Sure, anyone can “buy” French-and opulence. But there’s a certain je ne sais quoi—call it confidence—in putting things together in a casually elegant way. The technique is all about paring down-like wearing a little black dress with a pearl choker, antique watch, and fine-leather flats. Your setting is your canvas-and your personality, the color.
Because I grew up in Natchez, Miss., not far from Paris’ P.S. city, New Orleans, I’m always at home with a sort of “elegance and decadence” style (to coin a phrase from one of my favorite books with the same name.) But these days, perhaps because of all the frenetic activity around me, I’m much more drawn to a crisper, cleaner, sunnier style. Some of my favorite inspirations of what true French means to me are the following images from (mostly European) magazines and insightful blogs, which I keep on my inspiration board. I’ve begun to see a pattern here. Or rather, no pattern. Just clean-lined, soulful design.

	Homes and Gardens Magazine (UK) What I love: The use outdoor furniture indoors. Light walls and flooring. The use of softly hued vintage-style wallpaper for accents walls. Having an armoire filled with linens or bar necessities or serving ware. Brilliant.
Country Homes & Interiors (UK) What I love: White matelasse and fine linens, elegant but understated matching side mirrors, faded but “reborn” furnishings.
	Decorology.blogspot.com (US) What I love: The crystal chandelier juxtaposed with the uber-casual dining ensemble, which would look just at home outside; the tall, orderly candelabras on the cabriole-leg console. The open kitchen. The explosed beams, the fresh-cut hydrangeas, and peonies. Dreamy.
If like me, you are soothed just by looking at settings, move you fingers swiftly across your keyboard to acquire one of my favorite books: The New Eighteenth Century Style: Rediscovering a French Décor (written by Michelle Laland and photographed by Gilles Triard; Abrams, 2006). And if you have a favorite French-style book, or design idea, do let us hear about it.