Mystique in my French Attic

Before I begin this post let me thank everyone for your great comments/suggestions/advice 

on my last post "Is it Cozy or Cramped." 

So many amazing ideas. 

I wish you all could go to the cabin with me to help me move furniture!
Thanks so very much!

***

Now on to this week's post "Mystique in my French Attic."

As I sit at my desk in a room I've always thought of as my tiny French attic,
it's raining and snowing outside.
Skies are painted Paris gray and gold leaves are tumbling down the street. 

But I'm snug and warm in my office,
a place that makes me think of the romance and allure of Paris.
Shall we rendezvous in my French attic?

Here's a wide shot of this tiny attic space.
You'll notice I've painted the bistro chair at my desk French blue.

The desk was six different primary colors when I bought it at an antique store. 

Looks completely different all white and pulls the room's French decor together. 

I love the warmth of a small lamp on my desk.
The shade is punched with tiny pinpricks reminding me of a magical starry night in Paris.

Note the wicker stand next to the red leather chair (estate sale bargain). 

The top holds decorating magazines and the bottom shelf stores large books.

I like to drape monogrammed linens over the front.
Don't you wonder who they were lovingly created for?

I found this pretty curvy gate in a neighborhood alley 

and it was the perfect size to frame my wicker flower stand.
I can imagine it on an ivy-draped French patio
where women were wooed and men were charmed.

Behind the red chair you'll notice the tall chippy post we rescued from a construction dumpster.

It adds age and patina to that French attic mood.

Tying my white sheers in the middle lets in light

and makes me imagine stepping outside onto an iron balcony
overlooking the rooftops of Paris.

I moved my vintage typewriter to the shelves above my desk, making room for a classic telephone.

This red mid-century modern cart complements the Paris apartment mood
and holds this enchanting vintage telephone.
 I wish it still worked.  I have to admit I like playing with the rotary dial!

You can't really see the top shelf in this room but it's lined with old black and white hat boxes. 

I wonder why we stopped wearing hats.
I loved the mystery behind the netting held with a black velvet bow.

It's fun to watch 1940s black and white movies to see how things have changed. 

Women were always dressed so beautifully and men looked so dashing in their fedoras!

It won't be long til the street below is dressed in white, a film noir just outside my window. 

So where are all the men in fedoras?

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Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Designthusiasm,
21 Rosemary Lane, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

Romantic French Farmhouse

I usually think of farmhouse decor as simple, natural, warm and cozy. 

Nothing too fussy or too precious.
On the other hand, Romantic French style speaks a different language
of sparkling chandeliers, old silver teapots and fresh flowers.

So, is it possible to blend rustic farmhouse decor with romantic style
in your French Country home?
Kind of like Joanna Gaines meets Charles Faudree?

Why yes, indeedy!! It's definitely possible.
Just follow your heart. 

Actually, the two aren't all that different.
Romantic style captures that farmhouse spirit, then adds softness and a sense of the past.

Both use a light-colored palette for a fresh, soothing feeling.

Both incorporate natural elements such as garden hats, urns or birds' nests.

And both create a romantic mood with candles, mirrors and soft lighting. 

Architectural pieces such as carved corbels, fancy ironwork or crystal doorknobs
bring the romance of the past alive.






Comfortable upholstered furniture, whether new or gently worn, is a staple 

in both French Country and Romantic Farmhouse styles.
Little white dog is optional but adds a touch of sweetness!

And chippy painted wood furniture is at home with either style.
Add a Hollywood Regency candelabra to set a romantic mood. 

Simplicity in window treatments softens windows, adds warmth, and frames a pretty view. 

Treasured accessories, whether old books, well-loved ironstone or faded paintings, 

work in a simple farmhouse as well as in a newer home in the city.

Fresh flowers are always the language of romance.

Silver adds some romantic glam to a farmhouse look.

Vintage photographs tell a romantic story and add soul to a room.
I found this old class photo at an estate sale;
 it touched my heart when I saw someone had written the names of each child on the back.
Had to save it even though I didn't know anyone.

