Readers Picks: Two Houses

 

Email, we get email!   Oy!  I love to get emails from readers with leads on stories and pictures of houses they either live in, know, or saw somewhere.  Recently two readers sent in pictures of cute houses they saw in real estate online listings.   One is from  Dallas, which is pretty fair game for this blog.  But the other house is in Tennessee!  A first here!  It’s located in Franklin, Tennessee to be exact and I have NO idea where that is!  But, the house is really cute as you will see.  So, here are two from readers, and one from me and one from the WTH department.  Enjoy!!!

 

HOUSE #1:

The house in Franklin, Tennessee has a really cute exterior with a picket fence.  It looks like this might be some kind of planned community.  The house was recently reduced to $389,000. and is 2,030 sq. ft.  Built in 2006, it was renovated in 2008 with new hardwoods.  It’s 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms.   One thing that is great about new planned communities is that a lot of them have rear loading garages (garages on back alleys.)   This keeps the street free of unsightly garage doors.   I have no idea why America gave up on alleys because our streets are so much more charming without all the driveways, garages, and cars everywhere.   At least the planned communities are bringing alleys back into favor.

 

The stairs are right up front, living room to the left.  Hardwoods on stairs really make a difference over carpeting.  It just always looks so crisp and nice.

 

Cute Mora clock!  What room doesn’t look great with a Mora clock in it?  Slipcovered sofa, textured area rug, and window seats flank the fireplace.  This room looks monochromatic, right?   Well…….

 

Here, you can the room is NOT monochromatic at all!   Don’t the curtains make a huge difference?   I’ve gotten to where I really like pattern fabrics mostly on curtains and pillows.   These curtains change a room that seemed to be monochromatic into something very bright and cheery.

 

It looks like they used the same fabric in the breakfast room, but I can’t be 100% for sure.   This is so cute with the linen slipcovered benches and French chairs for the host and hostess.   I keep seeing slipped benches instead of chairs and I really do like this look.  Not sure how practical or comfortable this is though!  Great antique piece on the right. 

 

 

Looking the other way, pretty light fixture and dining room table.  This must be the dining room too.   I would probably paint the cabinets if I lived here.   

 

 

 

The powder room is wallpapered in a cheery red and white pattern which picks up the reds found in the curtain fabric in the living room.    If you like wallpaper but are scared of using it, the powder room is a small enough space to try it out.

 

The master bedroom with touches of blue.   I keep seeing rooms with just touches of blue and I really love that color combination (although the walls are too creamy – should be painted a little more white than yellow with the blue.)  The hardwoods were a great investment.   They look so pretty.

 

 

 

The master bathroom replaced the big plate glass mirrors with two small round shell mirrors – which makes such a huge difference.  Also, it looks like they fauxed the cabinets – again, a big difference.  The blue walls in the bathroom pick up the blue curtain fabric in the bedroom.

 

Cute, cute fabrics in the guest room – all grays and blacks and white.  And blue!  The new accent color.  Really cute.  Love the long dust ruffle.

The link to the listing for this house is HERE.

 

HOUSE #2:

The second house that a reader found is located in Dallas, Texas and is at the opposite end of the spectrum.   It goes for $3,995,000.00 and is 5 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths!  It was built in 1917 which really surprised me – houses that old are very rare in Texas.   

 

Mixed wood floor and a center table in the entry hall.

 

Of course I like the living room with the white furniture and seagrass rug.   The big bumped out front window is so interesting.  And I love the botanical set over the enfilade.

 

In the living room, there is an antique French bench in front of the fireplace.   Notice the mixed wood stain on the stairway treads.   Unusual.

 

This small area next to the staircase is so cute!  Love the sofa and the zebra rug.  I still love zebra rugs – I don’t think I’ll ever tire of them even if they are so trendy now.

 

And off that stair landing room is the dining room, with the trendy Italian chandelier that seems to be everywhere today.  Again – yes it’s trendy, but I still love this kind of fixture.

 

 

An added study space in a greenhouse type room.   Pretty antique accessories and furniture.  I love that ottoman.

 

The breakfast room is very dressy and could double as a dining room!   Slipcovered chairs in two fabrics and an antelope area rug.   Love the oversized mirror and the chandelier.  Doesn’t it look pretty next to the stair landing room with the view to the front living room?

