Through the French eye of design

FASHION'S FULL CIRCLES

2012-01-28T00:05:00.000-05:00

LES CYCLES DE LA MODE

1971

Has time stood still...?

Short jacket, skinny jeans, boots and Bobo jewelry and accessories.

Even down to the high waist/low belt à la Theory S/S 2012.

au revoir.

TANGIER, MOROCCO: Food displays etc.

2012-01-27T00:05:00.002-05:00

TANGER: visuels de base

In the who needs fancy merchandisers department...

The butcher

The fruit vendor.

The real estate agent.

Authenticity, simplicity, clear message: nothing better.

au revoir.

GRAYS. CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THEM

2012-01-11T00:05:00.076-05:00

LES GRIS, TOUJOURS LES GRIS

via eclectic revisited

I do not yet know where we will land in Paris. I have not put too much effort into looking; it is much too early. I have looked online, I have done a small amount of research, and I have a tiny idea where I will look, and a HUGE idea where I will NOT! I also want moldings, wood floors, fireplaces and an elevator. Oh, and did I already mention a large kitchen, a marble bathroom and a huge terrasse? I will be as bold as to add a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower.

DREAM ON...

That's the big picture. As for the finer details, I know my new home will be painted a variety of grays. Pale grays, warm grays, deeper grays. The whole group of chips around one of my favorite Benjamin Moore colors: Balboa Mist.

It is SO much simpler when you know which path to take...you don't even need to know where you are going, you just follow the wind, so to speak. (I also have the habit of designing spaces in my head even before I know what they actually are)

Speaking of following the wind, I am off to Paris and Tangier tomorrow. Paris will have a little bit of house hunting on its schedule and some family business to attend to, and Tangier, a whole lot of work. Including trying to find an agent for future production and a nice efficient assistant who speaks Arabic for our dealings in the challenging world of Moroccan artisans. I am proud to say I know how to say hello, good bye, milk (yes, milk) and thank you. Not quite enough to get my very important design details across, I would say; Precise sketches, photos and energetic hand signs don't always cut it. When in doubt, speak Arabic, I say. Hello? anyone?

au revoir.

INSPIRATION

2012-01-09T00:05:00.056-05:00

INSPIRATION

Now that it is decided,

Now that we have a tentative date of departure,

Now that I know my next home will be in Paris,

Now that I can assume it will not be a house with a lawn around it but an apartment with a balcony if I am lucky and a terrasse if a ~~small,~~ make that a HUGE miracle, happens to befall me,

Now that all that is a part of my relatively near future,

I have been gathering inspiration in the form of a photo file of everything and anything that could possibly make it all a pleasant place to live.

I have seen photos of apartments with long narrow corridors, most with small-ish kitchens and even smaller bathrooms. I am going to have to adjust BIG TIME!
I am used to adjusting to new places, new faces, but new, how shall I say, new measurements? I guess that also can be worked with. It's called downsizing. Life with less. What a refreshing concept.
So I will try to make lemonade... as they say, and find all sorts of tricks to make it all work. That's called compromising.
Oh, by the way, I am NOT complaining! I can't wait to go back to Gay Paree and tackle the project.

Now, to put my hands on the apartment of my dreams...of the Champagne kind at plain tap water prices. In Paris.
An entirely other chaudron de poissons, if you will.

au revoir.

KEEPING ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR 101

2012-01-04T00:05:00.010-05:00

COMMENT GARDER TOUTES LES BALLES EN L'AIR.

image listen up louisville

There are no big secrets when it comes to keeping all your balls in the air. It's not how many you are able to send up there; it's how many you are able to keep catching down here.

It's that simple.

Juggle one too many balls and they all come crashing down.

Applying this principle to one's life is not only recommended, it's essential.

So, today, I have come to a wise decision: I'll throw a few less balls in the air.

With this wise decision comes a second one, just as wise, just as realistic: one of those balls has to be my blog. I have had to realize that in order to keep all my projects on track this year, SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE! My blog is just about the only activity I can trim down considerably yet not abandon entirely.

I will try my best to post as soon as I have a few constructively inspired moments. I'll post less regularly but, of course, I'll keep posting. Blogging has to be a positive experience, something fun and and entertaining for you and for me. I do not wish stress to come into the picture. I want to keep it as enjoyable as it has been ever since I started it in 2009. The best formula is quality-over-quantity and all that jazz.

