My Life With Style

Ch창teau Style French Connections YOUR GUIDE TO INSPIRED LIVING

OCTOBER 2012

Letter From the Editor My first trip to Paris was on my honeymoon. My husband and I stayed in an apartment on Rue de Verneuil across the Seine from the Louvre in Arrondissement 6. The apartment was beautiful and owned by the friend of a friend. We were so fortunate. Almost everything we wanted to see while in Paris was within walking distance.

At sunset on our first night there we took a leisurely cruise on a mouche boat towards the Eiffel Tower. The lights of the city began to emerge and I understood for the first time why people fall in love with Paris. I, too, was smitten.

This summer Chris and I returned to France to celebrate five years of marriage. While we did stay in Paris a few nights (alas, our beloved honeymoon apartment was sold to designer Karl Lagerfeld) we spent time on the Normandy Coast and in Provence. My love for France deepened.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Severns Avery Design and Layout Hallie Davis

What I learned on this trip was to appreciate the “soul” of France. The French revere beauty in all forms. They savor their food, their wine, their history, their gardens, their relationships, and life itself.

Special Projects Manager Robert Sawyer How to contact us: My Life with Style Community Lifestyle Publishing 787 Kendall Court Lakewood, CO 80214 (303) 725-2301 Info@mylifewithstyle.com www.mylifewithstyle.com

I brought back some lovely souvenirs from my trip and beautiful photographs that you’ll see in this issue. But the best thing I brought home was a commitment to enjoy the beauty around me, to thoughtfully prepare food, to savor a good glass of wine, and spend unhurried time with friends.

Cover photo courtesy of Bruce Buck, Design by Lauren Ostrow Interior Design, Inc. Copyright ©2012 Community Lifestyle Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Unauthorized commercial use of this publication is strictly prohibited.

La vie est bonne!

Kathryn Severns Avery

Kathryn Severns Avery

What’s Inside . . .

Watch for glowing links as you flip through the pages and click for more info!

Fabulous Finds

4

French Connections

5

In Love with Lavender

6

French Gardens

8

Royal Inspiration

12

Château Style

14

French Country

22

Romantique

30

DIY Chic Masquerade

32

St eampunkBr as sGi ant BeeNeckl acef r om TheGol dBug$55

R

SeeSomet hi ng YouLi ke?

Cl i ckoni tt o Lear nMor e!

1920sFr enchBowl i ngSetf r om Res t or at i onHar dwar e$299

20x30Fr ench Count r yCow Phot obyLucy Snowe Phot ogr aphy $125

12x12Fr enchBul l dogRecor ds I l l us t r at i ononCanv asf r om St ephenFowl er$80

Fa b u l o u s Fi n ds

Fr enchWi r eHamper&Li nerf r om Pot t er yBar n$149

Thr eeFr enchHensBut t erDi s h f r om Pot t er yBar n$29.

50

French Connections Both Denver and Colorado have an abundance of French connections. Denver is the location of one of 12 French Consulates in the United States.

Colorado is one of 15 states with chapters of The French-American Chamber of Commerce.

Alliance Française, which encourages study of French language and culture, has a Denver chapter.

The metro area boasts more than a dozen French restaurants and several are owned by French ex-pats. French bakeries, including Pierre Michel Colorado’s only organic French bakery, abound.

While not entirely devoted to French cheeses, The Truffle Cheese Shop in Cherry Creek offers cheese tours in France.

Travel west to Palisade and you’ll find Maison la Belle Vie an authentic French-style vineyard and winery which boasts several award-winning vintages. Owner John Barbier grew up in the Loire Valley in France where his family had been making wine for the past 150 years.

Wine, Bread, & Cheese Maison la Belle Vie

The Truffle Cheese Shop

Pierre Michel

In Love

Lavender with

Lavender Shortbread 1 c. softened unsalted butter 1 c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 ½ cups flour ¼ tsp. salt 1 tsp. dried lavender* Fresh lavender blossoms for garnish* Waxed paper Mix together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and dried lavender. Add salt and flour and mix thoroughly. Roll dough into a cylinder. Wrap tightly with waxed paper and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Place ¼ inch dough slices on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake cookies at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom. Cool and garnish with fresh lavender blossoms. * Make sure to use pesticide-free lavender.

Lav•en•der /’lȃ ‘vən-dər/

(n. or adj.) purification, longevity, love, feminine, grace, chastity, gentle, delicate, wisdom, tranquil, elegant. nostaligia.

Color Inspiration

Color Palettes from design-seeds.com

click here for tips on growing your own perfect lavender in colorado!

Lavender Essence Lavender sachet pouches refresh dresser drawers.

Give your favorite massage oil a lift by adding drops of lavender oil.

Stop the sting of sunburn by adding lavender oil to aloe vera gel.

Place a cotton ball with a drop of lavender oil inside your pillow case to help you relax and fall asleep.

Create relaxing, aromatic, bath salts by mixing lavender oil with Epsom salt.

French Gardens

French flowers and gardens are among the most beautiful in the world. From the formal gardens at Versailles to the flowerpots adorning shutters in quaint villages, the French are fanatical about their flowers.

Photo by Dave Bovard

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

- Claude Monet

Flowers are a great source of pride in towns and villages throughout France.

The designation “Four Flowers” is the highest award in the national Towns and Villages in Bloom competition.

Winners proudly display the number of flowers awarded in this competition on their town or village signs.

