Blog Description

A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

French Design on Friday 16

Saturday, May 6, 2017


~ G A R D E N ~ 
Furniture 
Chenonceau 

Sidewalk cafes, bistro chairs, and outdoor umbrellas all come to mind whenever I think about French meals because the French are renowned for dining outside. Last summer, we saw some beautiful French design garden/patio furniture at the Château Chenonceau when we had lunch at the gourmet restaurant, l'Orangerie, on the castle's grounds. 




french-style-patio-tables-chairs-at-chenonceau


Two unknown tourists were checking out the menu of the restaurant as I was checking out the patio furniture. Soft grey-bleu metal chairs with cushioned seats and an X-design on the chair arms and backs are simple in design, but elegant. 

I had already checked the menu online and made reservations at the restaurant months before we left for France. That gave me more time to admire and to photograph the beautiful setting once we arrived. 




french-style-patio-tables-chairs-at-chenonceau
Small medallions adorn the intersection of the metal Xs. Wouldn't you love to have a dining set like this in your back yard? I know I would. 

French design is my favorite style, and traveling to France is such an inspiring adventure. I love looking at the photos from France to study them for all the details of French style. 




french-style-patio-furniture-at-chenonceau
At the opposite end of the patio is a shady seating area with a long outdoor bench with the same design of the dining chairs. 




french-style-tower-chenonceau
The ordinary-looking patio and restaurant are in the shadow of the castle towers of what once were the Royal Stables. Another reason traveling to France is an inspiring adventure... seeing beautiful buildings with elaborate details spark my imagination.  



Back home this spring, I found similar patio furniture at Home Depot. If you are looking for affordable French-style furniture for your home's outdoor spaces, take a look at these. 

I do not have an affiliation with Home Depot, but maybe I should talk with them about creating one. :) Who knew that Home Depot would be a source for French design? 


french-style-patio-chair-home-depot
The metal frames would be super easy to paint any color. Of course, I would choose the same soft grey-bleu of the furniture at Chenonceau. 




french-style-patio-coffee-table-home-depot





french-style-patio-furniture-home-depot
The back of the double bench behind the cushions is the X-style shown in the chair that goes with this set. 

Don't be surprised if you see my existing metal patio table and chairs painted in the grey-bleu color of the Chenonceau garden furniture. 


Come back each Friday for more snapshots of French architecture, houses, textiles, metal work, food, woodwork, landscapes... and discover inspiration for creating your very own 

French-inspired garden and home.