So until my next post, I'll say not adieu, but

à très bientôt.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

2012-01-03T00:05:00.002-05:00

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

image joshua mchugh via elle decor viasimplimfiedb

Black and white softened by honey colored wood. Chunky volumes paired with elegant curlicues. Perfect large size art to balance it all.

au revoir.

THE YEAR OF LIVING DIFFERENTLY

2012-01-02T00:05:00.002-05:00

L'ANNEE DE TOUS LES CHANGEMENTS

2012 is going to be the year of big changes; two big changes to be precise.

The first one is a biggie: we are moving back to Paris. After 26 years in the United States, it is time we rediscovered living in France. Yes, we could choose a better economy to do this, we could wait for the euro to do this or that, we could make extra, extra sure Europe, and as a matter of fact France, is absolutely where we should go, etc., etc., etc. But then, I do not believe in over thinking things. Planning yes. Over thinking, no. It all makes sense and that's all I want to know.

For the moment.

The second one is also a change in direction, albeit a "take a slight right" kind of change, as the GPS says. My great friend Abbie and I are starting a textile accessories business. Yes, we could choose a better economy, we could wait for the US dollar to do this or that, and we could wait until we are extra, extra sure this is the right thing to do, etc., etc., etc. We are planning and designing and doing a lot of figuring. It all makes sense.

For the moment.

It all comes down to this: logistics. (it's always about the logistics, isn't it?) Selling a house, emptying it, finding decent lodgings in Paris, and getting ready for a mid-August trade show in NYC with a collection to be produced in Morocco and India. All that is going to make things how shall I put it, well, challenging.

To say the least.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Qui ne risque rien, n'a rien.

au revoir.

WHAT'S IN STORE IN THE NEW YEAR?

2012-01-01T00:05:00.034-05:00

QUOI DE NEUF EN 2012!

Well, for me, a little bit of same old this, a little bit of same old that...

...and a whole lot of new(s)!!!!!!

I'll tell all tomorrow. I am not trying to keep you wondering for coquettish reasons.
Not at all.

Today, I just wish to enjoy the brand new, first day of a new year.
No plans, no resolutions, no question marks, just 01/01/12.

au revoir.

NEW YEARS EVE IS HERE AGAIN

2011-12-31T00:05:00.024-05:00

LE REVEILLON EST DE RETOUR

A New Year's Eve à la Chanel Bombay.
A bejeweled Maharajah or a gauzy Maharani?
Decisions, decisions...

Whatever your mood,
HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR!

au revoir.

COZY MODERN

2011-12-30T00:05:00.002-05:00

LE MODERN CHALEUREUX

Jacques Grange

au revoir.

SELF CONFIDENT PIZZAZZ!

2011-12-29T00:05:00.002-05:00

LA CONFIANCE EN SOI!

image via desire to inspire

au revoir.

WHAT I NEED NOW...

2011-12-28T00:05:00.002-05:00

J'AI BESOIN DE...

source unknown to me

...simplicity.

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

2011-12-27T00:05:00.004-05:00

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

image via indigoalison

Great art, great palette, a mix and match of straight lines and soft curves. I might add a little bit of relaxed clutter, however. That's all.

au revoir.

TO DO NOTHING....

2011-12-26T00:05:00.003-05:00

NE RIEN FAIRE...

image archithing.net

shuuuut....

au revoir.

A TALENTED ARTIST'S CHRISTMAS CARD

2011-12-25T00:05:00.000-05:00

LA CARTE DE NOEL D'UNE ARTISTE DE TALENT

When we lived in Tunisia, my parents surrounded themselves with a large group of fun loving friends. Many of the parties they attended were costumed and always had an extraordinary theme, like a Prévert party once - you were to dress as one of his poems...- and another where my father went as an egg. Yes, an egg! (But then again, this was a man who crossed the entire continent of Africa- Tunis to Capetown- in a Jeep he built himself from pieces left behind after WWII. And he did it twice.)

