A few years ago, I spent a little over a month in Paris on a work assignment. During my stay, I spent the weekends exploring the city with my Yorkie, visiting parks, and taking in the sights. Although my appreciation for the Modern French Design style precedes that trip, I am reminded of that experience whenever I see spaces decorated with this elegant style.

This is one of my favorite design styles because it has a curated look - a space that is stylish and not overly done. Every piece makes a statement on its own. I personally love to infuse a little glam into any space, similar to my love for statement jewelry, and this particular design style works well with glam decor and luxe materials. In this post, I explain some of the key elements of Modern French Design in relation to the concept mood board shown below.

Formal Elegance with Casual Comfort

The ornate beauty and detail of the traditional french furniture pieces in this design concept suggest this is a formal gathering space.  But, variation in materials and textures can add a casual comfortable feeling to a room decorated in this style.  I love the pair of bergère chairs here upholstered with a moody contemporary fabric, mixed with the modern curved sofa.  I chose this sofa for its Art Deco style, but could also see a less formal style working with the rest of this design.

Art Deco Pieces

If you’re a Great Gatsby fan, like me, this might just be the style for you! So, what is Art Deco? In short, this design movement started in the 1920s and has an aesthetic known for its geometric patterns and high-contrast color combinations. To learn more about the history of Art Deco, read this article. You can see Deco Design used in some of the concept board pieces (in addition to the sofa), such as the glamorous antique mirror above the gold flower side table and the patterned pillows on the sofa. The color palette of this room uses moody dark colors that contrast with white and cream colors

Mix Old and New

A combination of modern clean lines with traditional-style details creates a juxtaposition between the old and new. This sophisticated style provides a home for treasured art, collected antique books, and other thrifted pieces. The key here is balance to avoid a space that leans toward French Country or looks too Modern. Keep in mind the architectural detail found in a Paris apartment (or even a Boston brownstone). If your space is lacking architectural detail, consider adding crown and panel molding.

Effortless Style

The restraint shown in decorating a space with this style has a calming effect. The focus here is less-is-more and to avoid clutter. Therefore, each item has a unique design that makes a statement. A space decorated with this design style has plenty of drama and interest! A collection of items used to create a vignette can create visual interest throughout a room. In this design concept, I’ve intentionally arranged pieces together to show this concept. This is so important when designing a room and considering how these groupings relate to each other (this is what I can help you with through my Design Services). I love the gold étagère and the elegant bar cart as accent pieces that could stand alone in the space and be used to display and contain smaller decor pieces while maintaining a streamlined look.

Eye-Catching Elements

Pieces with glam elements are perfectly at home in the Modern French Design style. Like any outfit could use a touch of sparkle or shine, any room design feels a little more elevated with materials like metal, crystal, or glass. I love the crystal table lamp in this design and the bronze and crystal sconces on each side of the vintage-inspired landscape artwork.

In addition to the beautifully elaborate architecture in a Modern French room, walls can be decorated with large pieces of art in a variety of styles. Following the less-is-more approach, it is more common to see large-scale artwork versus a collection. In this design concept, I chose to mix a landscape painting in a bronze vintage-inspired frame with a bold abstract piece in a gold wood frame.

Now, are you ready to sip French wine from your settee and curl up with a good book or simply admire your favorite artwork and Deco-inspired decor? I hope you found this blog post insightful.

You can explore more design styles in the Design Style Blog Series.

If you would like a design concept like this one, but customized for your space, visit the design services page to learn more.