French Country Style: A Look at Updated French Provincial Decor
In this post: If you love the look of French Country style, this gorgeous new coffee table book about updated French Provincial decor is just for you.⇒
Every now and then a dream lands in your lap.
Not that long ago I spent several hours in an upscale bookstore, searching for books that I wanted to display in my home. My requirements were simple. They needed to be beautiful, but they were not just ‘for show’.
The content was important and they had to resonate with my taste and interests.
I took hours going through the selections, moving stacks from one table to the next, and while I found a couple of options, I didn’t really find something to reflect my love for updated French Country style.
The books were heavy and I was exhausted, so I left unfulfilled.
French Country Style
Then last week, I received a little slice of heaven in the mail.
It was a brand new exquisite book that spoke my language and I’m delighted to share it with you here today.
The book is called PROVENCE STYLE: Decorating With French Country Flair, authored by Shauna Varvel, and it is magnificent in every way, from the stunning photography of the enchanting subject matter, to the gorgeous physical presence of the weighty book itself, published by Vendome Press.
This is a gem to grace any coffee table.
But especially mine.
Because the book is a celebration of modern French Country style.
Varvel opens the book with a tour of her Provençal home, Le Mas des Poiriers, a Rhône valley farmhouse that hails from the eighteenth century.
Working with local architect, Alexandre Lafourcade, Varvel retailored the home and property to echo her vision of contemporary Provençal style.
Gone are the days of rustic country, naif shabby chic florals and multi-hued vivid color.
Instead you’ll find a more sophisticated interpretation of Provence style that is no less authentic yet far more up-to-date.
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The result is an elegant and luxurious French farmhouse with expansive gardens designed by noted landscaper Dominique Lafourcade, who also happens to be the architect’s mother.
While much of the book details the meticulous transformation of her spectacular home, Varvel uses it only as a starting point, a prototype to illustrate the new direction in French Country style.
What follows throughout the book is a celebration of this refined and more nuanced iteration of the Provençal aesthetic, featuring interiors and architectural detailing by other well-known designers in the region.
Provence Style explores the various spaces in a home, gracefully highlighting what gives identity to each area, including color, texture, pattern and furnishings.
The imagery is stunning, with gorgeous photography by Luke White.
*All photos from the book are used here with permission. Photos by ©Luke White except the bathroom, above, ©Montse Garriga, Pascale and Olivier Gisclard. I was gifted this book but my love is genuine!
I speak often about indulging in life’s small pleasures and this wonderful new book is one such golden opportunity.
If you find yourself pining for a trip to the South of France or you simply want to immerse yourself in the new direction of modern French decor, treat yourself to this lovely new tome.
You won’t be disappointed!
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
Dining Room Decor
Decorative Decor
To purchase the book click HERE:
I have been searching for a large coffee table as was in the photo (blue). Do you have a resource?
Thanks,
Paula
Hi Paula! Do you mean one of the photos from the book? Perhaps the tufted blue ottoman? If that’s the one you mean, here are some options:
https://rstyle.me/+ZyLhYMK6law1bKV-4FG3tQ
https://rstyle.me/+F3j6sUb_WYIhNAP5oSm1sA (in the Navy, Performance Everydayvelvetâ„¢)
https://rstyle.me/+oAalmdBnwvP6mEcxRhDBog
Love the pops of color that are featured in the book. I am a little weary of all light neutrals, and am looking for ways to incorporate bits of color into my rooms!
I understand that. One of the best parts of neutrals is how easy it is to add color… 🙂