Southern Home French Cottage Style 2020

At the heart of the French aesthetic is an appreciation of simple beauty, and the wares found at French General perfectly illustrate this principle. It’s easy to see why owner Kaari Meng says she collects many of the items she sells. The shop is a rainbow of vibrant buttons, beads, and spools of velvety ribbon. Tiny stuffed birds and bees alight on silk flowers and imported textiles—everything from nubby wheat-colored hemp aprons to soft, scarlet-hued cotton towels—are casually displayed. “When I walk into [the shop], I usually feel like I am at home, surrounded by small bits and pieces that were left behind,” she says. “I am simply taking care of them while I am here.” Kaari and her sister, Molly, first opened French General in a barn along the Hudson River…

Throughout the ages, fine linens have been cherished and valued as much as silver and fine porcelain. To gently run your fingertips over the soft sheen of antique linen fabric is to personally touch the past. To get the trademark luxuriously soft feel European linens are known for, it all begins with a flax plant. Before the exceptionally strong flaxfibers can be spun into linen, they first have to be separated from the rest of the stalk in a process known as retting. The highest-quality linen is retted in slow-moving natural water sources. European linens are among the finest in the world, with the French producing some of the whitest and most delicate of textiles. Collecting European linens is now an adored pastime, and one that shop owner Pat Camp has…

Architect Michael Graves once said, “Architecture is not all about the design of the building and nothing else, it is also about the cultural setting and the ambience, the whole affair.” And that may be one reason today’s designers are so interested in collecting remnants of the buildings from earlier times. Small pieces of moldings, an old mantel, a balustrade—they introduce a little bit of history and character to our homes. The shop, Maison de France Antiques, specializes in old, architectural remnants from France. Ginny Smith, co-owner says, “It’s like Christmas every time we open a container. I love that every item is original.” And for shoppers, it’s a treasure hunt for a bit of history.…

When Nancy and Mark Peeples built their cozy cottage, they designed it with the mountains in mind. “My husband loves the West, the mountains, and hunting,” Nancy says. “So we were trying to have some sort of comfortable, elegant version of that.” Their charming cottage exterior is sided with hand-split cedar shakes and is unlike any of the homes in their neighborhood. “We’ve got a real mountain retreat in the middle of [Alabama],” she laughs. The couple’s enchanting abode exudes an upscale elegance while still maintaining personal touches. With the help of interior designer Mary Finch, Nancy outfitted her cottage with one-of-a-kind salvaged finds and antiques from around the world. The great room stands tall beneath the home’s A-frame, and reclaimed beams help draw the eye upward. The limestone fireplace with detailed…

When asked to describe the style of her home, the owner responds, “Country French.” And when asked her personal style, she shares, “It’s casual and comfortable.” The intermingling of these two styles has resulted in an inviting home with French influences. As you enter through the arched door you step into a light-filled hallway. The glass chandelier overhead is an antique thought to be originally from France. The grandfather clock and chest were both purchased years ago in New Orleans, long a source for French antiques. Just off the hall sits the living room. The homeowner explained the room’s color palette was influenced by the colors in the rug. The choice was either to go with dark colors or light, and she chose light. “I’m afraid of color,” she laughs. The neutral…