Take a tour of the

Take a tour of the French lifestyle French style is world famous - a blend of easy elegance and timeless sophistication, from French country to Provencal and chateau chic. Susie McLaren and Aline Bachelier, two leading experts in antiques and interior design at La Source antiquing and interior design tours in France, explain what French interior style is all about and how to incorporate it into your home. French style French style has cast a spell around the world for centuries - but just how do they achieve such effortless, graceful interiors? “Well it’s a bit like French gastronomy, you take the most simple ingredients, or elements, and you elevate them” says Aline. “You mix and match - old and new, a bit of this and a bit of that - but you never over complicate it!” Skilled crafts have long been revered in France, from Gothic décor and furniture making in the middle ages - intricate carvings galore, to vibrant tapestry making, French Renaissance décor, Haussmanian, art deco, art nouveau and many more styles through the ages. The French are renowned for appreciating these finer things in life and as French style - a blend of old and new, easy elegance and timeless sophistication a result, treasured objects are passed down through the centuries - it’s never been a throwaway culture. “There is a booming market in France for antiques and vintage everything from clothes to furniture, chaise longues to armoires, chandeliers to textiles, cutlery to glassware, jewellery to ornaments, and much more” explains Susie. “There are treasures that once graced the chateaux of French nobility, and treasures that once took pride of place in a grandma’s front room. Vendors pride themselves on knowing about the provenance of an item, you may be told how a decanter was used at a chateau dinner party in the 1920s, or have a history lesson on wicker baskets - antiquing isn’t just about the items, it’s about the stories and memories that you take home with you.” La Source runs unique tours of Paris and Provence that offer a true experience of French style. After working with antiques dealers and art galleries in the US for 3 years, Aline joined her family business Bachelier Antiquités and spent 30 years at the Paris Flea Market, and now runs antiques shops and an antique finding consultancy. Susie is an interior designer based in the UK when not in France, or travelling the world working with clients, after several years working as Buying Director at Liberty London. They have a lifetime of experience in interior design and antiques that they love to share. Aline and Susie 40 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 41