Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2025 i My French Country Home

Dear Readers, The first whispers of summer in France are unmistakable — the scent of wisteria and sun-warmed stone, the rustle of market baskets being brushed off and the long and languid evenings stretching just a little later each day. A sense of adventure lingers in the air. Where will the season take us this year? For this issue, we set off in search of some sunshine and sea air with a Discovery Guide focused on Île de Ré and Île d’Oléron — two sandy islands located off France’s Atlantic coast, where the rhythm of the tides still dictates daily life. For our interior features, we start with an architect couple layering past and present in a forgotten 15th century farmhouse in the Luberon. Meanwhile, in Marseille, an artisan’s home…

* What’s new? Le Festival de l’Histoire d’Art Every June, the Festival of Art History transforms the Château de Fontainebleau into a hive of cultural activity, encompassing more than 250 conferences, exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and workshops dedicated to the visual arts. It’s a vibrant, enriching weekend for art lovers of all ages. June 6-8. www.festivaldelhistoiredelart.fr Guillaume Bresson Palais de Versailles A stunning collection of works by the contemporary figurative French painter Guillaume Bresson is on display at the Château de Versailles until May 25. His hyperrealist works addressing themes of history, religion and conflict engage in provocative dialogue with their opulent setting and juxtaposed against depictions of battle and colonial conquest.  www.chateauversailles.fr Return of the Paris Olympics Flame! By popular demand, the floating cauldron that became a poetic symbol…

Growing up in Paris, Géraldine watched her mother prepare warm, wholesome meals with fresh ingredients every evening, no matter how busy their family was. As she helped in the kitchen, her love for cooking blossomed, and she cultivated a true talent to transform simple ingredients into creative takes on classic homemade dishes. Though she pursued studies and a professional career, her passion for food never faded. As an adult, she noticed that her community lacked the kind of effortless, balanced meal inspiration her mother had provided. Determined to fill that gap, she turned to social media, sharing simple yet exquisite dishes in a fun and engaging way. Her Instagram following quickly grew, evolving into the widely beloved food blog, “La Cuisine de Géraldine.” Thanks to the overwhelming support of her…

The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is an annual music celebration held on June 21, the summer solstice of the northern hemisphere. The idea for the festival was initially conceived by American musician Joel Cohen in the 1970s, while he was working for a French radio station. He proposed an all-night music celebration to mark the long-awaited beginning of summer. The festival was then officially brought to fruition in Paris in 1982 by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, with the ministry’s director of music and dance, French composer Maurice Fleuret. Fleuret’s vision was to bring music out of the concert halls and onto the streets, making it accessible to everyone. He believed that music should be free and open to all, regardless of…

The Bear and the Paving Stone By Toshiyuki Horie - Pushkin Press This volume of three lyrical novellas by an award-winning Japanese writer is set in Normandy during WWII. Unfolding as dreamlike fables, each tale explores themes of memory, loss and a yearning for community, with reverent nods to Proust, Lafontaine and other giants of French literature. Translated from Japanese by Geraint Howells. Mary Cassatt Between Paris and New York By Ruth E. Iskin - University of California Press An insightful look at the life of the 19th century impressionist painter, this book explores Mary Cassatt’s groundbreaking contributions to American and European art. Iskin explains how the artist’s work both reflected and influenced the significant cultural and political shifts of her time, most notably the women’s suffrage movement. The Mysterious…

1 Early Flowers Linen Table Napkins $130  2 Un Esprit en Plus Six Zinc Place Markers $55 3 Antique Heart-Shaped Cheese Molds $65  4 Early Flower Linen Placemats $54 5 Ivy Linen Table Runner $69 6 French Antique Porcelain Pot $30  7 French Antique Copper Hearth Pot $330 8 Peugeot Bistrot Salt and Pepper Shakers $69 9 Rose Gift Set $145 To purchase visit: www.mfchboutique.com…

* Business Woman Her mother, an art historian specializing in sculpture, instilled in Agnes an early appreciation for artistic heritage. Some of her youngest memories are those of accompanying her parents on visits to churches and to the Château de Versailles, where, as a five-year-old, she helped clean stone statues with a toothbrush before they were photographed. This intimate connection with art opened her eyes to beauty and laid the foundation for a career dedicated to creativity and craftsmanship. After university, Agnes spent a decade working for La Gazette des Beaux-Arts, a prestigious French magazine, gaining valuable insight into the commercial side of the art world. But it was her entrepreneurial spirit that ultimately shaped her journey. She started her first business venture with her former husband, importing handmade notebooks…

Last summer I began my intensive spring cleaning. (Stay with me, I’ll explain.) My grand plan for this herculean endeavor was a decade in the making. Being a professional procrastinator and a Taurus who has difficulty with important life changes, I had to work through my self-imposed obstacles. Since a carpe diem moment was required, I used a major spring 2025 birthday as the impetus to strong-arm myself into finally relenting my hold on things I didn’t know I owned, hundreds of items I didn’t need or want, and decorating projects I’d been dreaming about for years. First I ordered an industrial-sized dumpster, the dimension of those normally seen on construction sites. For six weeks we filled the dumpster to overflowing and as each shelf, cupboard and closet became unencumbered,…

Tish Jett is an author, a journalist and a former editor at the International Herald Tribune and American ELLE. She pens our regular “Just Between Us” column. www.tishjett.com @tishjett Eric Sander is a French photographer. He shoots some of the country’s best-loved properties and gardens. He captured the images of the Château de Bagatelle and its stunning rose gardens near Paris.  www.ericsander.com @ericsanderphoto Teddy Verneuil is a French photographer known for his striking travel shots taken in France and abroad. He provided several of the photos for our guide to Île de Ré and Île d’Oléreon. www.lezbroz.com /@lezbroz Janne Ford is a photographer, stylist and floral designer based in England. For this issue, she created and photographed our stunning rose-forward bouquet. www.janneford.com @jannelford We are delighted to have the following…

A collector of dreams as much as objects, she sources her antiques across France and Italy, hunting for rare and extraordinary pieces that she often carefully restores before unveiling them in her shop. She describes herself using the world ensemblière (akin to a "set designer"), a term from another era that perfectly encapsulates her artistry in her profession. More than an antique vendor, Lila creates full sets of harmonious interior spaces that feel timeless, elegant and deeply personal. Unlike the fleeting trends that come and go, Lila stays true to her vision. Her passion extends beyond mere curation; it is scenography, an artful dance of color and texture, where deep reds meet the patina of aged bronze, and the grandeur of winter gardens unfolds within her carefully arranged vignettes. A love…

For everyone who had the privilege to witness it, the ritual lofting of La Vasque every evening of last summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, was an unforgettable experience. As dusk approached, Parisians and visitors would fan out across the city to find new and creative vantage points from which to capture this gilded balloon with its billowing light, posting their digital souvenirs to their social media pages. The millions of resulting homages quickly transformed this unique object into an extraordinary happening — a work of collective performance art in which anyone could participate. Designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, the cauldron featured a 7-meter (23-foot) wide aluminum ring suspended from a 30-meter (100-foot) tall helium-filled balloon made of metallic fabric, whose color and aspect would shift with the ever-changing evening light. Notably,…

1 Walnut Side Table $2,307 chezpluie.com  2 Handmade Daisy Wheel Plates $50 - $90 mfchboutique.com 3 Wyeth Raffia Straw Bucket Hat $68 anthropologie.com 4 Anduze Patina Vase $275 - $1,105 poterie.com 5 Trirocks Stainless Steel Decorative Lantern $25 amazon.com 6 Angel Cerdá Fabric Armchair 1,340 € shop.angelcerda.com 7 Handcrafted Arquette Pitcher $179 potterybarn.com 8 Fine Herb Linen Tablecloth $230 mfchboutique.com  9 Vintage Wooden straw Bench 180 € selency.fr…

The feeling upon entering this exceptional space — part gallery, showroom, workshop and museum — is difficult to describe. Guillaume Féau, director of this 150-year-old business, has grown accustomed to the astonished reactions of first-time visitors, who come to marvel at his breathtaking inventory of boiseries (wood panels). Yet he clearly takes pleasure in their delight, smiling with pride as they explore his treasure trove of architectural gems, which date from the 17th century to the 1960s. “It is my privilege to transmit our know-how and passion for these incredible décors with our clients,” who are principally architects and designers, Guillaume says. The 1,800 square meter (20,000 square foot) atelier, he quips, “is like a giant candy store for them.” Originally founded in 1875 by Charles Fournier — one of…

Shrimp Dumplings with Herbs Serves 6 Preparation: 20 min Cooking time: 10 min Ingredients: • 12 oz (350 g) peeled shrimp• 1 egg• 1 tbsp flour• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs• 1 small bunch of aromatic herbs (such as basil, coriander or parsley)• 1 small onion, halved and quartered• 1 whole clove of garlic• 1 pinch of cumin• 4 grinds of fresh pepper• Olive oil For the sauce:• 3 tbsp soy sauce• Juice of one lime• A few stalks of chopped coriander or chives• Freshly ground pepper Preparation: Wash and spin-dry the herbs. Peel the onion and garlic. Combine the shrimp, egg, flour, breadcrumbs, crushed herbs, pepper, cumin, onion and garlic in a food processor and purée just enough to retain a bit of texture. If the consistency of the paste is…

Yet, despite this global recognition, it wasn’t until this year — her 30th anniversary as a professional artist — that her work was finally shown in a Parisian gallery. From June 26 to July 12, her paintings are on display at the Galerie Cyril Guernieri, a well-deserved homecoming for an artist whose work so often celebrates the City of Light. Fabienne’s world is one of nostalgia and romance. She has a remarkable ability to take contemporary scenes and transport them back in time, evoking the charm and elegance of the Belle Époque. Her paintings are luminous, filled with an atmosphere of joy and serenity, offering a window into a gentler, more refined era. She finds inspiration across the country — from Provence to the rolling hills of the French countryside.…

Born in the Vaucluse, Magali has always felt a profound connection to Provence, its landscapes and its artisanal heritage. After several years in Grenoble, where she worked in marketing for the snow sports industry, she longed to return to the warmth of France’s “second city” in the south. Her move eventually led her to launch a real estate startup in Marseille, which flourished for a decade before she felt the pull of a more personal venture. That vision materialized as Enamoura, a lifestyle brand specializing in handcrafted lighting, infused with the traditions and craftsmanship of the south of France. “The name comes from enamourado, which means ‘lover’ in Provençal dialect,” she explains. More recently, she expanded the concept to include a collection of three guest houses, each celebrating timeless design…

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