a French home to love in Normandy

How charming is this little house in deepest Normandy.   It is featured in the French magazine Campagne et Decoration, and dates from 1853.   The owners obviously love to shop at the local brocantes and have furnished the property with their beautiful and eclectic collection of  treasure.

I love the soft tones achieved with pale but not white walls, neutral coloured chairs and natural wood for the beams and some of the furniture.

I love the ceiling treatment in this bedroom in the eaves.  The natural timbers and the huge beams are stunning.

A place to feel at home in, don't you think?

all photos thanks to Campagne et Decoration

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making magic in the south of France

There is a magician living in the South of France and she spends her days turning out magical and enchanting creations that sell world over.

Pascale Palun trained as a stylist, took a break to raise her son and began creating at home using old materials she found.  Her little pieces of magic started selling locally, she called her company  Vox Populi  and before she knew it she was at the Paris Maison et Objet show and her work was being requested for sale all around the planet.

It seems she can turn her hand to anything, but she has specialised in these delightful lamps and chandeliers.  Her miniature lamp 'cages' with tiny vignettes inside are totally charming.  I have seen them in a shop near here, they are breathtaking.

 These shots are of her work and of her home in Avignon where she has her studio.  This girl really understands the art of patina, and the importance of detail.

Hope you enjoyed this little moment of tenderness on St Valentine's Day!  Tomorrow I have a new giveaway for you that you won't want to miss!!

all photos thanks to vox populi

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toile de jouy and a winner

For the giveaway winner you are invited to read down to the end of the post! 

When we bought our home all those years ago, every single bedroom was decorated in toile de jouy (pronounced twull de jooee).  Few designs are as easily recognisable, as French or as timeless.  There are surely hundreds of toile de jouy patterns, printed on fabric, on wallpaper.  Their common theme: the repetition of a pattern - often bucolic -, printed in one colour against a contrasting background.

In France it is popular either as wallpaper or as fabric wall cover.

In this picture I love the gold patina on the drawers and frames conrasted with the chic black and white wall treatment.

One thing I appreciate about toile de jouy is that it can look feminine or masculine.  I can see the bedroom below as a man's room.

Some people go for the all over look.  Walls, chairs and curtains!



manuel canovas fabric

 Today the only room I have left with toile de jouy walls is my sewing room, but I still love to see the pattern on cushions and chairs.


toile de jouy looks wonderful contrasting with stripes

 


royal doulton china



Finally, I am happy to announce the winner of the Diane James Home giveaway, it is   Ketjeh - congratulations, if you get in touch with me I shall send your details across to Diane James.

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au revoir Noël

Goodbye to Christmas,  

I'll be packing everything away on Monday; our last weekend to enjoy the tree (which still smells delicious!) and the extra colour and sparkle that even our low level decorations have brought to the home.

Rather than show you pictures of me packing boxes -  because nothing could be less inspiring than that - I'll share these exquisite pictures of a French home that is just my style, and that also still has the tree in place.

breakfast here please ...
(those are my sort of tureens)

show me a little girl who wouldn't love this in her room!!

or a big girl who wouldn't love this bathtub! :)

adore the aubusson rug at the foot of the bed

 I love the colours in the dining room

and I need this sink ...  now!  oh yes, and the dish towel thing

painted rug on the floor, I can definitely cope with that and ...

the christmas tree under a silk canopy  - and why not?!
(don't you think this room could almost be in a dolls house?)

Voila!  Enjoy your weekend!

all pictures thanks to campagne et decoration

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a french address for brocante

While the brocante fairs are put on hold at this time of year, I have to satisfy my craving for finding treasure elsewhere.  Local suppliers are among my favourite haunts, but sometime soon I shall jump in my car and drive to this amazing place for the day.

Up in the north of France, heading towards Belgium is Bruxelles Antiques, where they have taken the concept of a store to a completely different level.   The owners, who are also expert in decoration,  welcome their clients individually and help them in their choice,  To complement the store and  encourage their shoppers  to hang around they have a restaurant on site.

It looks to me like a great place for a day trip with a couple of girlfriends, or maybe I could persuade my husband to take me there for lunch!  But it is over 2 hours from us, he may not leap for joy at that idea!

Voila!  A few images to get us dreaming and moving in the right direction at the start of the year.  I hope you have some fun projects lined up too!

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