Home Decoration
CONTENTS
Home Decoration
Welcome to our decoration zone, the complete guide to decorating your home in France. Our aim is to make this site the best place for information on decorating your home, from advice on where to find reclaimed materials to money-saving DIY tips.
Our topic host is Ann Horne, who is passionate about interior design and is renovating a farmhouse in the Aveyron. In her blog, Frenchicandshabby, she shares her ideas and favourite French style homewares: antique and reproduction furniture, shabby chic and everything in-between.
If you have any questions for Ann, ideas for topics you would like covered, or if you would like to contribute to the zone, please get in touch. We’re always interested in hearing about your own decoration project and tips too.
Visit our Eco Homes zone
Renovation Forum
Renovation and Decoration Dictionary
Houses to inspire you...
Where to Shop
Editor's picks
You dream of big farmhouse tables, grand armoires and gorgeous chandeliers? Here's how to achieve the French Country Look. more...
At the DIY store - a glossary
For those with a renovation project on their hands, trips to the local magasin de bricolage in France will be a regular occurrence. Arm yourself with the following list of vocabulary to save time in the aisles.
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My interior design business in France
Julie Kilgallon is a qualified interior designer based on the French Riviera. She grew up in Manchester and was inspired by her mother’s soft furnishing business to pursue a career in interior design.
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Toile de Jouy
By Ann Horne
In the world of French interior fabrics, there’s something quite intriguing about the phrase 'Toile de Jouy'. But what does it mean and where does it come from? more...
Decorative French enamels
By Ann Horne
When the French housewives of the 19th and 20th centuries were buying useful enamel objects for their homes, I doubt they realised how popular these would become in the 21st century. Enamel is made by spraying powdered glass on to metal.
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Buying from brocantes
When Victoria Burton moved to France, she soon realised that her modern flat pack furniture would not look so at home in the granite house she had bought in Normandy. But how to achieve château chic on a budget?
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Restoring wooden shutters
Renovating a farmhouse is a labour of love for many expatriates in France and properties with character features like original wooden shutters are some of the most sought after - give them the attention they deserve and they’ll reward you for many years to come.
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Treating and protecting terracotta tiles
Terracotta is an attractive, rustic material for both old and new houses. If you're not careful however, it can be very easy to become a slave to your terracotta floor. Sophia Mose of Pays d'Oc Design shares her tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls when sealing, protecting and maintaining terracotta tiles.
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The authentic French look for less
'Insider' secrets for beams and walls
Whether they prefer a contemporary or a traditional look, most house hunters looking to buy in France put a premium on features such as exposed stone walls, terracotta floors and ceiling beams. Sophia Mose of Pays d'Oc Design reveals how to get the look without breaking the bank.
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Restoring wooden beams
The 'Back from Black' process
Looking to bring new life and character to old beams? If so, beam renovation is at last a viable alternative to stripping or sand blasting beams. As an added bonus, it’s environmentally friendly too.
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Sell your French home fast
(and at the best price)
What is the best approach if you're planning to put your house on the market, or if it has lingered on the market for a while? Sophia Mose of Pays d'Oc Design sets out three ways savvy sellers can make their property stand out from the competition.
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My Life as an Artisan in France
After 10 years spent living and working in London as a painter and decorator, Giles Stonor moved to France and established himself as an artisan. Amongst his biggest projects was the restoration of a Chartreuse in the Dordogne. Here Giles tells FrenchEntrée his story.
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What should you expect?
While renovating and decorating a house in France is similar in many ways to doing the job in the UK, there are significant differences too - especially when it comes to methods and materials. more...
Renewable energy products
Obtaining tax credits in France France has a well publicised system of tax credits that apply to certain products. These products are mainly those considered ‘renewable energy’ systems such as solar hot water systems, or for property heating, wood burning stoves and some heat pumps. more...
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