 

And, a second staircase off the breakfast room.  Remember, the house is from 1917 – so there are a lot of changes in the original floorplan I’m sure.  I would guess this whole back section is an add on.   I like what she put on the buffet – a concrete statue and two planters.  Nothing expensive, but it looks like a million.

 

The kitchen is all new – I love the three plates hanging above the sink.

 

 

The family room, off the kitchen.

 

Blue,  again!   Pretty linens.    Thanks to the reader for sending this house in!  The listing is HERE.

 

HOUSE #3:

And, my listing from Houston, is a small house in Briargrove, a neighborhood filled with young families just starting out who buy these houses from older empty nesters.  Built in 1961, it has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and is $600,000 – high for the house, but you are paying for the close in location. 

 

 

This particular house caught my eye because of the updates that have been done – like these beautiful wood French doors that replaced small aluminum windows.  They make such a difference.  The doors open to a front porch.   And to those who think all Houston homes are white slipcovers, here you can see they aren’t!   I love those toile covered chairs and ottoman – the furniture is overscaled and really fills up the room nicely – makes it warm and cozy.  In new houses, the rooms are always so large and there is never enough furniture in them – making the rooms seem cold and empty.  Always try to fill up your rooms with furniture if you want that cozy environment. 

 

The adjoining dining room is painted darker for effect.   Restoration Hardware lamps. 

 

The paneled family room was painted light – which is a great way to update dated paneling from the 60s.  Notice how much the curtains add to this room.   They really brighten up the space and provide warmth and interest. 

 

Looking the other way – I love how they painted the bookcases the persimmon color, which comes from the chair fabric.   I do think they should have removed the baby proofing from the coffee table for these pictures!   hehe!!!!   And notice the wood doors here – this one small change adds so much to the space, creating architectural interest where there really isn’t any.  Great idea!  Great family room.

 

More checks.  The  use of checks in each room is another nice way to visually tie the house together – creating a flow of a design element.   The owner has checks and plaids in the living room, the family room and the master bedroom.  Cute headboard.

 

Nursery – more curtains which soften the room.   Again, the room might have seemed bare with just the shades and no curtains.  Always go for curtains if possible.

 

And a redone 1960s bathroom with new countertop and sink.  I like the window treatment – good idea for an awkward shaped window.  To see the listing go HERE.

 

 

PORCH #1

I found this screened in porch from a HAR listing in West University.  I would LOVE to have a porch like this!!

 

And looking the other way.    Houston has so many mosquitos that screen porches are almost a necessity if you want to sit outside. 

Kudos to HAR.com for coming online with these new super large images.   So great!!!

 

 

And finally, in the WTH is this department???????

I found this living room in a house for sale in Dallas.  It took me a while to figure out exactly what the heck it was.   Is this a two story living room with double windows????  No!  If you look closely, you can see that the ceiling is mirrored tiles!  OMG – this would give me such headaches.   I suppose this was done to make the low ceiling appear taller – which it certainly does, but at the same time, it makes it look like there is a chair and sofa hanging upside down in the room.  Crazy!!!!

Thank you to the readers for sending in these houses today.   If you see a listing you think we would like to see here, please, please send it in!!!!!

 

AND FINALLY – HOUSTON WELCOMES BUNNY WILLIAMS THIS THURSDAY!!!!!

SOOOO Exciting!!!!!!   Come see Bunny Williams at Greenwood King’s  for a Discussion at the Lobby!!!  

 

A JEWELRY GIVEAWAY: Cote de Texas!

 

 

This earring was found in Israel and was originally thought to be from the Byzantine period, around the 4th or 5th century A.D.  After the earring was tested in the laboratory, it was discovered to be over 2,000 years old.  Amazing.  The piece is made out of gold and pearls and emeralds.  For something that predates the Christian era, it looks amazingly fresh and trendy, even.   I can imagine the jeweler Elizabeth Locke having a pair like these in her collection.  If there were two of these, I would wear them to my nephew’s wedding this weekend. 

 

 

These gold earring are from the 1st century,  found in Afghanistan.   My daughter recently gave me a pair a earrings that look remarkably similar.

 

 

17th century gold pendant – BC, that is!  Amazing!!!!  The pendant features bees circling the sun.   But even at 17 century BC, it’s still not the oldest recorded jewel.   That distinction belongs to the beads below:

 

 

This early string of beads, a total of 41 tiny shells, was found in a South African cave.  There are visible holes and wear markings that document these shells were strung together.   This necklace is more than 75,000 years old – 30,000 years older than any other ornament ever discovered.      Even cavemen were vain, apparently. 

