Plug into the French connection
From chateau chic to rustic vineyard charm, there's something irresistibly alluring about French style
Designer Carolyn Westbrook invites Gabrielle Fagan into her Gallic- themed home and shares tips for giving any abode a pinch of Parisian panache. Stepping inside Carolyn Westbrook's home, it's impossible not to notice that romance is in the air.
It's not just the traditional scene- setters of soft lighting, candles, plumped cushions and vases filled with fragrant flowers. There's also an abundance of gilding, sensuallycurved furniture, mirrors with decorative detailing and luxurious fabrics, which provide the clues to the real passion of Westbrook's life - French style.
"My love affair with France began long before I ever set foot in Paris," says the designer, as she shows me around her beautiful 1800s plantation home, in Texas, America.
"I've always been drawn to the intricate detailing that's evident from French furniture, and the way they decorate their homes with elaborate mouldings, aged objects and pieces that have become antique as they were passed down the line, from one generation to the next."
It's a decor approach she's interpreted in her own distinctive way and which she reveals in her book, Through The French Door.
Her gorgeous home could be a template for Francophiles who want to replicate the nation's sophisticated style.
What makes Westbrook's abode so interesting is that she embraces a variety of approaches, from the appeal of a grand salon through to French rustic and contemporary Paris chic.
Her airy entrance hall has walls decorated with a collection of oil paintings and antique brown transferware plates, all picked up on her frequent visits to French flea markets.
Formality is avoided - nothing should be too regulated or co- ordinating - with an eclectic mix of armchairs.
Clutter is tidied away in vintage suitcases, while potted palms and plants give what Westbrook regards as an essential injection of colour and interest.
"Many people are faced with a blank canvas when decorating their homes and all those white walls and empty spaces needing to be filled can be daunting," she says.
"It's often a good idea to break the space down into smaller areas, which will help warm up a room and make it more intimate and comfortable. Oil paintings and diverse collections create a layered effect, tell a story and make a room interesting."
A lounge encapsulates the essence of French salon living where the aim is to be able to instantly relax in time- worn comfort.
"But there's no hint of pretentiousness or stuffiness, which is what I love about this style," says Westbrook.
"Everything in the room's been carefully chosen, which takes years of collecting the right ingredients."
She's chosen a range of fabrics for curtains and sofa and chair upholstery, but the colours and patterns blend harmoniously and the profusion of table lamps means lighting is soft and balanced.
As she redecorates and experiments, she moves favourite pieces from room to room, to avoid the ' look' of each area stagnating.
In the dining room, wood and texture star and there's an aura of calm serenity, enhanced by the views of the surrounding 53 acres of countryside.
Pale walls and a varnished wood floor are the perfect backdrop for a pine sideboard housing an array of blue French china, and a pine farmhouse table.
Refreshingly, there's no lack of surprises, because slavishly following a style is an anathema to Westbrook, who believes decor should continually evolve.
So in her kitchen, instead of a rustic French farmhouse theme which would be all too predictable, she's evoked a sense of drama with a black and white scheme.
"When I opted for black cabinets, that was unheard of at the time, but they set off the white countertops and sink perfectly," she says.
"I have various collections of antique dishes, and I swap around each collection so they can all be appreciated. I love to use bold, colourful flower arrangements to bring life to the space."
Monochrome continues in the sun porch with black and white striped curtains, and a white vintage dove cage and zebra rug. She's continued this theme in one of the bathrooms, where exuberant Toile de Jouy fabrics contrast with glossy black walls.
Nowhere is her enthusiasm for French romance more evident than in the bedrooms. One is totally feminine with her favourite shade of pink used subtly in flowers and paisley bedding, with a bright pink chest flanked by simple white chairs.
Another has theatricality, with the bedhead a stunning antique mirror and velvet drapes, which once dressed a stage, providing the backdrop beyond.
When she decided to refresh one bedroom she gave it a zingy injection of lime green, contrasted with white mirror frames and plaster busts. It has a fresh modern feel even though its basic ingredients are still vintage French.
"Green and oatmeal bedding was the inspiration for the new look, and this is often a good way to decide on a colour scheme. Focus on one item which always attracts your eye and introduce it gradually on a larger scale," she says.
Westbrook hopes to inspire others to enjoy the beauty of aged and antique treasures, and to create homes which have their own spirit and reflect their owners' personality.
"The beauty of French style is that it's so versatile and can be adapted to suit. All that's essential is that your home should envelop you in beauty, familiarity and comfort."
If you've fallen in love with the style, have your own French affair by sourcing classic touches that will turn your living room into a salon and your bedroom into a boudoir...