Among this very special group, one woman stood out even more; a talented artist, Marie-Constance, -she did not use her last name- a member of an old classic family who, having "married into" another old classic family, had decided to keep marching to her own drummer. Every year this wonderfully creative, generous and fun artist painted her own Christmas cards, each an original, each a mini masterpiece. My mother, the historian and art lover at heart kept a number of them. Thank you mother!

Where am I going with this tale?

To this

Je vous souhaite à tous et à toutes de très
Joyeuses Fêtes de Noël

* * *
*

au revoir.

A VERY FRENCH SPECIALTY

2011-12-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

UNE SPECIALITE TRES FRANCAISE

Our daughters arrived from Paris for Christmas bearing Marrons Glacés -candied chestnuts-.

So nice.

That they came.

And bearing Marrons Glacés...

In the area of France where we spend time in the summer, the Ardèche, there are vast chestnut tree stands. Above the village, up where the roads start to really climb, one can see them everywhere. Hence, the specialty everywhere around our village: la Confiture de Marrons- chestnut jam-;

The recipes vary from talented cook to talented cook, from family to family, from confiserie to confiserie- specialty candy shop-. Some add vanilla, some find that a CRIME. Whatever the formula, there is a number of delicious ways to incorporate chestnuts into some kind of confection or another...

One can savor the plain Marrons Glacés- candied chestnuts, nature, soft and tender and glistening in their sugar syrup coating.

What about a mousse?

or a Marron Glacé Tiramisu?

And in the summer nothing is more delicious that une Glace à la Chataigne (a variety of chestnut), chestnut ice cream.

(Well, maybe une Glace à la Lavande- a lavender sorbet?)

Let's not forget the inevitable staple of fine French confiserie, the saintly macaron! in its chestnut version. Un délice!

images chaidume, phamfatale, regionepiemonte, unzestedetoutencuisine, atelierdechefs, paperblog, experiencesgourmandes

Thank you girls.

au revoir.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE XMAS

2011-12-23T00:05:00.012-05:00

LE REVEILLON DE NOEL

Valentino

What to wear to a dressy Christmas Eve dinner? This year I am all about velvet. It's rich but not showy, it's warm but not casual and you can make a grand entrance without piling on too many baubles, so to speak.

Mr.Valentino to the rescue. Problem solved.

But right there, the second question comes up: what shoes to opt for to complement this luxurious outfit. With velvet's smooth sheen nothing is more perfect than patent leather, I say.

Maybe heels

With pants, short boots play the relaxed yet festive card

Burberry

Maybe flats.

I am lacking quite a few precious inches to boast being 6 feet tall, I know, but then again, I want to be super comfortable.

Maxmara

That part was easy, but now for the other accessories...

Well, let's see, let's go for broke; let's go Couture.

A pared down Chanel look with an armful of the house's bracelets à la Coco

Chanel

with large amethyst or ruby encrusted jewelry

Pomplou

long vintage earrings

YSL

demure classic hammered gold

Loren

or I could go less matchy matchy for the ring

Pomplou

a very simple bag will keep the whole thing discreetly elegant.

Chanel

Or maybe I'll opt for a slightly "YSL période Russe" look

with his stunning vintage cuffs...one on each wrist

YSL

worn with large but minimal graphic earrings

Exotic India Art

or richer bejeweled ones

YSL

a dark ring full of mystery

Crescent City

and a spectacular bag directly inspired by tsarist aristocracy

Chanel

We're talking make believe here, so let's really splurge!

au revoir.

THE PROVENCAL DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS

2011-12-22T00:05:00.021-05:00

LES DESSERTS DE NOEL DE PROVENCE

www.cgourmand.fr

TREATS. Glorious XMAS TREATS.

Among the 13 Christmas desserts of Provence (12 for the Apostles and one for Jesus Christ) that are laid out on the table on Christmas day, a tradition dating only from the 1920's, there are candied fruit. (Others are figs, grapes, oranges, Calissons- marzipan based candy- Nougat, dates and a few more).
I do love Calissons from Aix-en-Povence and Nougat from Montelimar but I simply adore candied fruit, especially those made in Uzès in the Gard region of France, not far from our family home and sold in a very pretty shop called La Cure Gourmande.
The process of crystalizing fruit is quite labor intensive as one has to boil the fruit in syrup several times over a period of up to 15 days, adding more sugar each day and keeping the fruit in the concentrated sugary liquid for all that time. The result however, is well worth the trouble.