Outdoors, this simple fence and bench says Farmhouse but . . .

add a chippy watering can and some floppy flowers and our thoughts drift to romance.

I think what it comes down to is this . . . 

farmhouse and romantic styles are more of a feeling than a specific look.

And if you feel it, follow your heart. 

Your home will wrap you in its arms and love you back.

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Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Katherine's Corner, My Thrift Store Addiction, French Country Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique

French Country in the City

Yearning to go to France?
The breathtaking French architecture, street cafes, gardens, and markets?
Yeah, me too.

But guess what?
You don't have to travel to France to experience that French je ne sais quoi.
It's more accessible than you might think.

I set out on my bicycle, camera in hand, to see what I could find in the middle of Denver.
It had rained overnight and the air was fresh and cool.
By the time I was done with my ride, I could smell the fresh cafe' au lait and baguettes.

Here's a little sampling . . . 

Entryways with gorgeous French details, 

some with real gas lamps and winding walks.

Whether they're grand with a tower and a porte cochere . . . 

 or small and charming with an arched glass portico in a misty morning, 

their French roots are showing.

These beautiful balconies could be in France.  

Love the modified fleur-de -lis design on this one. 

Here's one more beauty with fancy wrought iron and blue shutters. 

Oh, wait! This one is in France. 

This amazing glass sculpture at a light rail stop in Denver could be in Paris.

To say nothing of the breathtaking gardens . . . 

or the tantalizing street markets.

Flowers at every corner remind me of Paris flower shops.

This little touch of France is right outside my own back door, my Cafe Bleu.
If you missed this post, you can read about it HERE.

And here's my Frenchy patio.
Want to read more. Click HERE.

So, look around your own neighborhood.
You might be surprised at the French touches here and there.
Now, let's have that cafe' au lait and baguette!

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Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
A Delightsome Life , Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Katherines Corner,
My Thrift Store Addiction, French Country Cottage

Touring a French Chateau

I can't think of too many things I enjoy more than traipsing through old houses --
marveling at the amazing craftsmanship,

feeling the soul of the house, and wondering about the people who've lived there before, 

so, when I had the opportunity to explore the best surviving example of 

French Renaissance Chateauesque-style architecture in Denver, I swooned.
Step into history at the Croke-Patterson Inn. 

Chateauesque refers to a French style of design characterized by 

steeply-pitched roofs, elaborate towers and spires. 

Designed by architect Isaac Hodgson in 1891, the Croke-Patterson mansion was based
on the 16th century Chateau Azay-le-Rideau in France's Loire Valley. 

Don't you just love the towers?

Inside, I was greeted warmly by the manager, Michelle, who was busy preparing breakfast 

for guests. She turned me loose to look around 

but not before I snapped her picture on the grand staircase. 

The 12,000 square foot chateau was originally owned by Thomas Croke,
an early irrigation developer.

The Croke-Patterson mansion is now a luxury inn complete with 

beamed ceilings, stained-glass and an attached carriage house. 

The three-story Patterson Inn has nine bedrooms, 

and a lovely dining room

where I drifted away in daydreams of a bygone era.

Here's the grand reception hall.

There's even a cozy pub-style room in the basement. 

 Over the years the chateau has been a dance hall, a boarding house, 

a radio station and an office complex. 

What I noticed most about the Inn now was the attention to details, lending it an authentic feel.

Rumor has it that the house was haunted. 

According to legend, Croke only entered the mansion once and was so shaken 

by whatever was there, he never returned.

He sold the house two years later to U.S. Senator Thomas Patterson 

who owned the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Times. 

Incidentally, the Patterson Inn is located at 11th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, 

just a couple of blocks from Molly Brown's Denver mansion. 

If you missed my post on the unsinkable Molly's house, you can read about it HERE. 

Oh, and by the way, no ghosts were encountered during my visit!

You can learn more about this luxury bed and breakfast at
www.pattersoninn.com.

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Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Peonies and Orange Blossoms,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage