Chinoiserie Hutch in That Linen Color We All Love Now

The PERFECT hutch!

While researching case goods for a client,

I came across this stunner.

What do you think?

hutch from Hooker Furniture's Melange Collection

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thanks for visiting! ... Kit

The Brocante at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Flea markets are the same the world over. Vendors are often more interested in each other's gossip than in selling stuff to you:) Sellers have always "just left" to get coffee, leaving their neighbor to watch their stall just when you desperately want an item. Lunchtime rolls around and all vendors everywhere pull out delectable lunches they have brought in, only to make you notice your hunger pangs as you settle for a local skyrocket-priced carnival food. And, of course, everywhere there is much posturing and haggling over prices... all part of the fun!

The brocante in l'Isle sur la Sorgue at Easter was just like all the rest of the flea markets I've been to... except for the things you can buy, the setting, and... yes, the lunches. This was not our local Alemany Flea with corn dogs on a stick!

We had an unforgettable adventure there on the Chic Provence Design Tour... come with us next spring!

the entrance to the park where the flea market is held

in Isle sur la Sorgue, France

OK so we did just fine for lunch...here at

the Cafe de France!

we drooled over these hand blown wine jugs from

the early 20 C....and one of us bought one

this 19th C small rug is now a table runner for

one of our Tour attendees...isn't it beautiful!

great old planters were everywhere

the statue and the setting are so elegant..wait

until those vines are filled out and blooming!

loved this little grouping of vibrantly upholstered

furniture...looks like Designer's Guild

I think these are hitching posts...and not

sure what the curvy iron is..but love it!

original tile floor in one of the

buildings in town

metal cafe chairs, always chic!

rusted old garden statuary

highly styled mid-century stall

I love "terre melee" and this vase is

a superb example of the mixed clay

technique from Vallauris

funny little mid-century Michelin Tire guys!

(what are they up to anyway?)

the selection of vintage silver was phenomenal

at this stall

this wonderful Gustavian bench would look

great with cushions in a Swedish frame of mind

more tile floor from around town

pillow covers made from vintage

French sheets and grain sacks

love this navy and white tile floor

the magical view up the Sorgue River

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thanks for visiting!....Kit

Small Joy

If there were any way at all to ease the suffering and burdens of those in our tornado-ravaged South, any of us would do just about anything.

While searching for wallpaper for a new client, I came across this charming, small group of paper that reminded me somehow of the South in days long gone by. These lighthearted wallpapers and fabrics could bring a little bit of cheer to our weary souls, even for just a sweet little moment in time, even if we just look at them and remember simpler, happier days.

"Brocante" from the charming Brian Yates collection

from the Gustavian collection of Zoffany

"Chinese Rose" from the charming Brian Yates collection

"Chinese Rose" from the charming Brian Yates collection

"Early Bird" from the charming Brian Yates collection

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Thanks for visiting! ... Kit

La Tendance Bleu-Vert

These luscious jugs and pots dipped in blue, green, turquoise, mint and pistachio paints are making me long for the summer days and sunshine of Provence (it's still raining and grey in San Francisco! Summer, where are you?) As I sit at my desk wrapped in a scarf and dressed in all black layers and Merrill boots to chase the chill away from our grey day, these images give me a little hope for sunnier days!

Enjoy a little soothing color break...these colors are very easy on the eyes!

all jugs, pots and paints at Coté Maison

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Then seeing all these wonderful hot weather blues and greens in Catherine André's Summer 2011 collection made me realize that, yes, blue-green is definitely hot this summer, in France, anyway!

all clothing and accessories Catherine André

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So of course I checked out the fabrics by Pierre Frey, just to be sure...and yes, lots of blue and green in fabrics and wallpapers to be found.

all fabrics by Pierre Frey

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thanks for visiting! ... Kit

Country Chic

For a designer, nothing is more delightful than clients with great taste and a modern point of view. We are nearing the completion of the remodeling and decorating of this "country chic" home and are getting excited at seeing the final installation in the next few weeks. I thought you'd enjoy seeing a little of our design thought process in inspiration and fabric choices that we have used in this wonderful living room.

In the next few weeks as we finish, I'll post the before and after pictures of the entire beautiful transformation where we used as much existing material and furnishings as possible to create a really wonderful living space for this young family!

the wonderful eclecticism of this country chic room taken from

Elle Decor magazine was an inspiration for my client when we

had our first meeting...the room has the same many windows

and an all-white light and airy feel

as we developed exactly the look for her living room, we left

the orange behind and went with a purer palette of reds, blues, whites

and linens; we were completely taken with the Travers collection from

Zimmer-Rhode shown here

these are the fabrics we chose:

the stunning jacquard and the stripes in navy/white

are Travers Batik Leaf and La Verna in Ink;

the beautiful cotton print is Fairie Enchantee Toile from Quadrille;

the solid linen is the Belgian Linen from Restoration Hardware;

and the red stripe is a vintage fabric from France

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thanks for visiting!... Kit