Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Another Fine French Book Giveaway!

In his new book French Flair: Modern Vintage Interiors, author and photographer Sébastien Siraudeau has compiled a gorgeous selection of intoxicating interiors from all across France. From more than 100 locations come hundreds of stunning images of rooms decorated in an array of styles.  The 736-page hardcover book, originally published in France by Flammarion, was released in the U.S. last week. And of course I was right on it, telling the publisher that I simply had to have a few copies to give away to my readers.

The Daily Mail calls French Flair "The ultimate guide to achieving effortlessly chic and stylish interiors à la Française with an authentic vintage feel."

The book contains a wide and eclectic mix of themes, designs and inspirations. You'll find a B&B in the backcountry of the Côte d’Azur; a hôtel de charme in the Alpilles, filled with furniture picked up from Provençal markets; a furniture-designer’s studio on the outskirts of Paris; a château-turned-guesthouse complete with secret passageways--and much, much more. Through his evocative text and 959 color photos, Siraudeau lets readers explore French guesthouses, antique shops, hotels and private homes, and provides a charming commentary on each setting and its owners. The properties are also listed in an address book at the end--and many are open for visits. 

Chapters are themed around seven styles: Authentic, Traditional, Romantic, Elegant, Eclectic, Contemporary and Natural.

“French design is all about juxtaposing unexpected and unconventional combinations to create a unique home," the author/photographer says in the introduction. "Any style can be adapted to a house in the city or the country, to an apartment or a château; it just calls for imagination and an approach free of preconceived notions.”

The prolific Sébastien has produced numerous books in both French and English, including four specifically about French design: French Seaside Style (2011) French Country Style at Home (2010), French Style at Home (2009) and Vintage French Interiors (2008). You can find many of his titles, including books on Provence, Brittany and brocantes, on Amazon here. His photos also appear regularly in decor and design magazines worldwide. If you'd like to see more of his work, his website is here and his blog is here.

Ok, on to the giveaway. The gracious publishers have generously offered me two copies of this beautiful book to give away. To enter, simply leave a comment below. Please be sure to leave your email address or we won't be able to reach you. (Signing in with your Google or Blogger account is not enough.) Unfortunately, you must be able to provide a U.S. mailing address if you win this contest. But those of you who don't live there are welcome to have the book sent to a friend who does.

Meanwhile, you can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here. Bonne Chance!

49 comments:

  1. Love the French-mix style when it is not too stark--and with the backgrounds I see on the cover, I would be super interested to see the rest. All white furniture is lovely but somewhat impractical, so I am excited to see their use of color.(robynfrance@gmail.com--if I need to leave that here?)

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  2. With our early spring in New England this year, this book will be the perfect inspiration to do some freshening up around the house - with a french flair!
    alwayssewbusy@yahoo.com

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  3. On y va au Marche au Puces! Bon chance!!

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  4. French style makes ours seem so pedestrian. I love the way they decorate their homes AND their restaurants. So many beautiful restaurants, especially in Paris.

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  5. French decor is so beautiful and romantic. I would love to see what's between the covers! Thanks for this opportunity! (hmawada@gmail.com)

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  6. Would love to have this book... I am a sucker for anything French, having lived there for years... but wont leave my email for all to see....that could come replete with tons of problems...anyway to could email you privately?

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  7. Love to have this book to help decorate my new old petite Maison en Provence! Kathleenhurder@yahoo.com

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  8. That's absolutely gorgeous! The combination of vintage and modern is nothing short of fabulous. JaquiKarr@gmail.com

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  9. I know someone who would LOVE to receive this as a gift, I'd love to win it for her!

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  10. Hi Elles,
    Sure, send it to me at: provenceblog@aol.com
    Best Wishes!
    Julie

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  11. Oooh...inspiration for my next house. Would love a copy! julie@myfarandaway.com

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  12. Please may I have one? (Pretty please)

    My house and garden is an ongoing French Flair project! But I'm loving doing it.

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  13. The French have such great style! I would love this book! I'm getting ready to come work in France and this would be a welcome addition. Rscharoff@hotmail.com

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  14. Looking for more French Flair to redecorate "my room". Would love to win the book for ideas and inspiration.

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  15. I'd love a copy. It is snowing here in Portland, but spring is officially here and I'm feeling like I want to re-decorate.
    pwarren6@yahoo.com

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  16. This book looks wonderful. I would love to have a copy!!

    Gretchen

    Mspuzzle2@aol.com

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  17. I like the idea that the chapters are set around the seven styles. What a great way to educate and offer enjoyment at the same time.

    Laura

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  18. Really enjoy French style, please send me the new book! barbara@martineer.net. thanks.

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  19. Bonne chance a moi!!!
    waltdev@knology.net

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  20. Would love to have the book...It must be wonderful or you wouldn't be GIFTING it...
    THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE
    dmrhess@gmail.com

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  21. I am so grateful that you expose us to such beautiful French everything! I won't ever get to live in Provence, but our trips there over the years, have inspired me to make our home as provencal as I can. This book sounds like it would help! Please enter my name.
    Geraldine Ventura
    gerrybonj@aol.com

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  22. I would love to be able to add some French flair to my Southwestern (US) home. France seems so far away when there is a dust storm raging outside my windows... (dhmcarver@gmail.com)

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  23. Fab book--thanks for letting us know! I'll buy it once relocated to France. Have cut everything down a few bags so no shipping!

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  24. Excellent -- looks great! Thanks for sharing the news about the book & hope to be a lucky winner!
    diane
    pariscookingcompany@gmail.com

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  25. The French can often do so much with so little and often a piece of fabric or found object can make a room, n'est pas?

