Living French: 7th edition

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French Living was originally created as a tiny shop, selling everything to do with food from France - cheese and wine, charcuterie, classic French grocery items and dishes, tableware, kitchen utensils and pots, table decorations….. Create an evening routine to look forward to. At the end of the day, your body and mind may be entirely taxed which is why making time (even 15 minutes) for unwinding with a favorite pastime is crucial. Being able to look forward to this simple routine can be the silver lining no matter what your day has unearthed. Beneath the shop was a huge damp cellar…….I had often joked about how fantastic it would be to hold a massive party down there, the high ceilings creating a feeling of spaciousness that would make you forget it was a windowless cellar….”

Start a conversation about an interesting idea you read about, heard on a podcast, or saw on a television show (again why it helps to consume a diverse selection of media). Bonus points if it’s a tiny bit controversial to elicit discussion, but not heated debate The same goes for art galleries or antique stores. While the act of collecting art and antiques definitely occurs, the French truly enjoy the cultural experience of viewing and learning the story behind the art and antiques too. In “Le Peintre de la vie moderne” (The Painter of Modern Life) published in 1863, Charles Baudelaire wrote: “For the perfect flâneur, for the passionate spectator, it is an immense joy to set up house in the heart of the multitude, amid the ebb and flow of movement, in the midst of the fugitive and the infinite”. Buses in France are less expensive than trains, but they’re slower and not as comfortable. Intercity bus routes are limited and there isn’t a long-distance bus network, so driving or taking the train are the best ways to travel between cities.French Living has been Nottingham’s guilty secret since 1994, sitting at the top of King Street, a few steps away from Nottingham legend Brian Clough and the famous lions who proudly protect the Council House. Just like those familiar Nottingham landmarks, French Living remains pretty unchanged after all this time. This information is purely for orientation and to inspire further research, it does not constitute advice and no liability is accepted to recipients acting independently on its contents. The views expressed are subject to change.

When we eat dinner at home, we typically serve a salad and something else. Instead of serving both things we are eating on the same plate, we serve them on separate plates one by one. This tip goes hand-in-hand with dressing your best. French women have a long tradition of taking beauty tips from their grandmothers vs. magazines or the internet. They also love their local pharmacies for skincare and other beauty products. Outsiders may initially be regarded with suspicion but that can soften as their contribution becomes evident – such benefits as restoring a ruined architectural gem or supporting local services like shops and schools. Working life To help you learn French cuisine, see the following articles about the best French pastry cookbooks of all time, and the best French cookbooks by actual French chefs. You can find all the best French recipes here. 11. Enjoy A French ApéritifStart by decluttering. Go through every section of your house and donate or toss any item that doesn’t bring you pleasure. Every single item you own, should bring you joy in some way, even the functional and practical items. Create a list of all the items you truly need in each room. Slowly, work your way through curating your items. Only buy the best quality you can afford and only if you truly love it. Overtime, your life will be filled with only items that are of high quality and bring you joy. The French don’t judge you by the car you drive, they judge you by the books you read. Being well read and cultured is an extremely important part of French lifestyle. Embrace this custom of French living and cultivate your own intellectual wealth. Don’t do it because you’re trying to prove something, but because learning can be a pleasure and an adventure that’s available to us every day. Dive into any interest or curiosity you may have, no matter how fleeting it may seem, and devour material on the subject. Don’t limit yourself to any particular genres, but instead embrace a well rounded selection of knowledge. You may surprised to find what ends up interesting you or what you learn. This was such a refreshing post to read! I absolutely loved the topic, as I am also obsessed with French culture, and can’t wait to use some of your tips to add a bit to my day. This French term was used by 19th-Century French prose-poet and essayist Charles Baudelaire to identify an observer of modern urban life. At this time, in a society characterized by progress and capitalism, the flâneur becomes a revolutionary who doesn’t want to participate but to contemplate.

