French Accents
French Accents began as an exploration of the age-old questions: What is French style and how can one achieve this seemingly effortless but impeccably chic look at home? To find the answer, I traveled throughout France and the United States to photograph interiors that seemed to capture the essence of the French sensibility. No matter how different these homes were from one another, a fresh, elegant and daring aesthetic was a common thread.
But this shared sensibility remained difficult to sum up and put into words. The details of these homes offered insight: I found consistent ideas that would make the elusive French style accessible and attainable for those born without innate savoir faire.
French Accents provides a close look at stylish homes with an eye to color, art and furnishings, objects and accents, structure, and texture. The elements of each room and scene are broken down to simplify the ideas behind them. Conversations with several homeowners allow us to learn more about their favorite rooms, their most loved shops, and their sources of inspiration. Collections of images show the abundance of choices in flooring, doorknobs, fabrics, and other details, so that you can choose what resonates with you and create your own mix of elements the way the French do.
My hope is that in reading French Accents, and examining the details of these homes, you will gain the dashing confidence of style seen throughout the book. You will feel empowered to layer old and new pieces, bold and muted colors, simple and rich textures, and to find your own unique way to form a look that is perfectly imperfect. I hope that you’ll come away with your own definition of French style and an appreciation of details and objects that will help you make your own home beautiful.
Collecting à la Française
The French have a way of collecting and displaying their art and antiques that suggests effortlessness. It is as if each incredible item in their homes has been in the family for years, and on a whim they placed it against that wall, or by that window, with a mixture of stylish imprecision and familiarity with very fine things. The French are comfortable with collecting and with perusing their famous flea markets and antiques shops. In fact, anyone with an interest in vintage, estate, or antique things can have success in shopping the secondary market by discerning between simple and complex purchases.
Simple Purchases
If an item catches your eye while you’re shopping, travelling or browsing the internet, ask yourself two questions: “Do I love it?” and “Can I afford it?” If you can answer yes to both questions, then it is a purchase that you will not regret.
Complex Purchases
If you’re evaluating an investment piece, or you’re after an authentic item from a certain period, do as much research as you can. Investigate the quality of the item, relative to others like it and determine whether the price the vendor is asking seems low, high, or about right. If your research reveals that the piece is of good quality at an appropriate price, bring it home.
Texture
Just as French women dress in a manner that appears both effortless and instinctive, so too do the French combine textures in their homes. Plush and coarse, glossy and matte elements come together to add richness, sensuousness, and sophistication to a space. Antiqued mirrors create imperfect reflections; velvet sumptuously covers chairs, sofas, and windows; gauzy sheers hang over bathtubs; and decorative pillows and blankets add softness. Texture creates ease within interiors: no matter how fine or formal the interior, comfort is never sacrificed for style. Every room is designed to look and feel inviting, to encourage lingering over dinner, conversations that continue late into the night, or long, quiet hours spent in the company of one’s thoughts.
Wonderful Wood Finishes
Hardwood floors are prized in French homes. They are left exposed as much as possible, and when they’re covered, it’s most likely with a beautiful rug, rather than with wall-to-wall carpeting. Many styles of wood floors exist in France, with variations like herringbone, chevron, and wide plank, but any wood floor can be refinished in a way that evokes the French style.
STAIN There are dozens of shades available for wood stains, but the most authentically French colors tend to be on the light side, with honey and light chocolate-brown shades being the most popular.
URETHANE FLOOR FINISH Stained floors can be sealed with a urethane top coat for protection and to achieve a glossy finish, though matte and satin finishes are also available.
EUROPEAN OIL FINISH This technique is used to add a protective surface to wood floors that has a more natural look. The flat sheen it produces wears well and in fact looks better with time and, unlike urethane floors, may never need to be refinished if cared for properly.
PAINT Applied properly, in thin layers, paint can both transform the look of a hardwood floor and highlight its texture. Floors can be painted one solid color or in a pattern, which may be simple and geometric or highly detailed, like a trompe-l’œil Oriental-rug motif.
Excerpt from French Accents by Erin Swift, published by Clarkson Potter, 2013. Photographs by Jonny Valiant. Excerpt published with permission in the October-November 2013 issue of France Today
Share to: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Related Articles
Leave a reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *