Pretty in Provence: Almond Green & Rose Pink

I have to confess I am just not an autumn colors girl. There, I said it. Black & orange, black & brown, burnt orange & brown, rust & olive. Not only do I have crunchy dark autumn to deal with, but now Halloween is upon us with its very restricted palette:)

Which brings me to this lovely respite at Campagne Francaise: could there be a lighter, lovelier, springier or more feminine interpretation of our beloved Provencal* style than this? Are you with me?

like a watercolor, this living room is ready for teatime

thanks to the Holy Trinity of Fabric Designers:

linen curtains: Pierre Frey , chairs in Manuel Canovas,

pillows: Designers' Guild

dining room bathed in sunlight; Pierre Frey linen at the windows,

table found at the flea market at l'Isle sur la Sorgue then covered

with a sheet of zinc (love it!!)

soft and intimate atmosphere created by grey tones with white

and brightened with raspberry. upholstery by Pacific Compagnie

a little theatrical vignette of a screen

and a lampshade which

evoke the spirit of Venice and the 18th C.

love this original fireplace from the 30's in chinoiserie style;

Japanese tea cloth on the wall, Asian lamps with lavender shades and raku,

and that black chair against the almond green..fabulous!

love this inviting sleeping alcove with headboard and

curtains in Manual Canovas fabrics

***

all these gorgeous photos by

Stephen Clement

* this beautiful home is on the

northern coast of France, in Honfleur

selected fabrics to love from

Pierre Frey Manuel Canovas

Designers' Guild

by Kit Golson

Chic Provence Design!

Teatime

Tea in the garden!

gorgeous vase from Moustiers in

the Vaucluse, Provence,

one of a pair my daughter found at a flea

market near St. Tropez

the madeleines and the Minton teacup

set on the French lace cloth in front

of the fountain

some of the old French lace tea cloths I've collected

hand washed and drying in the sun

(I'm channelling my "inner French grandmother"!)

also making an appearance: vintage Japanese teapot

and Art Nouveau silver Tiffany service

the mark on the bottom of

the Moustiers vase

although I don't see my mark on this

chart of the old authentic Provencal

pottery marks...do you?

peeking through the lavender at the

linens drying in the breezes

(ok, it's really sage...but looks a lot

like lavender!)

***

linking to Tablescapes Thursday at

Between Naps on the Porch!

***

Kit Golson

for Chic Provence Design

Les Couleurs du Soleil & Lavender Madeleines

If you've ever been to Provence, you will always remember the colors of the homes and buildings there. (If you haven't been, you must come with me!) Brilliant roses, pinks, ocres & coral facades complement the tile roofs. Millwork is painted in complementary colors of green, blue, aubergine, yellow and cream.

These are the colors of the Mediterranean coast. You might be surprised to find that the pigments are made from the earth in Provence. In the Vaucluse there is a wonderful place dedicated to the colors of Provence and how they are mined from the earth.

everyone's favorite: the Matisse Museum in Nice

the color is incredible, and the white trim is gorgeous

photo courtesy Matisse Museum

colors for the facade, the roof and the trim

of Provence houses

from Coté Sud 1999

hillside in the Vaucluse where the pigments for the

colors are mined

photo courtesy Mairie de Rousillon

the ochres and tawny shades of Provencal houses

a melange of windows, doors and shutters in all colors

of Provence

more of the hillsides in the Vaucluse

above images from Cahier de Provence, Cote Sud, 1999

***

it is easy to understand why Paul Cézanne loved Provence and its colors

self portrait, 1875

The House with Burst Walls, Cézanne, 1893

Jas de Bouffan, 1886, Cézanne

***

all these gorgeous colors brought to mind the

Provence Yellow stove from Lacanche,

which then reminded me of baking

Lavender Madeleines!

(recipe below)

lavender madeleines on vintage French cloth

and Minton tea cups

photo my iPhone

for 12 madeleines:

140 g of sugar

130 g of flour

2 egg yolks

3 whole eggs

pinch of salt

5 g yeast

100 g clarified butter

1 TBS olive oil of Haute Provence, fine and soft, with the

aroma of almonds and honey

1/2 TBS dried and chopped lavender buds

* begin by clarifying the butter: warm in a little pan,

removing the foam on the surface with a spoon

* mix the three whole eggs and the egg yolks, the sugar,

the flour, the salt and yeast together in a small bowl

*incorporate without beating the liquid butter, cooled,

the olive old and the lavender flowers

* pour batter into madeleine molds that are buttered and floured;

chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator; place in 180 degree Celsius oven for 15 minutes

* unmold the madeleines and let them cool on a rack

from “Les meilleures recettes de l’Huile d’Olive”

by Jacques Chibois and Olivier Baussan

***

for interior and event design call

Kit Golson Design for

Chic Provence

650-302-6883

{10*10*10}

If I were getting married this fall (I'm not!), I think it would be very cool to have chosen today..October 10, 2010 for my Big Day. How cool is that, and how easy will it be to remember your anniversary, say, 23 years from now..10*10*10 is a brilliant date for a wedding!

Last night at a rehearsal dinner for 175 at a winery in Sonoma County, the happiness in the air was palpable, and why not? such a joyful occasion in such a warm and elegant setting...pure magic. And the weather? A perfect autumn day.

a old wooden bowl with olive branches

a convivial autumnal gathering

wine glasses waiting to be filled!

the wood-fired pizza oven ready to make a

hundred pizzas!

the line up!

beautiful gurgling fountain as a background

to Frank Sinatra music playing

figs just ripe for picking

the children playing boules for hours!

the littlest petanque player likes to throw the ball!

les boules artfully arranged themselves!

apples the color of autumn

the winery fence with tops shaped like wine bottles!