A Paper Series Post 

Summer is flying by! Before it slips away, I created a bulletin board for coastal decor inspiration with a French Country twist. France has miles and miles of coastline from the far north Normandy region down to the southern Riviera making French Country Coastal an authentic phrase for French decor ... and for style of living. 

La Mer (the sea) offers sights, sounds, and feelings with countless images to conjure fun-filled hours of a day, a week, or a whole summer. Cool blue and white color schemes echo water, skies, sea creatures, and coastal architecture. 

Only recently, I saw a blend of simple coastal decor and traditional French Country decor that makes a perfect pairing.

French Architecture | Doors

Summertime and my thoughts are filled with traveling to France. Alas, no travel for me this summer, so I am taking a virtual tour to France by rereading older blog posts about previous trips to France. French architecture, including doors and doorways from Paris to ancient smaller cities across France, always captures my attention. And, I have written several blog posts focused solely on my love for French doors. 

 

So my virtual French tour via older blog posts begins with rereading Amour de Porte française (French Door Love). 

The Dordogne region of France is filled with castles, ancient cities, prehistoric caves, and lush countryside with incredible historic architecture. Two towers flank a large doorway entrance into the Medieval city of Domme, certainly a door worthy to make my list of French doors to love.  

French Country Winter Paperwhites

Paperwhites brighten winter days whether inside or outside. A large French Country pedestal urn filled with artificial paperwhites is perfect to transition inside from winter to spring.

The arrangement on the vintage pine table actually began as part of the Christmas decor last December. A large glass plate sits inside the urn and provides a flat surface on which the artificial paperwhite blooming bulbs stand. A fresh boxwood wreath is just the right size needed for adding greenery around the rim of the urn. 

French Country Christmas Tabletop Tree

Tabletop Christmas trees have become some of my favorite trees, especially when they have French Country flair.  This year the main tree in the house is a tabletop tree in a metal champagne pedestal urn. Cannot get a tree container any more French than that! 

The tree sits in the living room atop the blanket box that serves as a coffee table. Not that I ever serve coffee from the blanket box/table. Coffee Table is a description that doesn't really describe the small tables in front of sofas in this time period. In my house. 

French Country Christmas Guest Bath

Often the French Country style guest bathroom in my house is one of the first rooms decorated for Christmas each year. A small room needs only a few additions to change everyday decor to holiday decor. 

and... 

Voilà 

Christmas magically appears! 

Well, not magically... it does take a little effort... but the results bring such a magical feeling. 

Smiles and dancing eyes beholding beautiful sights. 

Add a fresh evergreen wreath, a vase filled with flowers, a set of Christmas-y towels, and a seasonal print on the wall, and the guest bathroom is ready for the holidays.   

Here's how my French Country bathroom is decorated for Christmas.