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

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call or text me:  650-302-6883

After the Storm

when we went walking after the big rainstorm yesterday, I found armloads of these
magnolia tree seedheads scattered all over the neighborhood...   
look at that gorgeous coral color! I love to find Christmas inpsiration in nature
and these little beauties might find their way onto a mantel or tablescape 

 pix by me with Nikon D70

have a great day!  Kit

Au Nom de la Rose Gâteau!

Perhaps you have something extra-special to celebrate this Christmas season (an anniversary, birthday, wedding, baptism?). This incredible rose-covered gâteau would be a stunning centerpiece for your magical fête. What on earth could be more appealing than fresh roses tiered with ladyfingers all tied up with a shiny ribbon?

The best part is that this showstopper is not difficult to make. Really.

Au Nom de la Rose, the fabled shop on Rue du Bac in Paris, has provided us with a quick little instructional video, below. Yes it is in French, but just take a look at how simple this is to construct. Hey, you could make a couple of them, non? :) If you do, you MUST send me pictures!

And, non, cherie, you may not actually eat this confection! It is a feast for the eyes and nose only!

this looks almost impossibly beautiful, non? perfect

for a rustic-chic celebration as well as something

more elegant... and you could use different colored

roses & ribbon combinations, bien sûr!

a singularly lovely rose

masses of roses

the storefront on rue du Bac, Paris

a basket casually dripping with roses, luscious!

as you can see, the ladyfingers are held

onto the form with rubber bands that

mademoiselle has tied together then

covered with a wide ribbon

won't your family and friends just

be floored when they see your masterpiece?

au nom de la rose

46 rue du Bac, 7e, Paris

see the short, brilliant video here

***

thanks for visiting! Kit

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Lavender :)

Hope your December is full of all good things so far: the spicy scents of holiday makings, the warm glow of the fire, fingerless cashmere gloves so you can use your iPhone, a cup of hot chocolate after a brisk turn at the shops.

As a designer, Christmas packs a lot into a few short weeks. First, clients need you now more than ever! Christmas is all about creating a festive, inviting and joyful atmosphere. And gratefully this year I am quite busy. Secondly, you have to give your own home some attention... and sometimes, like the shoemaker whose children go shoeless, you just pull things together, forget to polish the silver, can't find the right vase and don't have time to go shopping... so when you have a deadline, you use what you have and call it a day.

As my dear friend Tish Jett kindly said to my blushing ears:

"Kit's aesthetic is eclectic, while capturing that unique je ne sais quoi of Provence. She understands the potent cocktail of its romance, nonchalant elegance, warmth and comfort which is so rarely replicated by Americans who look for the "nothing out of place" sterility that does not in any way reflect l'art de vivre in France."

I am so happy that Tish, who is American and lives in Paris, sees me that way. She has captured in her words my very philosophy about la vie Provençale. Her words were un petit cadeau for me this Christmas time. Mille mercis, Tish!

Here, then, is our home at Christmastime, 2010:

the lavender inspiration

for the dining room

I layered the table with old French linen, and over that, an embroidered

organdy overlay... then used lavender silk to ground the place settings,

added a little bling with lavender paillards, and kept the feeling

light, simple and elegant

the lavender cowhide layered over old French linenis perfect for the

dessert sideboard! (this photo makes me realize just how badly I need the

perfect sconces on either side of our large, large 19th C. painting... right?)

roughly cut lavender silk rectangles ground the place settings;

layered on topare vintage lace placemats and silverware;

the lovely plate is Anthropologie and the vase is a vintage

Provençal bee catcher jar

sideboard is ready for the 13 desserts de Noel, a

Christmas eve Provencal tradition!

***

bay leaves layered in tulle with white lights

are the inspiration for the living room;

this made a great swag for the mantel

(it looks best against a white background)

the details of the bay leave are lost in this photo with hotspots

where the lights are but in person it is truly beautiful!

some Christmases you have a really beautiful

tree; others not so much... this year I admit

I have the most un-photogenic tree ever, I think!

but we love it anyway :)

the wreath on the front door given to me by

a lovely friend 12 years ago; it reminds me of

her every Christmas and remains the same

although the door changes color frequently, bien sûr!

***

P.S.

Don't miss out! Enter the

Chic Provence Design Tour Giveaway

fora chance to win an incredible

silk filament filled duvet!

Christmas Decorating With "les Femmes"!

If you do not know A Femme d'Un Certain Age yet, you are in for a treat! Tish Jett's witty observations about being a woman of brilliance and style "who moved to France for a job and stayed for love" living in Paris will keep you coming back over and over again! A little cadeaux for yourself! She is also full of great advice for achieving that nonchalant elegance that defines Parisian style.

Three days ago Tish asked me to post about Christmas decorating. I agreed, and joined the company of other designer/bloggers MaryAnne of Beadboard Upcountry, Patricia Tapp of Little Augury, Francine Gardner of Art de Vivre and of course, Jeanne-Aelia of Through the French Eye of Design... fun!

Thanks Tish for including me in the celebration!

lavender cowhide over old French linen on the desserts sidebar... see the

whole post at Tish's today

***

Don't miss out! Enter the

Chic Provence Design Tour Giveaway

fora chance to win an incredible

silk filament filled duvet!

You want this!