chinoiserie chic


For the last couple of weeks I have been devouring a blog that I am completely smitten with. I cannot get enough of the images and advice that Beth gives at Chinoiserie Chic. Her own home is stunning and she spotlights the best of the best when it comes to chinoiserie. I love saying the name too. Chinoiserie Chic sounds so refined and elegant. But as you know I am on a Simply Stopping Shopping experiment that has both frustrated me and calmed me at the same time. So once again I went scrounging around my own house and found quite a bit that qualifies as chinoiserie (I think.) I had no idea there were so many ways to incorporate chinoiserie into a house like mine that is basically just black and white. This is what I've come up with for my bedroom. I would love any advice you can give regarding this subject. For instance I'm a bit confused regarding mixing English toile with chinoiserie. Any advice would be welcomed.










You will notice that I've added a gallery wall of photos and art that were in the basement but that I've always wanted to put in the house. I bit the bullet and put them in the bedroom because frankly there was nowhere else for them to go. I think it gives the room a bit of an English feel to it. These are the elements I assembled, a bird lamp, blue & white cachepot with orchid, bamboo blinds, toile drapes and blanc de Chine (learned that term from Beth) Buddha. These combined with the gallery wall has an overall chinoiserie feel. Ive added other touches of chinoiserie throughout the rest of the house and will be posting on them shortly. I'm really loving this look.

35 comments

  1. Janet,
    This looks BEAUTIFUL! I love the layering of the bamboo blinds, the toile and the lamp. And the gallery wall looks beautifully executed too. Nice job!

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  2. thanks steve, i was SO nervous to post this.

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  3. Hi Janet,
    It's BEAUTIFUL!!! I agree with Steve, love the bamboo blinds and toile with the gorgeous bird lamp. And I LOVE gallery walls, you did such a a wonderful job with yours. I agree, it looks so English - a look I just love.
    xoTrina

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  4. I'm trying to think of another word that means BEYOND BEAUTIFUL!!!! I LOVE this look - honestly, I'm going to use your gallery wall as inspiration and add a few different prints to my gallery wall in my living room. I have you have the look down perfectly - the layering with the toile, bamboo, birds and floral prints turned out so incredibly lovely. It's sophisticated but simple and elegant.
    Do not wait too long to show us the rest of the changes!
    Looks like your day alone was very productive! :)
    I worked 12 hours today in my garden - I'm almost sick from it but I got a lot accomplished so I can't wait to see it tomorrow morning in the light!

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  5. I live for toile I LOVE IT! Janet I am Committed to Thrifting it up still- you are my Inspiration. It's Ron Wood's birthday today you know. I think I have a rat. It is not Rat-tastic. I am so afriad. Rat exterminator to the stars arrives tomorrow. You new room is tres CHIC.x

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  6. your kids look adorable in those framed snaps J. You are a good Mum. You'd say Mom. But I say Mum. You need a dalmatian with your love of black and white x

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  7. I love this look, Janet. Very nice. I've been looking for a blue and white chinoiserie lamp for the guest room, which is otherwise quite french. Chinoiserie is a french term, after all, n'est pas?

    Your basement must be a treasure trove :).
    D.

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  8. I for the life of me have never heard that term, and you did not say what it meant so I looked it up. Chinese-esque ? French term for looking Chinese in decorating. Why not use the term Oriental decorating ? Too funny, I kept trying to figure that out, not hip on decorating lingo obviously ! Looks very nice ! Gina

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  9. You are displaying "the look" I'd love to achieve in our house! I'm going to hop over to visit Beth now....(I actually have 3 blue/white oriental type lamps Like Gina, I was unfamiliar with that term. I enjoy learning -- and LOOKING!

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  10. Well done! At first I thought your photos were from the Chinoiserie Chic blog. I'm a fan of her blog too. I've been trying to decide how many black bamboo settings of flatware to buy based on her recommendation (chic cheap table settings).

    Julie

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  11. So pretty. I love bamboo blinds, and toile, too. I just put a gallery wall up myself, but on a smaller scale. They ARE very English and I love yours. The bird lamp is to die for.
    The touch of blue China is pretty. My house does not have much blue anymoe, but I keep and use my blue Willow dishes!
    Show us more!
    Connie

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  12. Sneaking away from the design table for a hot second to DROOL over your room. Talk about the throw away charm of Chinoiserie.

    I have Chinioserie wallpaper in my tiny hallway. 9 years and I have never tired of it. I think I could sleep in that bedroom for many years also.

    Beautifully done.

    xoxo Jane

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  13. your gallery wall is perfection!!!!!

