I’m finding it a challenge to adjust to being home after our Europe road trip. I miss the freedom of being on the road, and being out in the open air camping. We’re slowly finding our groove, and working out ways to incorporate some of the bits from our holiday into our everyday life at home. Some of these are lifestyle-based (less TV, more eating outside in the garden etc), but some of them are aesthetic too. The last stop on our trip was the Allier department of the Auvergne region in France, where I was seduced by the beautiful spectrum of blues used on the exteriors of the houses. Our local town, Ebrueil, was a delight to wander round, with shutters and doors painted in shades ranging from the richness and warmth of cornflower blue, to the palest shade of cool blue-white. A visit to the enchanting village of Charroux, one of the Plus Beau Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France), provided another stunning example of this restful blend of blues. The first thing that greeted us on our return home was our front door, and the peeling orangey varnish that had become invisible to me before we went away suddenly looked shabbier than ever. Giving it a new coat of paint has gone to the top of the list of summer DIY jobs, and I’m going to take inspiration from these wonderful French blues when I come to choosing the paint colour. In fact, I’d like to redecorate the whole house in these shades, but that’s a bit of a larger project than a simple front door update, so I shall show restraint for now.
Peggy says
Beautiful photos and colours! I hope you had a great break x
chichi furniture says
Lovely pics. Its amazing what adding a splash of colour to a home can do. I adore French homes and the wooden shutters and cream masonry, often with flowers growing up the sides too. Its so warm and inviting. Inside is the same, I am a fan of neutral undertones for the walls and then adding colour by way of furniture/accessories, that way the room isn’t too busy or overloaded, but still homely and stylish.