| french country living Happy New Year! I have been spending my relaxing vacation with my family at our home in Channel Islands. When I haven't been taking boat trips, going to movies or cooking I have been catching up on reading the stack of design books that are piling up around my home. One of the best discoveries in the stack is French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg. The book is broken into chapters that look at the different design elements that make up French Country inspired design. These chapters include "Furniture", "Materials", "Color", "Fabrics", "Spaces", and "Accessories" among others. All of the images by Christopher Drake are beautiful and confirm why I love French Country homes. Because most of the images are of the more muted interiors common in Northern French Country homes, they appeal to my sense of design. Here are a few of my favorites: Ms. Clifton-Mogg provides us with some gorgeous images of French Country bedrooms. Although none of them are exactly the same, they all have a similar feeling of airy lightness. French Country beds and bedding tend to be clean and simple, like this bed covered in a white matlesse quilt... or these beds covered with simple linens. The chapter on "Fabrics" is filled with gorgeous images of the restrained use of color that is so appealing in Northern French Country interiors. According to Ms. Clifton-Mogg, there has been very little change in the colors used in French Country fabrics, so a 19th century quilt (made from a petticoat when the fashion changed) looks lovely paired with newer pillows. The "Furniture" chapter is filled with splendid examples of French armoires and cabinets that are used to store table linens.... pitchers and platters... books in the library.... glasses and dishes behind chicken wire in the kitchen.... and clothing in the bedroom. When these cabinets are painted, they are usually a soothing shade of blue or green. I could go on and on about this book, but I am off to go ice skating (Leila has been begging!). One last image from the "Materials" chapter. I love the creamy colored limestones used in French Country homes as well as the aged brick and terra cota. Most stone is cut by hand and has a rough feel to it. all images by Christopher Drake Enjoy your New Year's Day! xo Brooke |
french country living [feedly]
