Will the {Real} Provence Home Please Stand Up?

Which one is it?

A. is it this traditional Robert Dallas design using old,

found materials in a modern way?

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B. is it this very fresh and modern maison de vacances done in

every shade of green from minty to citrusy?

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C. or is it this hip and chic maison, with pony skin chair and Buddha head and

Mondrian panels outside by the piscine, designed by Paris designer Gerard Faivre?

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If you guessed A., B., or C.---you're right! See for yourself on this wonderful video produced by TV5 in France, about home decor on the Cote Sud! Don't speak French? No worries...the language of design is understood by all!

CLICK here to watch French TV (13 min)

Which one do you like the best? A, B, or C?

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all images grabbed from TV5 video (thus their low quality, for which I apologize!)

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Now *This* is Chic {Provence}

The very cool mother-daughter team of Appley and Zoe Hoare perfectly articulated the Chic Provence look in the 18th century old wine and eau de vie factory they recently finished restoring in the south of France.

And why shouldn't they? The Pimlico Road, London antiquaires have been dealing in French country furniture for over 15 years and have created a perfectly rustic, elegant vacation home in Provence (don't we all want that feeling in our own homes..a sense that we are on vacation from the workaday world?)

Come take a peek inside La Bastide, The Gard, France. Shall we rendez-vous there?

artichokes and lemons on a zinc-topped table..

says "vacation" to me!

I love this room: the long, low cabinet looks like it's from

salvaged wood; the breeze gently lifts the gossamer draperies

I love the spare and lean aesthetic

how would you like to have your (10) friends over for

a lovely supper in your kitchen?

limestone everywhere, and accented with the sharp

spring green of the pears and candles

can you see yourself, your family and friends all gathered round

this magnificent coffee table talking about the day's adventures

and playing a round of gin rummy?

a soothing, romantic retreat after sunny days exploring the

Roman ruins of Provence..or perhaps hiking by the sea

the off-handedly chic arrangement of rustic

items with a gilt Directoire mirrors is

simple and elegant

l'heure des aperitifs..un Bandol, with buttered radishes and olives?

an old iron gueridon and an armoire are perfectly spare and curved

and a great foil for the collection of pith helmets and straw hat

all photos from La Bastide website

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featured in Josephine Ryan's latest book

{you can buy it here!}

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Appley Hoare Antiques

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

A Simple Alfresco Lunch

Our bounty from the Mediterranean stand at the farmers' market provided us with the perfect alfresco lunch and inspired setting an Italian table after a morning of gardening this past Saturday.

The table is set with all vintage things: old linen French sheet for tablecloth, embroidered apricot table runner from Chris's French grandmother's handmade collection, ceramics we picked up in Deruta, Italy a few years ago, my grandmother's old ironstone, silver from a French flea market, a very old pressed glass vase my mother gave me, 1970's Fitz & Floyd luncheon dishes and old square hotel silver dishes.

the combination of rabbit's ears lavender and

geranium leaves from our garden in a vintage French glass

makes a wonderfully fragrant tabletop arrangement

please join us!

just outside our back door, under the arbor in the shade

a well-earned reward for a morning's hard work!

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

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Tres Romantique..

*Sigh!* I'm just sayin'...

I could get settled in here and stay a while! Very posh & soothing!

What about you?

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images marie claire maison

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

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

A Saturday Wandering and the Farmer's Market

I'm taking a Saturday morning walk with my husband Chris and dog Ollie in Redwood City. We have things to do and places to go: we have to stop for cafe au lait at our favorite bistro, Pamplemousse; we'll stroll through the Farmers Market and pick up lunch; and we have to let Ollie run free in front of the high school..oh, and while we're at it, we'll peek into the historical old courthouse next to the market.

We'll take the "route du petit ecolier" as we wander around, checking out all the interesting and beautiful places we pass on our walk to and from the center of town..that's what Saturday's are for!

First, what to wear? It's sunny, so knee length

bermuda shorts, a nautical-stripe T with a red sweater,

and my new linen & leather Merrell's..so chic!

Don't forget the Ray-Bans!

a favorite little cottage we pass

by on the way to town

a bamboo stand for privacy

between cottages

we pass the GIANT eucalyptus tree at

the local high school

another small and charming cottage

finally, the Farmers' Market

gorgeous red onions were everywhere;

perfect with fennel and grapefruit salad!

the proud county courthouse presiding over the

lively courtyard

we'll just stop by our favorite French bistro,

Pamplemousse, on the way back home...

...for "un cafe au lait" to get our strength

up for the walk back home

Chris & Ollie going down the sidewalk

on our street

a peek at our neighbors gorgeous home and

landscaping..featured on HGTV!

wandering by John & Carol's and

saying hello to their egg-hen

past Dr. Ed's..almost home!

finally up the little path leading to

our front doorway...

...where we unwrap our goodies from the

Farmers' Market

(yes, I know, very few vegetables: the Mediterranean

vendor sells amazing salads and hummus and the

French baker sells fabulous breads & pizzas!)

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

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design