The trick now is to try my hand at this or better, find the right maker here in New York...

Or I could try Histoires Sucrées or Cgourmand online.

au revoir.

PROVENCAL DETAIL

2011-12-21T00:05:00.015-05:00

UN DETAIL TRES PROVENÇAL

These are the Holidays version of the traditional Navettes de Lavandes from Provence. (how to make one here)They are just kicked up a notch and they are fabulous, don't you agree?

au revoir.

A VEGETAL XMAS

2011-12-20T00:05:00.020-05:00

UN NOEL VEGETAL

If you are going for rich and natural for your Xmas decor, search no further than the vegetable stand at your market or the local nursery. A little ribbon here, a candle and a few branches there, with just a small amount of effort, you are done.

Oranges, a peeler and a few cloves

Plain unadorned pine cones, just a lot of them

Moss will soften any look

and those indestructible decorative cabbages; they don't even freeze outside...

images tete a modeler, country living, placesinthehome, myfrenchkitchen

tricia marshall, greenupgrader

au revoir.

I HAVE BEEN KINDLY INVITED

2011-12-19T05:00:00.005-05:00

Une très aimable invitation

My dear blog-world friend Letitia Jett, the admirable author of A Femme d'Un Certain Age, asked if I could share a Holiday decor on her must-see, much more than fun, always amusing blog.

So flattered!

I strongly suggest you quickly go visit her witty blog; I assure you- and I say this on the off chance you have not done so yet- one is never disappointed.
At the same time you will be hitting 2 targets with one snowball (please note the seasonal imagery): you can peruse my winter Soirée d'Hiver ideas...

au revoir.

CHRISTMAS ALSO MEANS CHOCOLATE

2011-12-16T00:05:00.018-05:00

NOEL, LA SAISON DU CHOCOLAT

Un Dimanche à Paris

Christmas, a time to give chocolates and a time to savor them. Here in New York and across the ocean in Paris the choices are many. The best are melt-in-your-mouth richness and a feast for the eyes. Truffles,wreaths, Xmas tree/cones, and even a chocolate book!

Bespoke Chocolate,NYC

Pierre Marcolini, Paris

Dean and Deluca, NYC

Maison du Chocolat, NYC and Paris

Lenôtre, Paris

A non traditional bûche de noel at Lenôtre in Paris printed with a drawing by illustrator Sempé no less.

au revoir.

DEAR SANTA...

2011-12-15T00:05:00.118-05:00

PETIT PAPA NOEL...

Dear Santa,

I have been nice

No, make that SUPER nice

maldives

Truly BEYOND nice, if you ask me

1st dibs tara compton

So this is what is on my short list.

Just kidding.

Dear Santa,

all I wish for Christmas is this:

2 always-on-the move, creative girls

2 super talented boys

1 triple-trouble, lovable little devil

I super stylin' dynamo from down under
and 1 indispensable twin from up north, of course

No gift wrap needed.

A l'avance, merci.

au revoir.

AND GIFT WRAPPING?

2011-12-14T00:05:00.009-05:00

ET LES PAQUETS CADEAUX?

What if this year we opted for utter simplicity. What if we looked around and used what we have and kept it green, kept it happy, kept it true.

We can use plain paper, simple ties, fun Japanese Mashi tape or just color masking tape, newspaper and fabric.

images poids plume, cozette kaffman, etsy, koyangi, whikergraphics, completely coastal, the gifted blog

au revoir.

A (VERY) WHITE XMAS

2011-12-13T00:05:00.004-05:00

UN NOEL (TRES ) BLANC

images i-idees, noel blanc, deco themes,

au revoir.

AN ARTSY.. SOMETIMES DARKER XMAS

2011-12-12T00:05:00.110-05:00

UN NOËL A PART, PARFOIS... TRES A PART

There is, out there, a more entertaining bunch who love to think outside the box and not necessarily adopt the Christmas season the way the popular shelter magazines portray it. Forget the invasion of red and green, forget the reindeer, Santa, and all the sweet little angels. For that crowd, the season is graphic, modern, minimal, metallic and artsy.

