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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
 
This summer, Gloria and I both went to France, and we came home absolutely blown away and humbled by the beauty, history, and architecture. Walking through centuries-old streets, navigating historic buildings and spiral staircases, and seeing details that designers have studied for generations reminded us just how much there is to learn from the past.
 
That’s why we’re excited to kick off this new Historic Furniture Series inside The Design Brief®. Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore the furniture and architectural styles that continue to shape interiors today. 
 
Why does this matter for you? Because history always repeats itself. Styles come back, clients reference them (even if they don’t always know the right terminology), and as a designer, knowing these details keeps you ahead of the curve and positions you as the expert in the room.
 
xo
Katie McFarlan

HISTORIC FURNITURE SERIES: French Furniture Styles
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Historic French Furniture Styles from the Renaissance Through Napoleon III
BY GLORIA STAFFORD, PhD, CID-MN

Your clients expect you to know the difference between French Country and Rococo, or when a Louis XVI chair belongs in a space and when it doesn’t. That’s why we’re kicking off our new Historic Furniture Series inside The Design Brief® with a look at French design.
 
From the Renaissance through the reigns of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI, and into the Empire period, Gloria breaks down the key markers of each era so you can spot them with confidence (and apply them in your work today).
 
 

🪑 Why This Matters + How to Use It

Why you need to know this:
 
It’s part of honing your craft. Great designers are always learning about history, codes, and trends.
 
Builds credibility. Clients trust you when you can speak to style with confidence.
 
Helps you avoid design missteps, like pairing pieces from the wrong period.
 
Keeps you ahead of trends since historic styles always make a comeback.
 
Elevates your design eye so you can recognize quality, proportion, and detail more quickly.
 
Positions you as more than a decorator; you become an expert storyteller.
 
How to use it in your work:
 
With clients: Turn vague requests into clear direction (“French look” → Louis XV curves vs. Louis XVI symmetry).
 
Use historical references as part of your presentation/storytelling. Show visuals that connect a client’s vision to authentic stylistic roots.
 
In your studio: Build a quick-reference style library or train your team on the vocabulary.
 
In the field: Source antiques with confidence, spot mislabels, and know exactly which vendors to source from.
 
In marketing: Share style history snippets to position your studio as the authority. People love stories and knowing the “why” behind things.

TOPIC SUGGESTION

 
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🗞️ FROM THE ARCHIVES

✍️ ABOUT THE DESIGN BRIEF®

 
You currently subscribe to The Weekly Install®, our Friday morning email for interior designers who want to run more streamlined, profitable businesses. Many designers in our audience either didn't go to design school, could use a refresher on what's being taught in design school, or would love for their team to know a bit more about the technical side of design (aka free training!).
 
So, we created The Design Brief®, our twice-monthly complimentary publication, to give you bite-sized lessons on all the technical interior design topics you didn’t learn (or forgot) from design school—straight from Gloria, our resident tenured interior design professor & certified interior designer.
 

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