#french-interiors

#french-interiors

Clare Vivier and Heather Taylor have perfected the art of hosting by dividing responsibilities, with Vivier focusing on wine and Taylor on flowers and dessert. Their friendship of 20 years has led to a seamless collaboration that enhances the dinner party experience.

The Louvre accumulated considerable delays in the deployment of its security equipment, in favour of an event-driven policy, a judgment Des Cars said was unfair.

The splendid art nouveau Les Brigittines is a Belgian culinary institution, where chef Dirk Myny has overseen the kitchen for 35 years. He daringly reinterprets classic Flemish recipes with dishes such as smoked eel mousse and succulent pork belly with a tart cherry ale vinaigrette.

In summer 1936, the French government passed a law that mandated paid holiday, a move that kickstarted the exodus of northerners to the Med every August, and it became a true emblem of the French vacances.

The Grand Pigalle Experimental hotel is situated in the heart of SoPi, with Montmartre and the Sacre Couer within walking distance, making it an ideal location for exploring Paris.

E-1027 is one of the most perfect examples of modernist architecture, with its hyper-functional design and nonexistent ornamentation, minimalist yet thoughtful and deeply attuned to its environment.

Each Philippe Starck-designed villa begins with a grounded base formed in stone to give weight to the lower levels and establish a tactile connection to the earth. Above, the architect designs lighter structures, where glass and slender framing open the interiors toward the horizon.

I like to create a small universe. From the master plan to the doorknobs, from the trees planted outside to the way people will sit and eat and dance inside, you create and control a whole microcosm.

When it comes to visiting France, Paris gets most of the attention, but don't overlook the country's gorgeous small towns. In these quaint destinations, many accessible by train, you can exchange the bustle of the city for wide-open beaches, mountain trails, medieval castles, and sprawling vineyards. From the French-German border to the Mediterranean coast to the mountainous intersection of France, Italy, and Switzerland, these small towns and villages (all home to less than 15,000 people) offer a slower pace and warm French hospitality.

In the UK and the US, it is often crystal clear when your new home is classified as a heritage home or period property, but in France it can be less obvious. You could be breaking the rules simply by installing new windows. So how can you check that your big plans aren't going to upset anyone - or worse, break the law?

Traveling to different home trade shows is a big part of my job, and sometimes it's hard for me to fully turn my editor brain off after a day of scouting new products and design trends. The fallout? I'm always looking at my surroundings and snapping photos of clever decorating ideas I see "in the wild." And what I mean by that, of course, is that every restaurant, museum, hotel, store, and so on has something to share.

There's something about trendspotting in France that just hits differently. Maybe it's the Haussmannian architecture, which provides such a charming backdrop that you almost don't even notice you're literally running from showroom to showroom. Or maybe it's the fact that some of the brands on display truly are new - and in some cases, not even available stateside yet. Whatever the reason, I look forward to Maison&Objet and Paris Déco Off, two furniture- and textile-forward events in Paris, each January.

When clutter piles up, closets burst at the seams, and cords snake all over your desk, your home can quickly look - and feel - messy. Or maybe it's your tired furniture or flooring that needs some TLC. The good news is that you don't have to spend a ton on a renovation to fix these problem; in fact, sometimes the solution is surprisingly easy and affordable. And that's where this list comes in, with simple upgrades that help you take control of the things that are making your home look cheap.

Some of my best discoveries, turns out, were found in the most typical of hardware and sundries stores. When it comes to cleaning, the French aren't wielding harsh chemicals or power tools, but rather, sticking to what's worked for generations. Among us at Remodelista, there's at least one tool or product we've each co-opted into our own American homes. Here are our favorites.