And then, there is a very much more edgy side of artsy...the darker side where the occult and the obscure reign supreme, where Gothic is not an architectural term but rather a life style to be adopted, skulls and high drama and all.

images frugaledmonotonemama, adorningmetal, 81287.org, etsy

I said darker...
au revoir.

P.S. I said this weekend was to be our last chance to adorn and hang our wreath in order to avoid total embarrassment, imagined I am sure, but still...
This is our contribution to the neighborhood's otherwise very rich and lit up Christmas spirit.

WREATH INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEKEND

2011-12-09T00:05:00.052-05:00

LES IDEES DE COURONNES POUR LE WEEKEND

All right, I can procrastinate no longer. All our neighbors have put up their lights, hung their wreaths and some have even decorated their Christmas trees. We are as usual the bad kids on the block. Shame, shame, shame!

This weekend is the weekend the wreath, at the very least, will at long last take its winter quarters on the front door.

I have a wreath made of intertwined reed. Every year I dress it with a different decor according to my mood and what is available in the house or, in a pinch, the nearest craft store. Last year the choice was wide silvery gold ribbon and huge shimmery white snow flakes. A circular winter wonderland of sorts.

This year... don't quite know yet. I am rather hoping the weekend will bear its creative fruits, if you will. One thing is certain: I am definitely thinking RECYCLE, REUSE, RECLAIM, REINVENT. All that "stuff"- ribbons, fabric, ornaments- in the odds-and-ends cabinets down there in the basement will be of great use, at long last.

There is something I like about each of these.

Inspiration, inspiration, where art thou hiding?

au revoir et bon weekend.

XMAS CANDY CANES

2011-12-08T00:05:00.046-05:00

LES "CANDY CANES" DE NOËL

Nothing says American Christmas more clearly than candy canes, wouldn't you say? They are everywhere, mixed into, sprinkled on and in someway added to everything; they are printed on every other card, hung on every tree and wreath, wrapped into bunches or just strewn on tables, a cheerful display of fire and ice.

I have never really liked to eat candy canes I must admit, except in one instance:

The net translated my thought exactly:

"Candy canes are perfect for adding a hint of mint to your winter drinks. For your next hot cup of cocoa (...) swirl a candy cane in your cup - as it slowly melts, it will release its lovely mint flavor. The longer you swirl, the stronger the minty taste." -she knows.com

images favim.com, martha stewart, she knows

au revoir.

PURE GOLD HOLIDAYS

2011-12-07T00:05:00.008-05:00

DES FETES EN OR 18 CARATS

In these times of economic downturn - LOVE the understated vocabulary...- dreaming is a great option; I don't mean tune out and start dreaming until the crisis is over; no, not exactly. Rather, bask in the glow of make-believe opulence.

Bring on the gold!

Get a few yards of gold ribbon and braid, gather all your gold ornaments, use pins and beads to create something spectacular. For a decadent table, buy gold tapers, place a gold sari under your china, slather gourds, pine cones, branches and fallen leaves with gold paint, tie gold braid with Murano Glass beads on you napkins, scatter around some gold confetti or a handful of gold beads, and don't forget those rich gold dust Murano glass bowls you love so much.

More is more to bring a festive radiance to your project. With a little imagination, the fêtes can be spectacular!

images via pinterest, murano, gallianoferroglass, this next , via flickr, confssionsofadesigner

*some images have been cropped or enhanced for editorial reasons

au revoir.

A RED AND WHITE XMAS

2011-12-06T00:05:00.045-05:00

NOEL EN ROUGE ET BLANC

and what of Christmas without Santa?

and cranberries?

Go for the TOTAL look

Positive

and vice-versa

au revoir.

I AM DREAMING OF A GRAY XMAS

2011-12-05T00:05:00.127-05:00

JE REVE D'UN NOEL GRIS

A Christmas tree does not necessarily have to be green with multicolored ornaments; Yes, I know, that is also nice, the classicism of it all, the memories of it all, the repeated gestures of it all.

But how about, this year, we shake things up a little. Well, not at our house really, as we have had a white artificial tree for quite a few years now. We have heard it all: tacky, cheap, odorless, etc.