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  26. What I like about this type of books is the inspiration that they bring and the romance that goes with it. This would truly be a perfect gift for my wife's upcoming birthday. merci d'offrir quelques livres a vos lecteurs.

    martingenereux@yahoo.com

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  27. What a wonderful book to study and dream about! bobdotdabneyatgmaildotcom

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  28. Looks like a wonderful book. I would love to find some interesting ideas for my little place in Provence!

    judy.andrew@comcast.net

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  29. Would love to flip through the pages of this book...A great give away, and so full of beautiful inspiration for ones home...lizsilva11@gmail.com..

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  30. What a wonderful book give away! I would love to sit in my armchair and be transported into the French way of living through the reading of this book.

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  31. Another dream book on French decor--sometimes it's that one prefect compositon of accesories or furniture placement that comes to live a while in my house. I'll send my email to your email address. Thanks

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  32. how wonderful to have a book to enjoy while decorating in one's mind.
    I am just geting ready to change things up here at Beverly Cottage and would love to have my name drawn for some lovely ideas!
    mklicka@sbcglobal.net

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  33. I love everything French! Let it be meeee!

    vicki2201 at mac dot com

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  34. Love the chic but comfortable French style at home.

    Bill

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  35. I need decorating help! cathilynnk@yahoo.com

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  36. French style is as varied as her women. Elles savent se mettre en valeur.

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  37. J'adore! Je veux, J'ai besoin! Please pick me! Pretty please!! :)

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  38. Danielle RippingaleMarch 24, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    After living on the road 2 years and writing about lifestyle and wellness - I finally am growing roots in my new home in Switzerland!!! Would love to be inspired by my oh so chic French neighbour as I look at decorating!

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  39. Love the pop of color! jennieaiello@gmail.com

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  40. What dreamy eclectic inspiration this book would be! Would love to add it to my library.
    Anne Woodyard
    tours@musicetc.us

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  41. I love these kinds of books, both for the decor ideas and for the photography. When it comes to home decor though, I'm a little like Eddie from "Ab Fab" in that my likes and dislikes change daily, depending on what I'm looking at! I'd love to review it in the French section of my own site!

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  42. Hey Miss Julie,

    I've just read through these comments. I don't waver in the LEAST in my firm consideration that you HAVE to give a copy of this book to that poor woman from the hellishly hot Southwest USA, who's sitting in a house surrounded by some horrifying, raging dust storm. Note that she doesn't mention when it began (1923?), nor does she seem sufficiently encouraged to anticipate its ever ending.

    Basically, she sounds as though she's in a dreadful and literally-hellish situation. This brave and steadfast, pioneer-spirited woman obviously NEEDS a bit of refreshing French pick-me-up style to beguile the tedium of her dust-whelmed days.

    Speaking of French interior-decorating "style"? A maybe-client of mine (which is to say, just some person who comes over wanting to look at stuff; I get these folks all the time) was here last week and saw a recent portrait by me of Herve and his great-aunt, seated in her main parlor in her old house in Argeles. The client (who was the gushing, ex-sorority-girl type we specialize in breeding hereabouts) exclaimed "Oh, I just LOVE this!....I just really LOVE this whole way she's got French doors everywhere! It's all just PERFECT!!...."

    My partner, as a French epidemiologist with a name that yields 4,763 google results, isn't remarkably concerned over what gushy southern women from Raleigh, NC think of him....so, Mister Frenchy-Boots just rolled his eyes (more than a bit too conspicuously, I thought) and said "Oh, yes....'FRENCH doors'....and French Ceilings and French Floors and French windows and French plumbing and French bookshelves and French chimneys....EVERYTHING in the whole house is 'French'-something or another. You'd love it....."

    The woman didn't "get" the joke (good thing, since it was at her expense), and she just said "What?".

    After she left, I told Herve that he wasn't necessarily required to poke fun at people (my clientele, in particular) just because they weren't remarkably bright, and he said "Oh, you know me....I believe in going beyond the call of mere duty".

    So much for "French style". the next time we're in St. Remy, I hope we can have lunch. do, please, get on Herve's tail about this matter. I was sort of appalled.

    Level Best as Ever (and do your very best by that poor, dust-cyclone besieged lady way out there in the western desert...it's all too opening-scenes-of-The-Wizard-of-Oz for words....)

    David Terry
    www.davidterryart.com
    dterrydraw@aol.com

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  43. Oh, David Terry I'm going to look you up!

    Stuck in Nashville, yearning to breathe free in France ... know I need a copy of this book, too. No dust storms, but we are afflicted with floods and tornados on occasion ... and some other things.

    Most seriously, a great blog discovery!

    merrybe@comcast.net

    Merry (sometimes)

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  44. I would love to have a copy to add to my "A Girl can Dream" library. I am all about all things French!
    Deb
    deb@design-confidential.com

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  45. Julie, love this book, please count me in, Maya at nnedkov@yahoo.com

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  46. What a lovely book! Then again, I'm an easy sell. Decorative arts and anything about France -- I'm there.
    Jane
    jane@janedelmonte.com

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  47. Hoping that the give away has not taken place yet. Would love to add a bit of "French Flair" to my home!
    lizsilva11@gmail.com

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  48. Hoping that the giveaway has not yet taken place. Would love to add a bit of 'French Flair' to my home!
    Love you blog! lizsilva11@gmail.com

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  49. I fell in love with French interior decorations on my first visit to a friend's home! It feels cozy and artistic at the same time. Would love to have this book! Merci!
    smilynnzhang@gmail.com

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