Gustavian Inspired Pastoral Painted Secretary

Gustavian style is so pretty!

Gustavian is Swedish with a French influence, which began when

King Gustav III started hanging out in France with King Louis XIV.

Gustav went home and copied Louis but put the Swedish spin on things.

Hence "Gustvian" style was born. 

 I gravitate towards the Gustavian color palette of pale blue, white, grey

and cream and decided to paint some landscape scenes on the panels of the 

small secretary desk, that would capture the essence of Gustavian style.

 Pastoral scenery is so serene and pretty and I have been 

doing a series of pieces with these types of landscapes,

the secretary is the latest in my "Gustavian phase". 

Each drawer has raised borders and I painted landscapes inside

each one, followed by gilding the raised part.

I painted a French Maison on the drop leaf as a nod to 

my Petite French Maison Dollhouse. 

 I used the gold color wax by Jolie Paint, and it highlighted the scenes nicely.
The scenes were painted with many of the colors from
 Jolie Paint's serenity collection.

This is before gilding.  I was torn about whether or not 

to add the gilding, because this looked more like a simple 

country look which was pretty too.

 It came out beautifully and adds to the room.  

Oh, and did you notice the lilac colored sofa with fringe?  

It is a Scalamandre sofa. I lucked out at an estate sale and I love this thing! 

These sofas run in the thousands, and that is out of my budget, 

so thank heavens for estate sales and other people with great taste! 

It looks pretty with all of my purple transfer ware,

 including the lamps that I have in this room.

Off in the dining room you can see some of the other pieces in the

 Gustavian series that I have created.  And there will be more to come,

because that is how it goes when I get obsessed by something.

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Serene Gustavian Style

 After all the excess from holiday decorating is put away, things look

almost bare. It takes a few days to adjust to the way it used to be, and then I

find myself loving the less is more look for the winter.  

 I love the simplicity in our dining room. It follows the principles of Gustavian decor.

Recently after a dinner party, the room had a quiet sparkle.

The mix was enchanting to me. 

Comprised of gilded ballroom chairs for extra seating with the silver leaf cane back

chairs and lots of antique candlesticks, sconces and a big chandelier.

Gustavian style comes from King Gustav III of Sweden, who copied elements

from France's Versailles for his palace after being blown away by the beauty.  

This style is very French but with some distinctions.

On the Gustavian Style must have list:

Color palette to include pastel blue, grey, white, cream, 

beautiful chandeliers and sconces,

 and French style painted furniture with touches of gilt and silver leaf.

This palace sized dining room was designed by King Gustav III. 

I hope to one day visit this beautiful pavilion in Sweden. 

 Since the winter months are long in Sweden,

their color palette of grey and creamy whites serves to keep interiors bright.

The elegant light fixtures added sparkle and drama.

 Grey, white and pastels with a touch of gilt surround the star

of this room, my old Gustavian settee, set in our guest room,

and where I work on my current obsession, the French Dollhouse.

 Lots of Swedish touches are found around our home, starting with the paint colors.

To me they are equally wonderful in both spring and winter months.

Its a style I love, and its easy to obtain.  

 The addition of rustic accessories and furniture pieces 

make it more of a Swedish Country look.

Either way, I am a big fan of the French and Swedish decorating style.

How about you?

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