But I "persiste et signe". Do you realize that if nothing ever changed we might still dress like Marie Antoinette?

So I thought of a few ideas for the slightly non conformist among us. Nothing révolutionnaire you know, just a little tweak here and there, really.

images ctree, abcelectronique, marieclaiemaison, tenniswoodblog, etsy, confessiosofaplateaddict, hometrendesign
Nice, non?

au revoir.

2011-11-29T00:05:00.001-05:00

LES RIDEAUX DE VELOURS

When winter approaches and evenings start to feel a little chilly, we all feel like staying inside in a cozy house with lush curtains covering our windows like a warm winter coat. What I really want right now are curtains made of rich velvet in all kinds of saturated colors; Deep reds, brilliant greens, vivid blues, and my favorite of all, the color of Ina Garten's stunning living room drapes: an intense, vibrant burnt orange. I can tell these are in my future...

images via decorpad, desire to inspire, pinterest, broco-deco

Doesn't it feel just toasty already just thinking of velvet.

au revoir.

A PARIS FIND

2011-11-28T00:05:00.009-05:00

UNE TROUVAILLE A PARIS

I have had this bust of Hermes, the God of Speed for quite a while. I purchased it at an antique show a few years ago when I lived in Boston and I have deliberately left its silver plating go unpolished for added patina.

To my surprise, I spied the exact same piece in the window of an antique dealer on rue Jacob in Paris this summer. This dealer was a little more "confident" of the value of his item, even accounting for inflation...

"If you like something, buy it" they say at flea markets; the same goes for antique shows apparently.

au revoir.

AND THE DAY AFTER...

2011-11-25T00:05:00.006-05:00

ET LE LENDEMAIN...

image l. richarz via flickr

In a number of houses, one big question will be asked: what about the leftovers?

A tall sandwich is a perfect idea. Toast a nice slice of bread or two, cover with plenty of crumbled turkey meat, a little stuffing, add a dollop of cranberry sauce.
Done.

bon weekend.

HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-24T00:05:00.043-05:00

BONNE FETE DE THANKSGIVING!

image via flickr

Be safe on the road, have fun around the table and look back and be truly thankful for it all, however much it is or little it seems to be.

au revoir.

THE THANKSGIVING TABLE

2011-11-23T00:05:00.012-05:00

LA TABLE DE THANKSGIVING

Keep it simple. Keep it fun.

Less is (so much) more.

au revoir.

WHAT IF THANKSGIVING WAS FRENCH

2011-11-22T00:05:00.038-05:00

ET SI THANKSGIVING C'ETAIT FRANÇAIS?

Well, let's see...

If the pilgrims had come from the reverse direction and the currents are more favorable from there, they might have arrived in less time. Makes sort of sense.

France would be perfectly fluent in English. umm, not so sure...

New England would be Old England and vice-versa?

ANYWAY

Thanksgiving Dinner would go something like this:

We would start with a silky Soupe aux Poireaux -leak soup- at room temperature

The main dish would certainly be a crisp-crusted Gigot d'Agneau with a lot of rosemary- a Leg of Lamb

Served with des petites pommes de terres rissolees aux girolles -Sauteed Potatoes with Girolle Mushrooms and surely des petits pois with mange-tout beans

Then a jolie laitue- a fluffy Boston lettuce

Then the absolute must: a bon petit fromage -a great cheese (in a country with a million types of cheeses, unavoidable!)

and don't forget, a great Bordeaux to accompany it

Dessert would be a Baba à la Liqueur d'Orange - an Orange Liqueur Cake

To wrap things up a nice hot café noir in a small tasse served with some scrumptious Truffes au Chocolat

and the Grand Finale! home made Raspberry Liqueur.

What do you think of my analysis?

Oh, and I forgot: le pont- the 4 day weekend! That would be a hit in FRANCE!

In any case, it's all academic; they landed in Plymouth Rock and the rest is history. And it's just as well. Just think: no golden Turkey, no delicious stuffing, no Pumpkin Pie, no Vanilla Ice Cream!

One thing would be the same:

The TRAFFIC!!!!!

Au revoir

PARIS ANY WHICH WAY

2011-11-21T00:05:00.000-05:00

PARIS AUTREMENT

images sylvie pellet

This also is Paris.

