Home

[ECBG]

---

@stevieb wrote:

---

@PA Mom-mom wrote:

---

@Silver Fox1 wrote:

@stevieb, I just love this look, It's right up my ally.  Maybe a couple of wing back chairs where the (deacons bench ?) is would be more comfy though.   Love it !

---

@Silver Fox1  That may be a "tavern bench." It wa meant to be a wall against the cold coming in from the often-opening door, while facing the fire in the tavern. We have one from Wales, but it has drawers under the seat.

---

@PA Mom-mom... Those high backed benches have several different names, 'settle' being among them. They tend to have a very utilitarian look and, like you, I don't think they look partcularly comfortable. There are upholstered 'settles' that might work nicely in a colonial room and provide a little more comfort...

Wooden settles...

Upholstered settle...

---

@stevieb 

This is a "settle".  It was placed in front of the fireplace.  The back and high sides held the heat to you.  

We are looking at colonial times.

[CANDLEQUEEN]

No, not for me at all....

[sceniccoast]

This room is very nice.  I would add seat cushions on the chairs.  I can't make out what that piece of furniture is on the right side but I dislike the pattern, ugg.  I'd change it out.

[stevieb]

---

@sceniccoast wrote:

This room is very nice.  I would add seat cushions on the chairs.  I can't make out what that piece of furniture is on the right side but I dislike the pattern, ugg.  I'd change it out.

---

@sceniccoast  I think the settee to the right is an upholstered settle, similar to the one posted above (and below)... I don't care for the fabric on the one in the original post either... So many of the supposedly authentic 'homespun' fabrics of the colonial era left a lot to be desired...

[haddon9]

---

@stevieb wrote:

I love this look and yet a few pieces of more comfortable looking furniture might be most welcomed...

---

@stevieb I feel exactly the same way.  I love the look...it's warm yet it also looks uncomfortable!

There are plenty of homes in  my area that have this look...went on a Christmas house tour last year where the front of many of the old colonial homes had this look in the front but new additions had beautiful (but colonial) kitchens & great rooms in the back.

[stevieb]

---

@Kachina624 wrote:

Too austere.  This room lacks warmth and softness.  Not comfortable.  It is true to what are surely its Quaker roots.  If you like a total lack of clutter, it may be your "thing".

---

@Kachina624  Believe it or not, this look is not necessarily 'Quaker' but more generally 'primitive' colonial. Not all more 'authetic' colonial rooms would have been quite this spartan nor quite this devoid of color, but even looking at more fine examples of colonial decor at say Mount Vernon or in Williamsburg, there are certain similarities...

[stevieb]

Here are a couple of perhaps slightly less authentic but more comfortable and colorful colonial themed room... The second looks like something right out of the Country Sampler magazine, which sometimes offers some nice rooms but too often includes too cutesy interpretations of more primitive colonial designs... Still, for me, this one has a certain appeal

[Spurt]

I love how this room is styled and coordinates so well, but I agree more comfy chairs are needed......

[stevieb]

A few sample colonial rooms from Mt. Vernon, where there was (and is) a real mix of primitive and more elegant decor...

[ECBG]

---

@stevieb wrote:

A few sample colonial rooms from Mt. Vernon, where there was (and is) a real mix of primitive and more elegant decor...

---

@stevieb 

Quite agree.  Back then that was the best upholstery.