INSPIRED LIVING
Many of us have been inspired by the recent beautiful images of the buildings in Paris, which may have prompted your own desire to visit, but it’s not just Paris that can fire our imagination.
Every country, including our own, has the most beautiful architecture and its own style of interior design; all it needs is a little focus, and taking the opportunity to observe the beauty that surrounds us. Restaurants, historic buildings, unique shops housing unusual collections, markets, hotels, or homes that we might stay in, are all are wonderful sources of inspiration.
For many of us after a busy day, our homes are our sanctuary and a place where we can recreate elements of what we love about the beautiful homes that we admire. or the countries and places that we visit.
We may not be able to choose where we live, or afford our perfect home, but within our own four walls we can create a little bit of magic to remind us of the special places we have visited, or our longer term ambition of where we would really like to live.
Interior design can do so much to elevate our spaces, from beautiful fabrics, wall tiles, wallpaper, art works, glassware to accessories, every item can evoke a memory. These transformations can also be very affordable, our televisions and other media are full of creative and enterprising people repurposing furniture and other items. Equally you can find original pieces by visiting vintage shops, antique markets, or auctions,
You may also want to start a collection of beautiful objects, searching for treasures that can become a lifetime’s passion. Above all don’t be afraid to display them, recognising viewing beautiful things can be a beacon of hope and inspiration. (You may need to take extra precautions to keep these treasures safe from young children or pets, but older children can learn wonderful lessons from treasured items and it may inspire them to start their own collections)
Throughout this site we have reviewed some beautiful books about a French way of living, here are links to some of our favourites:
But perhaps one of our all time favourites is:
MAISON: PARISIAN CHIC AT HOME – INES DE LA FRESSANGE AND MARIN MONTAGUT
We absolutely adore the style and approach of this utterly charming book. Packed full with page after page of glorious imagery, it is an absolutely wonderful stylish collection.
The book starts with Ines and Marin describing each other’s homes, highlighting the little intimate touches that make their homes totally unique to them.
We are then taken into the homes of other Parisians who have, as Ines and Marin describe:
‘Put their heart and soul into expressing their world and embellishing the details of everyday life – and they divulged their secrets to us along the way. Their guiding principle is to combine everything: the new with the old, the sophisticated with the antiquated, the luxurious with the simple. Furniture can be stripped, distressed or restored – as long as the result exudes charm’
And this charm underpins the whole book, each Parisian home is shared through inspirational ideas, exquisite watercolour illustrations from Marin, mood boards, including ‘Get the Look’ and stunning photography.
The authors have beautifully captured the essence of each home, taking the smallest of details and sharing the inspiration behind it:
And this is what inspired living really means, finding the most exquisitely beautiful items, treasuring them and recognising that from the smallest of beginnings you can start to create your own beautiful heirloom home!
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