Provence-Inspired Christmas Tables...

For their artlessly chic use of natural materials (probably found in the garden), for keeping it simple and beautiful, for offering homage to the Christmas season without going totally over the top with bling and overload... this is why I have always loved the Provençal ways at Christmastime. I'm looking for ideas for our Christmas decor and found some clean and simple ideas on Pinterest to share with you:

here round lights are in a garland made with olive leaves and
placed on the table center...

short on floor space for the Christmas tree?... use this wall-mounted
idea using logs in graduated sizes... love this!!

elements I love here:  lots of clear glass, reflecting the light, white tableware and linens,
natural wood. The pages of oldbooks become part of the design,
and of course the stone wall peeking in from the right isn't so bad either!

I've always adored topiaries olive trees, and this enfilade marching 
down the table are gorgeous... the rest of the
decor is light and white, to let the olive trees have the focus...
 little twinkly lights are perfect touch!

here the wooden rafters play a big role; twigs, lights and starts 
are hung from them.. and the lavender
table is gorgeous played against the gray walls 
and silver angels. .. natural wood fireplace surround

simple olive branch tied to napkins... elegant and beautiful

here a little ceramic bird sits in his twiggy nest as a napkin ring; 
the rest of the table is done in silver, white and glass

olive leaves are tied with white ribbons around these 
fat white candles in front of a mirror..love!

How are your holiday decorating ideas coming along?

***

The Chic Provence Design Tour is selling quickly! 

Come join us this spring!  This is the perfect

Christmas gift so begin hinting now, cherie!

see details and what happy guests have to say:

download the brochure here  

download registration forms here 

questions? 

email me

skype me: kitgolson

call or text me:  650-302-6883

The Gorgeous Reclaimed Floors of Chic Provence

If you are building a new home, or remodeling one, you have the perfect opportunity to create authentic Provencal ambience from the ground up (lucky you!). No, you do not have to settle for wood floors that merely look old and distressed, or tiles that try to capture the patina of hundreds of years of life.

You will be doing your part to go green, too, by using reclaimed flooring instead of wasting energy creating new. And the charm and elegance of these venerable old floors is undisputed.

antique French oak floorboards imprinted with

character from hundreds of years of use

reclaimed planks 6" 11" wide and 98" long

antique parquet de Versailles unfinished,

reclaimed from chateaux and farm houses

in Europe

antique French terra cotta floor tiles reclaimed

from Provence, each reflecting the color of

the region where made

18th & 19th C. reclaimed tomettes, or hexagonal tiles, named in honor of l'Hexe

(France herself looks like a hexagon on a map)

cut limestone floors

antique handmade terra cotta tiles are

charming and utterly practical

these very rustic antique handmade tiles are the perfect foil for

the elegant furniture and draperies

reclaimed flooring and

other architectural material at:

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in the new year, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Tadelakt: "Hard as Stone and Soft as Silk"

The first time I saw tadelakt was in St. Tropez, France, several years ago. I was immediately transfixed by the pearlescent, translucent, hand-rubbed-all-the-way-to-glossy, impervious-to-water finish. I had never seen anything like it before, and rarely have since. I had stumbled upon one of the oldest and most treasured plaster finishes in the world. The art of tadelakt is 4,000 years old, and comes from Morocco.

Designers in France are using it today for its silky texture and indescribable patina, which are unmatched by any other plaster finish available. It is absolutely stunning.

Tadelakt functions extremely well in wet areas and can form a seamless, monolithic finish to back splashes, countertops and sinks in kitchen, bathroom, shower and powder room areas. Made from natural hydraulic lime, quartz and marble powder, tadelakt is white in color and can be pigmented using natural earth pigments.

The tadelakt process is deceptively simple. A natural powder paste is applied to the surface, then polished with a smooth stone. This is repeated seven times. Finally, the surface is sealed by rubbing with a black olive oil soap.

To fully appreciate it's allure, it is said that you have to caress it. I couldn't agree more!

