A Garden tour at a French Country Estate in Newport Rhode Island

Matthew Mead took me to a book launch party last month. 

It was held  at the French Country estate of retired food editor of 

Bon Appetit magazine, Bettie Bearden Pardee. 

Bettie is the author of the blog Private Newport, 

and gives her readers the insider view of wonderful Newport Rhode Island.

Bettie is featured in the new book, Entertaining at Home, by Ronda Carmen. 

 Matthew was the principal photographer and I shared many fascinating chats with him 

as he traveled the country shooting the homes of designers 

as they showed him how they entertain at home.  

Ronda's book is just wonderful~ you will be inspired with all the entertaining ideas

and recipes and ways you can invite others to your home to party in so many ways!

Join us as we step behind the gated entrance of this truly magical French Country home

and poke around her gardens and outbuildings soaking it all in.

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Pumpkin Punchbowl Centerpiece

 The first day of fall has arrived in New England, and so we say goodbye to our short lovely summer.

 The nights have been cooler and the days have been pleasant, but these nice fall days are

fleeting as well, and winter weather will be next.  But until then, lets dive into decorating for

fall.  I am not a big fan of too much fall decor around the house, but one thing I do

love are the pretty fabric pumpkins that are everywhere!  Over the last several years

I have either purchased them or made my own using all kinds of materials.

 For a nice and easy centerpiece I assembled them all in my silver punch bowl that I found at the Brimfield Antique Fair.  This punchbowl has been so much fun to use for centerpieces for the various

holidays.  Everything looks good in it!  This year I picked up some pink velvet pumpkins and a tiny blue floral pumpkin, both from contacts I have online on Facebook and Instagram.  My blogging and Instagram friend, Larissa Jenkins, has a cute Etsy shop and she sold her pink velvet pumpkins there.  Her blog, Welch House 1900, is on my sidebar if you want to visit her incredible old house 
and see the masterful decorating in the style of  Glamorous French Vintage style.  

The blue pumpkin I noticed on a Facebook post was being sold by the beautiful shop called Vignettes in San Diego.  I reached out and left a note that I wanted it...the shop owner quickly contacted me with her phone number and the next thing you know, 
here it is in my punch bowl like the cherry on top of a sundae! 

This was last year's thanksgiving centerpiece using many of the pumpkins I made myself,

and some velvet pumpkins I found at Homegoods. 

 We are having a party for my mother in law to celebrate her 90th birthday,

so I made a grand buffet tablecloth for our dining room out of a pale grey and cream toile.

The centerpiece looked really nice on the cloth, and I plan to use some of my vintage silver

trays for the party to give it that fancy vintage look I love.

Making my own pumpkins is a lot of fun, as I get to use leftover home decor fabrics or

I upcycle velvets from old clothing like jogging suits and fashion them into cute pumpkins.

Enjoy the links below for either making your own or visiting independent shops and blogs

that I find very inspiring! 

Tutorial for my designer velvet pumpkins here

Larissa Jenkins Etsy shop for pink pumpkins here

Larissa Jenkins blog, Welch House 1900 here

Vignettes Decor, San Diego, FB page for blue floral pumpkin here

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Mixing Italian, French, Swedish decor and a glamorous gilded chest

 I've been in redecorating mode in the house, and it shouldn't

be a surprise but I have found more antiques with European roots.

The prettiest Florentine chest of drawers fell into my lap, so to speak.

 I often say that things find me, however in this case, I went looking

for some old gilded Florentine furniture.  Several years ago I had a shop that carried

 vintage European style decor and paint for furniture.  I was fortunate to meet

a wonderful gypsy girl picker.  She would come in unannounced, bringing

incredibly beautiful old things for me to purchase for my shop.

 Anyway, I reached out to her and asked her if she had any Florentine pieces...

and she said yes, she would send me some photos.

And here it is, sitting in all its gilded glory in our living room.

The large cherub candelabra lamp came back out of hiding and

took its spot on top of the chest of drawers.

A collection of mismatched lampshades gives 

it a little bit of quirky summer style. I imagined making a set of blue gingham 

lampshades for it, just like I had made for the candelabra in my dollhouse.

Life imitating art.  I love it!

