The French have a way about them, don't they? An irritating ability to always look chic and put together without looking like they tried at all. I've found over the years that this chic-ness applies to their homes as well. The top 5 tips for achieving French understated chic at home:
1. Keep it simple. Don't over complicate your home. Think French: the classic white tee, a pair a jeans and some ballet flats. Perfectly chic. Apply this to your home. In each room, simplify, take something out, give what's there some room to breathe. This might mean simple white plates for entertaining or a classic sofa with one or 2 interesting cushions that have a great story behind them.
[image from marie claire maison]
2. Something Old, Something New. A lot of French homes have heirlooms. Families pass down great desks, incredible chaise's and fabulous old paintings. These are mixed in with something new from Ikea or some super modern glossy white coffee table they got from Muji. The French aren't afraid to have something look old and a little beat up. They don't automatically refinish and 'fix' old pieces. They allow it to be what it is.
3. Big Table. There must be a big table for dinner parties, for projects, for tea, for laying your books out onto and taking a sunday afternoon to flip through your favorite inspiration. Every French home I've ever been in has one. This is the center of the home. It doesn't have to be fancy, just big enough to fit everyone. Bonus points for mixmatched chairs around it.
[image from Paris Daily]
4. Architectural Details. One advantage of having an apartment in Paris is the likely probability that you'll have some awesome architectural details. If you aren't lucky enough to live in Paris, you can fake the details. This helps with the keeping it simple since there is still visual interest in the details even if the whole room is white.
5a. Confidence. As with how the French present themselves, this is perhaps the most important element in pulling off a space. Don't apologize, point out what you're still working on, what went wrong, how shabby something is, how you don't like the paint color, or anything else you want to blurt out as some kind of caveat before your guest judges you. No matter what things look like, work it. This is your home today, be proud and secure. It has pieces of you, things no one else would have thought of, it has love and family, it is what it is. Don't apologize.
5b. Irreverence: Think Philippe Starck. If he can make stylish people buy silly Garden Gnomes, you can have fun with whatever you've got going on. Think of how little a French waiter cares if you have a problem with a dish. It's not their problem, they're living their life, you're living yours, if you have a problem, that's life. You're making a home, if others don't like it, that's their problem. Again, just keep it simple and work it, and have fun.
