The Couleurs of the Parisian Café

I look at a lot of blogs dedicated to the Francophile, for interior decor, fashion, paper art, jewelry and dolls. I see most of them love the pastels of Marie Antoinette or that Parisian "shabby romantique" look. All very lovely, but not always what I crave in terms of color, colors that evoke the warm fuzzies of Paris' eccentricity like the apartment and restaurant in the film Amelie. I want the colors that are like the sound of an accordion, the cool crisp breeze through a dank Parisian alley, the crisp wafts of silk taffeta curtains, the crumbling stone masonry, the wine stain on the white table cloth....

As a francophile myself, I feel like this feeling is left out, missing in the design world as of late. I get tired of pale pink and sky blue. I want cafe au lait and patisserie green, rain soaked pavement grey, bistro wood. I want colors that go with my deep wine red lipstick and black velvet jacket. Not the colors of Marie, the colors of Josephine and jazz. Not the colors of Louis, the colors of art nouveau and 1920's Coco Chanel.

A cafe at Place des Vosges in Paris

Parisian Café by Gaetano de Las Heras, 1903

Pumpkin Decor

Cinderella pumpkins. This would make a lovely table centerpiece, carve "give thanks" for a Thanksgiving theme, or " all hallow's eve" for a spooky halloween table. Photos from Better Homes and Gardens.

Creamy Lumina pumpkins used as vases for fall flora.

Ribbon flag place cards. I think I'll make some! Love how the plates look like they're in a nest.

Stenciled cutouts on small pumpkins set in an old candelabra. I adore this!

Everyone Needs a Tureen

It is said that the tureen was named after the French military hero the Vicompte de Turenne. Which makes it seem even fancier. Although probably rarely set on a modern day table, the tureen can be quite useful and make for a gorgeous setting. They're not just for display on our hutches and buffet tables folks! They do make your table look more formal, more significant. A nice histiry and explanation for the use of soup tureens is at Wikipedia.

Tureens for the Autumn table

Tureen used for a floral centerpiece. Photo from Country Living.

Still Life with a Soup Tureen by Guillaume Romain Fouace.

Chinoiserie Soup Tureen from Victor Hugo's Drawing Room. Photo by Liz Workman.

Brown, Blue and Pheasant Feathers

Pheasant Feather Thankflul Appetizer Picks. Also for canapés and hors d'oeuvres. Wonderful for a buffet style dinner. Amongst Lovely Things at Etsy.

Feathers and brown linen napkins, vintage blue hobnail glass, mother of pearl handled silverware. From Country Living. photo credit: Marcus Nilsson

Linden green and Brown toile plates from Rosanna, Inc.

Villeroy & Boch Boston Blue Crystal Goblets, Set of 4, at Amazon. 

Autumn Table with Pierre de Ronsard Roses

Creating an enchanting atmosphere with the last roses of the season, the beloved Pierre de Rosard rose, at the Jardin de Marandon.
Autumn foliage. Pumpkins and gourds.  Russet potatoes. Various long grasses, ans the petite fairy rose. See the complete article at Le Jardin de Marandon

Rustic Autumn Wedding Tables

Silver mercury glass vases from Pottery Barn.

Ashen grey. Creamy beeswax. Twigs and baubles. Rustic pinecones. From Once Wed.

Bird's nest centerpiece set on oakleaves and twigs. Photography by John Lew.

Table numbers. Chestnut brown paper on handmade paper with torn edges. Image from The Knot.

The most exquisite looking Chestnut Charlotte. From Le Journal de Femmes.

Ancient masonry. Creamy white. Brownstone napkins. An Armenian church in Marseilles, France. Le Figaro.

Are cupcakes still envogue? Perhaps they're on their way out. Although these tiers of chocolate leafy cupcakes look divine. Fairy Cakes Bakery.

Reception in a barn. Straw bouquets. Apples and pears. Woody browns.

Cider service table. Rough woods. Apple piles. Stone. Cinnamon sticks. From Brides Magazine.

For the Love of Pumpkin

Healthy pumpkin soup recipe from The Thin and Healthy Blog.

Butternut squash soup in a hallowed out pumpkin tureen. From Country Living. Nice recipe for Butternut Squash Soup at the Food Network. Make sure to read reviewer's tips.

Set of Autumn Sentiments bowls by Amongst Lovely Things at Etsy. Shades of pumpkin, butternut squash, pale rind, and acorn squash in the centers.

Pumpkin buffet centerpeice. With pinecones and kumquats. Photo from Country Living.

Favorite Things - Milk Chocolate Velvet Ribbon

from Save-on-Crafts.

1. use to tie around napkins

2. tie around the base of candles

3. hang paper tussie mussies on backs of chairs

Faded Autumn Palette, Dining Rooms

Soft white, rustic berries, delicate gold. Photograph by Angus McRitchie

Karyl Pierce Paxton's dining room in New Orleans. Persimmon, gustavian white, pale woods, celery.

Faded leaf, mouse brown, alabaster, dirty pine.

Dusty taupe, dove grey, creme fraiche. From Southern Accents.

Pale green, rustic brown, antique cream. Photo by brocantegirl

Little Robin Redbreast

Red breasted robin gravy pitcher from Amongst Lovely Things. Shades of soft blue feather, rust, chocolate brown, ecru, soft brown.

Little Robin Redbreast.

Autumn Table Settings

Natural things. Designed by David Stark for Real Simple. Greenery and twigs. Moss and twine. Glass cloches and candles.

Cindy's autumnal centerpiece from her Romantic Home. Her photos are gorgeous. View her Romantic Home blog.

Nuts and pinecones. Deep brown ribbon. Battenburg lace antique tablecloth. A basket full of fruit. Lovely. From Misscook.

Two of my favorite things, ribbon and paper. Easy napkin rings. Chocolate and willow green. Amongst Lovely Things' version coming soon at Etsy!

Layered menu cards with twine. I'll certainly be making my own version for Amongst Lovely Things.

Shades of sepia, harvest gold an d'anjou pear. Easy pinned placecards. Vintage photographs. Country Living.