 Redecorating mode has hit me full on this summer and I 

have been painting pieces and murals and editing the furniture.

A very soft and pretty yet old look is taking shape.

A bit Swedish inspired, and always French of course, and the bits of 

gilded Italian pieces have settled in together to create a room with a refreshed vibe.

 The oval back curbside French chairs are high on the to-do list.

Imagine them all around the table opposite the Swedish trundle bed.

Of course the Florentine chest wasn't the only piece I got from gypsy girl...

next time we meet here, you will see two yummy old and awesome wall cabinets.

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The Enchanted Tale of the French Country Cottage

  

French Country Cottage
Its a brand new book detailing what is a most romantic fixer upper fairy tale . 

 A real life fairy tale that took place in today's world...

One that happened slowly over a handful of years as a young mother and wife bought a 

run down abandoned home with her husband in a small California town.   

I've watched much of it first hand as I became friends with Courtney Allison
 in the blogging world when we both began in 2010.  
She with her French Country Cottage blog and I with Maison Decor.
  We shared a love for romantic French decor

 and for creating spaces with our own hands, sharing on our blogs what

was born out of visions of what could be, instead of what was there.

Courtney's cottage was rundown and tiny, but bit by bit she renovated rooms such 

to the delight of her blog followers.  All of us French Country Cottage readers swooned over

 her choices, like when she put a huge French armoire in a small bathroom 

and filled it with towels, and then swooned some more when she added wallpaper in

 a pretty floral design and then hung an old gilded chandelier to put it over the top. 

 Her choices are always inspired and unique, as Courtney is truly an original.

 We found inspiration from each remodeling project as she created her dream home.  

In her new book, you will see how she added to what was there, 

and the changes they made.  The enormous fireplace is original 

and was flanked by small windows, which now have been replaced

with glamorous French doors, adding to the romance of the space and 

allowing access to the garden spaces she created for outdoor living.

The dining room is an area that is actually part of the living room, 

and in her book, Courtney shows how she made defined spaces. 

 It was fascinating to see more of her cottage

 than we get to see on her blog, also "French Country Cottage".

Now I could finally see that she did indeed live in a cottage,

 and these various "rooms" were actually located in one large space in the old cottage.  

Tips on how to combine living spaces are just some of what you will find in the book. 

The book is divided neatly into categories with the interior and exterior spaces

laid out, and her out buildings such as the  extra cottage and a new greenhouse.

But lets talk about the outdoor spaces, shall we?

This English feeling sitting area by an enormous Lion fountain is 

so incredible!  Talk about creating a memorable space!!

Courtney always finds such fantastic pieces to make a statement, 

that you cannot help to start hunting on Craigslist to search for your very own 

Lion fountain, or huge gilded mirror, or marble topped tables or fancy chandeliers.

Her outdoor spaces are truly magical, and there is one I aspire to create for myself. 

 The pergola building has an incredible stone fireplace Courtney and her husband 

made themselves.  I recall many years ago emailing with her about her Pergola 

after a storm destroyed the first one she had standing.  I was devastated for her.  

But of course she got it rebuilt and carried on with her can-do spirit.

 I was in love with the outdoor spaces she created, as they are full of the 

rustic romantic style I am attracted to. 

 My own yard has several "outdoor rooms",  but none quite as glorious as hers.  

Building an outdoor fireplace and then a room around it, is on my list for sure!

I have been bugging hubs for two years now to build me one with our big granite blocks,

and now that I have this book in my lap, I may just need one made from these 

rounded river rocks instead. Courtney tells how they built it from scratch.

Her home is loaded with romantic details, from the daybed in the attic

 to the pretty bedrooms and amazing kitchen spaces!

 Decorating ideas abound in this pretty book.

They were lucky to have another tiny home on the property that was also rehabbed.

This cottage is left in a more rustic and original state, but none the less, Courtney 

remodeled it with the same romantic French style using old painted furniture 

and gilded mirrors and of course, old crystal chandeliers.

 Courtney shares her journey and how she became braver with each step she took finding

her own unique style as she remodeled her rundown cottage.  It is a tale I could relate to, and 

a remarkable journey I have so enjoyed watching on her blog.  You can keep up with Courtney

 on her blog located right here on my blogroll (in the right hand sidebar area).

