THIS WEEK'S Two Lovely Things features the front door curtain, something we've been coming across quite a bit recently, especially in English countryside décor. There are many reasons why one might hang an entrance curtain over their front door: as a beautiful way to frame the doorway, but also as a chic solution for reducing heat loss at home, as a heavy fabric curtain can help prevent cold air from passing through a draughty entranceway.
A FEW MONTHS ago I turned a tall shelf on its side to use a console, leaving the now vertical shelf spaces below for storage. It looked good on top, but the spaces below looked cluttered, so I thought about getting a curtain made to hide everything. I was thinking about how, in European kitchens, the lower cupboards are often covered using curtains instead of cupboards, and always liked the idea for its versatility: just change up the fabric from a stripe to a floral for an entirely new look, or swap linen for silk to go from casual to formal ...
TUCKED AWAY on the Côte d'Azur (the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France) lies Château Saint-Victor-la-Coste, one of the most idyllic places to while the hours. A vacation complex comprised of three cottages and one suite (in a 16th century castle), all available for rent, the Château is situated in the old village of St Victor la Coste (an equal distance between Avignon in Provence and the market town of Uzes in Languedoc) where you will find a boulangerie and épicerie
WE RECENTLY discovered London-based interior design firm Salvesen Graham on Instagram, and immediately fell for their quintessentially British style. Founded by Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen in 2013, the duo focuses on creating Future Heritage interiors with a sensitivity to historical and traditional interior schemes.
The Château de Versailles, the royal residence where Marie Antoinette lived, was once a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623. His son, Louis XIV, extended and transformed it when he installed the Court and government there in 1682, creating a magnificent palace that is now renowned throughout the world. Over the course of more than 100 years, a succession of kings—including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI—continued to embellish the palace up until the French Revolution. Now considered one of the finest achievements of French 17th century art, the Palace of Versailles remains a cultural symbol of royal splendour that has been listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years.
FELL DOWN a beautiful internet rabbit whole on my way to this place, the French country home of Cordelia de Castellane, the artistic director of Dior Maison and Baby Dior. Located an hour north of Paris, the five-acre estate dates back to the 15th century. de Castellane and her husband used to rent a small cottage on these grounds from the family friends who owned the property, long before it became their very own.
We happened upon the lovely home office of Atlanta-based blogger Kristin Jackson quite by accident, and immediately fell in love with all of the wonderful details in the room: the architectural elements and lucite, the skirted table and leopard print. But by far our favourite part was what we thought were wood built-in shelving that turned out to be freestanding bourbon cabinets.
WHEN PETER COPPING stepped down as creative director at Oscar de la Renta four years ago, he began spending more time at La Carlière, the 15th-century manor house he and his French husband Rambert Rigaud bought 12 years ago. Located in the Normandy countryside just two hours from Paris, the home was once a weekend escape from the city ...
HAPPENED UPON THIS wonderfully elegant home in Lattingtown, New York by Ferguson & Shamamian Architects while searching for fitness studio décor for an upcoming project. I, of course, immediately fell for its decidedly elegant vibe of chintz and chandeliers and Venetian glass mirrors, balloon curtains and sweeping staircase, wall sconces and walk-in dressing rooms.
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER of time before we happened upon Julia Amory's Hamptons home in all its chintz-y splendour. Amory, her husband and their daughter split their time between New York City and the Hamptons, and it is this, their summer home, that we are in love with. Decidedly grandmillennial in style, it's a little new traditional with a healthy dose of grandma chic thrown in for good measure. 
Carlos Garcia Interiors was started twelve years ago by Carlos Sánchez-García to exhibit his passion for architecture, furniture design, textiles and antiques. His quintessentially English manor farmhouse in North Norfolk that he shares with his husband and two whippets is another one of our recent Instagram finds and another example of our enduring love for countryside and farmhouse style ...