Product Description

8 1/2 X 10 In, 160 Pp, 125 Color Photos. Provencal Interiors: Inspired by the sun-drenched colors of southern France, french country, or provencal, decorating is the epitome of understated luxury, as fitting in the city and suburbs as in rural reaches. No matter that it's roots are firmly planted in the small stone farmhouse, or mas, the typical dwelling in the provencal region. It is eqaully appealing in a remote chateau as in a stately manor house, or bastide. The most inviting homes exude comfort,tradition, and grace. Most people, though, say it is charm that best characterizes the french interior. Through stunning photographs, informative text, and an extensive resource list, provincal interiors detail everything necessary for creating this harmonious mingling in america.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122550 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780879058487
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap
Inspired by the sun-drenched colors of southern France, French country design is the epitome of understated luxury, as fitting in the city and suburbs as in rural reaches. No matter that its roots are firmly planted in the small stone farmhouse, or mas, the typical dwelling in the Provence region, it is equallya ppealing in a remote chateau as in a stately manor house, or bastide. The most inviting homes exude comfort, tradition, and grace. Most people, though, say it is charm that best characterizes the French interior.

Whatever the case, French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns--an artistice blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication. Spaces flow, layouts function, and a passion for finishing touches abounds.

About the Author
Betty Lou Phillips is the author of Gibbs Smith, Publisher's incredibly successful line of French style and design books, including the award-winning Villa Decor, as well as Unmistakably French, French Influences, French by Design, and Provencal Interiors: French Country Style in America. She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction

Wouldn't it be wonderful simply to close one's eyes, make a wish, and unlock the door to a charming French home, a home that reflects tastes, interests, and lifestyle? It could be a place where the family traditions that bind us can grow where memories last forever or a place that is comfortable without being complex and functional without being fussy. Put another way, it would be grand to own a haven of serenity that echoes the ambiance of France and captures the style of its people.

Customer Reviews

For Americans creating French style, who can't go to France
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here?

This book provides a great solution. American houses are DIFFERENT than European, and what's sold in furniture and decorating supply shops is different, too. "Provencal Interiors" shows you how to get that effect with things you can get here. THAT'S great. If it isn't authentic, that's ok. If you don't have unlimited funds for a decorator to buy worldwide to create "real" Provencal, this book works really well. Maybe better.

The pictures give good examples of Provencal style rooms, and there are lists of suppliers that are helpful. The color schemes are perhaps the most useful part. Another useful thing are the fabrics and how to mix them. I myself have problems figuring that out; this helps.

Usable ideas for home building and interior design
I have spent hours upon hours thumbing through design books at local warehouse bookstores, and have found "Provincal Interiors" to be the most comprehensive one for interior design and building ideas. I have, literally, copied pages to show my architect and am using over eight of the rooms, or exterior shots in my new home. I have just ordered the other book on Amazon by Betty Lou Phillips, and hope it is as useful.

I highly recommend this book for those who are looking for ideas in the French style.

Just What the Doctor Ordered
My wife and I are in the process of building a French Chateaux house and need all the design ideas and suggestions we could find. Betty Lou's book was a "God sent". Her selection of featured photographs are incredible with lots of variety in colors, fabrics, moldings, and furnishings. (We actually copied several elements from her book in our home's design.) We also found the book an invaluable resource for showing a contractor ideas of what we wanted in terms of trim, cabinetry, paint colors, etc., etc.

The best compliment I can give this book is that its pages are showing wear.