Satiny Coral Tadelakt Finish on

Integrated Shelves in

French Kitchen

A Parisian Salle de Bain Finished in

Black and Taupe Tadelakt

Tadelakt Taupe Walls in

Parisian Salle de Bain

Tadelakt Taupe Walls in

Parisian Water Closet

Charcoal Grey Integral Tadelakt Bathtub in

Parisian Bathroom

Tadelakt Red Shower Walls in

Chic Provencal Salle de Bain

Tadelakt Red Sculptural Bowl in

Provence, France

Creme Tadelakt Walls in Parisian Salle de Bain

Gorgeous Tadelakt

Parisian Salle de Bain

Beautiful Tadelakt Red and Gold Backsplash and

Integral Sink in Provence, France

Tadelakt Grey Countertops and

Shelves in Parisian Kitchen

Tadelakt Backsplash, Countertop and Integral Sink in

Provence, France

Tadelakt plaster finish would be gorgeous and luxurious in our American homes. I can see it working beautifully in chic Napa and Sonoma wine country homes.

If you have seen tadelakt installed here, I would love to see pictures!

Resources:

Les Valayans

Paris

Vancouver

Website

Photos Courtesy of Traditions du Maroc
and Maroc Design in
Paris and Avignon, France

.......

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

The Stunning Chinoiseries of de Gournay

Made in France.

Handpainted.

On handmade paper.

Using all natural materials.

deGournay wallpapers are sustainable and green today, just as they have been for 300 years.

Did somebody say that "green" can't be beautiful?

Reinterpreting the exotic style of Chinoiserie in modern and exciting colorways, deGournay has taken on the most accurate and stunning reproductions of the original Chinoiserie designs first introduced to an adoring Europe almost three hundred years ago. By 1720 the taste for Chinoiserie, which had grown up during Louis XIV, had become a craze.

Chinoiserie design endures today because the asymmetry and novel motifs create lighthearted relief in modern, austere and classically designed interiors.

At an extravagant price point, cost is a consideration when using this luxurious handmade wallpaper. So take a cue from the thrifty Provencals and use a little of this enduringly chic motif inside panels on your walls, on your cupboard doors, your screens.

You really don't have to choose between green and beautiful. You just have to have exquisitely good taste.

..............

Kit Golson Design

elegant sustainable pragmatic

interior design solutions

What Is the Color of Safety?

It's not news today that when a woman is abused by her lover or husband, she needs to leave home quickly and unequivocally. Safe houses keep her and her children hidden from view.

I had the immense privilege to design a home for these women and their children. As you might imagine, the budget was not huge. I immediately went to work creating a place that felt comforting, light, happy. I changed floorplans to create places for older children to study and for younger children to simply bounce off the walls if they need to.

Inspiration was found in these beautiful paintings by Kim Parker, with names like "Garden of Hope" and "Beach Garden". Framed prints will hang on the walls.

I created a "Mother's Chair", with a footstool and lamp in every bedroom, where a weary and frantic woman might put her feet up and exhale for just a little while each day, surrounded by soothing seafoam bluegreen and her things.

countertop accent

transluscent 3-Form resin panel

renewable resource bamboo flooring

I chose natural materials...gorgeous bamboo flooring throughout, recycled glass and ceramic countertops and tiles, transluscent 3-Form panels in painted kitchen cabinets, paints without harmful vapor, and Marmoleum linoleum floors....to keep things healthy for the inhabitants and our Mother Earth. Many of these incredible materials were donated by the local community.

I developed a soothing and joyful palette. The main living areas will have a chair rail painted in a semi-gloss to keep cleanups easy; in the living room, dining room, kitchen and kids' area, joyful and happy upper wall colors will be grounded by the neutral of the chair rail and the trim.

The kitchen cabinets will be painted the beautiful green color above, and upper cabinets will be paneled in the leafy green 3-Form transluscent resin panels, with inner lights to provide a soft glow.

I believe that giving these families a lovely home we will elevate the self-esteem of those who might feel a bit hopeless. I think their spirits will soar when they walk into the light-filled and joyously feminine atmosphere.

Benjamin Moore paint colors

What do you think? If you are interested in donating to this wonderful organization, please click here. Your donation is entirely tax deductible.

You will find yourself on the side of the angels if you do.

**Stay tuned for final pictures of this nurturing and comforting space.

We are nearing completion and hope to occupy by July 1, 2009.**

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Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design