Hello and Happy Friday to you! Let’s kick off the weekend with a home tour for some Friday inspiration. Today, we’re jumping on the train and heading to France to tour a 19th-century townhouse nestled in a small village in
I first met Stephanie on Instagram (
What do I like the most about her home? Well, she really LIVES in her four-bedroom home, which she shares with her husband and 4 children. Her space has a large kitchen, office, living room, dining room with beautiful glass windows (and a skylight!), along with a small garden. There is personality in her space, and it feels like a peaceful nest.
I also believe that her home embodies the whole Slow Living style that is so popular… Slow living is a lifestyle that emphasizes a slower approach to everyday life. When it comes to the home, it’s all about getting back to our roots and enjoying life through all of our senses, mindfully, intentionally, with gratitude. It’s a lot like Hygge in Danish, “Not too much, not too little”. It’s having enough and being happy with that.
About her style, Stephanie explains, “My style is quite rustic while at the same time being refined. I like authentic and simple things. I don’t like it when there is too much decoration.” Stephanie and her husband also recycle and upcycle a lot, and she finds some of her ideas on Pinterest, but mostly from her immediate environment, the landscape, nature, etc., and okay, she admits, “A little bit on Instagram”.
What makes French decoration so special, according to Stephaine is, “That rustic style that we’ve always had, with old stone, floor tiles, etc.”
I agree with her because to me, the French Country style is very unique because it’s rustic yet somehow enduring, it never feels tired, boring, or out of context. Even in a modern world where minimalism and NEW is such a huge decor trend, there is plenty of space for this restful, “forever on holiday”, French Country Style. In fact, a lot of people like Stephanie are mixing elements of minimalism with French Country, making a strong, clean edit, and showing French Country is a newer, simpler fashion that I really love.
What are some of the hallmarks of this look? In my experience with interiors for the past 16 years, it’s definitely lots of natural materials, things with a patina, showing imperfections (like coffee rings on wooden tables), muted tones, soft whites and neutrals that are warm, metal overhead pendants, pegboards on the wall, moldings on cabinetry, wooden paneling painted white, exposed wooden beams, linen sofas and curtains (and bedding), wrought iron patio sets, Mercury glass and mirrors, lots of clear glass (jars) and anything reflective, rustic stools and benches, sisal rugs and wooden floors, woven baskets, and decorative elements like stacked books in neutral tones, rocks, and shells.
When I asked her which room is her favorite, she said it was definitely the living room, “The whole family feels really good there”, and that her sofa, in her favorite material of linen (from
In addition to the living room, Stephaine also loves her windows, collections of seashells, her rustic cabinet with the large drawers (shown in the final photo – she’s standing by it), and her antique mercury mirrors. During Corona times, she admitted that they got a lot of work done around the house and that lockdowns made her realize, “ I could easily do without things that are not that essential.”
Creative since childhood, Stephanie always loved the home and interior decoration. “I loved to move the furniture around in my bedroom as a little girl, and to create paper decorations… When I was in secondary school, I started buying home decor magazines.”
In addition to magazines, she’s also inspired by places like
On Instagram, she enjoys…
When I look at her home, I imagine lots of cooking and French music filling the air. I was surprised to learn a little secret from her – she’s actually a big fan of
Love,
Holly
(Photography with permission from