I am so excited today to join a group of my fellow francophiles who not only love France and all things French, but live it, too, by decorating their homes in Country French style! And I think you will find a little different twist on the notion of “Country French” in each home. I hope I qualify. I am no expert. But I have lived in France…and I did live in the country! Yes…as you may know, I actually moved to France and lived there for a year. As a French teacher, I loved being a part of that lifestyle and being surrounded by the history and the language of the country that I love. But I was drawn back home by the birth of my first grandchild and the need to be near my family. So I made a decision…to create my own little corner of France in my home, inspired by this wonderful farmhouse in Provence where I spent some time. (You can get a closer look here.) So I would like to share a few tips that I used as my guidelines along the way. Choose colors that you love and can live with. I love the sunny colors of Provence…the yellow of the sunflowers and the blue of the sky that can be found so often in Provençal table linens. These are the colors that make me happy so I knew that I would use them wherever possible in my home. Add a rustic look by using wrought iron or aged and even rusting metals in your fixtures. I love this time-worn look…so comfortable and warm! You will find wrought iron in the chandelier and rooster sconces in my dining room… …and in my favorite rooster chandelier in the breakfast area. For me, it adds the simple, informal feel that I hope to convey in my home. Add lots of layers...especially on the table! If you are visiting in France and are lucky enough to be invited for dinner, you will always find a tablecloth and real cloth napkins on the table. And don’t be surprised to see a kitty or doggie under the table, even in restaurants! Don’t worry…they have good manners and will not beg. (Thank you, Baby Kitty, for playing the role of le chat français.) Collect authentic French items if you can. For me, it’s plates above all else...like my vintage Quimper ware collection. (You can see more here.) Plates play an important role in France since you will find yourself changing with each course…so it’s good to have lots of them on hand! In fact, living in France is what made me a plate addict. If you like, you can read that story here. French linens are another popular collectible...especially those that have been monogrammed. But if you can’t find authentic vintage frenchiness to collect, create your own…like my DIY faux monogrammed tea towels that started out life as 79 cent IKEA dish towels! You can see how I did it, plus find links to more of my DIY French linens here. Use Country French fabrics, such as ticking and toile, in your décor. In fact, I love toile so much that I have it in several places and in different colors in my home. You saw it in blue and white in my dining room drapes and, here, in black and white in my guest room. The French ticking pillows are decorated with transfers of authentic French Camembert labels. You can see how I made them here. Of course, there must be sunflowers and roosters…le coq gaulois…symbol of France! There is more toile…this time in a softer pink and green…in my master bedroom. You can get all the details here. Add French graphics and wording wherever you can. Having taught French for 34 years, I love to be surrounded by little bits of the language I love! Here, a rooster chalkboard to welcome my guests… …and here, a labeled canister set to bring an element of frenchiness into the kitchen. Also notice the French wire egg holder, similar to the one I saw in Monet’s kitchen in Giverny… …and little bits of French in unexpected places, like my vintage French silverware sleeves! You can get all the details and find out how to make your own here. And that includes artwork and posters…such as my favorite Steinlen poster in the Country French guest bath! Get a closer look at it here. And there you have it…my tips for adding that wonderful Country French feel to your home! It’s a warm and comfortable style that makes me happy…surrounded by my favorite things and the colors that I love! And best of all…I don’t have jet lag and can see my grandchildren any time I want! You can see even more ways to add that French feel to your home in my project gallery under the Frenchy Projects section here. Now I hope you will head on over to visit these wonderful blogs and discover their favorite ways to add that French feeling to their homes! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my favorite tips for adding Country French style! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants! Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party ,Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday, Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday See you next time! À la prochaine! Also find me at… Enter your email to have Plate Addict's blog posts delivered to your inbox Delivered by FeedBurner