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While Spring is my favorite season because all many flowers are blooming, I do love dahlia season in Summer!
I especially love these pom-pom type dahlias. The flower feels so funny when it’s held in your hand! Bringing them into the house and setting them down in the mudroom for a quick photo on the phone….
Then put them in this pretty vase by Astier de Villate and set them back in the mudroom. We got this new coat rack that I love. It looks faux bois but it is actually from a tree. I like it juxtaposed next to the ornate antique barometer.
One last little look at the flowers. Wishing you a wonderful week.
Shop similar hat racks below:
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Cremone bolts are one of my favorite types of hardware. It is a type of hardware use to close doors or windows. It has vertical rod that runs the length of the cabinet and is used to secure the cabinet. It has a knob in the middle that twists and moves the bolt up and down to lock the cabinet. They are most commonly seen in French and other European cabinetry and windows.
I believe they started off for closing windows and doors in 18th century France. Below is the kitchen belonging to Frederic Fekkai, photo by Simon Watson as featured in Architectural Digest. As you keen see, there is a cremone bolt to close the window.
Below is a Paris apartment remodeled by Andrew Siurman Architects. I love the details of the original blot handle!
I love this beautiful kitchen by Randi Garrett Design. It is a modern glam kitchen with a touch of French country with the gold cremone bolts. You must check out her kitchen tour.
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Decorate my dining room for Spring with me!
Well it is currently storming outside as I type this post. I am trying to bring the Spring into my house – regardless of what Mother Nature has in store!!
I picked these daffodils from my garden. Somehow they are still standing despite the 50mph winds! I decided to decorate my dining room for Spring.
I set the table for no one in particular. No one is coming over. I suppose I set it for myself. Be gone, Winter Blues! You can get this look too – which checks all the boxes for “Grandmillenial style”. You’ll need a vintage or antique lace tablecloth, a fancy vessel to hold your flowers, fancy goblets, napkin rings. These napkin rings are from LoveShackFancy discontinued, but you can just tie a ribbon around a napkin and get the same look.
I changed some of the pieces on my mantel. I now have my little orange topiaries and blue and white plates. I think I finally banished all of Christmas (and Winter) decor!
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Do you ever dream of staying in a chateau in Provence?
I stumbled upon this beauty, which you can rent from Only Provence. The property dates from the 1500s!
You can rent it for 22 people!!
The rental includes a personal chef and butler.
I will never tire of toile.
This shower is so unique. The painted tile are very pretty. Hope you enjoyed this virtual visit with me. All photos from Only Provence. They have more rentals too (PS not a paid ad)
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I recently picked up some Bavent pottery from a sale. Have you heard of it? I did some research online and there is not a lot written about it. It comes from France from a factory called “Poterie du Mesnil de Bavent”. It was started in 1842 by Maurice Comptet. It is a tile factory that produced, well, tile. It also produced pots and finials. The clay finials would go on top of the roofs of local businesses to show buyers what they had to offer. Of course there is whimsy.
They also produce many animals – many of which are meant to sit on the roof! Haha! I had no idea! This just cracks me up! Since they are made of clay, they are actually quite tough and can survive the elements. The pictures below are from the Bavent boutique.
But production slowed with D-Day. Bavent is only 10km from the D-day beaches. Like many villages in Normandy, most of the town of Bavent was destroyed. The art of this pottery was almost lost – until one day, in the 1960s, Martine Kay Mouat decided to purchase and restore the business. She was an apprentice the factory and the skills were continued on. Her daughter, Monique, still operates the business today.
The factory is still in business. Here is their website. If you’re in the area, you can visit!
They produced a lot of pigeon, rabbits, ducks and chickens. I would say they were definitely inspired by the local animals!
So, from my limited research, it seems there were two periods of production 1842-1940s and then 1960s-today. How do you know if you have an antique piece? Well, that I do not know. Sometimes it just takes skill to figure it out – does it “feel” old? The pieces though should all say Bavent on it, either stamped in the pottery or painted.
A few final pictures of the Bavent animals on random rooftops in Deauville, photos from 365 Things I love about France. There is not much written about this and why the locals did this. I will tell you why – because it’s funny! Now I’m off to figure out how to affix my faux pigeon to my rooftop… the pigeons that live on my roof will be very confused!
update… 1/20/23. I was looking through my Normandy pictures from my trip some years ago and spotted this house I took a picture of… with Bavent birds!
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by Patricia Mclean interiors, photography by Nathan Schroder
She used a hand printed Paisley Stripe by Soane Britian and used it like toile – meaning, it went everywhere. An antique French daybed is a focal point with a beautiful barometer hanging above.
by Patricia Mclean interiors, photography by Nathan Schroder
The bed is covered in a creamy patterned silk matelassé by Peacock Alley.
by Patricia Mclean interiors, photography by Nathan Schroder
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The beautiful home of late Hollywood producer Steven Bochco went on the market last year in Napa Valley. I absolutely LOVE the outside of this house!!! The exterior and landscaping is exquisite!
The inside is very nice a swell, but some things seem dated. I did not include many pictures of the inside because it was obviously photographed for resale. Most of the curtains were removed, so it is all quite bland.
I don’t understand the metal poles across the way?
Imagine sitting under this arbor with a nice dinner… sigh.
photography: Paul Rollins. As featured in SF gate.