 

  

A Short History of Jewelry:

Jewelry predates Homo Sapiens.   The Cro-Magnon man who roamed the earth from 45,000-10,000 BC made jewelry adorned with engravings that told the story of their great migration from Africa to the Middle east, and on to Europe.   Other early examples of jewelry are plentiful.   In a Paleolithic cave in the Pyrenees mountain of France, an archaeologist found bracelets and necklaces made out of teeth, shells, mother of pearl and stone – strung with twine or a piece of animal sinew – that date from 17,800 to 6,500 BC.    A Spanish cave produced the earliest example of gold jewelry – which also dates to the late Paleolithic period from 40,000 – 10,000 BC.    Other metals such as copper, iron, tin, and silver were first seen over 10,000 years ago.   Copper in jewelry was first used in 7,000 BC in Turkey.    Metalworking was hard business though, until bronze came about in 3,500 BC, which in turn started the Bronze Age.    Man really can only speculate what early jewelry was used for, as there is no written language from that age.    Cave drawings from  10,000 to 12,000 are too basic to describe jewelry’s importance.

 

 

Gold bracelets found at the biblical town of Nimrud.

 

Many references to jewelry are found in the bible.   Solomon's son paid a ransom in temple treasures and jewelry that belonged to the royal women.   Jezebel was adorned with jewelry.  Gold jewelry from Nimrud was discovered.   Along with the Israelites, early Egyptians valued jewelry, especially that made of gold, which came from Africa.    The early Greeks and Romans also wore jewelry.    Greek jewelry was influenced from Asia after Alexander’s conquests.    Roman women in particular wore large amounts of jewelry.   The early Roman design, the fibula, which looks like a safety pin, is still produced today.    Back then, the decorative fibula was used to pin clothing together.   They were adorned with Sri Lankan sapphires and diamonds from India.     Cameos and intaglio carvings were also popular with the early Romans, both of which are still popular styles today.    Later in time, the Byzantine people used jewelry laden with gemstones.   Men limited themselves to signet rings, similar to English men today.    India was another country where jewelry was prevalent.   Initially Indian jewelry was made of clay and shells, which was later replaced with glass and metals.   India used their ornaments to ward off evil and pay dowries and slave beads were used as trading currency. 

 

Early Roman jewelry:  a snake bracelet and a coin ring that features emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 AD to 180 AD).   Roman men were required to wear at least one ring, which was used with hot wax to seal documents and letters.  The fibula, an early safety pin,  held Roman clothes together.  Here an intaglio is seen on the fibula’s front.  

 

Queen Elizabeth I adored pearls, which were said to signify her virginity.

 

Coming out of the Dark Ages into the Renaissance, much jewelry of that age has been lost.   The Thirty Years war caused great havoc on the civilized nations as all their natural resources were used to further their causes.  Examples of jewelry from this time are almost non existent.   After the war was over, France led the fashion movement and jewelry was changed completely with new designs.   Old settings were melted down and reshaped to fit the trends.    Gemstones became more important than the setting and the cutting of stones became an art.  The Rose cut was most popular, but by 1640, stones with 16 surfaces started appearing.   Amsterdam became the world’s stone cutting headquarters – as this is where the Portuguese Jews were expelled to.    The design of the setting became more paramount:  diamonds were set in silver and gem stones were set in gold.   During this period, Baroque pearls fell out of favor while strings of pearls gained popularity.    Enamel used in jewelry came primarily from Switzerland where only a few craftsmen could master the challenging art.    One of the largest changes in jewelry came about in the 17th century.  Before this time only royalty and upper class wore jewelry.  But,  in France, Italy and Holland, the country class were now able to afford to wear gold and silver ornamentation and it became part of their peasant costumes.  This provincial jewelry rose in importance, while the upper class could only stand by and watch these societal changes.