As I wandered around along the streets of the north eastern 13th. arrondissement during my last trip -both my daughters work near there- I encountered a very different Paris from the one I usually stick to; a Paris of diverse tastes, sensibilities and ethnic affiliations. A Paris that much richer for it... the price to pay there appearing to be a very creative disrespect for public property.

A Paris for all.

A Paris where some doors and meters do better with a little color.

au revoir.

THE GLAMOUR OF BLACK GLOSS

2011-11-18T00:05:00.001-05:00

LE NOIR "GLAMOUR"

Why not consider adding a little drama in your space. High gloss black paint - à la David Hicks circa 1960's will do it every time. The high gloss screams flourish while the black shouts mystery. Of course the walls need to be PER.FECT! not a bump, not a dent, not a scratch, and the result is much more successful if you choose a room that is on the dark side of the house to start with. But other than that, what an easy fix.

images pinterest, decorpad, ralph lauren

au revoir.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

2011-11-17T00:05:00.053-05:00

IL Y A QUOI AU MENU?

Do you find that looking at the menu is part of the appeal of going to a restaurant? I mean really looking at the menu, not just reading through a list of various concoctions in optimistic search of the one dish (or dishes) that will stay in your palate's memory for a long time? I mean taking stock of the creative effort put into its conception, formulation and design. As in all commercial venture, the target audience has a lot to do with the restaurateur's choices in that area.

The very Parisian and reassuringly ubiquitous ardoise

In the menu for dummies category....the menu as culinary dictionary

In the let's-download-the-translation-APP category, the menu as modern day hieroglyphics

Vintage menu: back when the airlines still could afford to treat travelers decently even in the sarcastically named economy class

The fun rolled menu at the Foundouk in Marrakesh. Very stylé but just try to keep it flat long enough to peruse the many mouth watering types of tajine and couscous on offer

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

2011-11-16T00:05:00.006-05:00

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

thomas o'brien

2011-11-09T00:05:00.008-05:00

MARRAKESH:LE PLATRE CISELE

We stay at the Riad Awa when we go to Marrakesh (I posted about it here). This time around I really noticed the fabulous lighting fixtures designed by the architect of the Riad, Ludovic Petit. The lights are made of carved plaster, a traditional technique of Morocco but in this case translated into something thoroughly moderne.

(This contemporary approach is also visible in Tangier in the spectacular Maison de l'Elephant Blanc, as seen below)

To add an even more modern twist to this classic craft, Ludovic Petit had the fireplace of the Riad carved in cement instead of plaster. The gray hue, mixed with the browns and olives of the surrounding art and furnishings, is stunning!

This is everything I love: an old traditional art, seen through new eyes.

au revoir.

THE MOROCCAN TRIP: CASABLANCA

2011-11-08T00:05:00.002-05:00

CASABLANCA

We stayed at the Meridien Hotel in Casablanca. We needed something central, convenient, all business. And that's what we got. Large rooms, comfortable beds, great bathrooms. What you expect from a Meridien.

What was fun was breakfast (I always comment on breakfast, don't I?)

This particular time, it was the huge glass dome above our heads that caught my attention; and the flower arrangements.

The tables settings were simple, modern, graphic.

In the hall, bunches of tall roses were tied together, just leaning on the top edge of tall vases. Spectacular.

This part of the trip was mainly work, work, work, with a short foray into the bazaar-like neighborhood of Derb Omar where we bought fringed hammam towels and large plastic weave baskets.

From there we went on to Marrakesh. I'll report on that tomorrow.

au revoir.

PARIS ANY WHICH WAY

2011-11-07T04:27:00.001-05:00

PARIS AUTREMENT

Paris was gray on Friday, my favorite color.... but not for the sky.

This great restaurant matched the weather with the most perfect shades of it: dark and muddy for the exterior, clean and pale for the exquisite chairs, metallic for the aluminum table base. Striking black and white accents (the cute waiter was shyly happy to oblige) with metal and wood and warm brass and just that delightful touch of beige-y salmon on the table top made me stop and admire.

2011-10-19T00:05:00.053-04:00

C'EST LE MOMENT POUR UN PARIS MAROC

Today I fly to Paris for 2 very short, very busy days (as usual), then on to Morocco; Tangier (as usual), Casablanca (the 1st time in 30 years) and Marrakesh (it's the perfect season).
Why?