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Window seat with Pierre Frey fabric, wool lined curtains, antique French mirror.
The designer Maria Haidamus renovated the Chateau’s three suites with authentic French antiques.
Louis chairs were recovered in velvet. Fortuny pillows adorn the bed.The walls were all redone with plaster.handmade Iksel wallpapers in the bathroom.The antique French armoire serves as a wet bar.Imported authentic antique French floorsPeter Fasano ‘Meadow’ Wallpaper; Fortuny pillow.
There is a catch to staying here: you must be a member of the loyalty program (so this non-wine drinker will never be visiting). Alas, I can visit virtually, and so can you!
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For many years, I have dreamed about having a bed crown. We found this antique French bed crown several years ago. I had curtain fabric already (the light aqua blue vines against the whtie), but it took years to find a coordinating fabric for the backdrop. Well, we finally found it!
I wanted to feel like I was sleeping in a French villa/hotel/chateau/domaine! Here are a few of my inspiration pictures:
Hotel Airelles, Versailles, FranceThe Ritz, Paris
Here are many of my fabric swatches. I was considering a yellow fabric, but I am not really a lover of the color yellow.
And even more…
Here was the winning combination! Found at calico Corners.
Here was my bedroom before (the blue tape above the painting was right before we hung the bed crown).
And after! I think it elevates the look of the room! I love it!! I still need to put a tieback for the drapery, but that is for another day!
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A newly remodeled farmhouse located in Luberon, France. A decade ago, Alexander Lafourcade updated the house. Then another facelift occurred by Diego Delgado-Elias. The house was featured in Architectural Digest, which you can read all of the details and full article here.
The kitchen was done in travertine to compliment the home’s original travertine floors.
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This French blue dining room by Kim Armstrong Interior Design is very interesting because of the stained blue wood ceiling! It is an interesting way to add a pop of color to the room.
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I picked yellow ranunculus from my garden (and supplemented a few from the store too) and could not stop photographing them around the house! Their vibrant color sung to me on that cloudy day. You get a little home tour as I moved the vase around the house.
I could not decide where I liked them best. Obviously resting them on the settee was just for playing with the camera – the cat and the kid certainly would not let them rest without being bothered there!
I do like the pop of yellow against the blue and white curtains!
A nice place for guests, but then I cannot see them all day in the powder room.
Ultimately they enjoyed the rest of the week in the kitchen, front and center!
Shop home finds
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Ever since Brooke and Steve Gianetti shared this house in their newest book, Patina Homes, I have loved this house! But now you can see it featured in this month’s Veranda Magazine! Photos by Lisa Romerein.
Look at this beautiful living room! I love it all! Come style my house.
The house exterior is lovely! The shutters are Farrow and Ball French Grey. I love the landscaping!
Their living room is right ”on trend” with their color schemes. Remember that I wrote cognac and cinnamon browns were coming in with greens? Well, voila! However, these are really quite timeless looks. I love the antique tapestry! Swoon!!
A look at the living room from another direction. I love the indoor/outdoor living space that California is famous for. I love how the beams are on the inside and outside.
This kitchen is so light and airy! I love the windows right behind the range. I have never seen that before. I love the lantern pendants too.
I love this formal dining room. The cabinet built ins remind me of something you would see in a chateau. Mahogany furniture lovers rejoice! Do you see the table and chairs? I love that chandelier too. The drapery is kept light and simple – and at perfect length and proportion.
The breakfast room is just beautiful! I love the beams and built in cabinets with a window seat! If you have an arched window or door, take note of how they installed drapery over this one.
The grand staircase. I love how they put a tree in it!
The pool and pool house. I love the overall feeling – a Mediterranean spa vibe here! They kept the same color trends in the pool house as the rest of teh house too.
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I love this French country dining room featured in Luxe Magazine . The treillage panels are painted in Farrow and Ball light blue no. 22. i love the antique French sideboard!
Photography: @stephen_karlisch_photo; Styling: @mayhardesign; Architecture: Blake Architects; Interior Design: @torirubinsoninteriors; Builder: Brooks Custom Homes. the chairs are Anthropologie (here they are in a different color).
Above is the butler’s pantry painted in Farrow and Ball Inchyra blue. Floors are Bardiglio and Carrara Marble. Wallpaper is Gracie. To the right is a cute guest room with bunk beds. The trim is painted in Farrow and Ball Lichen. shop the look
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Let’s slow down this January after a busy holiday season and appreciate the little details. Have you noticed them?
I’m looking at some of the details on some of my French pieces.
Imagine, some woodworker sitting there for hours carving this.
Did you look at your feet and see the details on the furniture feet?
A few little flowers on the corner of a cabinet can easily go unnoticed… They are not very big but they are there!
What about the scrolling metalwork on this lock? How long do you think it took for someone to make this?
Did you notice the carving on the back of the chair? It’s hard to carve curls in wood.
Did you just open and close the cabinet drawers looking hastily for something? Or did you enjoy the details too?
A little flower motif in the scrollwork. It disappears quickly when walking by it.
A bet this large bouquet of flowers did not go unnoticed! An eye-catcher for sure!
Ah, but what about these? They were hiding up high on the armoire. I spy some grapes too! (and cobwebs…)
Just slow down and enjoy some of the little details.
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We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
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