 I am quite sure after you read this book,

you will feel there is nothing you can't do with your own home, 

no matter its condition or size.

Just stick to your vision and bring it to life, one chandelier at a time.

Lastly, this book has easily just become one of my top favorite decor books.
When I heard she was writing a book, I couldn't have been more excited to get a copy.
It arrived a few days ago, and I couldn't put it down! I have already started reading it again
and pouring through those beautiful photographs of Courtney's home.
Simply put, its beauty and inspiration and attainable house goals all rolled into one.

To purchase the book, click here.

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A true French Farmhouse Kitchen

This gloriously pretty French Farmhouse captured my attention, but truth be told, the 

charming cottage style kitchen is how I found this beautiful home.

 This enchanting kitchen was custom built by the homeowner to imitate the kitchen in 

a favorite French hotel restaurant, La Mirande, which has a Chef's Table kitchen.

The open shelving with the decorative trim work, painted blue, is incredibly charming!

 Here is a wider view of the kitchen, with the oak Chef's table in the center surrounded by ladder back chairs in French blue.  Loads of copper hang from the walls, pot rack and over the Lacanche range.
Its just so charming!! Read more about this French Farmhouse and the beautiful renovation on the The Glam Pad blog here.  I fell in love with the kitchen, and then the rest of the house!
 Follow on Instagram with updates on the property @provencepoiriers for more images of this dream French farmhouse in Provence.

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Country House Style

Making Your Home a Country House

It has been one year since Nora Murphy and her team came to shoot my "country house" for

her soon to be released book on Country House Style.  Here is a sneak peak at some

of the beautiful images that were taken last July, when Piper was still a little pup.

I loved this photo!

  My living room looked absolutely beautiful and Piper posed like a star.

The beautiful blue opaline chandelier gets the spotlight. 

I have received an advance copy of the book from Vendome Press,

the publisher of Nora Murphy's Country House Style.  Most of the images 

I am sharing today are outtakes, and didn't make it to the book.

Wait till you see what did make the cut!! 

OMG! So completely gorgeous!!

 The dining room table was set for a relaxed dinner with a mix and match

style of plates from my transfer ware collection and some pretty green majolica.

The big balloon wine glasses in amethyst glass were a wedding gift from my sister.

Big antique French monogrammed napkins dressed the table.

 This bedroom photo did make the book.  

During the shoot, the Swedish chair was 

put in the place where I have a dark wood French cane chair as it looked

 lighter and brighter.  For the most part, all was photographed

 as I had it for our every day living.

Nora brought these hydrangeas from her own Connecticut Country House garden!

 Nora and I posed for a few shots outside in the courtyard and in the house

in front of my transferware collection in the open cupboard.  But in the end

the photos of the homeowners with Nora did not make it into the book.

Interestingly she said the editor said that photos of people can date a book.

And I think she is absolutely right...think bouffant hair dos and bellbottom pants.

Hahah, Nora and I might feel we are dressed in a timeless style, but time will tell.

I have a lot of decorating books that are timeless, in the sense that the design is still

current to my liking.  Old copies of Country Home magazine still look fresh, and I 

believe the country homes Nora has chosen will stand the test of time and inspire for decades.

The book is loaded with big glossy photographs that speak to many different

country styles and the tag line of the book is "Making your home a Country House".

Nora talks about collections, and how they add that country style to a home.

The tips and stories of Nora's own journey and those of the other homeowners

will inspire you to refine your own Country House. 

 I Promise. 

For more of a look inside the pages of the book and to preorder

the book, due out in September, visit Nora Murphy's site here.

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How to make a French Trumeau Mirror

The ultimate in French mirrors, is the Trumeau mirror.  

 Trumeaus were made in France in the late 1800s, and were made to go on walls between windows. 

A rectangular mirror with two sections, the lower with a mirror and the upper had a decorative carving or a decorative painted scene that was the focal point of the mirror.

I have long admired these mirrors, but authentic French Trumeaus are very pricey.

This large and gorgeous Louis VI period blue and gilt Trumeau was 

sold on First Dibs at just under a very pricey $15,000.  

So imagine my delight when my blogger friend, Jamie Lundstrum,

( So Much Better with Age blog), penned

a DIY book about all things Vintage French style.

