le salon au rez de jardin

These days I'm drawn more towards the realistically-lived-in look than the glossy-magazine-picture-perfect when it comes to interiors.  In this salon we have the high ceilings, the herringbone parquet, the decorative plasterwork that any decorator would approve of, but it still remains slightly offbeat.  Home made, family.

Loving this large open salon, sitting room cum dining area.  Opening on one side to a garden through huge windows that let in loads of light.  On the other side double doors walk you through to the entrance hall.

The photos were taken in a "hotel particular", which means a large private town house.  The charm here comes from this generous room being on a level with a garden.  So often in this style of house, the ground floor is raised by a few steps.

Love the piano that faces the player towards the room and the view.  Love the purple bergère, whose colour reappears in the curtains, a lampshade and the rug.  Love all the space; enough for a big family to move around in without getting in each other's way, and finally love the zinc table top.

What is missing for me is a couple of huge comfy sofas to sink into in front of the fire and some colour onto the walls. What do you think?

photos thanks to Mires Images

french kiss

"OMG" an American friend recently yelled down the phone, "I think I just made a dreadful mistake, I was introduced to this  distinguished looking French man and I leant forward to kiss him on both cheeks, I'm sure I should have waited or just shook his hand, or done nothing....His wife was standing there just sort of smirking .... This is SOO hard, I never know what to do"

The time had come to get back to basics:

1.    Respectable adults (whatever that means) shake hands when they meet.  If they get on well together and if the atmosphere is friendly and sociable, they will probably kiss - faire la bise - when they take leave.

2.    Whenever I meet a friend, male or female, I will faire la bise.  If I bump into them again during the day, it's not necessary to kiss since it's already been done for that day.

3     The bise, or kiss, itself is not a warm sloppy affair.  Each person leans forward and directs his cheek towards the other persons cheek and makes a soft kissing sort of noise as their heads brush together.  Hands don't have to touch, but may do.  Generally the right hand is lightly touching the other's left shoulder.

4.    When children meet up, or take leave,  all ages in all circumstances, the girls do the bise to everyone, and the boys kiss the girls and shake hands with other boys.  After all these years I still enjoy watching this need to touch as I sit outside school gates, or wait for my son at the rugby club.

5.    There is nothing shocking in two men doing the bise, just  a sign of close friendship and affection,  not sexual.

6.    There are those that give 4 kisses instead of two.  This is a social class issue, take it from me, you don't want to go there!

Hope that helps!

Je t'embrasse!

photos thanks to Google Images

Respelido - staying on the Cote d'Azur

While visiting Nice last weekend, we  were lucky enough to stay in holiday villas that belong to my brother and sister in law.

Sabrina and Jean Paul have created Respelido, a beautiful property hidden in the hills above Nice.   Behind these stylish gates are a handful of small villas  set in beautiful gardens with a magnificent pool.

Respelido was created by Sabrina and Jean-Paul about 10 years ago,  and they are present every day, ready to welcome their guests.

Jean Paul's family has always been on this land.  The  trees planted to landscape Respelido came from his family  property, and many of the olive, palm and eucalyptus trees are  between 200- 300 years old.

Respelido is the sort of place where a family can relax, and where a couple can unwind.  Guests are discreet, the welcome is friendly, the villas impeccable without being too precious.  Sabrina chose beautiful local tiles for the bathrooms and kitchens, and employed local black smiths to create the forged iron pergolas over each terrace as well as the intricate gates.

Each villa has its own totally private garden, with garden furniture.  Near the pool there is a sauna and jacuzzi which my youngest two had all to themselves.

Would we recommend it to friends?  In a heartbeat.  
If you stop off there,  be sure to say that you're one of my blogger friends.
Sabrina will make you doubly welcome!

Nice et la Côte d'azur

We were lucky enough to spend the weekend in and around Nice on the Côte  d'Azur.  So lovely to be back there.  I  love the rococo architecture and  the way they can paint the town orange and yellow without looking ridiculous.

In the nearby villages perched on hill tops, time seems to have stood still.  The several hundred year old houses aren't empty, but remain totally unchanged, simply inhabited by yet another new generation.

Rich travellers on their Grand Tour in the nineteenth century wouldn't  have used the same forms of transport, or had the crowds but they would certainly have admired many of the same views. 

one naughty pony

I had planned to leave you with a wonderful post for the weekend, full of architectural detail, elaborate text and fabulous photos.  I am afraid to say that a pony has changed my timetable this morning and I need to vent a little emotion here.

May I introduce you to Iris.    Iris is what you might call a free spirit, although this morning I called him quite a few other and less complimentary names.

 Iris has been part of our family for 6 years.  To begin with he had a certain amount of excess energy and regularly helped us to dismount at the most unexpected moments, but at the age of 10 he decided he was too cool for that game and became a model family pony, well almost.

The only problem Iris has today is that he's rather bright.  Who says bright says easily bored, curious, eager to explore, always looking for a solution to a problem.   This morning his problem was that he didn't want to stay in his field and he found a solution..... three times, and that was just before 11am.  Houdini on four legs.

For a while he was in livery at the local stables   where he was the only pony who needed a padlock on his stable door.  His endearing habit was to wait for everyone to go home at night, then unbolt his stable, choose a couple of pals and unbolt their doors too, then lead everyone to the cereal store where a midnight feast was just an easy peasy door latch away.

He gets loads of affection, and he's always pleased to see us 

He likes to make himself useful

and we wouldn't swap him for the finest sports horse, but this morning, I promise you

he heard language from this blogger that I cannot put into print!

Wishing you a fine weekend!

May all your four legged friends stay put!

guest room for two

We have a tiny guest room up on the top floor of the house and it needs redecorating.  I know I'm going to have a houseful for Christmas and I'm thinking that I'll need two beds in there for two children.

Keep looking at this pictures.
Why do we love symmetry so much? 

ivy league

The jury has always been out on the pros and cons of letting ivy grow up the façade of a house.  Personally I'm all for it, to me it embellishes the plainest building and adds an extra layer of charm to an already beautiful property.

Those who are against mutter darkly about insects coming into the house, damage caused to brickwork and excessive time and energy required at pruning time.  They are right on all counts, but the beauty of it still wins hands down for me.

Of course ivy is not the only option.  Here in France Virginia Creeper is very popular, particularly loved for its autumn colours, here around Monet's house at Giverny

Wisteria is also a favourite, and that's what covers a large part of the façade of 

our house, sometimes entwined with a climbing rose.

While our workshop is clad in climbing hydrangea

And what about you, do you live in a climate where a layer of green brings a welcome freshness to the house, or a part of the world where encouraging insects around the windows would be seen as madness?

I'd love to know what you think.........

photos Google images and Mires Images