The 18th century  brought about Romanticism which had a huge impact on jewelry making.   Modern archaeology revived an interest in ancient jewelry styles.   The growing middle class’ desire for jewelry brought about the beginnings of costume jewelry and the development of paste and gem stone substitutes, something that today is still a huge portion of the market.   At this time, goldsmiths flourished as the upper class required jewelry that was set apart from the costume varieties.   This all changed when in America, Tiffany and Co. opened its doors in 1837 and Pierre Cartier opened their doors in France in 1884.   Italy was the home of Bulgari.   These jewelry stores signified the beginning of the mass production studios, which forever changed the individual craftsman’s dominance in jewelry making. 

 

 

Queen Alexandra, Queen Elizabeth’s great grandmother, loved jewelry and she was only ever seen covered in pearls and diamonds.

 

The royal jewelry is never sold, it is simply passed down from generation to generation. Here, Queen Alexandra is seen in the pearls and diamonds that she passed down to her daughter in law, the future Queen Mary.

 

Queen Alexandra wearing a tiara which her great granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth has been wearing throughout her reign. 

 

Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, wearing strands of diamonds she got from her mother in law. 

 

Some of these same diamond strands were passed down to her granddaughter Princess Margaret.  After her death, these diamonds were auctioned off, something that is rarely seen within the royal family.

 

 

And now, to the giveaway!!!!

 

The designer, Leslie Andrews, who creates all the jewelry for her company, Tarnished Lace, recently contacted me about a giveaway.   Her jewelry appealed to me because she uses vintage pieces to make her  unique, one of a kind pieces.   Here is how she describes her work:

“I love bits and pieces of jewelry ephemera from previous centuries. I collect antique ivory, Venetian glass, crystal and mother of pearl beads, vintage rosaries, tarnished sterling charms and other tiny mementos to recreate necklaces, bracelets and earrings which evoke a sense of history.  Additionally, I design and fashion heirloom pieces from clients' personal collections of family jewelry.  This is my passion. Each item is unique and tells a story. The majority of components in each piece is a true antique (over 100 years old) or truly vintage (over 50 years old).   My goal is to design beautiful, well-made, affordable jewelry which connects with the past.”      

 

In picking out one piece of jewelry for the giveaway, we decided on the Victorian Eiffel Tower bracelet, as a tie in with the French theme of the blog.  This piece is loaded with both vintage and antique treasures:  the opalescent glass ovals and silver fleur de lis are circa 1940 and came from a necklace previously owned by a west coast opera singer.  The Victorian filigree snowflake is circa 1900 and is encrusted with six clear rhinestones and a royal blue center stone.   The link is from a post war souvenir bracelet from Paris and there is also a vintage sterling silver Madonna with a halo of tiny stars and sterling silver rose blossoms.     All this on one bracelet!   The winner of this giveaway will receive the Victorian Eiffel Tower bracelet, compliments of Tarnished Lace.

 

How to Enter:

 

Simply go to the Tarnished Lace web site here:   http://tarnishedlace.com/gallery.html

Look at her items for sale and find one piece of jewelry that you really love and which speaks to you.  Come back here to the comments section and leave a comment telling me your favorite piece of jewelry.   That’s all!   The contest will close this Saturday night at 12:00 pm.

Americans In France

 

Last month I wrote about some houses for rent in France.  This one house pictured above immediately struck me as being owned and decorated by an American, probably a southern one at that.  I don’t know why I felt that way – but I would have bet $100,000 on it (if I had the money that is!)   The house, of course, looked authentically Provencal, but it was the furnishings that looked so familiar:  the linen slipcovers, the silk pillows, a touch of leopard, the wonderful – just perfect antique French end tables,  the lamps – with their great lampshades, the painting that just happened to match the pillows, the beautiful Italian chandelier that is so trendy in the US right, the fur tossed over the arm of the antique bergere, gilt angel wings on the mantel, design books stacked, and maybe the biggest clue of all – an orchid in a urn.  Wow.  Who wouldn’t have guessed this was designed by an American?   Maybe that’s why I liked this house so much – it almost looked like home, but with a French backdrop.

 

The guest room in that rental is also perfectly furnished, with French toile quilts, wildly expensive wood cuttings above each bed, upholstered French headboards, a smattering of gilt around, the just-right French antique night stand, and a chair – with matching fabric.  

One reader took the bait and called around to find out if indeed an American owned this house.   The answer:  of course!  Like I said, it’s not rocket science when it’s this obvious.   Makes me wonder….is this a one time happening?   Is it THAT obvious when an American decorates overseas?

