Saturday, 9 May 2009

French Interiors, The Art of Elegance

is my read for this weekend.

Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery's,  opening lines are sentiments that I share,

"I have a passion for houses. I love the people who live in them and who devote themselves to them. I love the fact that all these people in their own ways have created works of art. I love the way they make their dreams come true, however challenging or ambitious they may be, devoting themselves to them with lavish attention, painstaking care and unstinting toil."

I can't wait to delve into her words and study the photographs taken by Christina Vervitsioti -Missoffe. With chapters such as A House in the Snow, A Romantic Dinner in Paris and The Land of the Fairies to entertain me, I think my weekend is starting to shape up well. I like to savour books and set them aside to enjoy when time is less pressing; I do the same with magazines and always have a stack of the latest to browse through on the weekend. I don't know if this 'saving up' of books and magazines is a 'leaving the best to last' mentality or a habit that provides a sense of security.

Whatever it is, French Interiors is the perfect one for this weekend and I am impatient to start turning the pages, xv.

49 comments:

  1. Oooohh, how I envy you right now!! Have fun this weekend and I think I'll order this book.....sorry, no...I'll go into a bookshop and buy the book myself...
    Again,...enjoy!! X,C

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  2. I think that is so wonderful: 'creating their own work of art' - yes! A home is a work of art. Enjoy the book this weekend!

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  3. This looks like a beautiful book to get lost in!! Just ordered 'My Amalfi Coast' and 'Italian Joy' to enjoy more of Coulson's photos. Can't wait for your new book! Happy May! -Julie

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  4. Nothing like a big, wonderful book to savour over the weekend. Have a most enjoyable time, Vicki.

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  5. This book looks interesting. I love books on French homes and interiors. I save up magazines to read when I have free time too.

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  6. Thanks for the recommendation but I still need to read yours first! My reading stack is forever growing faster than I can keep up but I do love having my own library ready at any time. A few months ago we finally put in bookcases (with a window seat) in my bedroom. It has be great to finally put the stacks on the shelves. Happy reading weekend!

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  7. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend a weekend....gorgeous book and the cover is beautiful. Enjoy the immersion.

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  8. Oh my, oh my! What a delicious looking book!!! Must see if I can find it, in my library system.

    As to your habit of saving up reading, for the more leisurely time of the weekends, no need to wonder what the motivation is. It's your way and the plan which works for you. That's all that matters.

    If only all of us, could learn to do/live at the pace and timing, which is best for each of us. Oh I think we'd all be so much more happy and relaxed.

    Oh I know, it's not always possible to set our own ways. Life has a way of intruding on our own ideas. But ~ when possible ~ I think it's lovely to try to be our own guide.

    Gentle hugs,
    'Aunt Amelia'
    Dear you,~
    Aunt Amelia's Attic

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  9. Have a fabulous weekend, dear!

    FM~FP

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  10. Hello Vicki,

    This type of book is great for dipping into whenever the time or one's mood is right. Have an enjoyable weekend.

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  11. Another book I want to add to my bookshelf. What evocative chapter headings! I love home interior books and magazines. Enjoy your weekend. Happy Mother's Day (Well here in Australia it is!) xx

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  12. Looks like a great addition on French design for my library, thanks Vicki... and thanks for dropping by my blogsite. Terri

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  13. Vicki - I think this book is going to be a great one - enjoy! Can't wait to get my copy, but unfortunately I don't think we have a local bookstore that will have it. Barnes & Noble or Borders might have to do.

    –Lana

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  14. Looks like a great book! I love looking at photos of inside other peoples homes and trying to create a story about their lives there.

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  15. I linked to your beautiful entry of today...

    'Aunt Amelia'

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  16. Have a wonderful Mother's Day week-end with great books, good movies and great company. I think that I will have to buy that book.

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  17. I love this quote, and I am going to show it to my husband! I have been searching for a home for two years, and he can't understand why I am being so picky. It is because I have a passion for homes! We may end up building so I can get exactly what I want...I am beginning to think that I would like a 'new old house' that looks old, but is actually new.

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  18. Total envy...you will share some of the finds? I could spend hours delving into the French mags or books for inspiration and classic style.

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  19. Remarkably well put opening lines ... . who wouldn't want to dive into this vision!?

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  20. i am running............not walking to find it .

    xx

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  21. The cover is definitely alluring! So i guess you'll spend quite an
    enjoyable time..