The living room, “le salon”, is the most important room in the house, where you have quality time with your friends and family, watching TV, playing games, reading magazines, having discussions and cozying up with a book. Indeed, it is where most social activities occur, the part of the house your guests and loved ones see the most. In addition to being a socializing place, it’s a space to relax after a busy day, where you are not at work or outside. Therefore, it should reflect your and your family interior preferences. Transforming and refining your living space can be self-enhancing. Taking the time to find the right pieces of furniture is crucial to create inviting atmosphere you’re looking for.Our collection of Hand Crafted French Furniture for your Living Room will enhance and elevate your abode. Browse our extensive range of classically styled Furniture. View our selection of French, Rococo, Venetian, Ornate & Art Deco Furniture. With our range of beautifully crafted reproduction pieces including styles from Louis, Chateau, Shabby Chic, Classical & Deco ranges. All our products are made with comfort in mind. Bench Stools & FootstoolsBeautiful extra seating in your living space from our selection of Bench Stools & Footstools will add a burst of colour and vibrance to the room. We are offering wide range and happy to help you find the style that matches your décor. Bookcase & Display CabinetsOur collection of Bookcases & Display Cabinets inspired by unique designs and contemporary finishes. Classic Bookcases, Contemporary Dressers and French Style Bookcases; all explore a large variety of materials. Coffee TablesAttractive and elegant, a coffee table adds functionality and style to your home. Whether Shabby Chic, French or Venetian Coffee tables, all are made from durable materials and stunning colours. Console TablesWooden, Mirrored and Antique Console tables, La Maison Chic provides many stunning options for every taste. Console Table is a great way to utilize small spaces by including additional storage with style and sophistication. Side & Occasional TablesPositioned beside a piece of furniture, Side & Occasional Tables increase the welcoming sense by keeping the essential items accessible so finding the right height and shape is very important. Writing DesksWriting desks are attractive pieces of furniture. Placed near a natural light source, they add sophistication and elegance to the room. Smart-looking, they are versatile and can be used for work or personal drawing and writing projects. French people are very much into the arts, and visiting a museum is a very common activity to do during the weekend. Also, as the museums’ funding remains public in France, this provides better access to cultural activities for everyone. France has even created the “Culture Pass” —which gives all 18-year-olds across the country €300 to spend on art, music, theatre, and more— to provide younger people with wider access to France’s culture. 5. Get Into Philosophy

Outside big towns the custom is still to eat a main meal at lunchtime so most restaurants open strictly between 12 and 2pm. Many shops close for a long lunch then stay open into the evening but supermarkets have longer opening hours. Rural life Find time to treasure hunt. Even if you are not necessarily going to buy, poke around in local consignment shops, yard sales, second-hand shops, antique boutiques and even boutiques that catch your eye. If nothing else, you will walk away with ideas on how to design, style and mix and match what you already have.

If you love the good things in life , a lovely home, good food and drink, beautiful places and people to share them with, then you will definitely find inspiration on our French Living Blog. Instead, the way the French care for themselves is more about doing something for themselves every day. It’s something naturally embedded in their daily routine like traditions and rituals passed from generation to generation. Here are a few tips to take better care of yourself: Sunday in France is sacred. The French Sunday is a dedicated day for doing absolutely nothing except spending time with family. The French are known for their long Sunday lunches “déjeuners dominicaux” that stretch into the afternoons. It’s the perfect day to take the time to sleep, eat, to visit family and relatives. Sunday in France is a time for everyone to just “être” (to be). Somewhat similar to the concept of eating mindfully and devoting proper time for meals is the idea of just taking it slow and steady on a daily basis in your overall routine. Stephane and Louise are still the proud owners; Head chef Jeremy is a part of the family since 1997 and Audrius seems to have been around forever!

I particularly love the French routine of shopping at the farmers market because it inspires seasonal cooking, which is a core component of the French lifestyle. You won’t find the French eating strawberries in winter, but you will find some fantastic pears that will inspire you to make a clafoutis or cake with. Also, if 67% say it’s not easy to talk about either the amount of their savings or their financial investments, 52% think it’s difficult to talk about their salary. In fact, in France, it’s more taboo to talk about money than it is to talk about sex, according to Janine Mossuz-Lavau, a sociologist and senior researcher at the Cevipof, and author of the 2007 book L’Argent et nous (Money and us).