In Perfect French Country Ros Byam Shaw celebrates relaxed rural France at its finest, visiting timeless and beautiful French country homes that feature ancient beams and stone fireplaces, panelled rooms and attics under steeply-pitched pantiles. In a busy modern world that seems increasingly fast-paced, overcrowded, and monopolized by technology, the allure of the “good life” is more potent than ever. As an antidote to texts and tweets, traffic jams and queues, additives and packaging, we seek out the simple and the wholesome, and long for the luxuries of space, a leisurely pace of life and fresh air. France can offer all these things, with its traditional farming methods, its authentic regional cuisine, and its low population density. Add to this the inimitable French sense of style and joie de vivre, and you have all the ingredients for an enviable way of life. Perfect French Country revels in the timeless and authentic beauty of the French country home.

The ultimate guide to surrounding yourself with French country style, wherever you are. From deep in the countryside of southwest France comes a comprehensive guide to surrounding yourself with French country style wherever you are. Capturing the beauty and tranquility of the region, interior designer and journalist Sara Silm distills the unique colors, textures, and flavors of this distinctive corner of the world. Inherent in Sara’s detailed knowledge of French country style are philosophical lines drawn between color, temporality, style, sensation, and season, such that every design choice is a contemplation of time and place. Nowhere is this more clearly felt than in her unique color palettes, inspired by the patina of weather-beaten shutters, of local brick and fading roof tiles, violet-hued ice cream, and rolling hills bursting to life in spring. Coupling detailed, practical design knowledge with evocative notes on rural French life and choice recipes, How to French Country offers a path to gentler living and refocusing on all that we hold dear.

Discover design inspiration as a photographer and blogger details the story of her renovation of a 1940s cottage in the California countryside. A little, abandoned vacation house that could, set in the center of rolling fields and trees becomes the cottage home of her dreams. A French country–style cottage filled with original elements and an exquisite mix of rustic and refined. The years of renovation allowed Courtney to create a lifestyle that is fueled by inspiration and beauty, a touch of whimsy, and an abundance of everyday elegance. The journey has been shared on her popular blog French Country Cottage, and now, through the publication of her first book, her readers will experience a reveal of more of her home and property and the inspirations behind her beloved style. Courtney's inspiring photography reveals every nuance of her style and home including a muted color palette, old brassy door knobs, chippy paint, antiques, her greenhouse and garden, and an abundance of entertaining and holiday decorating style. Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor and embracing well-worn as well loved, French Country Cottage is a style that celebrates simplicity, indulges in romance, cherishes pieces with history and believes a chandelier and fresh flowers belong in every room.

Entertaining at home in gracious French style. Born from her experience of everyday living in France, Sharon Santoni reveals the gracious, easy French way of entertaining guests at her countryside home, year-round. Personal stories evoke the spirit of the French lifestyle, while gorgeous photos make us feel right at home. Santoni creates lush bouquets from her garden and utilizes resources from surrounding nature to lay gorgeous tables both indoors and outdoors. Venues range from a Sunday morning breakfast on the patio, to a ladies lunch in her lush garden, a formal dinner in her dining room, and a picnic by the river. Santoni also shares 15 favorite recipes utilizing seasonal foods. Find inspiration for your tables throughout the seasons, and discover the simple pleasure of entertaining friends and family. Sharon Santoni writes the popular blog My French Country Home. She is the author of My Stylish French Girlfriends (Gibbs Smith). She resides in Normandy, France.

An exceptionally charming look at the art of good living as practiced in the French countryside by families who live in old manor houses, many owned by the same family for centuries. A delightfully anecdotal text and all-color photographs explore not only the fabrics, wallpapers, fine furniture, silver, china and linens that decorate these homes, but also treasures found in the attics, such as family photo albums, cherished love letters, antique toys, and elegant ballgowns carefully packed away.

Before Pierre Deux's French Country enchanted the world with the warmth and exuberant spirit of Provencal design, the charms of French Country style had remained hidden behind the closed doors of the farmhouses, chateaux and auberges that dot the countryside of France. This seminal book revealed a unique aesthetic that has evolved over hundreds of years to arrive at a look that is perfectly adapted to its time and place. Now, Linda Dannenberg, co-author of French Country, returns to Provence to capture not only the best of the old traditions but also to present the latest design developments and trends in le style provencal. New French Country takes you on privileged tours that include a lavish apartment in Avignon, a lushly landscaped estate in the Luberon and an antique ochre mill in Rousillon, treating you to a fascinating narrative about local customs and handicrafts. In addition to chapters on the colours, fabrics, furniture, pottery, architectural elements and gardens of Provence, New French Country includes an extensive directory to the best the region has to offer, and an overview of its most charming shops and most accomplished artisans.

Inspired by the sun-drenched colours of Southern France, French country orrovencal decorating is as fitting in the city and suburbs as in rural areas.ut how does one go about achieving the provencal ambience?