room.

This tapestry is in my family room and is almost six feet long. I added a matching pair of vintage cast iron sconces on each side.

Once again, mixing hard and soft elements. I love the contrast.

When my husband and I were newly married, we drove to Vail, CO for the day.( At the time we could not afford to spend the night.) In an adorable store I found this pillow and 2 other coordinating tapestry pillows. Although, we could not afford even one of them the time, I bought all three. Twenty years later, they are still great pillows and my husband has forgiven me. (I think)

This tapestry panel was purchased in France. I like how the blue in the pillow compliments the vintage blue and white ticking curtains behind the yellow chair. My grandmother ( Nana) made these curtains years ago and had them hanging in the last home she lived in before moving to assisted living. I remember how she told me that Sister Parish used ticking a lot in her decorating. Nana would also say that ticking fabric is very French and will never go out of style. She was right.

I wish I could say that the tapestry, desk and urns were in my home too, but I can't. This tapestry hangs at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Simply beautiful and I love the desk.

Unfortunately this tapestry chair is not in my home but is on display at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Just beautiful.

As you can see, I really do love tapestries.

Below are a few of my handcrafted decoupage tapestry-inspired products.

I hope you enjoy.

Lamb Tapestry Tray available two sizes.

 Lamb Tapestry Plate



Lady with Dog Plaque

Here's a link to many of my tapestry inspired products:

http://www.robinkingdesigns.com/category_58/Tapestry-Inspired-Creations.htm



All the best,
-Robin



Beautiful Scenes of Summer

For various reasons, my family has done a lot of traveling in the last two months and I have been taking a lot of pictures.  Here are some favorites from my yard and beyond. I hope you enjoy.

Oh, I have been working in my studio a lot and have many new items that I will be sharing with you soon. But for now, it's all about beautiful scenes of Summer.

Young Robin in a pot of petunias in my front garden.

Strawberries in my garden.

Coming out of a rain storm on a road trip back from Nebraska.

This is a picture of a baby bunny in my back yard.

 You can see just how little he is next to the small yellow leaf. For a few weeks I

kept a watchful eye out for him and chased off our neighbor's cats each time they came in the yard. I am happy to say, he or she is almost full grown and doing fine.

Daisies against a stone wall in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Each day this spider spins a new web on my front porch. 

View of Salt Lake City from their Botanic Gardens.

I could not resist this picture while in Boise. The dog's name is Wilson.

Flamingo at the Aivary in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City.

This cow looked at me just as I took her picture.

We were both enjoying a beautiful Summer evening in Boise.

This is a Sunflower that my son grew from seed.

 It's so tall I just had to hold my camera as high as I could and hope for the best.

I hope you've enjoyed some of my scenes from the Summer.

Take time to look for the beautiful things. They are all around us.