conservatory ideas

We're seriously thinking about a small conservatory for extending our house sideways without altering the distinctive outline of the building.  I am drawn to the special light in glass walled rooms, but hesitating on design.  Loving these English conservatories, wondering if they'd be right with such a French house.

These are some of the ideas I like ...  mulling over .....

exterior photos thanks to  Amdega, interior shots Homes and Gardens

my favourite brocante find last sunday

The cherry blossom will soon be out and I'm loving this unusual pink-red 

transfer ware with cherry design that I found at a brocante on Sunday morning

 A large oval plate and other round plates.  

In my store here.

quintessentially Parisian

what could be more Parisian?

the chanel bag

the blue and white stripe dress

the so-easy-to-recognise architecture

quintessential France
quintessential Paris

from my bedroom window

you may like to click on this picture

The valley has changed dramatically this last week, greener everywhere, the garden suddenly started to look luxuriant, yes! spring is really here.  Took these shots from my bedroom window yesterday morning, a slight mist at sunrise was the promised of a fine spring day.  Promise kept.

The terrace was still damp from the dew, but I ate breakfast outside and enjoyed the quiet, and planned what will go into the potager this year.

the big white tree in the potager is a greengager plum

If you're getting your hands dirty in your garden today, 

or simply enjoying the view, I wish you a happy Sunday!

normandy chic!

Here in Normandy we  know how to appreciate a talent for chic when we see it!!

These shots are of  a beautiful interior design  store near here that belongs to friends of ours. This husband/wife team design, upholster, create, renovate  together.  They love beautiful fabric, ideally co-ordinated colour schemes, well proportioned furniture. 

Their window displays are guaranteed to slow me down as I drive past.

...  and inside is like aladdin's cave.  Around the store they create small vignettes to show off pieces of furniture lovingly restored.  I adore this beautiful upholstered screen, that serves as a backdrop to new pieces.

I love to see the transformations as one thing 

becomes another

I love the unusual pieces of furniture they find

and their talent for marrying colours and textures.

In France you can live in the country and still access chic!

Carole and Jean-Francois Bic can be contacted here ,

their store is rue Dulong, Pacy sur Eure

why is France so seductive?

Have you seen the new blog called Seductively French.  It's written by Slavica who fell head over heels in love with France a very short time ago and has consequently decided to go for a total life change !!

She and her husband, (sounds like a good man!) are busy creating a company based on their love of all things French, and with the company has come the blog and with the blog has come the facebook following and ..... I believe there is talk of an exciting contest soon to come.

Charmed by the idea that someone can be so totally seduced by a country, I asked Slavica to explain in a few words and pictures what Seductively French   means to her.

Why am I so enamoured with the French and their culture? Let me tell you how
many ways France has seduced me…

At all cost, they make sure everything is done right. Masters and inventors of the fine arts, food, fashion, architecture... and of course the art of seduction. A few obvious favourites seem to be Claude Monet, Alain Ducasse, Chanel, and the Palace of Versaille. These are all grand examples of how they have always been so ahead of their time and over the top.

Chanel. Ad for fashion, jewelry, or beautiful women?

Jerry Hall for Chanel, and the not so in your face use of sex to sell.

Christian Louboutin and Piper Heidieck Champagne and crystal heel flute

Artist Vanessa Beecroft for Louis Vuitton.

I love the  eclectic French lifestyle. You see this in their interior design.  They place the most simple and contemporary furniture.into an ancient building with elaborate and ornate detail, made with construction elements that would bring a general contractor to tears here (in the US) with the labor, money and time spent.

Surrounded by the old, decorated with the new. Roche Bobois.

All I can say here is Ooh La, La!

Let’s talk about the passion. Why is it called the French Kiss? It’s not a peck or a smooch.  And it’s certainly not friendly. The French kiss is the most passionate of all kisses.

The French language is unarguably the most well-known romance language in the world. With phases that melt into multiple cultures world wide like  je ne sais quoi, and l'amour toujours l'amour…  all sure to make you smile.

Victor Hugo said “When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes.”

And the food?! I’m not talking about the French fries nor the French toast. Maybe we figure if we label it as “French” it will be more appealing here? I’m sold! But I’m referring to more of the time taken to make a good meal, with many steps and ingredients. Not to forget the importance of its presentation, the people you share it with and that fabulous bottle of wine to marry it with. It all matters so much. I have observed this for years and taken notice of this difference in our two cultures.

I could go on for days, while discovering new reasons why France owns my heart. It is my basis  for how I want to take the time to live with all that is passionate in my life. To enjoy art, culture, family and friends the Seductively French way.

All that  is beautiful and noble is the result of reason and calculation. –Charles Baudelaire 


If you'd like to know more about Slavica and her ideas on living a seductive life you can follow her on Facebook, click to 'like' her and get to here about her amazing giveaways.

How about you?  What is your idea on french seduction?

waste not, want not

When a girl's lucky enough to have several thousand 

daffodils in the garden, what else can she do but

enjoy them indoors too!

Picking daffodils each day this week, for me, for my friends.