 

 

 

 

The best example of Americans designing in France is Atlanta interior designer Ginny Magher who rebuilt and decorated her gorgeous summer house, Mas de Baraquet,  in Provence.  The job was done by Bruno Lafourcade, one the premier restorers in France.  Who can forget the gorgeous spread in Veranda  1998?

 

One of the guest room at Magher’s Provencal house. 

 

Over the years, Magher has designed other houses in France, including this one with its stone fireplace and skirted tabled dining room.    In the decades since designing Magher’s house, Bruno Lafourcade, his wife and son have reached stardom in France, designing major houses and gardens. 

So let’s see if we find another American designed house in France:

 

HOUSE #1:

This road leads to a gorgeous mas in Provence.  It got my attention because again, I’m convinced an American decorated it.

 

 

This beautiful Provencal house, 18th century, is for sale through Sotheby’s.   The grounds are fabulous with a lake, tennis court, swimming pool, and a private garden.  Nine bedrooms and baths plus a 3 bedroom keeper’s house.    I love that gravel terrace at the front of the house.  Most interesting is that this house and garden was completely redone by the Lafourcades, the same people who did Ginny Magher’s house.  No wonder this is so gorgeous. 

 

Another gravel sitting area amid the box and roses.

 

Beautiful manicured beds off to the side of the mas.

 

Symmetrical urns lead to a secret garden.

 

 

I wonder if this is the keeper’s house?   Notice the tiny windows in the basement.   And notice the poor tree to the left – what terrible topping!   Whoever is pruning this tree has ruined it.

 

The front yard, leading to the door. 

 

 

Entering the house, immediately you can tell – it’s really, really special.  The flag floors are gorgeous – as are the double front doors.  Notice the carved doors leading into the living areas on the left and right – they resemble French armoire doors.   Outside you can see the fountain on the front lawn. 

 

Up the stairs with the beautiful iron bannister and tiled treads.  Notice the entry hall below with the trendy lantern, large urn and framed prints.  Seeing this picture made me think an American owed this house.

 

 

 

The living room is beautifully furnished, with chintz covered sofas.   The mantel is so pretty.  But, it’s the rug that makes me think  Americans own this house.  The faded, antique rug is so similar to those seen in the more upscale houses here.   Most interesting is that I don’t think it’s a southerner that owns it, rather an American from up north.   And I’m guessing this was designed early in the 2000s – hence the lack of any Swedish or Belgian influence that is so popular this decade.

 

 

Across the main hall is the dining room, full of English styled furniture.   Which, to me, is another clue – a Frenchman would never decorate with English furniture – he would use French pieces. 

 

Eat-in kitchen with great table and, again, English chairs. 

 

 

The master bedroom, with the skirted table, another American clue.   I wonder where the stairs lead to? 

 

 

The family room – I love this room!  To me, it looks exactly how an American would decorate it, with a mix of old whicker, French chairs, sofas, lanterns, mirrors and wonderful murals on the walls – a very faint design, just barely visible.   This house is so beautiful – very well done, perfectly decorated and landscaped.    

 

An eating area that leads off the family room pictured before – notice the brick floor is the same here as in that room. 

 

The swimming pool. 

 

Another gravel eating terrace with fountain.  I can only imagine the view!

 

The property is large – and extensively landscaped by the Lafourcades.

 

There is even a lake!

 

With a boat launch.   Hard to imagine how wonderful it would be live on this property.

 

 

Rows and rows of olive trees.

A tennis court comes with its own vine covered pergola that doubles as a spectator stand!   So, American or French designed?  I vote American.

 

  HOUSE #2:

This 17th century house in Provence has 11 bedrooms and 12 acres of land.  

 

To the side of the main house is the old chapel, which can also be used for parties or weddings.

 

 

    Behind the chapel are the remains of the original house on the property.  Here, next to the ruins  are the swimming pool and the tennis courts.  Gorgeous!

 

 

The entrance hall.  Very dressy and refined with antique French furniture, crystal chandeliers, and sconces.   

 

The study is filled with antique French furniture and French fabrics.

 

The living room, with more antiques and chintz covered furniture.   For reasons that are hard to explain, to me – it seems as if a French family lives here, not an American.   The furniture appears to be a mix of pieces collected over a lifetime, as opposed to gathered quickly to furnish a summer getaway – as an American would do.   Do you agree?  Does this look French or American owned to you?

