French Provincial Influences In New Homes

Example of French Provincial influence

The Finishing Touch are currently working with several Builders in the planning stages of house construction in Melbourne.  The first home under development is a large, 70 squares, two storey construction in Glen Iris with a French provincial influence.
The French provincial style will be achieved through the use of architectural decorative mouldings, with parapet eaves, measuring 240 x 247mm, running the full perimeter of the building. These will be combined with under gutter mouldings, giving the effect of a larger parapet and, at the same time, hiding the gutter. The nine front windows will boast French provincial window architraves as well as French provincial window sills. A decorative keystone above the entrance on the balcony along with window frame architraves, measuring 90x 40mm, around the entrance and the balcony help create the grand entrance required of French provincial homes. Quoinings on the far left and far right of the front facade of the building create further decorative features.

Another home under development with a French provincial influence is a 65 squares, two storey, property in Strathmore. Eave mouldings, measuring 240 x 247mm, run the full perimeter of the building with parapet mouldings, measuring 160 x 150mm, also running the full perimeter between the first and second storey. Small stringer mouldings complement these parapet mouldings, running parallel and measuring 90 x 70mm. A parapet mould 240 x 247mm in size is centred above the balcony with picture frame architraves around the entrance.

A 50 squares, two storey post-modern home is under development in the south eastern suburb of Lysterfield.  Eave parapet mouldings, measuring 161 x 158mm, adorn the top storey whilst parapet mouldings, measuring 161 x 158mm, will run the perimeter of the building between the ground floor and the top floor. A decorative parapet moulding 161 x 158mm will be centred above the balcony and eight windows will be decorated with picture frame window architraves measuring 80 x 36mm.

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Exciting Building Project In Balwyn Creating Grandeur and Style

Grand design to be built in Balwyn

A very exciting project is currently under development in Balwyn.  A two storey, 60 squares home with a Georgian influence will be highly decorative and sure to become a feature of the street. The front of the building is simply splendid with columns, arched windows and a very grand portico topped with a gabled area, in which sits a plaque.  Lightweight architectural decorative mouldings will be used to help create this grand effect.  The three tall, arched windows in the front of the building with be finished with decorative arch mouldings and keystones. Square column mouldings on the outside of the portico and sets of twin round, slender columns to the inside create a stunning and stylish effect, topped with Corinthian cappings and bases. Wings on either side of the ground floor of the building add to the grandeur of the overall design and are decorated with picture frame mouldings, measuring 55 x 25mm.  Window architraves mouldings, measuring 100 x 45mm decorate each of the seventeen windows, as well as window headers and sills. Adding further grandeur to the overall style are the large parapets measuring 400 x 300mm around the top perimeter of the building and midway between the first and second storeys.  This impressive home is a statement in design and style.

Another home currently under development is a lovely 60 square French Provincial style dwelling in Camberwell. The home will feature columns constructed of rendered brick which will be finished with lightweight decorative mouldings for the column capitals and bases.  Seventy two metres of large parapets, each measuring 380 x 100mm around the perimeter of the top of the building will add grandeur, whilst the one hundred metres of flat band mouldings, measuirng 150 x 30 mm, running parallel, beneath the parapets create a stylish effect. Another ninety metres of a smaller dimension parapet, measuring 270 x 143mm, will surround the middle perimeter of the dwelling, complemented by stringer mouldings measuring 40 x 20mm.

French Provincial Architectural Style Features

 

The French Provincial architectural style is based on the principles of balance and symmetry. The original version of this style featured stately formal homes made of brick or stucco with windows and chimneys that were symmetrical and perfectly balanced. Defining features include a steep, high, hip roof, balcony and porch balustrades, rectangle shaped doors set in arched openings and double French windows with shutters. Tall second-story windows add to a sense of height and usually had a curved head that breaks through the cornice.

This style originated from rural manor homes or chateaus in the French provinces, built by the French nobles in the mid-1600s, during the reign of Louis XIV. The French Provincial design was revived in the 1920s when it was exported to the U.S.A. and Australia by soldiers returning from the 1st World War, who had seen the style and been impressed. The style was once again revived in the 1960s and is experiencing an explosion in Australia in current times. The style adapted in the U.S.A. and Australia is quite eclectic, with the pitched roof, balcony and arched openings over rectangle doors being the main features usually retained from the original style.

Builders use architectural decorative mouldings to help achieve the style and have found Melbourne supplier The Finishing Touch has a range of custom designed French Provincial decorative mouldings for parapets and windows that are of the highest quality. They also supply decorative mouldings for arches and columns. With a high demand for this architectural style in Melbourne, particularly from Chinese home purchasers, Builders rely upon the quick turnaround from quotation, expert installation and 7 year warranty supplied by The Finishing Touch.