The Atelier : Toile Inspiration

Atelier: french, pronounced (A-tell-yay), artist's workshop or studio. My table at home and the shop for us to create, design and inspire!

This week's Atelier is the introduction to a new design project. It will be a continuation of beginning design boards to the final reveal. I am delighted to design this soft, feminine, classic space. It will work for years to come for the client and will be able to move from home to home.

Saturdays are a very busy day at the shop. People are in the mood to browse, consider and buy! The shop is usually bustling and the day I met my most recent client I was so busy I missed my lunch break. I will call her Miss Georgia, as she is a Georgia native who has been enjoying NWA for several years.

So, Miss Georgia is young, successful and has very good taste. But in need of some direction. Luckily, she knows what she wants for her cute little cottage and has been looking for someone to help her achieve the right "look".

She found Fresh French Home on that Saturday and we have been planning, measuring and picking ever since. Our inspiration is a bedroom she found in a world famous catalog. It is quite feminine with toile fabric, linen and ruffles. A look I love. Our first order of business was creating a headboard similar to the one pictured. I knew we would not be able to "shop" the bed as it was in the picture, so I set out to find a headboard that we could customize with the same fabric.

the toile fabric we are using to replicate the headboard

silk accent fabric, Euro shams and other accents

I got very lucky and found a vintage headboard, circa 1940. It is nearly perfect and will give her the bed she loves in the picture. We kept the wood frame and beautiful, french inspired crest at the top of the bed. Inside are sweet, simple hand painted flowers. We added  foam padding, upholstered with the toile and used the same for the piping. It is a standout piece and completely custom.

To really capture the essence, the story of the room, we needed way more than just a headboard. Besides sourcing a toile fabric for the headboard I brought in a silk check (pic above) to act as our accent. We will use it for Euro shams and  other accent pieces in the room. 

I always try to find the "story", the underlining essence or idea a room or client is trying to convey. This space is no different and for me this conjures up a story of classic, clean design. New and old mingling together to create a guest retreat one might find in an old Georgia home. Crisp, but just soft enough around the edges to look as though it has been enjoyed for many, many years. And a light feminine touch that feels luxurious but is in no way unlivable or too fussy.

I wanted Miss Georgia to have a few options for the accessories that we would place in the space. I created digital design boards offering her several different choices concerning bedside tables, lamps, wall art, etc.

The one thing we were sure about was a set of vintage mirrors. These are one of a kind, vintage and Miss Georgia loves them. These along with the headboard are the mainstays of the space.

  

I have inserted a few of the "look" options created for the space. Miss Georgia is still deciding which group to do. And the nice thing is each piece is interchangeable. We can always mix and match her favorites. I would love to know what you would choose.

 LOOK OPTION #1 - the far left is our inspiration pic. the mirrors are part of each "look" option
notice that the shams are white with cream ruffle. this is probably the purist, most neutral option. the art work is bright and clean.

LOOK OPTION #2- this is much more feminine with the added pink and the bedside is slightly more feminine. the oil painting is original and it will be with the client for years to come.

One could mix and match all of these different components all day long to achieve the right space. It actually makes it fun to move things around and discover the perfect look. I can't wait to share with you what Miss Georgia chooses and reveal the finished product. I know the outcome will be beautiful! 

All In Store

Shop Hours

Tuesday - Friday

10:00 to 5:00

Saturday

10:00 to 4:00

Monday is available by appointment!

What a great 2 weeks the shop has had! Finally, it all came together, a crescendo, a final curtain call of my ideas and daydream. The shop has had great traffic for a new place. I don't know statistics of what is good or bad, but on the whole I feel great about the feedback the shop is getting. And as items sell I quickly get busy replacing, filling the open spot with more goodies.

I think my most memorable shoppers was a group of three ladies who visited last week. One of them visited in the morning, purchased a tulip painting and said she would bring her friends. Little did I know she meant a few hours later! In a while, 3 ladies walked through my door, the last being the tulip lady from the morning.
One of them reminisced of her last vacation, she and her family went to Normandy. One of my many Confits caught her eye, she had eaten the same on Camembert cheese on her travels.
French jazz played in the background and as she made her way through the shop she commented " we heard this same song in France".
All of this tickled me happy. This is what I wanted FFH to be. Something familiar, restful, a place to bring people joy.

They eyed my French lollie's at the checkout and I gladly gave them one. They unwrapped and enjoyed them immediately, one lemon and one raspberry.

Thank you ladies, you made my week!

Posted with Blogsy

Finishing Touches!