 

 

 

The old chapel – what a beautiful space with all the stone arches and paintings of the saints.   Something tells an American would have tried to decorate this space – perhaps with light fixtures, new furniture, and a runner.    Somehow, the authentic  French version looks preferable.

So, American designed or French.  I vote French!

 

HOUSE #3:

Le Mas de Cezanne, outside of Aix de Provence.  Beautiful, authentic stone mas with French blue shutters.  

 

 

The grounds are gorgeous – here a box enclosed garden.

 

Some pictures are too small – I’m sorry!   Here is the entry hall.  To me, this picture gives it away immediately – French or American?

 

 

 

The living room with a skirted table, modern art, French antiques, great lamps – love love love this!

 

 

The living room, with its seagrass rug and skirted table leads out to a covered porch.  Look at the beautiful French blue shutters and doors!

 

 

The living room above leads out to this covered pergola.  So beautiful with its flower pots, wicker chairs, and iron furniture.  Soooo romantic~!!

 

The kitchen looks like it was in a magazine.  Whoa.  Its fabulous – love the corner cabinet, the checked curtains, the farm sink, the huge cloche.

 

A red door leads into the yellow study with its antique furniture and brick floors.  Wonderful windows. 

 

The yellow study with the antique French bench and traditional checked fabrics.    Sooo cute!!!!

 

The family room with more checked fabrics and an assortment of antique furniture. 

 

 

The master bedroom with a quilt and canopy, antique furniture, wonderful lamp and shade, and more modern art. 

 

 

The guest room has more wonderful lamps and antique furniture.  

 

 

The grandkids room.   Notice the different teddy bear picture above each bed!  What a cute idea!!!!   Love the rug. 

 

 

The swimming pool with its flower covered island.   How do you water those plants?

 

 

Traditional French pots and an allee of cypress trees.   OK – French or American designed?    My guess is American all the way!!!   It’s so perfect looking, so decorated, everything looks like it was purchased especially for this house alone and is just waiting for a photoshoot.  

 

HOUSE #4:

I think this is my favorite kind of house – a stone French mas with shutters and a collection of large and small windows with no landscape at the house, just gravel.   One day….one day.   I don’t care if I have to build it in Galena Park to afford it, I’ll do it one day!!!  hahahah!!!!   Galena Park.  Google it.    Notice another butchered topped tree.   Why????

 

The same view – showing the wing on the left.    This house is very pretty inside, but the outside is just so wonderful!

 

Located in the Luberon Valley, this is the view from the upstairs. 

 

Iron and stone staircase, my favorite.  Terra cotta tiles.   The décor is a mix of antiques.

 

The living room is located in what was probably once the barn.   The mantel is wonderful, the floor and doors are great.  But people – slipcovers don’t last forever!   It’s time for new ones – these have shrunk and don’t fit well, plus they should be ironed.   There are good slipcovers and bad slipcovers.  Look at the back of this sofa – see how it doesn’t fit properly?

 

 

The master bedroom with a wicker sectional and canopy bed. 

 

The guest room.   Hmm.

 

The pergola at the front of the mas, probably right off the kitchen. 

 

And the swimming pool.  OK, French or American?    I vote French.   A house like this would cost millions for an American – I just think an American who could afford this would spend more on the furnishings.   It would be more of a staged looking house if American’s owned it.  To a Frenchman, this is their reality – they don’t need to make it a cute stage, they live it. 

 

 

 

HOUSE #5:

God.   Is there anything more gorgeous than this???????  Whoa.   I love how the house curves around on the left, creating a natural terrace.   All the blue shutters are so cute – and notice the arched gate.    Cute dog.  Cute BBQ pit.   So American???

 

 

A view of the left side with its arched French doors and gravel terrace.  

 

French lantern, stone fountain, birdcage – this reminds me of Velvet and Linen’s remodeled canal house garden HERE.

 

OK, there is only one interior photograph from this house, but I just had to show the house anyway.  So this is tough to decide from one picture:  American or French?

 

The swimming pool.    Did you decide yet?    I vote French.   The furnishings in the living room seem too disparate and unorganized for an American who would spend the millions on this house.   Also, I don’t recognize anything – the light fixture, the fabrics, the basket, etc.   Nothing looks like it came from America.

 

HOUSE #6:

Beautiful mas, but the grounds look somewhat unkempt. 

