Provence!
From “French Kiss” (who doesn’t want to spend a few hours with Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline and Jean Reno) to “A Good Year” (a learning-to-slow-down Russell Crowe, an ebullient Alberto Finney, a prickly Marion Cotillard), Provence onscreen is a seductive sell for grabbing a little movie glam for your own home.
We watched a lot of movies during Covid times the last few years so consider us inspired. Here are our top picks for right now for you to bring the sights, sounds, textures, textiles, and scent of the French region right into your own home.
This vintage linen hand towel from Couleur Nature is an easy and practical add to your kitchen right now.
This towel hook from Anthropologie is like a small bundle of lavender flowers that will beautify your bathroom wall.
Lavender dots the fields of Southern France - love this tablecloth from Couleur Nature that brings the lavender look right into your home. Hand-printed, machine washable. Every tablecloth we’ve used from Couleur Nature we have been happy with - longlasting and keeps their shape and look.
Peter Mayle spent years chronicling life in Provence ending with his last book “My Twenty-Five Years in Provence: Reflections on Then and Now” which starts at the oldest brasserie in Aix, Les Deux Garcons.
“An American in Provence” is an immersive read about photographer Jamie Beck’s life-changing move to Provence.
No Drama, Just Llama in Your Kitchen...and Everywhere Else...
We can’t help it, we love a llama motif. And even though you might not be able to fit the llama that originally caught our eye here at ABC Carpet & Home…. or this beauty found on Etsy …
Here are 11 ways to “llama up the drama” all over your space…
These American-made dishcloths are a big paper towel saver (written as we’re eyeing the 18 rolls of paper towels we bought and thinking over my new resolution to ONLY use re-usable clothes like these) - in fact, the SWEDEdishcloths description claims what one cloth is equal to 17 rolls of paper towels plus they are 100 percent biodegradable. Rinse after using and air dry. And, plus they’re cute. (Our assessment.)
Como te llama? on the inside - just a good overall feeling on the outside. Perfect for hot chocolate, mint tea, your morning coffee - and a guaranteed smile. Contemplating sets of two as a holiday gift…
Yes, we aLLso LLove this LLots. Seriously, this is adorable. It’s flannel fleece on one side, “super warm polyester sherpa on the other.” It’s freezing in New York right now - we’re ordering this and also delighted it’s machine washable.
Monocle, check. Bowtie and bowler hat, check. We never knew we needed these accoutrements on a llama but now that we’ve seen them… perfect for your the child you know who has a sense of humour and already knows the word “monocle” by age 5.
Honestly, how did we not make this the first item in the post. Everyone needs this sweater for Christmas. Everyone.
Don’t we all…but if we can’t actually be a unicorn, we’ll take being a llama. This is 60 x 39 inches…and if that’s too much llama drama for you, there’s a smaller version at 31 x 20 inches. We think this is perfect pinch of humour on your mudroom floor. Soft and plush on your feet right after the shoes come off.
Speaking of “llama drama” - it’s just right on these house slippers. #1 bestseller right now in the “women’s slipper socks” category and we can see why!
Could not love these adorable measuring cups more. Plus you stack them in the cupboard or on the counter for a fun decorative element that’s also super functional.
Accio llama patronus t-shirt! No matter what house the Sorting Hat has put you in, your patronus still could be a llama. (Ours is an elephant which is a different matter altogether and won’t stop me from wearing this.) One of the many adorable Harry Potter-adjacent purchases that we’ve rounded for superfans. (More here.)
Uhhhh, this is 40"W x 72"H of amazing... Ordering for the office, stat! Could also play well at parties, selfie backgrounds, gag gift delivery to friends…where wouldn’t this work?
A timeless tale of a tyrannical toddler who will not, cannot, go to sleep. Also great fun to read to anyone of any age. Great for a baby shower…or a toddler’s birthday or to give as just an “empathy gift” to any parent struggling with the under-5 bedtimes.