Parisian Style
… but we don’t shy away from color, either. When using color, the French usually embrace bold, vibrant hues that will make a statement. However, we keep it simple by using no more than two colors (or several colors of the same family) in a room.Because our homes tend to be small, we often use color as a way to maximize our space: to define zones in a small one-room apartment or to reduce clutter and create harmony. This photo is a great example: The same paint has been applied to the wall and wall cabinetry. As a result, the joinery blends into the wall and delivers a more minimalist result.
Myth 4: It’s traditional and ordered. If you think opulent decor, large pieces of furniture, clean, straight lines, perfect symmetry, spotless finishes and a tidy household are all typically French, you probably haven’t visited many French homes. In Paris, the average-sized apartment for a family of four is around 645 square feet (60 square meters). As a result, most rooms are multifunctional and we use compact, if not foldable or stackable, furniture where possible. Living in old buildings means accepting their flaws and quirks, such as worn-out floors or walls with patches of plaster missing. In fact, we often refer to something (or someone!) who’s imperfect as charming. Spotting bargains at a flea market or secondhand store is a national sport, often contributing to a busy, mix-and-match, effortless look.
The collection of dining room chairs was a happy accident. “I couldn’t decide on a black chair, so I brought home several to try and intended to pick just one style,” Chamard says. “But my husband and I decided we loved them all, so we kept them.” The couple, who continue the coach house’s entertaining tradition, like to guess which guests will chose which chair. “It’s interesting. Women always pick the comfortable ones; men always go for the angular seats,” Chamard says.Left to right: Panton chair, Verner Panton; Chair One by Konstantin Grcic, Magis; Masters Chair, Kartell; Victoria Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck, Kartell
“In Paris we decorate rooms the way a bride gets ready for her wedding,” Chamard says. “We use something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” If you define “borrowed” as something salvaged or vintage, Chamard is carrying on the French tradition in his living room. A vintage light fixture hangs above a pair of classic modernist chairs and a blue sofa. The fireplace surround was installed by the party-loving dentist.Egg chairs: Arne Jacobsen; sofa: Ploum, Ligne Roset
7. Cookware on display. In a restaurant kitchen, pots, pans and dishes have to be close and easy to grab. Stock open shelving with simple, brasserie-style dishware (plain white or with a colored rim) and store cookware on a wall- or ceiling-mounted pot rack (bonus points if your pans are well-worn copper and steel).
8. Chalkboards. What's a bistro without the menu of the day scrawled in chalk? Even if you use your chalkboard for grocery lists and household reminders rather than for announcing soupe à l'oignon and charcuterie, you'll get the same effect. Stick with tradition and hang a framed chalkboard on the wall, or cover a refrigerator panel with chalkboard paint as these owners did.
9. Zinc countertops. A zinc bar top is a quintessential part of a French bistro, so much so that "zinc" is actually a slang term for these eateries. While you probably don't have a bar next to your breakfast table, you can get the same look with zinc countertops, which are becoming more and more popular (and thus more widely available). Tell us: What do you love about bistro style? Share your thoughts in the Comments!
The onetime Tassel House in Brussels, now the Mexican Embassy (not shown), is a stunning example of art nouveau design by architect Victor Horta. He used sweeping curves, metal and the then-new electric light. Horta said of his designs, "I discard the flower and the leaf, but I keep the stalk." This stairway in Louisville, Kentucky, replicates the long, fluid lines of the era perfectly.
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