    I very much enjoyed reading your post below on book stores. It's true Internet is a tough competitor for the publishing sector but still, we need book stores, don't we and nothing can beat the pleasure of leafing through a book. Thanks for this post Vicki
    and yes, have a great week end, reading!

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  22. Sounds like my kind of weekend!
    Do you think it's too late to ask for this book for mother's day?

    xo
    Brooke

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  23. Enjoy! It looks like a delightful and inspiring read...how I miss the days of relaxing with a book. I am awaiting the delivery of YOUR book, and will make the time, with summer vacation around the corner(ordered from Amazon...I too have thought about the internet convenience vs. supporting our independent bookstores - a little more effort, but necessary. This Kindle etc. thing makes me so sad. Where has the romance of curling up to a great read, with the sensory experience gone? What does the future hold? I can't even imagine.)
    Passez une bonne week-end,
    Nathalie

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  24. Oh to get lost in this...I would love to curl up and study these pages with some hot tea~ A Perfect way to spend Mother's Day.. Quietly inspired...
    XO's

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  25. off the subject here, although the French Interiors looks delicious,
    We rented the Grocer's Son and just relaxed into the story. What a great movie. Favorite scene,rescuing the kittens. The tone of the movie was like an ombre dye, from dark to light. Thanks for the recommendation!
    Were the exteriors in Sault?
    Thanks, Vicki! xo Marigail

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  26. I do that saving up thing too! What is that about?! And this book looks perfect for saving till the absolute perfect time! "The House in Snow".....oh, I want to see that!! Enjoy!

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  27. Oh, let us know what you thought of it please. Sounds like you spent the weekend in a very enjoyable way.
    Clare x

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  28. Enjoy the book and a little R&R. Have a golden day.

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  29. I do the same thing! My husband thinks I am nuts because I get so excited for a release date or a magazine to arrive, but then I put them aside as I don't want to give them any less attention than they deserve!
    Enjoy!

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  30. Looks like a wonderful book to spend hours immersing myself in! Have a Happy Mother's day, Vicki, even if you celebrate another day in France.

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  31. Sounds lovely!!Hope your weekend is a good one, all the best, Chrissy

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  32. Wonderful to have such pleasurable reading to look forward to, Vicki. Have fun relaxing into your reads...and it is Mother's Day here in Puerto Rico...so many blessings to you on this day. <3

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  33. Hope you had a WONDERFUL mother's day Vicki!

    :)

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  34. Thanks Vicki...will look out for this one. Hope you had the best Mother's Day ♥x

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  35. this does look like a perfect book for a weekend and one to savour and not read through quickly. I love beautiful interiors, I like imagining what it would be like to live in them. thank you. polly x

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  36. Hi Vicki~

    I too share the same sentiments! Homes are what I am passionate about. I will keep a LOOK OUT for this book...thank you Vicki for sharing!

    ~Miss Kris~

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  37. Oh goodness! I just found your blog, and just LOVE IT! :) I'm a new reader to be sure!

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  38. Thanks for another book recommendation - this looks and sounds beautiful. Hope you enjoyed reading it over the weekend.

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  39. Catching up on beatiful pages is a weekend treat for sure... Hope you had enjoyed it!

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  40. That book looks heavenly. Hope you enjoyed it.

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  41. This is a beautiful book. Its almost-square-size makes it a pleasure to hold on my lap when reading. The photographs of these interiors are stunning; the book itself is a work of art.

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  42. I have not paid you a visit in far too long ... your Italian / French post was fascinating, and I can only imagine how wonderful your weekend read must have been.

    Enjoy your week .........

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  43. Oh do tell if it was as good as it sounds, because it sounds fabulous! She had me at the homes being living art!
    xo Isa

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  44. Vicki you are so right. We do devote ourselves to our home and create them into our own piece of art. Gosh your words are powerful. Love it!

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  45. I do the same thing with magazines. Leave them until the perfect moment and hope a bus doesn't hit me before I read it :)

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  46. Hi there Vicki! I totally understand your comments about savouring a book when you have some special 'me' time.
    I did just that on Mother's Day on Sunday when my kids gave me (after a few hints to their Dad!) your book.
    I'm really enjoying it and finding the set out and photography really inspiring as well as the story!

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  47. I want this book! Looks so pretty!

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  48. I tend to have several book on the go at once, chosen to span the breadth of mood.
    Trashy novel to switch off.
    Improving books to push the envelope.
    History books for brain food.
    Classics for pretence at erudtion.
    But a design book such as this is balm for soul and eyes.... ?

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