A Designer's Charming Home

While doing a little research on interiors the other night, I happened upon this charming home owned by interior designer, Wendy Valliere.

After years of producing wonderful interiors for her clients, and never having done a red kitchen, she decided it was time to do one for herself when she settled down in a small Vermont town.

Looking at her home, red is obviously a favorite color of hers, as it is tastefully interspersed throughout.  The red kitchen is a knockout, the red guest room is an absolute charm and where would the black and white master bedroom and bath be without those perfectly placed splashes of red?

I was thrilled to find the whole home that went with those gorgeous quilt top window treatments in the guest room, as I had used that exact image a while back in a post on "Decorating with Quilts".  And that swan bed is to die for!

Hope you enjoy this home as much as I did.  To see more, check out New England Home magazine.

Enjoy!

All images via New England Home magazine

Quilt Comfort

What could be more comforting than a warm quilt during these long, cold days of winter? 

Except for Image 2, all of these quilts have shades of pink and red - two of the warmest colors in the palette! 

In any color, though, a quilt often offers more than just comfort - if vintage, they could very well be a treasure inherited through the family, perhaps lovingly quilted by a mother, aunt or grandmother which also offers memories of another time and place.

Sometimes, quilts are used for decorative purposes only and hung on walls or draped across furniture and used for furniture upholstery, for effect. 

Whether used for comfort, color, effect or as a collection, a quilt in any room adds a certain sense of charm and hominess!

Tomorrow, I will offer ways of decorating with quilts!

Enjoy!

Click on each image for larger detail

Image 1 Veranda, Image 2 100 Ideas, Images 3 & 5 Bedroom & Bath

Image 4 (Betsy Speert) & 7 Traditional Home, Image 6 Better Homes & Gardens

Image 8 BHG, Image 9 Bedroom and Bath

Chaises for Comfort

Images 1 & 7 House Beautiful

Image 4 Elle Decor, Image 5 Weheartit

Images 2 & 6 Traditional Home



French Country Decorating

I have often been asked what the difference is between English country and French country decorating and other than colors, not a whole lot really.

When considering French country decor, think about the colors of the south of France.....the sun drenched lavender fields, sunflower gold, terracottas, deep reds and cerulean blue skies.  And therein lies the French country color palette.

As far as fabrics go, toile is probably the most used in French decor, mixed with ikats, ginghams and stripes......as opposed to the floral chintzes of English design.  I'm sure the color scheme of yellow, blue and white comes to mind often when thinking about French country, and while it is a popular color scheme, there are many others, as you can see in the rooms below.  French ceramics are very colorful and oftentimes, a home's palette will be taken from a homeowner's collection of ceramics or china.

Also, as in English design, homeowners love their animals, animal art, pastoral scenes and overall animal themes such as dogs, roosters and cattle.

As mentioned yesterday regarding English country design, French country also involves most of the same elements as mixing old with the new, light woods mixed with dark woods, natural materials for floors, wall and timbered ceilings......and surrounding oneself with the collections one loves......whether it's books, ceramics, animal themed pieces, pillows.......it all adds up to comfy, snug rooms that are warm and welcoming.

The foremost French country decorator in North America is a man by the name of Charles Faudree, who is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He is a French country afficionado and is the turn to guy for his expertise.....many of his accessories are authentic vintage items that he picks up on his regular shopping trips to France and he now has his own furniture line of French style bergere chairs and his own fabric line.

All of the rooms below are by Charles Faudree, the first five are from his weekend cottage, called "The Roost", and the rest are from permanent homes he has decorated......you will notice the difference between the cottage rooms and the traditional house interiors.  He has also published several books on the subject.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Notice the natural wood walls and ceiling, mix of beautiful fabrics - toiles, stripes and gingham, his quilt and his personal collection of books, ceramics - it reads French design in every way.

 Charles' beautiful blue and white ceramic collection and rooster in his cabin kitchen.

Again, beautiful mix of fabrics in blue and white and painted beamed ceiling.

Look how tiny and cosy this bathroom is and he has a vanity, a chest of drawers as well as a perfectly accented room with wall art and bath accessories conveniently placed.  Impeccable taste.

How much more inviting could this bed nook be for a guest?  Or a dog?

Another perfectly accessorized room with a tea table in front of the sofa.

This is the fireplace opposite the sofa above.  Dog art, ceramics, gilt frames.

An animal art filled foyer.

Rustic beamed ceiling and lots of animal art/ceramics.

Impeccable detail again - fabrics, books, collections and cosy furniture arrangements.

The wall opposite above sofa - stone fireplace, flowers, fabrics and animals.

Love this cosy little dining nook.

Love the sofa between the bookcases and again, the tea table instead of a lower coffee table.

All photos via Traditional Home