Going French With A Linen Armoire? Not Necessarily!
It is interesting how giving something a French name makes it sound more expensive; as with perfume, so too furniture. Call a linen cabinet or cupboard a linen armoire and the dollar signs roll up in the salesman’s or shop assistant’s eyes. It is just the same basically though as any other line storage furniture; unless you manage to find a genuine antique armoire made in France that just happens to have turned up in your local antique store.
It has to be said that your prize fine bed linen, or cheap polyester sheets and pillow cases, have to be stored somewhere; as do your bathroom towels. So why not store them in a fine sounding linen armoire, even if it does look like a linen cabinet to your American eyes? You achieve the same end of storing your linen whatever the name tag of the storage furniture might be. However if you really do want a linen armoire that appears to live up to its name, you can find them online at an appropriate price tag.
An example of a highly priced and authentic looking (to non-experts) linen armoire is the William & Mary Linen Press Armoire from Frontgate. This sells for around $5000 and is an impressive looking piece of vintage style furniture, although its influence is English and early American rather than French and it’s designed more for the dining room than for linen storage. Never mind; remember what I said about French sounding name and price tag?
Even more antique looking but still not from France is the India Furniture Rare Patina Antique India Armoire Linen Cabinet Teak Gujrat from Moqulinterior. This is hand crafted in India and is again an impressive piece of classic looking furniture. It sells for about $1500; is made of solid teak and has intricate carving and details. I’m not so sure about the Armoire label though! Never mind, I am sure you will find a real linen armoire eventually.
A modern equivalent at more down to earth price is the Antique White Bathroom / Laundry Room / Bedroom Linen Storage Organizer Cabinet / Armoire from Antiqued White. Selling at only about $250 this is described as a cabinet/armoire, although furniture experts would likely call it a cabinet or cupboard depending on which side of the Atlantic they are from. It is a simple louvered linen armoire which would go well in most modern white bathrooms and stores your linen or towels, which after all is what you are really seeking.
