DreamWorld: Les Bleuets

The design notes I took home from the South of France.

DreamWorld is an If Walls Could Talk series in which, from the confines of my 500 sq foot studio apartment, I dissect my dream interiors and share lessons from the beautiful spaces I’ve had the privilege of gathering design notes from. 

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I was lucky enough to visit the South of France for the first time this June. It was as beautiful as everyone said it would be, and I was surprised to note the beloved “French style” was more prevalent in the homes and restaurants than in the beholder’s outfits. Please enjoy the free guide to French living and the link to our stylish bed & breakfast:

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Sterling Silver Accents:

Toilet roll goals

Down to our host’s Hermes necklace, the finish of choice in Antibes was a shiny sterling silver. We saw it everywhere- place settings, trash bins, wine buckets, toilet paper stands, cup holders, etc. etc. etc. It made me fonder of my own chrome-tubed sofa I found on Urban Outfitters a few years ago (pictured below), and certainly inspired me to add more silver accents into my style (looking at you, Elsa Peretti and AnanasAnanas). Here are a few fun pieces I’ve been eyeing (more at this link):

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Wicker:

Wicker’s rigidity can make it hard to incorporate into outfits unless you’re ok with stiff bags, but I appreciated the home accents we saw, whether it was a wicker basket next to the bed or as a tissue box cover. Speaking of bathrooms, Sara had the brilliant idea to stock toilet paper (unglamorous) in a long wicker basket (glamorous), see top right. One day!

My current wicker collection includes my bedside table lamp (see below, right), which my dear friend spotted at an antique shop in Vermont, and this Nest diffuser case. If I had the space to add more, I’d get these:

Wicker, rattan, caning, tomato, tomato

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Terra Cotta tiles:

This one is more of a commitment, but if you are lucky enough to work on a renovation project, may I suggest incorporating terra cotta tiles? Our host used them on her bathroom floors, and Cap D’Antibes Beach Hotel used them in the bar.

Here are a few low-commitment options for adding some earthy reds to your space:

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Les Bleuets, the perfect bed & breakfast:

I have a knack for finding gems of homestays, and Les Bleuets was no exception. The quaint French home, built by its chic owner, Pierron, 26 years ago, was the perfect spot for a three-night stay. We didn’t have our own kitchen or living room space, but what we lost in privacy, we gained in fabulous company. The sweetest Swedish mom and 9-year-old daughter stayed here at the same time in a room next to ours, and we got to know them over breakfast in the garden every morning.

If you stay, tell Pierron we say hi, and we’re still dreaming of our morning claufloutis.

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