 And inside Jamie's book, was a how-to for making a French Trumeau mirror!

It is among 70 projects for adding Vintage French decor to your home.

It was time for a change in the dining room, I had even been contemplating wallpaper.

After taking everything off the walls, we headed to Home Depot to get supplies. 

I followed along the instructions and got an MDF board along with

some trim pieces for the top and sides.  I decided to use an existing mirror I already had that was

in an ornate carved frame.  In the book, Jamie frames out a cut piece of mirror, 

but I figured by using a framed mirror I already had, it would be less expensive and easier!  

The point is you can do it either way and end up with the mirror of your dreams.

 The top of the mirror can be made two ways, one with a crown molding like the one here and 

the one in Jamie's book.  But I enlisted my husband to do the cutting of the moldings

 on his fancy saw.  One can also use a plain piece of flat backed molding for the top,

 as many of the original Trumeaus were made this way.

Note the lack of moldings on the bottom, and the simple molding on the top.

  The focus is on the mirror and the decorative carving. 

There are so many ways to design your

own mirror, and that is really the fun part! 

The colors and styles are endless, which makes it perfect for personalizing your home.

You could add French wallpaper or fabric instead of a painted scene for your focal point.

 After hubs and I cut the molding and laid it out on the 24" x 48" MDF board, he went to take a nap

and I got out all of my Annie Sloan paints.  I was hoping for a grey, but there was none to be had.  

So I decided to do a turquoise color and then soften it up with some aging techniques.

 A pastoral scene would go in the top decorative part of my Trumeau.  I wanted to add a bit 

of lavender color to the sky scene so it would pull in my purple transfer ware dish collection.

 Next, I painted most of the trim and the entire mirror using

 Matthew Mead's Metallic Gold paint by Fusion.  

The gold was making it look so French and amazing! 

At this point I was getting very excited! 

 The molding was attached using a staple nail gun.  The mirror was attached 

using construction grade glue I applied with a caulking gun.

  All of these instructions are outlined in Jamie's book. 

While not making the exact same mirror Jamie made,

I created my own version using the bones of her instructions.

And I think that is the best thing about creating and decorating~

making it YOUR OWN!

 I stood the mirror up against the wall ( before I glued on the bottom mirror)

and realized I should probably change the entire room! GAH!

Paint the walls and change the curtains!! 

One little change can have that effect you know...

The next day while Reeve napped, I ripped apart my King sized duvet cover from

Ballard designs and turned it into four panels.  On her next nap I painted the wall behind

the mirror and it seemed when she awoke she noticed the changes!!

Look at her cute face during lunch time staring at the mirror!! hahah!

She is my little unwitting decorating apprentice.

 Without further adieu, I show you the completed mirror!  

Layers of white, olive and pale green paint were dry brushed over the turquoise base color.

  A vintage drapery part in the shape of a Fleur de lis was glued to the top area of the 

mirror for an extra flourish.  Personalizing my own Trumeau in this way, 

with the little painted scene and the drapery part finished it off. 

 A pair of old iron candle sconces were embellished with some blue opaline 

macaroni beads and some aquamarine Creative Candle tapers.

 The mirror has added a beautiful focal point to the dining room, 

with the French Vintage style I adore. 

 The pale green buffalo plaid curtains give it the Gustavian look I LOVE.

 To celebrate I broke out my opaline goblets and found the most amazing bottle of wine

at the local liquor store.  It looked just like blue opaline!  If you are interested search for 

Gemma di Luna Pinot Grigio.  It is about $15, and just the bottle is worth that all day long!

 The antique gilded ballroom chairs were put into service around the table after I 

noticed how perfectly they complemented the gold in the mirror.  

 Someone may not be as excited as I am, but I have to say, this has been one of the most

fulfilling day projects I have done in a long time!! 

Yes, it only took me one day!!

Well, maybe the second day I did fine tuned the paint color 

by dry brushing on a bit more paint....

 Get inspired to create when you turn the pages

 of Jamie's French Vintage Decor book.

From Trumeau mirrors to lavender sachets, 

there are simple to medium skill level projects included in this book.  

Preorder your copy French Vintage Decor from Amazon here, 

 due out June 12, 2018!  Happy decorating peeps!!

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