I AM DREAMING OF A GRAY XMAS

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.

A VERY FINE PAINTER IN THE FAMILY

UN PEINTRE DE TALENT DANS LA FAMILLE

Our great uncle, the painter Xavier Desparmet-Fitzgerald, who died in 1941, has long been the object of well deserved family admiration (many of his works are exposed in Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux) and the subject of many family tales.
What I remember from old photos we used to look at in the various family albums (yes, families seem to have made time to fill albums back then), is a man with long face, a large mustache and a neat short beard.
His very good friend Lucien Schnegg, the sculptor and friend of Rodin, made a stunning plaster bust of Xavier before his death in 1909. It sits in the Museum of Bordeaux next to its bronze version.

The favors did not stop there; Schnegg also made not a just a bust but a full length Terra-cotta statue of our great uncle. It is a small statue but a very detailed one none the less, less academic in facture than the bust. He pictured him as quite an imposingly mysterious figure, maybe due to his height and his tall and lean stature, judging from the piece. 

I am happy to say the statue and a few of the paintings have ended up with me and I proudly display them in my living room many many miles from their "origin".

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

 COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye.

source unknown to me

Dramatic softness, rustic sophistication, urban mountain chalet. A totally warm and restful color palette. The kind of space that makes you yearn for a hot Toddy rather than for a cup of hot chocolate.

(The caption said it was all imitation fur. I believe it.)

au revoir.

100% BESPOKE 200% COLOR

100% SUR MESURE, 200% COULEUR

The Squint Company, based in London, describe their work as exuberant!

Well, let's see: they are obviously not afraid of color, not at all terrified of mixing patterns and absolutely not shy about shouting we are SQUINT! 

images squintlimited.com

We should all be daring enough to put that much pizzazz in our decor!

au revoir.

VELVET CURTAINS

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

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...

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!

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

LA TABLE DE THANKSGIVING

Keep it simple. Keep it fun.

Less is (so much) more.

au revoir.

WHAT IF THANKSGIVING WERE FRENCH

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

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.