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  14. Hola my dear Janet, it`s so good to put names to decor styles, and I think this chinoiserie fits very well with your home... well, I think whatever style you choose woul be great for it... but I will always be inclined to shabby chic style, so romantic.
    I`m glad your experiment is still on its wheels!!! (do I make myself understand?)
    I like your Budha, and your toile curtains!!!!
    so... do I continue washing my face with soap? I think you have to see a big close up of my face...
    Many hugs and joy to you!!!
    Marìa Cecilia

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  15. Janet, I just loved how you mixed the photos and other interesting art all on one wall! Great idea and it looks stunning!
    ~kelley

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  16. Thank you so much for your lovely mention of Chinoiserie Chic. A couple points-Chinoiserie was originally Europeans-especially the English and French fantasizing about China and creating their own vision of it. My own home is English and French with Chinoiserie. So your English look works perfectly. You are doing everything right-blanc de Chine and blue and white Chinese porcelain works great. I would also look out for a black and gold lacquer piece like a tray or chest or screen. (Once you are off your no shopping!) Also, the idea of Chinoiserie Chic is to recognize Chinoiserie, not necessarily to go out and buy it. Dozens of people have written me that they love Chinoiserie and have many pieces, but didn't know there was a name for it and now they appreciate what they have even more. You are doing great! Thanks again!

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  17. Well I have to say Janet I think it looks absolutely AMAZING - you have done such a fantastitic job. Just beautiful - congratulations my dear! And you're so right, it does have a very English feel to it even though I believe Toile was originally a French fabric. x

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  18. HI Janet!!

    I'm LOVING that gallery wall!! It looks so professional!! And layered bamboo blinds is one of my all time favorite looks! I can't believe you did all that shopping in your own house!! BRAVO!!

    Melissa

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  19. I love chinoserie! I think you've pulled it off well, I actually think it goes with the toile. You definitely have the touch, for sure!

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  20. Dear Janet, love the photos of your house, love the black and white toile and the pictures, you have superb taste, so elegant, I can just about pull myself together with clothes (well, sometimes Mr B winces but I just ignore him) but somehow I find interior decor so much harder...I now want to get rid of all my flowery curtains and do black and white like you!!

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  21. Your room looks lovely Janet!
    Very interesting... I know the word chinoiserie, and have heard and used the term to describe furniture, wallpaper, etc., but have never heard the term used to describe a decorating style.

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  22. I agree with an earlier comment about combining French/Chinese/English. I once read that true English decorating always has french and chinese elements. This is my favorite look--my living room drapery fabric is called "Chelsea Porcelain". It has a black background, with birds, vases and flowers all in shades of reds and blues. I mixed it with b/w ticking, bluish green cotton damask, and b/w toile. Oh, and white slipcovers too. I love this look and your new decor reminds me of all this. Good luck!

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  23. thank you everyone for your kind comments. i realize i'm not the only one who didn't really understand chinoiserie. thanks beth for clearing that up! i'm a bit scared but i will be posting the rest of the house very shortly.

    ~janet

    allegra, i'd love to see photos of your living room, it sounds wonderful! email me pics!

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  24. Janet-

    Thanks for your comments on Daffodil's! I am glad you enjoy it. I love your new gallery wall and am amazed found all that in your basment! Your bedroom looks beautiful. The bamboo blinds really tie the chinoiserie and English toile together. Love it!

    -Kate

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  25. I love your photo wall and how you've mixed in the botanical prints with the photographs. I swear there are so many talented ordinary people out there - this blog thing is fantastic, I get more inspiration here than in magazines because these are real homes and not staged. The black toile is lovely. You've really achieved a very peaceful look without stripping away all the colour and decoration.

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  26. Thanks for visiting my blog. It's Michelle and I'm in British Columbia, Canada. :)

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  27. I love the eclectic mix of paintings and so on, you have put on the wall, in fact that whole corner of your room looks so English.
    Found you via smallbutcharming by the way.
    Greetings from Maggie in Norfolk, England
    laburnumcottage.blogspot.com

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  28. Great job Janet! And you already had all this in the house and didn't have to buy anything??! Even greater!
    I love the whole English country/toile look as well- particularly in black and white. I used it in my powder room many years ago and have never changed it. It's so timeless and inviting.

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  29. Hi Janet! I will get the pics of my living room to you as soon as I figure out the technology. But I have to tell you: I was reading thru your old posts and was amazed at how much we have in common. We currently live on the OR coast but want to move to Gig Harbor, WA in a couple of years. My dream house is a RED COTTAGE WITH WHITE TRIM--just like yours! I would add black accents and b/w striped awnings. It's funny how we gravitate to people with things in common. I'll be in touch soon.

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  30. Great blog. Your gallery wall looks fabulous.

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  31. lovely post i like that statue

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  32. the word is, simply perfection! have a great weekend! verbena cottage

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  33. Hi Janet,
    I am not sure how I missed these posts, but am so glad to have finally found them. I think you have done a fabulous job pulling together all the elements to create a look that is still light, but sophisiticated and engaging to the eye. You combined the English, French, and Asian with a modern sensibility that I love. I really like how you avoided overdoing it with too much stuff-- nice job editing. The bamboo blinds add just the right amount of texture. Never fear, my friend. Trust your instincts-- they are right on track!
    xo,
    Anne

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  34. I love the mix, Janet! Sometimes too far in one direction gets a little themey and if you wake up one day and hate Chinoiserie, it wouldn't be hard to tone it down!

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