French Obsession: How to Be Effortlessly Chic at Your House
Bring out your inner Francophile with these fail-safe tips inspired by the masters of style
Liberté, égalité, fraternité! With Bastille Day upon us, it’s time to celebrate French style. From the wild, windswept shores of Normandy, to the bright lights of Paris, south to the ever sparkling Riviera, the French seem to have a knack for styling every room, nook and corner with unmistakable elegance and charm. Timeless soft furnishings are married with classic architectural accents, kitchens are practical and inviting, and living spaces want to be lived in, and well.
The French have an innate ability to build pretty tableau, and manage to give their homes pockets of character and intrigue everywhere you look. Below, you’ll find the ways and means of creating a space destined to draw admiration from even the most fashionable of frogs.
The French have an innate ability to build pretty tableau, and manage to give their homes pockets of character and intrigue everywhere you look. Below, you’ll find the ways and means of creating a space destined to draw admiration from even the most fashionable of frogs.
Install mirrored doors
The French love mirrors, and mirrored doors are an accent often used in apartments as both a decorative feature and to create a sense of space and depth. Its bevelled panels reflect and refract the pretty, soft light of the chandelier.
The French love mirrors, and mirrored doors are an accent often used in apartments as both a decorative feature and to create a sense of space and depth. Its bevelled panels reflect and refract the pretty, soft light of the chandelier.
Mix the past with the present in the bedroom
This elegant master bedroom mixes classic black-and-white decor with luxurious lighting that gives old-world style a modern twist. An embroidered, white coverlet adds a chic European element to any bedroom.
This elegant master bedroom mixes classic black-and-white decor with luxurious lighting that gives old-world style a modern twist. An embroidered, white coverlet adds a chic European element to any bedroom.
Create a French-inspired corner
No room for grand armoires or glittering doors? Then a corner of pretty, feminine French objet might be just the thing. This chest of drawers holds a selection of inexpensive market or garage sale finds – a charming ceramic jug acts as a vase, and the two vintage-style mirrors reflect light from the enamel-and-brass accented lamp and single candle, giving the room an entirely new ambience.
No room for grand armoires or glittering doors? Then a corner of pretty, feminine French objet might be just the thing. This chest of drawers holds a selection of inexpensive market or garage sale finds – a charming ceramic jug acts as a vase, and the two vintage-style mirrors reflect light from the enamel-and-brass accented lamp and single candle, giving the room an entirely new ambience.
Add striking style with a herringbone floor
Herringbone flooring, one of France’s great gifts to the world of interiors, is used to stunning effect as a catwalk into this elegant walk-in robe. Again, mirrors make use of light in what could have been a dark space.
Herringbone flooring, one of France’s great gifts to the world of interiors, is used to stunning effect as a catwalk into this elegant walk-in robe. Again, mirrors make use of light in what could have been a dark space.
Bring in a breath of Cote d’Azur air
This living space channels France’s most famous coast. Light and bright, with classic cane furniture, the grand brass light fitting refracts light onto the clean white walls and inviting sofa.
This living space channels France’s most famous coast. Light and bright, with classic cane furniture, the grand brass light fitting refracts light onto the clean white walls and inviting sofa.
Recreate a Parisian-style apartment kitchen
Designer Greg Natale uses classic black-and-white floors juxtaposed with strong green cabinetry to create a striking kitchen in a small space.
Designer Greg Natale uses classic black-and-white floors juxtaposed with strong green cabinetry to create a striking kitchen in a small space.
In this eat-in kitchen, the large-format painting draws the eye, its chat noir accenting the Hay dining chairs, large table and rustic wall unit – just the thing to display hand-turned ceramics and French demijohn (hand-blown cognac bottles). A must-have for any French or French-inspired home is, of course, a wine rack.
Pretty up a powder room
This chic petit bathroom uses classic neutral tones to create an illusion of space. A framed painting, highlighted beneath a stylish wall light, echoes the tones of the timeless brass tapware. These clever accents combine to make a small space interesting.
This chic petit bathroom uses classic neutral tones to create an illusion of space. A framed painting, highlighted beneath a stylish wall light, echoes the tones of the timeless brass tapware. These clever accents combine to make a small space interesting.
Whether it houses piles of paperwork, stacks of clothes, linen and flatware, or a jumble of cutlery, an armoire is a classic piece of furniture that’s ever practical and will never go out of style.