I have been extremely busy! There are so many details of putting a store together. But I feel great about what is happening in my little space. It is finally coming together. And I can see my visualizations coming to life.
Above all, I want FFH to be a beautiful, restful place. Just like a home should not be overly fussy, but luxurious, comfortable, telling the story of who and what we are.

let's garden!

I have had orders from some great places and gotten some lovely items for you. Everything I have chosen has spoken to me in some way. There is nothing in my shop, your shop I would not have in my  own home. And no, I am not sure if that is the best way to fill a home decor, lifestyle shop but it has been my motive the entire time I have shopped, picked and rescued merchandise!

lighting still to be installed.

I hope you love the space as much as I do. I have furniture, some custom, created by me and my wonderful friend and seamstress, Bonnie. She has truly been a blessing for me. I could not have put all of my ideas in motion if not for her talent. I thank her so very much! Some furniture is vintage, antique, rescued and some hand picked wholesale. Beautiful bedding, some custom and pieces from the California company, Pom Pom. They make very luxurious, organic linen bedding, tabletop and bath linens. So yummy! 

pom pom

pom pom pillow sham

For tabletop and kitchen I have wonderful Dutch brands, Pip Studios and At Home with Marieke. Both brands are beautiful, playful but offer something different. Pip is bright, happy and colorful with a very Antoinette color palette.  At Home is a little more subdued but still just as playful with plaids and stripes. I can't pick a favorite!

pip cappuccino cups and saucer

pip tea towels

at home. . . pillows

at home. . . gray collection

There is nothing in Fresh French Home that has been an after thought. Nothing I have not poured my thought and heart into and I am so excited to share it with you.

glass cloche

My doors will open May 30th for business, 10:00 a.m. sharp! The grand opening party will follow on Saturday. I hope you can join me. And either before or after stop by Meridienne  at 109 S Main St. Bentonville. They have wonderful French pastries and lunch deliciousness. Please tell them I sent you.

beautiful, hand drawn giclees

Romance: French Globe de Mariee, Marriage Globe

This weekend is my 11th wedding anniversary to my kind husband. He really is a kind person, something that should be high on the dating list. Apparently, he loved me at first sight, he denies this but I know it is true! I will get him to admit to this one of these days! 

we look so young!

 So, in honor of our anniversary I have this beauty of an item to show you! An antique French Wedding Globe or Globe de Mariee. These are the most special display pieces for a married couple to mark the occasion of their wedding and life together. Over the years symbols, such as flowers from the wedding bouquet, lock of hair from their children and jewelery would be placed and protected on these stunning keepsakes. 

my globe de mariee

The globes originated in France in the late 1800's through the early 1900's. After being crafted of thin metal and then covered in a ormolu (the gold overlay) and sculpted by a jeweler, each globe would be unique to the couple but most had  birds, mirrors and a velvet covered "seat" to hold personal items. The velvet was usually pink and red but blue and gold were also popular choices. Each gilded decoration symbolized something:

trees for strength!

bird with laurel wreath and daisy detail

birds with laurel wreath: wishes for children

trees: strength and longevity

daisies: innocence, purity

roses: everlasting love

cherries: protection against bad fortune

leaves: longevity of the marriage

sheaves of wheat: fertility and resurrection of life

detail of velvet, original wax flowers

The mirrors also hold meaning with their shape, number and position.

centralized mirror: reflected the soul

small diamond shape: number of children desired

rectangular  mirrors: number of years of courting before marriage

Typically they sit under a glass dome, the way a piece of art would sit for protection and admiration. They are most rare pieces of history. To get your hands on one is difficult, especially one with the glass dome intact. A true find!

side profile

I have always been fascinated with the Globe de Mariee, as it is as romantic as it is beautiful. They are little treasure boxes of love and history wrapped in a beautiful package. What romantic wouldn't LOVE it! 

And The Address Is. . .

I don't normally post on a Saturday but what a few weeks it has been! I have been so busy, with shop plans, lease agreements and family matters that I have been in a tail spin. But, I have a wonderful announcement, I have a lease, a great spot to set up shop and bring my daydreams to life.

little g writing a new story at the shop!

The address of Fresh French Home:

709 SW A St. No. 5

Bentonville

It has been a long time coming. And honestly, I am quite surprised of my patience, not usually one of my virtues! But, I have stayed on course, possibly gained a few new wrinkles and gray hairs (I cover those anyway) and have won a space. The new house of Fresh French Home! I can't wait for the Grand Opening! Coming Soon!

FFH before the transformation

There is much to do, as you can imagine. Painting, hanging new and old chandy's. Deciding where to place the checkout, paint colors, filling nail holes, designing and ordering a sign. Placing orders and more orders, creating one of a kind designs that I hope you love. The list of starting a business is long, but so exhilarating and wonderfully challenging. 

another view!

