I am excited today because I am joining my friend and fellow Scoop co-host Anita Joyce on her blog book tour! I have long followed Anita’s blog Cedar Hill Farmhouse and always felt a connection to her through her love of French style. And now Anita is the author of a beautiful new design book French Accents: Farmhouse French Style for Today's Home, outlining everything you need to know…quite literally!…for creating her rustic yet elegant style. If you have ever contemplated adding farmhouse French style to your home but didn’t know where to start, this is the book for you! (All photos are the property of Anita Joyce and Cedar Hill Farmhouse blog) Not only is the book filled with Anita’s beautiful photographs, but you will also find page after page of useful information…where to shop, how to paint and distress furniture, sewing your own slipcovers, decorating guidelines and a list of all of the elements that just say farmhouse French. It’s everything you need to know all in one place, including sources for furniture and décor! But perhaps my favorite thing about the book is Anita’s beautiful yet comfortable writing style. It’s as if you are having a cup of coffee with a friend while she is spilling all of her best decorating secrets! The book is so beautiful that you could put it on your coffee table…but it won’t stay there long! You will find yourself picking it up and referring to it over and over. I honestly have to say that I own lots of French design books, but I have never found one with as much useful and practical information as this one! And best of all…and you know I love this one…Anita shows you how to do it all without spending a fortune! Anita takes you room by room through the house with wonderful suggestions for mixing furniture pieces, fabrics and décor essentials to create her easy yet elegant style for a look that appears to have come together over time. I especially loved that she not only lists her suggestions, but also categorizes them by cost…what a great idea!…so that you can begin your transformation without spending a lot of money! She even includes a section on creating lovely spaces for easy outdoor living and family meals outdoors. I particularly loved this section since it reminded me of happy hours spent lingering over dinner at a big table in the garden with my friends in France. And finally, her advice really struck a chord with me…an understanding that decorating your home in a style that makes you happy and makes your guests feel welcome is important. It affects the quality of your life. It’s something that evolves over time and does not need to be rushed. In short, it’s a feeling that makes you glad to come home! Be sure to continue Anita’s French Accents blog tour with my fellow bloggers! You can purchase French Accents: Farmhouse French Style for Today's Home through all major book sellers and in Anita’s online shop HERE. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way. Also find me at… Enter your email to have Plate Addict's blog posts delivered Delivered by FeedBurner