Siham Mazouz - How the French Live: Modern French Style

How the French Live

Modern French Style

Siham Mazouz

Siham Mazouz

How the French Live

Modern French Style

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2018 Siham Mazouz

Photo Copyright Siham Mazouz

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

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ISBN: 978-1-4236-4816-1

Our family moved nine years ago from Provence, southern France, to the United States, first to Charlotte, North Carolina, and then to San Francisco, California. We havent dramatically changed our way of living since we moved away from our homeland. We have kept our family habits, instill the same values to our kids, and eaten the same diet. Even in the way we decorated our first American home, we followed the same principle we always had: less house, more home. Less lawn manicuring, and more time spent outdoors to build family memories on sunny days. Less new furniture buying, more thrifting and repurposing the old and making it new again.

It seems to me that American friends I have made tended to envision French decorating style as chateau-esque or shabby chic rustic. While this used to be true, the rule has changed. Modern French families tend to mix and match dcor elements from different eras and styles to create unique interiors that represents them. They dont furnish their homes to follow a trend or to impress visitors. They want their homes to represent their lifestyle; they add elements of their travels or inherited pieces that remind them of their family experience and speak to them.

The French have a particular affection for the old and antiques, and they despise total-look interiors. You will rarely see matching sets in a living room, but rather an antique sofa with a Scandinavian modern armchair or an ethnic rug. Au revoir to grandmas armoires and matching buffets: if these are used in modern interiors, they are usually painted a bold, unexpected color to create a modern look and fit the space. Neither do we French like symmetry in our interiors. Youll rarely see a sofa flanked by matching chairs or end tables with identical table lamps.

All of these differences between French style and what I often see in American homes have made me wonder whether we, the French, have a common way of decorating and living as families regardless of whether we live in the motherland or are exiled from the French hexagon and live as expatriates. To answer my own question and to photograph and write this book, I visited fourteen French families living in France or abroad. This threw me outside of my comfort zone on many levels: reaching out via email to perfect strangers found via Instagram, personal blogs or contacted through referrals; knocking on their doors across the world from where I live; and shooting their interiors and interviewing them. And something pretty amazing happened! Not only have I realized that there is indeed a French way of living but I also witnessed the French culture in action. Most of the lovely families that agreed to participate in this book not only opened up their homes and private world to me but also showed me what the French culture is all about: for example, families with young children or even teenagers rarely miss a dinner meal together. Rarely did I leave these homes without an invitation to stay over and share a simple meal and a glass of wine after the photo shoot was over. Thats the French way for you: a meal is not just a meal, its a way to show a connection, to share a special bonding moment. I will be forever grateful to these families for reminding me how genuine and gracious my native culture is.

None of the interiors was styled by a professional interior designer. I wanted this book to be authentic, to show real interiors and real families. In a world of perfectly styled pictures, I felt I needed to be true to these families and their own style so that you, the reader, can get a true view of how the French live. I hope these house tours will help you decorate your home without feeling tied to rules of interior design. In all the chapters presented, a common philosophy the owners was My home looks like me. Lets say no to total-look interiors that might look pretty on paper but lack soul and personality, and yes to interiors that feel natural and authentic, that gather dcor elements with meaning, be they inherited family pieces of furniture or objects that remind one of a family travel escape. Less house, more homethe French way.

Of course, I couldnt have written a book about French families without mentioning the importance of food in the French culture. In France, meals are not just a way to feed oneself; they are a staple of the culture: a meal can last for hourspeople share and argue over sensitive topics. Meals are a way to connect, to exchange, to build memories. I therefore asked each family to share their signature recipe, a simple recipe they like to make for special occasions, or comfort food they like to cook for their loved ones. At the end of each chapter, the family shares an easy recipe with you. Go ahead, cook, and tell your family that tonight youre having a meal together, without cell phones or tablets at the table. Reconnect with your loved ones; because, in the end, those simple moments are what home and family truly means.

Lastly, I want to thank all the sweet families who opened up their homesand soulsto participate in this amazing project (with a special nod to their pets, who played unexpected models and literally posed for my camera); my family for their supportmy husband for rearranging his business travel schedule to take care of our beloved golden retriever, Miss Daisy, and our daughtersand my two teenage girls for staying out of trouble and being trustworthy while I was traveling abroad. I also want to thank Madge, my dear editor, for keeping me on schedule while gently holding my hand throughout the project, and the Gibbs Smith team for giving me full creative freedom in the execution of this project. I will be forever grateful for their trust and support.