Jan De Luz

Jan De Luz was born in the Basque region of France.  He started as a cabinet maker and then turned to creating beautiful Basque fabrics.  This man does it all and his eye to detail is beyond perfection.  Jan has brought the French touch to America!  Here you will be able to see his beautiful import business located on the central coast of California.

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

Here he his making traditional Basque fabrics.

via The French Touch

This door was once used for a sandwich shop in Bordeaux France.  The writing on the door says: cup of coffee, and glass of local wine.  It serves as a divider between the living room and the kitchen.

via The French Touch

I love this fresh kitchen and its open shelves.  Open shelves are my favorite, closed stagnant shelving have tendencies to consume kitchens, making them feel smaller.  

Basque farm kitchens always used charming open shelving due to practicality.

The Iron fireback is the perfect back drop for the La Cornue; the black grounds the room perfectly.

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

I cannot tell you how much I love these vintage Louis fireplaces.  Jan De Luz carries a large selection on his website here.

via The French Touch

These are 12-foot pillars dating around 180 years old.  They give such a beautiful strong presence for the entrance of the home.  I can't get over the pumpkins and corn stalks next to the vintage pillars, one of my favorite pics of all time!

via The French Touch

I had to add this picture of this gorgeous Louis XIII mantel, which was crafted from tight, fine-grained limestone from eastern France near Dijon.  On top sits a rattan basket that is carried on one's back when harvesting.

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

This home with its gorgeous matching gate and balconies in French blue adds the perfect detailed touch to this home, and you can't forget the entry walk way done in Burgundy stone... it's all in the details!!!

via The French Touch

via The French Touch

These are my favorite fountains, they remind me of Provence!

via The French Touch

This is the perfect set-up for this fountain; surrounded by boxwood and lavender it creates the perfect focal point for the entry of this home.

Typically these octangular fountains were used to allow animals a place to drink and villagers a place to draw water.

via The French Touch

This home is the perfect example of the keen eye of Jan De Luz.   This is the most beautiful home I have ever seen!!!  The carved entrance and beams are the perfect example of exceptional craftsmanship!  This home exemplifies perfection and quality from every angle.

via The French Touch

Have you EVER seen windows like these?  To top it off, this home is located by the sea... DANG!

The wrapped stone, and strong iron strap hinges - I have never seen such craftsmanship! 

 via The French Touch

Look at the roof structure... Jan explains,  "These amazing roof entanglements are typically Norman-style architecture.  Complex is not always complicated,  It can be simply lovely."

I know that this sounds silly, but that eyebrow window with that slate makes me want to cry!  The power of beautiful architecture!

via The French Touch

One last picture of gorgeousness...

I highly recommend getting the book The French Touch

It will make you happy!

Jan, thank you for enlightening us with such beautiful elements and ideas from France!  You're AMAZING!!

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Timeless Living

Timeless Living is another favorite inspirational book.  They have compiled pictures of some of the most inspirational homes in the past ten years.  

These rooms are soft, simple and timeless.

via Timeless Living

Here is a design created by one of my favorite designers/antique-dealers Axel Vervoordt. 

The room was painted with lime paints in order to achieve the perfect aged effect.

via Timeless Living

I love the furniture in this room, it's perfect next to the more heavy drapery.

via Timeless living

via Timeless Living

Once again the walls were painted with lime, applied with a brush to give is some texture.  The floor is sandstone from France which goes perfect with the soft colour palette.  The light fixtures are perfection, they add the perfect touch of detail to this room.

via Timeless Living

via Timeless Living

The combination of the old reclaimed wood floor and the contemporary elements create so much interest... one of my favorites!

via Timeless Living

... such a perfect summer sitting room

Via Timeless Living

Stunning!!!

via Timeless Living

Antique-dealers Michel and Christine Ceuterick restored this entrance hall which was once an old brewery.

via Timeless Living

This kitchen carries the feel of the Flemish design, minimalist style and authentic materials.

via Timeless Living

I love the warm minimalist atmosphere of these kitchens.  The gorgeous Aga and La Cornue range stand out as the main focal points in both rooms... they're the perfect furniture pieces in a kitchen!

