Romantic French Homes

Take fourteen wildly different, reverie-inducing properties in France, most of which have never been photographed in all their country, coastal, city or mountain glory before, and the welcome result is a glossy coffee table tome to inspire anyone – everyone – who cherishes the dream of residing in a magni?cent maison française.

While the superb photographs speak for themselves – get up close and personal with a Savoyard chalet, a Provençal country manor or a Parisian townhouse – author Lanie Goodman does a ?ne job of teasing historic snippets about illustrious former residents of these grand homes, placing each property in its social, architectural and interior design context. Where many easy-on-the-eye decoration books fall short is in the human angle.  Here the story behind the stonework is where we ?nd all the glory.

 

Romantic French Homes, by Lanie Goodman. Photography by Simon Brown. CICO Books (March 14, 2013) $28.99