 

Gorgeous windows and fireplace.   Antique wood framed French furniture.  Beautiful mirror.  I’m voting French again.   I’m thinking that maybe Americans decorate too perfectly – everything matches, it’s all “done” just in case a magazine comes around to take photographs.   Also, Americans tend to use elements we all recognize – furniture, accessories, chandeliers.  All the trendy things that we see in all the stores and in the catalogues.   Again, I don’t recognize anything in this picture – not the fabrics, the accessories, the rug, the lights.    The French houses seem more individualized.

 

I don’t think an American would decorate a summer house in such dark colors as burgundy and forest green.

 

 

And the bedroom, with its odd shaped duvet – strikes me as non American owned.  What do you think?  French or American?

 

 

HOUSE #7:

After the first post, when I showed the American owned Provence house, a nearby neighbor, aka reader, emailed to show me her French property which she rents out.   We KNOW this house is American owned and designed.

 

The reader’s vacation house,  L’Etiole, lies between two charming villages – here is Gordes, just a 7 minutes drive away.

 

 

And, the village of Roussillon is just 4 minutes away from L’Etoile, the vacation rental.

 

The house has 4 bedrooms – and they all look over this incredible valley!  Notice the hot air balloon in the sky!!!!  Reminds me of the movie Bobby Deerfield.  Or closer – the races in the summer at Del Mar, California.

 

L’Etoile:   The charming stone house, and I do mean charming, is 3 stories.  Does it get any cuter than this?   Notice the French blue shutters and the little Juliet balconies.    The property, located in the Luberon Valley, is over 2 acres of land.  I can’t believe that someone who lives so close to me owns this house in France!!!!    They are sooo lucky!!!  Must be wonderful.

 

 

 

The main living room has a linen upholstered French sofa and two slipcovered chairs.  But it is the stairs that are the focal point here – how beautiful are they?   So simple, yet so elegant!  Before moving in the owners did extensive remodeling:  the house was painted, a laundry room was added,  and they replaced all the light fixtures – some of which were custom made.   Also, the ceiling beams were lightened to their natural color. 

 

Another view of the living room, with it’s fireplace which the owner had built using old stone.  In the mirror, you can see the dining area.  The owner completely furnished the house while on a tight budget.   Many pieces are antique, including the sofa, which was bought on Ebay from someone living in France.    Antique hemp fabric covers it.   The curtain fabrics are from France’s Les Olivades.  Originally the fabric was brought to Houston for their house here, but it was decided the fabric would work better in France, so, back it came,  tailored to fit L’Etoile’s windows.

 

 

I love all the windows!!!   Most meals are eaten outside by the swimming pool and the summer kitchen.  This room is good for when its too chilly to eat outside.

 

         The fully furnished, newly rebuilt kitchen with its original vaulted ceiling.  Again – such cute little windows!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The master bedroom with antique and Les Olivades linens.  This is the bedroom I would want to stay in  – I love the canopy and the duvet, the lamps and nightstands.  According to the owner, all mattresses are new and are high quality.    It’s funny that I know for sure this was decorated by an American, but if I saw it without knowing, I might have thought it was French owned!  I think it’s all the curtain fabrics that might make me think that. 

 

Off the master bedroom is this sitting room.

 

Another bedroom on the top floor. 

 

All the bathrooms are totally new.  I love the skirts made of feed bags!  But, the feed bags give away it’s American owned.   I’m not sure that French people use feedbag fabrics like we do here.

 

This bedroom has twin beds and is located on the 2nd floor, next to the master bedroom.   The house can sleep 8 comfortably.

 

And, the children’s bedroom on the top floor.

 

 

                   And another bathroom – with an antique mirror.  Cute light fixture.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Most activities center around the swimming pool.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The owner outfitted this antique bed for use around the pool – too cute!!  Another hint it’s American owned.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

The summer kitchen is located off the swimming pool in an outbuilding.   New doors and windows were added to make the the room more open to the outside.  

 

 

The summer kitchen is fully stocked and furnished so that all meals can be prepared poolside without having to go back inside the house.

 

 

And finally, dinner outside at L’Etoile.  This picture alone makes me want to book a month here!  Soooo pretty.    If you are looking for a house to rent in Provence, consider this one.   To read all about L’Etoile, go HERE  and book your vacation.

 

Thank you for playing along today – French or American????

Most properties today came from  either Emile Garcin  or Sotheby’s.