fancy French rooftops

While the Normans are not generally known for their natural exuberance and eccentricity, they are partial to a little roof decoration.  I took these shots in our closest small town.  Sometimes it pays to walk around with your nose in the air!

bon weekend!

French patina and high ceilings

When I first saw pictures of this beautiful room in an 'hotel particulier', the light and muted colours just took my breath away.  Makes me long to unclutter, tone down and generally streamline my house life! !

Take a close look at the patina on the walls, I'm not convinced that even the most clever artist could achieve this look, just the right dose of superimposed and flaking paint - love it!

The overall effect is enhanced by the light streaming through the windows and the lack of furniture,  I would happily pass a little time here....

all photos thanks to Mires Paris

the french town hall

The town hall in any village in France is important.  Ours is rather over-grand for such a small village but it's well cared for, and is certainly a busy place.  This is where we come for any administrative papers, where we keep in touch with village life. Definitely more practical than political.   I love the flowers they planted this year, I love its imposing façade.

enfilades de portes, layering of rooms

Our house isn't large enough to enjoy a real 'enfilade de portes', but I am always careful when painting a new colour in a room to stand back with the doors swung open to see how the colour will layer against that of the walls in the room behind.

Just as well really that the house isn't that big - if I had enfilades like these to admire, I'd never get anything done, just sit around admiring the view!!

photos thanks to marie claire maison and mires paris

French chandeliers

If there is one item that has been in fashion for the past ..... 300 years !!  it has to be the chandelier.

In the court theater at the Palais de Versailles, they had to light 3000 candles in chandeliers before a show!  Who wanted that job?!

In our home we use a candle chandlier in the dining room but elsewhere I have electric chandeliers. 

So what is it that we always fall for?  Could it be the minute details, 

simply the reflection of  light in pretty pearls and glass pampilles .....

How about you?  What lights up your life?

Photos 1,2 here, 6-8 here, 10,11 here

love you, love you not... industrial design

I've heard that industrial design is still all the rage for some people.  I looked at this interior and wondered.  I can see that the overall effect is fashionable and well put together, but to me it doesn't say 'home', or even 'come in make yourself comfortable'.

So here are the pictures of this "industrial design" and very fashionable french home, with my love-you's and love-you-not's.  See how much you agree with!

corner of the bedroom I presume,  

love the curtain probably made from the sort of vintage  sheet I adore

don't love the bare light bulb, the overcrowded chest of drawers, the way the drawers seem to stand proud of the window - doesn't look comfortable

entrance to the kitchen

love the colours

don't love the same problem overcrowded table top

 

bathroom

love (sort of) the unusual manner of tiling the wall

don't love the cluttered appearance

dining room

love the steel window frames and mix of chairs, view onto the garden

don't love the contrived artwork and easel

living room

love ... not very much, possible the cake stands on the table, but there are still too many

don't love the huge photo of AG on the wall, too much industrial metal furniture

living room

love the colours, the comfy sofas

don't love the empty walls

kitchen

love   ... nothing

don't love the clutter

So what do you think?  Am I just becoming an over-critical old grouch, or do you also need a little more comfort in your home?

dreaming of a chateau

I thought that for the weekend we could all do with a little something to dream about.

This property has recently come up for sale, it's less than an hour west from us, deeper into Normandy.  A medium sized château and typical of the style around here, built in brick and stone.  It has beautiful grounds, stunning outbuildings, a pool and a lake!

So let's pretend we have 8 million $ to invest with,  what will it bring us?.  Listen carefully and I'll tell you .....for that bargain price, Sotheby's is offering us a pretty 17th century château ...

 that we can admire from the front and the back

(can't you just see those steps and lawn being perfect for a big summer ball!)

.....11 bedrooms with beds of all shapes and sizes,...... 

(I grabbed this one, so you'll have to look further down the hall)

.......8 bathrooms too.....

(If you need to bring a governess with you, don't worry she gets her own quarters.)

we'll have ornate plaster work on the walls and ceilings, 

and carved stone decorations on the façade

..... we get a massive hall, and four large reception rooms including a real library....

in the grounds of the house we have a pool - complete with  thatched pool house,
a stable block,  a 17thC dovecote, a 19thC guest house,
  a caretaker's house and a Norman manor.  

(now that's a real relief because I'd hate us to fill squashed in there
when friends come to visit!)

we could take afternoon tea on the terrace

(this, by the way, is my favourite shot)

 ...... and when the weather is fine we can walk (all day) around the extensive
300 acre property, and even check on the duck's eggs in the laying
baskets that will  have been carefully positioned by our gamekeeper.....

 Sotheby's rather touchingly labels this a 'luxury single family' property.  
One assumes, this is because - once you've lodged the army of staff necessary 
for maintenance -  there will only be the space for one family.

Seriously though, I think this place is stunning.  We definitely couldn't afford to buy or 
maintain it, but I am thrilled to think that some people can and will. 

Wishing you a dreamy Sunday