PARIS:

It is my relatively regular short opportunity to heal my needy heart: I see... what am I saying?, I embrace, kiss, look at, listen to, and really only very reluctantly let my 3 Paris children go to work , if they must...(Kevin, do you really have to live as far as Australia?)

MOROCCO:

Tangier

Casablanca

no,no,no, not THAT one...

not that one either...

THIS Casablanca

Marrakesh

This time it is a week long working trip. I'll reveal what we will be working on later. Much too early at this point.

I have a few mini posts lined up to be published when I am away.
Hope you like them.

à bientot.

2011-10-18T00:05:00.008-04:00

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

source unknown to me

The clever use of curtains to frame a mirror and add height to a space, the clean lines, mixing warm texture and clean, sleek materials, the minimal palette.

au revoir.

NICOLE PIBEAUT

2011-10-17T00:05:00.003-04:00

LA GENIALE NICOLE PIBEAUT

Quite a few years ago in Paris, I met a wonderful illustratrice whose art I have always admired.

Her name is Nicole Pibeaut.

I love the portrait she did of Hélène Rochas, the wife of the couturier and perfumer Marcel Rochas, above.

During the last showhouse I participating in, she was generous enough to sketch the portrait of me, below..

Her ability to capture a sitter's expression in just a few strokes of her pencil is astounding

She does work for advertising and some calligraphy, but her work is mainly magazine illustrations.

She illustrated an article for Le Figaro Madame this month about men and their weight issues and wishes. Fun article and great illustrating.

You should definitely go check out her website.
Bravo, Nicole!

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

2011-10-14T10:33:00.001-04:00

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

image robert couturier via elle decor

The restrained color palette on a backdrop of creamy white, the tightly edited objects and furnishings, the contrast between small and gigantic, classic and dramatically modern and hot and cold tones, the 1940's vibe, the apparent comfort.

au revoir.

THREE ZERO

2011-10-13T10:53:00.001-04:00

TROIS ZERO

Today in Australia it is already my beautiful little Kevin's birthday

Well, in fact, he will be celebrating in Bali.

When I took this picture a little under 30 years ago, I had no idea what he would become 30 years hence; well...I had an idea; with a smile like that, I knew it was going to be all good, for us and for him.

My motherly instincts did not betray me. He is all good and so much more.

Happy Birthday
my cuddly little Kevin who became big, and tall, and cute, and kind and talented and a devil at making everyone melt- "fondre" as we say in French- and the list could go on and on.
I know, I am your mother...
You know I always tell the truth, even on the internet.

au revoir.

BEYOND THE REAL

2011-10-13T00:05:00.002-04:00

PLUS FAUX QUE VRAI

Fur was back on the runways for winter. Real fur. I don't wear real fur.

I don't even wear faux-fur that resembles real animals; I mean leopard or fox or chinchilla; that kind of faux-fur.

I do on the other hand want to wear something furry feeling and looking this winter.

The great news is that faux-fur comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes and in styles that I will call "generic".

Fantastic!

Irt even comes in luscious colors.

Fur problem solved. Well, except for which color to choose...

Warmth, comfort and chic and no wearing an animal around my neck.

What more can a girl want?

au revoir.

BEYOND THE SHEER

2011-10-12T00:05:00.005-04:00

PLUS FIN QUE FIN

via kitearscat

All right, after my sartorial yearning for pale shades this winter, I am also wanting to wear chiffon. For daytime. I can wear a coordinated tank top underneath, a fine sweater or an easy jacket on top; it works from morning to night, if I don't go crazy on the froufrou (even though even then, I can dress it down with a very simple cardigan and wool pants or skirt and a soft scarf. Yes, always the scarves...

Warehouse

Equipment

A chiffon blouse with a scarf detail is a little more "formal", I would say, but right on this winter.

Mango

To finish off a chiffon style for day, I would choose a very light and airy scarf of the sheerest silk or even wool chiffon.

Echo Design

Burberry's and Issey Miyake

Alexander McQueen

Tomorrow, my last must have for winter. This one comes with a challenging choice...

au revoir.