Have a wonderful week!!

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Darryl Carter

Darryl Carter is another favorite designer of mine, his taste is perfection is every way.  Darryl seamlessly mixes modern with classical elements, creating individual comfort and timeless elegance. 

via The New Traditional

via The New Traditional

I love how he has used this gateleg library table... it can be used as a reading table or for dining.

via The New Tradition

Darryl is able to find pieces that serve as multiple functional designs.

via The New Traditional

Nothing I love more than vintage Louis... and that former worktable serving as a decorative sideboard is perfection!!!

via The New Traditional

I can't get enough of these gateleg tables, they add the perfect touch of vintage.

via The New Traditional

The landscape painting and that lamp coupled with white walls is so dreamy.  You can never go wrong with white, it serves as the perfect envelope.

via The New Traditional

... once again the white walls and painted white floors are the perfect backdrop for this room.

White makes everything POP!

via The New Traditional

via The New Traditional

I love how Darryl left the old leather chair in its worn look.

via The New Traditional

Loving the period mantel in a black stain, It creates the perfect focal point.

via The New Traditional

via The New Traditional

So simple, but so interesting... something as simple as two sconces and one great book can create so much interest.  I love the small details, it's what makes a room.

via The New Traditional

Darryl always uses the perfect aesthetics!

 via The New Traditional

Darryl created shelves that were fashioned after an Italian Etagere.

via The New Traditional

One of my favorite kitchens of all time!  The stacked wood adds so much texture to this room.

via The New Traditional

These light fixtures are incredible!!  They are former factory lights, suspended from metal utility pipes.  WOW!!

via The New Traditional

Can this guy think out of the box or what?  That mirror suspended between the two windows, the demilune console converted into a vanity, and that light fixture... eye candy!!!

Darryl you're my style guru!

The book The New Traditional is a for sure favorite!

Have a wonderful week!

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March is coming...

When March finally arrives, I'm relieved that the January and February months are finally behind me.  I love the seasons here in Utah, but after December I do not look forward to the long upcoming two months.

March gets my mind thinking of France and the essence of Provence.  I was looking at some gorgeous pictures of Provence in the book Provence Style of Living.  This is the one book that deepens my love for the region and today I wanted to share all its charm and beauty.

'On the way down to the village from my windmill, one passes by a mas, built close to the road, within a courtyard lined with nettle trees.  This is a real Provencal dwelling, with its red roof tiles, its broad, brown facade dotted with windows and, perched on the top, the weather vane of the graneary [...].'

-Aphonse Daudet

' In the middle of the square an old fountain spread its stomach.  [...] 

Four marble-cheeked cherubs with distended mouths blew pipes - but the water didn't flow.  Nevertheless, the fountain was full of clear water; its riches spilling over onto the paving stones.'

-Jean Giono

In the 18th century, master plumbers and hydraulic engineers designed complex underground water systems that allowed the water to flow to Provencal country estates, here creating this gorgeous pool.  The idea that the water in these pools come from natural springs sounds so refreshing.

My favorite style is that of the Provencal home.  The rooms, furniture, and fireplaces all have their own story.

' [...] these houses reveal harmonious stairways and rooms where the old Provencal way of life under its kings is almost intact.  And all that silence, those proportions, those handsome, hidden rooms, suited to a life of study, even idleness, should one choose it, exude order, the wisdom of lives in balance.'

-Andre Suares

' The big bare was waiting on an earthenware plate. 

[...] Honore had packed it with a stuffing in the style of his own region, doing something magical with fresh herbs from the garden and from the mountain.'

-Jean Giono

Maisons Cote Sud's Provence Style of Living is the perfect book to have in one's library!

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