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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

HOME & GARDEN

How to Pull off South of France Chic

Basic French

Basic French owner Carole Neiley's home in the French countryside, pictured below, is near Lyon, but nevertheless captures the spirit of the South of France. Here, a farmer in the town of Balmot, where the house is located.

Basic FrenchA country retreat in the South of France—think of a simple stone house covered in bougainvillea, set against a brilliant blue sky and surrounded by fields of fragrant lavender—may be out of reach to most, but that doesn’t mean the vibe isn’t easy to bring back home. The traditional aesthetic of towns in Mediterranean region of Provence and enchanting, neighboring historic towns like Uzès is a rustic, colorful style, with an eye towards the outdoors that, with a little luck, can be found on our shores. You just have to know where to look.

(left: Guest bedroom)

One great place to start is Carol Neiley’s website Basic French. The charming e-shop sells classic French lifestyle products that are hard to find stateside—everything from vintage-style enamel thermometers to colorful cotton foutas that can be used as table runners or picnic blankets. (New Yorkers can expect a brick-and-mortar shop sometime in the next year.) Neiley, an American expat who divides her time between the city of Lyon and a nearby country farmhouse with her two daughters, frequently heads south to take in the region’s charms—and has plenty of advice on how to recreate the vibe in your home's interior design.

Basic French
Balmont Cross; Sunset in Balmont
Basic French
The kitchen and bedroom in Neiley's home

Neiley says the people in the South start living life outdoors starting sometime in April and only come back inside in early November, which means there’s often a simple, porch-like feel to their surroundings. “People are indoors and outdoors at the same time, so the homes just open up and they really live in their gardens,” she explains.

Deck chairs are a perennial favorite, like those from Le Toiles du Soleil, a French company (now with an outpost in New York) known for its bright, striped fabrics. Other furnishings might include rustic wood pieces, and tables covered in Provencal tiles or with ornate iron legs and chairs to match. Neiley says the French also like to accent their spaces with colorful pillows, which may be used to line stone walls or any other space in need of some softness. “As soon as you start descending into the South, you start seeing this abundance of color,” says Neiley.

Basic French

Desk basket and mailbox

Basic French

Living room

Basic French

Kitchen


Since eating outside is de rigueur for as long as the weather holds out, the outdoor table is also a main focus. For a clean, unfussy look, the French might use white hemp tablecloths and matching white napkins; simple glazed pottery is the tableware of choice. During the warmer months, no meal is complete without a bottle of chilled rose or white wine, which is served in shorter, less-refined glasses than one would find in the north. There’s also plenty of pastis, the anise-flavored drink that’s often associated with the brand Ricard. Neiley says you’ll often spot the company’s retro pitchers and glasses in the local cafes.

Basic French

Items from Basic French: Enamel Thermometers

Basic French

 

Foutas; Chic Linen Dishtowels

Basic French

Eau Minerale Glasses; White glazed ceramic pitcher

Basic French

Le Petit Marseillais Hand Soap; Savonnerie de Bormes Bath Soaps


Because the countryside’s simple wonders—sunflowers, lavender, olives, clay, bees, cicadas—are in such abundance, they, too, are reflected in the local style. Sinks are often stocked with local lavender soaps like those from Le Petit Marseillais or Savonnerie de Bormes, and dinnerware is decorated with cicadas and bees (La Rochere makes charming glassware). All the products that stem from the olive tree—from olive oil to tapenade—grace the table at mealtimes. It’s an abundance of nature, all of the time.

For more ways to bring the sunny charm of the South of France to you, start with some of these French or French-inspired items we found on eBay, below.

 

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Comments

69ed951c-35fe-494d-9b7e-eb53280cfbf4 Tue, 8 Nov 2011 10:50:09 PST Tue, 8 Nov 2011 10:50:09 PST
Julie Mautner
comment-post

Hi Milena, Very nice story. I think you really captured the essence of the look down here in Provence! And it's great that you shared sources too. Julie from ProvencePost.com

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