How the French Live: Modern French Style

by Siham Mazouz

At home with modern French families . . . Si Mazouz, curator of the popular blog FRENCHBYDESIGN, introduces a dozen sophisticated French families in her debut book, How the French Live to engage and inspire. Si shares each family’s personality and values through the lens of their uniquely styled homes. The aesthetic is clean and unpretentious; décor elements are eclectic―reflecting each family's Frenchness regardless of where they live. Each chapter closes with a family recipe to prolong the warmth of the hospitality they've shared. This is the new paragon of a generation living the French lifestyle in France, Morocco, and the U.S.

Genres: France, Design, Interior Design, