Drexel Heritage

Design Dictionary: Bombe and Bergère

Looking to add some French inspiration to your home? Our French-inspired collections such Accents Français, At Home in Belle Maison and Savoy (inspired by the furniture of King Louis XVI) not only capture the grace and elegance of French style, but have also inspired the “B” terms for our Design Dictionary.

Bombe

The emergence of the bombe-style commode can be traced to the French Regency period. These short drawer chests, in addition to their element of style, were used by families to store belongings. During this time, French craftsman began to deviate from the classic forms that had been popular, instead incorporating rococo influences into their new designs. This Urban Contemporary Commode from our Mixers collection features the rounded sides and front characteristic of an original French bombe chest, but with a modern twist. Easy to customize with a variety of colors in stripes or solids, this piece can make a statement in any bedroom.

 

Bergère 

A chair fit for a king, the bergère chair, or “shepherdess” chair, is known for the superfluous upholstering of the armrests, seat and back, leaving only the wooden frame exposed.  Developed in the late 17th century, the bergère is also a product of the French Regency period. The curvaceous shape of this Blythe Chair from our Drexel Heritage Upholstery collection is more specifically a reflection of the rococo movement on bergère design. Perfect for your living room, these chairs can also be customized with a variety of different fabrics and finishes. This French classic is no longer just for nobility!

Another British Invasion

On December 17, 1963, the Brits took the U.S. by storm when the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” blared through American speakers for the first time. Almost half a century later, another British phenomenon is invading our country – the Union flag.

From t-shirts to dresses, the Union Jack is making a comeback in the States. Interior designers are also caught in the craze. We love the photos posted by blogger Funky Black Owl – especially the original art and needlework! 

At Drexel Heritage, we’ve also caught the fever. We love the trend so much that we dedicated an entire showroom to it during High Point Market this past October. Don’t you love our very modern and very British ottoman?

Want a little more variety? Blogger Anne Alexander Sieder suggests using colors from the same family but varying the size and scale of your patterns.  We switched things up in this Drexel room by throwing in a couple of different flags in red, white and blue, including an American classic – the flag of the 13 colonies.

Feeling patriotic? The great thing about this custom upholstery option is that it looks great in any home, be it modern or traditional. Tell us about the flags you’re flying in your living room!

What's Hot - The Flamestitch

Have you ever fallen in love with a dress? We have. As a matter of fact, we’ve fallen in love with an entire wardrobe. Italian fashion house Missoni, famous for its colorful and geometrical fabrics, recently revealed its 2011 summer collections. What did we love? A fresh take on their signature flamestich! This classic zig-zag pattern, stitched to resemble a flickering flame, has made a comeback, and now at Drexel Heritage, you can use it to accent your sofas and chairs.
 
Blogger Fabricadabra says that she has seen this pattern in apparel, stationery, home furnishings, accessories and even on the covers of iPhones. In this Drexel photo we snapped at High Point Market in October, we used flamestitch on the custom upholstered throw pillows. The earthy colors add a nice complement against the rich leather of the chair.

How will you incorporate the latest fashions into your interior design projects this year?

A Place for All of Those Holiday Gifts

The start of a new year typically means the onset of post-holiday clutter. While it is OK to admire your gifts sprawled out in the family room for a few days, it’s not a good idea to allow the heap to continue to accumulate. Drexel Heritage offers a few solutions to jump start the New Year the right way – by getting organized! 

Proudly showcase your new flat screen TVs (these seemed to be on everyone’s holiday gift lists) and stash away disorderly DVDs, remote controls and media players with our entertainment centers, media consoles and wall systems.  The rich finish of this Plasma Console from our Savoy collection will create a bold focal point for any family room.


For any extras – blankets, books, magazines and toys – you’ll find plenty of room in our discreet storage ottomans. In this Drexel room, our Ryan Storage Ottoman masks any clutter beneath the custom-upholstered leather lid. With hundreds of options to choose from, you’ll find a range of styles to complement any room’s décor.

We hope that with these simple additions to your home, you'll have no trouble at all sticking to your New Year's resolution of staying organized. Happy de-cluttering from all of us here at Drexel Heritage!