Photo by Kathryn Severns Avery

Image and design by AHBL Landscape Group

This exquisite home features classic French details including functional shutters painted a traditional shade of blue.

An ornate washstand has been converted into an outdoor sink and has a complementary potting station.

Oversized planters add height to the display of plants and flowers.

Image and design

by AHBL Landscape Group

The pergola with graceful, arched, supports adds both beauty and shade.

Fall is the time to plant for spring!

Image and design by AHBL Landscape Group

Royal Inspiration

This bedroom, created for Marie Antoinette, shows the over-the-top opulence found throughout Château de Fontainebleau. The bed, made by SenÊ and Laurent, was never slept in by the ill-fated queen.

R Layers of intricate patterns and textures are almost dizzying to look at.

The exquisite benches and pillows are all handcrafted and took months to complete.

C

Photo Courtesy of Ron Rosenzweig Design by Jackie Armour, JMA Interior Decoration

Ch창teau Style RRR This beautiful bedroom uses layers of elegantly patterned fabrics to create an opulent feel.

An oversized tassel adds a luxurious touch to the lamp.

The wallpaper is similar to a pattern shown below found at Fontainebleau.

Photo Courtesy of Ron Rosenzweig Design by Jackie Armour, JMA Interior Decoration

This bright and cheerful living room mixes formal and informal elements in a way that is elegant yet inviting.

The diamond stitching in the couch fabric elevates the piece from ordinary to extraordinary.

The custom built-in cabinets create a beautiful focal point and place for displaying decorative objects.

R Traditional French country colors are stunningly regal in this study.

Cording in the seams highlights the graceful lines of the chairs.

Ornate crown mouldings and window casings add to the luxurious feel of this room.

The tufted ottoman is exquisitely crafted.

Photo Courtesy of Bruce Buck Design by Lauren Ostrow Interior Design, Inc.

French toile fabric and wallpaper adorns the bedroom and bathroom.

The arched headboard mimics arches framing the bathtub, built-in vanity, and sink.

An oval window above the vanity provides natural light essential for applying makeup.

Photos Courtesy of Ron Rosenzweig Design by Jackie Armour, JMA Interior Decoration

Photos Co Design by Jackie Armou

French Country

Layers of fabrics, patterns, colors, and accessories are hallmarks of French Country style.

This kitchen mixes casual and elegant elements to create an inviting and comfortable space.

A ceramic rooster adds a colorful accent to the island and is a popular French Country theme.

R

ourtesy of Ron Rosenzweig ur, JMA Interior Decoration

A charming painted dog house is both functional and decorative.

Fabric used on the chairs and window seat cushion is repeated in the window cornice.

Mirrored candle sconces repeat the rooster motif.

Floral, striped, and checked fabrics are artfully combined in this French Country living room.

The butterscotch-colored couches pull in the warm yellow tones found in the window treatments and wall color.

Charming blue and white skirted ottomans provide extra seating.

Photo Courtesy of Bruce Buck Design by Lauren Ostrow Interior Design, Inc.

Photos Courtesy of Ron Rosenzweig Design by Jackie Armour, JMA Interior Decoration

Artwork by Lowell Herrero

These rooms provide excellent examples of mixing traditional and modern styles.

In the living room, an upholstered plaid ottoman does double duty as a coffee table.

The floral fabric chairs repeat colors found in the wallpaper in the hallway and in the Oriental rug.

Solid color fabrics on the couches provide a contrast to the patterned elements in the room.

Dramatic patterns and colors create a stunning bedroom.

The black lamp, books, plate, picture, shell, and ginger jar perfectly accessorize the drum table night stand.

The gray plaid cushion on the headboard of the bed contrasts with, yet compliments, the formal wallpaper pattern.

Photo Courtesy of Restoration Hardware

Elegance Rustic

This French tower clock creates a fabulous focal point in a room decorated with a luxurious mix of modern and rustic styles.

The metal coffee table base mimics the base of the benches in Marie Antoinette’s bedroom.

It’s easy to envision curling up with a good book on this monochromatic couch.

Comfy cushions and a warm throw make it very inviting.

Romantique

No one does romance quite like the French. This bedroom is filled with romantic touches. Comfortable bedding, soft lighting, and artfully displayed decorative touches work together to create a perfect room for romance.

The living room (shown right) with soft yellow walls and furniture in shades of blue and white uses the traditional French Country palette. Armoires with French Provincial accents are great for storage.

Photos Courtesy of Cindy Kihn-Santiago

Chic

Masquerade DIY Mask with Printable Template

Project & Photos Courtesy of Sprinkles in Spring

Supplies

R You’ll need tulle, scissors, ribbon, black fabric paint, saran wrap, tape and CLICK HERE FOR THE MASK TEMPLATE.

Masquerade balls have been a French tradition for hundreds of years. Here is a DIY mask to make you the belle of your Halloween ball.

1

3 2

4

5 1. Print out the template and place on table. Then tape a piece of plastic wrap over it.

2. Cut out your tulle to at least 10�x5� and tape on top of plastic wrap.

3. Make sure everything is taped down securely and start tracing the black part of the template with fabric paint.

Happy Halloween!

4. Let it dry overnight. Gently peel tulle away from saran wrap.

5. Cut out around the mask, including eyeholes.

6. Cut two pieces of ribbon 20� each.

Spread a little fabric glue on the tips and attach them to the mask.

Let dry 1-2 hours.

6

Want More?

Click here to subscribe to My Life with Style

For more ideas, information, and inspiration, visit our website at www.mylifewithstyle.com