Like many little girls, I grew up with a mild obsession with Paris. As a kid, that meant I spent a lot of time with the Madeline books, planning to dress in head-to-toe Chanel when I grew up.
Today, my francophilia is more design-centric. I love images of gorgeous old Parisian apartments, with their high ceilings and ornate detail. Of stacks of books next to crazy sculptures, abstract expressionism sidling up to mid-18th century antiques. While I love sleek modernism, I’m also drawn to the busy, but not over the top, Parisian eclecticism.
Here are some great examples of the style I love (most of which are not even from France):
Look at these ceilings! That chandelier! The scale alone is so grand that it's breathtaking. But the rug makes the room inviting and comfortable, not intimidating.
What a perfect bathroom. Granted, most Parisian bathrooms aren't nearly this spacious, but if they were, they'd look like this. I love the gray walls and the black clawfoot tub - they're simple and work so nicely with the oyster walls and gold fixtures.
What I like about this room is the way it combines small details - ornate chandeliers, expressionist art - with a decidedly American/Asian spareness. It's the best of all worlds - global fusion.
This soft taupe is gorgeous and perfect for the high, elegantly detailed walls. I also love the way the furniture is simple and sleek and modern in shape, but fits with the traditional structure of the room.
Much of the attraction of French style, for me, is in the details - like this pretty (but not fussy) black and white teapot and the contrasting yellow napkins. It reminds me of black and white floors set off by rich gold walls.
One of my favorite images is the French apartment stacked with books in every corner. This room is a little neater than my imaginary flat, but I love how not only do books line the walls, they're also stacked on every available surface. Throw in a few on the floor, and I'd be really happy.
The French really do know how to use their flowers. In Barefoot in Paris, Ina Garden devotes a whole section to French flower arranging - it tends towards the simple, but abundant. This thick bunch of overripe tulips does so much to brighten up this room.
Thanks, I enjoyed your Ideabook. A lifelong Francophile myself, I finally realized my dream of owning an apartment in Paris. What fun to renovate and decorate! Most of the furnishings came from the Parisian fleamarket. btw, is the photo of the dining room above from the SF design house?
