French country style - Provencal style
from the eye of a brocanteur
is about
Color, texture, home, hearth and nothing to fancy, everything about warmth.
It is about everyday things one use to use daily.
- Pottery -
in earth tones:
Green, yellow, rustic red, brown...
Antique Provencal textiles are mostly linen and cotton. Silk would be too precious.
Reds: As in monograms, single striped dish towels and checked table cloths.
Boutis: For a cold evening, and picnics under olive trees,
Jupon: Worn with pride instead of silk and lace,
Hemp: Practical and strong, sturdy elegance.
Provence was a life lived close to the soil and sea. It wasn't a city life, a simple life, but an equally beautiful one to any other area in France.
Salt of the earth:
Olive
almonds
goat cheese
tomato
thyme
with hints of
pastis
rouget
sardines
figs
and
honey.
Confit pots.
Plenty of them to collect and store lards and fats.
Green pottery is the most common, then yellow, then white and blue.
Not delicate.
Fine craftmenship nevertheless.
Herbs de Provence.
Thyme
Summer Savory
Lavender
Rosemary
Oregano
Basil
Sage.
Aioli
Garlic
olive oil
lemon juice
and egg yolk.
Recipe here:
Provencal style.
Colorful facades and shutters.
Zinc the precious metal.
Not gold, not silver, not anything that has to do with wealth.
The Provencal countryside is rugged, dry, pine and oak. It is about narrow roads that trail along the mountain to the sea. Provence style is living both indoor and outdoor all at once.
It is about time.
Slow time.
Lavender scent.
Hand made.
Provence style.
Must use colors of the landscape.
Provence style
Through the eyes and words of
Marcel Pagnol.
Or simply sit in a poppy field against a stone wall.
Provence style
Or subscribe to
Cote Sud.