Welcome to my tour stop for French Accents by Anita Joyce! This book was so much fun! Check out all the info, my full review, and the giveaway below...
French Accents
Farmhouse French Style for Today's Home
by Anita Joyce
by Anita Joyce
Nonfiction, Interior Design
Hardcover & ebook, 256 Pages
September 8th 2015 by Cedar Fort, Inc.
Hardcover & ebook, 256 Pages
September 8th 2015 by Cedar Fort, Inc.
Summary
There’s nothing better than a little “joie de vivre” to brighten up your decor! Filled with gorgeous photography and an abundance of helpful design ideas, this book is guaranteed to bring the cozy comfort of classic French style into your home. Learn how to create an inviting look that will welcome friends and family and help you show off your own creative taste.
This beautiful book includes ideas for the beginner or the experienced interior designer who has a love for French or Country French design.
Joyce walks her readers through the process of analyzing a room prior to redecorating and then gives pointers for success, whether you intend to redecorate all at once or just by baby steps with one basket or lamp at a time. She includes tips and tricks for knowing where to shop for authentic French antiques, how to get the best deals at auctions, and how to re-purpose your existing decor to give it a “French” look.
Helpful tutorials for creating your own paint finishes and sewing slipcovers are included as well. You’ll also get the grand tour with photos of home interiors that use some of her techniques, including some that have “bent the rules” to bring in just enough rustic, chippy, casual French design to make the home livable and loveable.
You can also purchase a signed copy at the designer's shop, along with other items, here.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
French Accents was a book full of colorful, inspiring pictures, tips, plain inspiration, and great ideas for adding a little Farmhouse French to anyone's décor. The text was easily readable and understandable with plenty of examples. Sections included: how to tell what is French, guidelines, a Farmhouse French list, where to shop, finding objects and collecting, antique furniture, painting and distressing furniture, slipcovering a dining room chair, fun projects, tablescapes, the kitchen, dining spaces, the living room, bathrooms and other utilitarian rooms, bedrooms, outdoor living, before and after, putting it all together. There is so much information, extremely helpful information, and ideas that it is a great resource for adding flare and personality to any home. It could easily inspire changes in every room as well as plenty of DIY projects. This is one interior design book that is well worth keeping on your shelves and using regularly for home design and improvement.
As I read through the book, there were so many ideas that it inspired me for ways to change some things in my house. I've been wanting to update my kitchen for some time, so I thought I'd tackle that, at least planning a design using inspiration from French Accents.
Here's what my kitchen looks like, roughly:
#1: We currently have these dirty, yucky, ugly miniblinds in the dining area and further down on the same wall in the family room. They've been through several renters. After seeing some window coverings in the book and looking on Pinterest, I thought updating those with some DIY roman shades would work really well, especially if I used Grain Sack Burlap or other similar material.
#2: The clock. It's there. It works. It's plain with no personality. It's also too matchy to the furniture and cupboards (although slightly lighter). I'd love to update it to something more colorful (yellow maybe) or rustic.
#3: The table. Again, everything is pretty much the same color of light wood. I've been debating refinishing the table in white. I found a tutorial using milk paint. I'm just trying to decide if it would look okay to have a white table with no other white furniture or if I should do some other refinishing as well. Or if it's better if I just leave the table as is. I've found several things to liven the table up and add some color and personality. Those items are:
#10: On top of my buffet I have a box that has begun to break that we use for mail and such. A big basket would be a perfect replacement.
#11: To add some personality to the space on top of the buffet a rustic French pitcher would be a great addition.
You can check out all the items (as well as others) on my French Accents Pinterest Page here.
Source: I would like to thank Cedar Fort for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
As I read through the book, there were so many ideas that it inspired me for ways to change some things in my house. I've been wanting to update my kitchen for some time, so I thought I'd tackle that, at least planning a design using inspiration from French Accents.
Here's what my kitchen looks like, roughly:
Here's what I'd love to add:
#2: The clock. It's there. It works. It's plain with no personality. It's also too matchy to the furniture and cupboards (although slightly lighter). I'd love to update it to something more colorful (yellow maybe) or rustic.
#3: The table. Again, everything is pretty much the same color of light wood. I've been debating refinishing the table in white. I found a tutorial using milk paint. I'm just trying to decide if it would look okay to have a white table with no other white furniture or if I should do some other refinishing as well. Or if it's better if I just leave the table as is. I've found several things to liven the table up and add some color and personality. Those items are:
#4: Grain sack place-mats#9: Over my buffet is currently a whiteboard that I've used for teaching spelling and reading to my kids. We haven't used it in some time and it's time to come down. I'd love to made a chicken-wire frame for pictures and such to go in it's place. The space is perfect for it.
#5: Grain sack table runner
#6: A lovely French vase that goes with my kitchen colors of navy and bright yellow
#7: A navy French pitcher
#8: Burlap chargers
#10: On top of my buffet I have a box that has begun to break that we use for mail and such. A big basket would be a perfect replacement.
#11: To add some personality to the space on top of the buffet a rustic French pitcher would be a great addition.
You can check out all the items (as well as others) on my French Accents Pinterest Page here.
Source: I would like to thank Cedar Fort for my complimentary copy, which did not affect my review in any way.
About the Designer
French Accents by Anita Joyce ebook (provided by the publisher)
Open internationally
Ends September 22nd
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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