It is raining and 62 degrees outside though it feels like 56. There’s no denying the season’s change where I live as autumn arrives with its fair share of dramatic precipitation. The cozy colors of October are just around the corner and will warm us to the core. But today we’ll peek at various cozy South of France palette options and Provence beauty. Escape to comforting serenity and rustic elegance in this virtual visit.
South of France Palette & Provence Beauty
Even the simplest reminders from a virtual escape to France can add romance to the everyday in fall…in this case, the soft glow of candlelight (from real candles or bulbs).
Jamie Beck & The Flowers of Provence
photos: by Jamie Beck – courtesy of Simon Element
If her photography thrills you, you can collect it with new offerings here to support an artist who found “priceless peace” blooming in the French countryside.
Her book THE FLOWERS OF PROVENCE (Simon Element, 2023) allows you to be transported to quietude. American fine art photographer, Jamie Beck began to preserve flowers and captures them in romantic still lifes and landscapes.
Provence Photography
When I asked Jamie about her reverence for the unforever nature of what blooms now and will soon fade, she told me:
“In the end, nothing can stop the flowers in spring from blooming nor inhibit my curiosity to capture life through a photographic lens. It’s all in the way one chooses to see. The paradox of creating a photograph is that I am immortalizing a moment forever and maybe that’s what also allows me to take it fully in the moment and then release it after the click of a shutter.“
Jamie loves to work alone in quietude so she can hear guidance from the creativity flowing within.
She is preserving a moment, a special light, a feeling and mood that will never come again.
“People here say ‘On a le temps…’ or ‘we have the time…‘ Nothing is rushed. It’s human and natural.” – JAMIE BECK
“You embrace age and celebrate it because it’s natural. That’s one of the greatest lessons Provence has given me; what is natural is most beautiful.” -JAMIE BECK
An American In Provence
An American in Provence (Simon Element, 2022) is also by Jamie Beck and contains captivating commentary, South of France lifestyle, and of course, breathtaking photography.
I find this title an invitation to companion with the artist. Want to tag along in the light of the French countryside?
An American in Provence is uncommonly luminous and soulful. What a treat to see inside the place she calls home!
Jamie draws from a well of generosity, wholeheartedness, and hospitality as she weaves together stories, art, and natural Provence wonder.
Thank goodness this artist awakened to the beauty of self-portraiture so her glow (above) may be immortalized.
This book touches on topics dear to so many of us. What is the nature of beauty, and how does it heal us? Upon reading it, you may begin to see your own surroundings through a fresh lens as I did.
Colors of Provence in My Own Home
Whether we’re discussing the artist’s journey or the spiritual journey, it’s always about seeing.
Bonnieux Villa in Provence
Property: Your Haven In’s Bonnieux Villa in Provence
What a lovely getaway in the French countryside!
This vacation home in the South of France was thoughtfully restored in 2011 and boasts inspiring design elements inside and out.
Do you love the gentle contrast of coolness from stone and greige walls with the warmth of coppery toned flooring and honey-hued wood doors?
There’s a simplicity that feels effortless and not at all contrived. Perhaps that is why it is so challenging to re-create. Not that you can’t capture an enchanting look no matter where you call home. Just wait until you see a tiny California apartment on the water with timeless style:
Let’s tour more of this gorgeous Provence escape.
Old World Interiors With Modern Amenities
Here’s a bath that blends old and new without glaring references to a particular era.
Timeless interiors are a touchstone for this blog, yet there are endless ways to interpret timelessness. Color, texture, scale, and layering options are practically infinite. (Notice all of the sources of texture in this very tranquil living area below!)
Pared down simplicity and an emphasis on natural materials and finishes that age gracefully are key.
Modern French Interiors
Good luck trying to emulate the authentic cozy masterpiece that is this renovated rustic French kitchen!
Modernized with all of the amenities, it retains its historic charm and rugged presence in the villa.
Terracotta tile flooring, tumbled stone walls, white oak cabinetry, and a luxurious range combine beautifully without feeling disjointed.
More than anything else, the landscape and nature inspire and inform every decorating decision inside.
Pure and simple, effortless elegance takes time.
Harmonious Interiors & Exteriors
For more South of France beauty, see this property offered by Haven In as well:
LA VIE EST BELLE
Peek inside the lovely La Vie Est Belle by Henrietta Heald (photos from the book: ©Ryland Peters & Small) as we revisit inspiration for living with elegant simplicity.
It’s such a lovely escape of a book should you have a morning or afternoon to sip, read, and live SLOW.
Slower is good for health and wellth, doncha know.
Country French Soothing Colors
The third chapter of LA VIE EST BELLE highlights Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine. We’re treated to an exploration of charming color palettes as well as a discussion of natural light across various regions of France.
Even a simple striped dishtowel in your own kitchen can reflect French style if you too admire the look.
French Farmhouse Transformation
In a French farmhouse on a rocky ledge between Mougins and Grasse, a 1950’s home looks two hundred years older thanks to its innovative owners (the Schouten family).
Heald writes,
“The original exterior walls, dating from the 1950s, were made thicker and faced in local stone to give them a rugged appearance. Reclaimed shutters, painted soft sage green, open to reveal a gently arched doorway.”
Oh, my! Do you love the interesting cabinetry details? Isn’t it encouraging that renovations can be so successful that they will fool anyone!?!
Restored French Chateau
A favorite chateau tour in the book ushers us into the rustic elegance of Chateau Gignac, a home in the Luberon restored by the Jouberts.
In the double-height entrance hall of this restored home (below), is a very sparely furnished space. There’s a masterful mix of greys in an upper hall of the chateau that you may find impossibly tranquil.
Grey and white marble tiled flooring, various shades of grey on the walls, and creamy plaster mouldings work magic in their harmony.
These images from Chateau Gignac aren’t from the book – but do consider their beauty since you can stay here as a guest!
South of France Garden Inspiration
Regarding this charming sanctuary of a peaceful garden spot at a home in a hamlet south of the Seine valley, author Henrietta Heald writes:
“Secluded corners designed for relaxing are a feature of the garden. Here the decorative approach is simplicity itself; a small circular metal table, geraniums in a Versailles planter and wire birdcages adorning the walls.”
When the author turns her attention to the island Île de Ré, off the West Coast of France, I thought immediately of Vivi et Margot’s Charlotte Reiss who lived in this region. Her former French farmhouse kitchen (below) near Bordeaux is a study in elegant artful French living!
While a trip to France to score antiques and authentic finds is ideal, fortunately sources such as Vivi et Margot exist for French homewares and French inspired finds to discover online.
Sometimes you can even score surprisingly lovely French country finds in unexpected places (such as my very own Amazon storefront RIGHT HERE).
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Provence & Chateau Gignac
Resources: Decorate and Furnish Interiors With French Style
I have an enduring mad crush on this bench:
It’s easy to imagine planning a breakfast nook or casual dining room around these cute Louis style chairs:
Here’s a counter stool that could infuse elegance into any number of kitchens!
This curvy piece could be stunning in the right foyer, dressing area or bedroom:
Pale Paint Colors for Country French Palettes
Learning a Modern French Look
You may recognize my style as relaxed and highly intuitive. I simply don’t have time for too many design rules or fuss. A mix of high, low, castoffs, vintage, antiques and new play nice together within a pale palette.
Louis style dining chairs work well in a variety of settings. In our former dining room, they worked with the slope arm slipcovered chairs.
They look just as natural and classic at the new house.
Were I in the market for a new farm table, here’s a contender:
This one is simple and relatively inexpensive:
Louis Style Counter Stools
While I still love my French country counter stools, they have taken a beating from decades of use. I’ll show you our new ones soon.
Thanks for escaping with me!
p.s.
Also in Heald’s wonderful book? The French artist Claire Basler’s South of France home. Familiar with her work?
The artist truly knows her way around elegant artful French living!
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
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