My Parisian Home

There is no place like home and there is no place like Paris. So what do you get when you have both? Perfection. And while my new apartment may be small, it’s essentially all mine. I can’t say I have much to complain about.

The cute little mug and saucer is a mismatched set of four I found in Nice.

I met with my university yesterday – yes, the rentrée is official this final week of August. Coming two weeks before my official début was the best thing I could have done for myself. While I’m no stranger to the city, I felt thrust into an all new environment. The extra time helped me collect my thoughts, but more importantly, transform my surroundings into that special place called home.

I found the pink floral throw in a little fabric store while passing through Tours.

To be completely honest, I had no idea what theme my apartment would inevitably portray. Many of my belongings were boxed up in a storage unit, forgotten and waiting for my return to France. Others I brought along with me from the States. It was like Christmas opening up all the boxes of souvenirs I’d collected during my grand voyage touring the country earlier this summer. What could have been a mismatched, bare-essentials studio became this happy explosion of mismatched floral patterns. This was a surprise even to me; I wasn’t aware I liked florals so much (well… I suppose you might point out my blog header). None the less, I love how it turned out – so French shabby chic, or rather French Romanticism, even if it seems like an entire girls dorm blew up in this little space.

I used my Marseille mug to hold rolled napkins. The dishtowels are from Bordeaux and Aix en Provence. And then there are my mugs with little plates (Nice) and vase (the Loire).

I was a bit nervous about my apartment before I arrived having never stepped foot in it, but it appears I had little to be worried about (best case scenario). I’m located on a quiet street in one of my favorite areas of Paris. Better yet, I get full streams of golden sunlight every afternoon. This will be especially appreciated as the Paris grey sets in and temperatures drop with the first signs of winter. I had only intended on staying in this apartment for a few months while I worked tirelessly on finding a different place – hopefully one a bit larger. But all that seems so pointless now. I’m here to stay.

This toile table clothe was handmade in Arles by the sweetest lady, and I picked out mismatching floral napkins to go with it from the same boutique. The white cover is from the market in Amboise. The picture frames in the back I found while exploring Paris and Antibes.

There are only a few things missing from this apartment – my family, my friends and my animals. I can’t wait until I have a place perfect enough to bring my cat here. Until then, pictures and spontaneous visits to random pet stores are going to have to do (I’ve already had a date with two melt-your-heart-adorable Chihuahua puppies). Maybe I should run a classified for someone who would let me borrow their dog once a week… Or I could just get a super fluffy stuffed animal. [that's sarcasm, by the way... maybe.]

The vase is one of a pair I found at a vide-grenier in the Loire Valley for a mere 3€. The ornate mirror frame is from the most adorable boutique in Antibes.

What a difference it made to finally finish unpacking and to find a place for this and that. There are still a few things I hope to adjust as the months pass but overall I am one happy girl and relieved to see how seamlessly all of my France discoveries have fit together. Not only does this apartment reflect myself, it also represents my journey to Paris. It’s officially my home sweet home.

What special Frenchie finds do you have decorating your home? Do you have a special story behind them?

Tagged as: Cultures, Living in France, My Twenties, Paris