I Want That Federal Look!

What you want: Neoclassical inspiration and elegance mixed with American comfort and post-revolutionary sensibilities.

Colors: Federal-style colors convey boldness and vibrant confidence that mimics the national pride of a post-revolutionary country. For your foundation colors, stick to neutrals like stone or off-white, or mellow hues like olive and pea greens, gray or slate blue. Accent these colors with verdigris, bright yellow, bright blue, pink, black, red, and coral.

Use a subdued color base and accent with patriotic colors or other bright hues.

Floor: Keep pine wood floors in a Federal home, or lay parquetry (wood flooring) down. Foyers can be spruced up for first impressions with marble or flagstone in checkered designs.

Lighting: Because people of the time relied on candles as their light source, use this elegant inspiration when picking out lighting fixtures. Look for silver finishes that represent the silver candlesticks the creme de la creme used as status symbols in their heyday, but keep them classical in style. Shun overwrought, complicated designs in favor for simple, clean shapes. Sconces can have mirror bases to reflect light and chandeliers might have crystal adornments for that extra bit of sparkle.

Furniture: Fun detailing, a variety of options and delicate proportions make furnishing a Federal-style room an enjoyable experience. Items are either stained reddish-brown or are fashioned with blond woods and ornamented with anything from reeding, inlay, and veneers to gilding. Just remember to keep the presence light and not overly formal. Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Robert Adam and Sheraton-inspired designs are good choices in furniture selection. Noteworthy pieces all Federal homes should include are the classic Windsor chair, with its splayed legs and spindle back, and its derivation, the Boston rocker.

Accents: A lot of attention has to be paid to wall and ceiling décor for a proper representation of the Federal style. Walls are elegant with cornices and friezes against the ceiling and traditionally display fluting, egg-and-dart patterns, garland, arches, dentil and interlace patterns. Walls are typically plastered and have decorative panels called dados that provide contrast and texture. Additionally, walls often had wallpaper applied that boasted striped, geometric, floral, or neo-classic motifs.

A cornice (L.) and an example of egg-and-dart detail (R.): elegant ways to decorate your walls.

Other common traits of the Federal design are French draw drapery doubled with muslin curtains to guard the home's interior from sun damage and fireplace accessories that coordinate with the fireplace grate and fender. Pick out brass or steel fireplace equipment (irons, shovels and tongs) and arrange attractively for an orderly, decorative quality.

If you have a collection of Wedgwood ceramics or a silver table ware set hiding in a sideboard or attic, now is the time to dust it off and use it to its full potential. Look at urns, bright glassware, pitchers and the aforementioned silver candlesticks as prime decorative accessories.