For centuries,
the French have been celebrated for
their "art de vivre," and French Style is a book that captures the charm, vitality, and elegance of the contemporary French life-style as it is reflected in that country's interiors.
City and country houses, apartments, lofts, ate-liers, and châteaus-all illustrated in 450 full-color photographs- demonstrate the range of French design tastes and many translatable decorating ideas. More than twenty-five homes are shown in detail in the first and second parts of the book; in the third, the functions and histories of the rooms are explored. Design styles range from the refined interpretations of French high-tech to the rusticated simplicity of the French country look.
Often, though, it is the intensely personal element, the unique combinations of furniture and objects, that triumphs-a very French characteristic, indeed The attention to detail-whether it be a bowl of fresh flowers, a delicate window treatment of white lace curtains, or a century-old collection of copper cookware reflects the profoundly French genius: the simple touches are perhaps most important of all. The French home, which may include Italian modern furniture, or American country quilts, is decidedly French-so distinctive and subtle is the Gallic flair.
Taken often in natural light and conceived with an artist's eye for composition, the photographs present a luminous vision of French interiors.
The preface, by Andrée Putman, and the fore-word, by Robert Rosenblum, place French design in context and add another dimension to our understanding of French culture. Suzanne Slesin's text describes the featured locations and explains the history and fine points of French style.
The dossier, a final section, provides a listing of U.S. sources for French and French-style antiques and contemporary furnishings.