Book Review: The French-Inspired Home

I’ve spent the long weekend browsing a lovely book called The French-Inspired Home, by Kaari Meng. Ms. Meng is the owner of French General, a store that specializes in textiles and items that bring a touch of the old French countryside to the home.

Before I go into my full review, let me say what this book is not. It is NOT a book about furnishing a home to make it French-inspired. While there are very good photos showing distressed and shabby chic furniture, these are not the focus of the book. It is NOT a how-to book for putting together various elements to make a complete room.

The book is not a complete resource. Instead, it is a sampling of what makes a French-inspired home. It is an inspirational book about incorporating basic ideas used in vintage French decorating. The use of handmade organic elements is emphasized. Fabric is used in abundance. There are instructions for making items like fabric-covered hangers, journal covers, bath salts, and herbiers.

Ms. Meng encourages the collection of things that inspire, and incorporating those collections in home decor, instead of stashing them away in boxes. Old buttons, vintage fabrics, and labels are all used in one way or another.

The book is organized per room, and for each one, there is a project or two that can be easily made. The back of the book is a great resource for vintage-looking labels and designs that are ready to be photocopied and used. Instructions for some of the projects can also be found at the back.

There are lots of inspiration to be found here. The photographs are wonderful and highly detailed. I found myself wanting to capture the feel and look of the featured rooms in my own home. I know that I won’t be making all of the projects. But I came away with some ideas for storage and organization, as well as color palettes.

What I do wish the book had more of are detailed instructions for the projects. More photos and step-by-step instructions, as well as additional rooms, would have been helpful.

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Tags: French-Inspired Home, French General, French countryside decor, vintage decor, home decor, housekeeping, homemaking