HOME IN PROVENCE, A

From furniture and frames to traditional fabrics and from ceramics and glassware to garden furniture, this new, compact edition of a best-selling classic describes how to create a home that is quintessentially Provencal. In this volume, we are shown the exteriors of some of the most beautiful houses in Provence, including French designer Edith Mezard's home and British designer Terence Conran's former French residence. Images of gold-hued walls, iron balustrades, leafy terraces, and painted shutters inspire in the reader's mind thoughts of balmy days in the Provencal sunshine. Aromatic lavender in terra-cotta pots and almond trees casting shade over cobbled courtyards evoke the magic of Provence-style living. From plain, rustic-style benches and beds to delicate walnut armchairs and elaborate dressers, all the painted and polished accoutrements of a Provencal home are featured. A section on ceramics and glassware explores the world of the Provencal potter and glassmaker: the materials they use, their techniques, and the distinctive styles of decoration are all described and illustrated in detail. And from tableware to what lies beneath, we trace the exotic history of Provencal textiles and explore a variety of traditional flower-print fabrics and intricate quilted and furnishing textiles. The final section of the book provides extensive source details for decorating the home in Provencal style.