I will be adding pictures of the metamorphosis as the shop develops and posting about all the great things to come. 

My Father and My Peace

As of late I have been neglecting my blog. I have a set goal of two posts a week, varying in content and theme. My thoughts were to gain a rhythm of writing and posting about the shop, design and gardening to create a connection of France and my aesthetic. This is still my pursuit but my postings have been slow, as of late. I have been busy and distracted by my father's recent health issues and it has been hard to "pull away".

My father is on the mend but he has spent the past 4 weeks in the hospital. Weeks ago he had a routine back surgery for pain which he has suffered from for years. He was discharged the day after but had to return to the hospital bed 5 days later for a complication. As the days progressed events become more and more complicated until he was literally at deaths door over 3 weeks ago. He is now in recovery but it will take him time, a lot of time, to fully recover. His doctor predicts a good 6-8 weeks before he will be able to go home and hopefully live the same life he did before the complications.

dad, aidan and me, circa 1985

As my sister and I have been caring for him with phone calls, visits and tearful conversations, the same picture and day with my dad keeps popping into my mind. It is the one pictured above, why this moment is engraved in my memory, I am not sure. I don't even remember it being an eventful day. I am sure the adults of that time might be able to say, but I cannot recall. But this image sits there, in my mind as I "see" to my father. 


At times, I am quite surprised of the grief I feel for my father's current weakness. My parents have not been together since I was a very young child. My sister and I both had visits with him throughout the years and for holidays and at one point in high school I lived with him. He was not a disciplinarian type parent and I probably had more freedom then I should have. But he changed his life for me and never once complained. In many ways I am like my father, the eyebrows, for better or worse and his eye for color and photography. After all, I have him to thank for at least 50% of myself! And thank him I do. I love you dad, now please get well!

little G and my father 2007

The events of the past few weeks has put many things in a different perspective.  It is a funny place to sit, caring for a parent. As you are forced to make very adult decisions and have very serious conversations, the child you once were is still there, in your heart, believing and daydreaming it will all turn out fine in the end. It just has to! 
But, age and time is quite real, isn't it?

La Jardin in March: Planning the Herb Garden

Spring brings gardening back to our lives. I have made mention of our love of gardening around here in a few earlier posts.  Before we were parents we spent almost every weekend hour in our gardens, we still spend hours outside but with little G we are easily distracted. But we still haul over to garden centers, nearly weekly, to see what wonderful things are in. 

little G and the start of our herb garden

Early Spring is the perfect time to begin planning and planting an herb garden. I have jotted down a few of our favorites we have used year after year. Mixed in are different uses for herbs, culinary, drinks and the wonderful ways herbs can help other plants in your garden. Keep in mind an herb garden can be in containers on your patio or as plantings in your garden beds. My favorite is to do both, mixing and matching for seasons of growing.

First thing to know is most herbs adore sun. Some will tolerate partial shade throughout the day, especially in a hot climate. Most are annuals but quite a few are perennials, coming back to the garden year after year.

A small list to begin your herb garden:

Basil: culinary, comes in various flavors from spicy to exotic pineapple. grows very quickly, will fill a space or container in no time. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love the colorful spikes. wonderful for proteins, soups and sauces. (love, wealth)!

Bee Balm: my T loves this plant. there is even a variety with our last name! comes in several colors, white, pinks, reds. a member of the mint family it grows tall and easily, hummingbirds adore it. they linger all day for refreshment. add to tea or lemonade for a zesty flavor. perennial, will revisit you every year. 

Chives: a very happy plant, easy to grow. excellent for containers. in the garlic family, add to veggies, soups and chicken salad. I always cut a few stems into my lettuce salads. great companion plant for roses (keeps away black spot and aphids). 

Echinacea or Cone flower: popular plant, huge variety. even a mama mia little G had to have last year. strong, upright plants, easy to grow as plantings or containers. a medicinal perennial herb but wonderful addition to the garden. butterflies love it! (strength)!

Dill: one of my favorites for cooking. easy to grow, will flourish in sun but needs water, almost daily in Summer heat. most excellent in salads, on poultry and seafood. another herb I cut directly in my salads, especially tuna, chicken salad. (luck, money, protection)!

Fennel: a very overlooked herb by most people. my mother in law introduced it to us. comes in a bronze variety that has brownish foliage which is a nice contrast to garden greens. licorice flavor, stalks similar to celery and can be steamed or added to soups and salads. great companion plant for roses as it attracts bugs and keeps them off your roses. butterflies also lay their larvae on the fennel stems. (healing, purification)!

Lavender: a favorite to many, me included. loved for it's fragrance and beauty. a perennial, it will flourish once planted attracting bees, butterflies and birds. you can harvest the flowers throughout the season and use for sachets, wreaths or simple arrangements. our Winters are so mild our plants have barely slept and are ready for warmth. consider planting by your front door for fragrance. (love, happiness)!

Mints: my favorite herb for so many reasons. it is prolific, will fill a space or container within days and continues to grow all season, even with neglect and hot weather. it grows in a wild fashion, drooping over containers and rocks, making it's own way, a bit "viney" and reckless. comes in so many flavors from lemon to chocolate. add to hot or iced tea, flavor waters with the sweet leaves or make your own version of a mojito with the many flavors available. (strength)!

Rosemary: another popular favorite. easy to grow perennial that loves sun and can grow huge! great for meats, veggies, cleans the air, another candidate for your front door. (healing, sleep, youth)!

Thyme: once known as the flower to fairies as they were said to use the small yet strong stems for protection. grows very "bunchy", compact but spreads beautifully. several flavors to choose from. great for soups, proteins. (health, courage)!

This is a small taste of herbs available at your garden center and a few of my favorites that we have planted year after year. Pick a few from my list, start small with patio containers or go big and design a full herb garden but either way enjoy them for what they can do for you and your garden. The birds and bees will thank you!

Sources:

hgtv.com

bonnieplants.com

Soeurs de Coeur: Sisters

I am delighted to be here at Fresh French Home. As you know from reading Kate's blog, she is in the hard-working, thrilling and creative midst of making her 'daydreams' come true. Kate has been surprising and delighting me for years; from the first moment I saw her behind nursery glass and welcomed a sister into my life.

She has always made ordinary things beautiful. Her innate and incredible eye for design, color, finishing details, and spatial and visual properties has been honed and sharpened over the years. She has come a long way from the purple and silver wallpaper she insisted on having in her bedroom when she was five years old! Those were the purple years. But it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows Kate that she has dreamed of a shop like the one she's making in Fresh French Home. We are all so lucky to witness and share in it.

I'm here as a proud sister, but also because my family and I live in the South of France. Kate wants me to share some of our story and a bit of my life here with you. Living here has been the most wonderful experience for my children and my husband and me. I've written a blog about our lives since we arrived in 2010 and you can check it out and catch up on the ups and downs of life in another country, culture and most challengingly, language.

{my three at the market}

This February marked our third year in France. I've come to love the seasonal changes of this country as I've learned and experienced them over time. By March, the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter. We begin to see the first of the spring strawberries, bunches of radishes in sunset hues and perfect pink and white buds on fruit trees.

One of my favorite trees here is the mimosa. It isn't the mimosa with anemone sprays of pink flowers and fern-like leaves that grew in our grandmother's front yard in Carthage, Texas.

{mimosa flowers on my rue}

The southern French mimosa flowers the brightest sunshine yellow puffballs that grow in clustered bursts and smell of the sweetest spring day. They are the promise of months of sunshine ahead. A gift from Australia, the happy charm of the mimosa is celebrated with parades in its honor in Mediterranean coastal towns. France is good about celebrating nature and appreciating beauty for beauty's sake. This is one of the reasons Kate loves French design. Graceful utility is something the French (and Kate) do so well.

One last tidbit about the cheery, promising mimosa is one that includes a recipe because for me, life in France is nothing without the food.

The deviled egg as we know it in the US is called an oeuf mimosa here, named for its sunny yellow color. I love learning things like this, don't you? It makes sense that the French would name a springtime appetizer made with eggs and all they represent after this visual hint of wonderful, bright new things to come.


Oeufs Mimosas or Deviled Eggs

6 eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. mustard powder
1 tsp. white vinegar 

sea salt and white or pink ground pepper

In a saucepan, cover the eggs with fresh water and bring to a boil. As soon as the water comes to the boil, remove from heat and cover. Leave the eggs covered in the saucepan for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water and peel. 

Cut the eggs in half carefully. Put the yolks into a bowl, reserving half of one for later. This is what makes them look like mimosa flowers.

Combine the yolks and the mayonnaise (homemade if you're French), mustard, vinegar and salt and pepper with the tines of a fork.

Wipe out the whites with a paper towel to remove any residual moisture.

If you want to be fancy you can pipe the yolk mixture into the waiting whites or if you're like me and have greedy fingers waiting, simply fill them gently.

Chop the reserved half yolk finely into a small dice and crumble over the top of the filled eggs.

And as my Littlest says, 'Voila!'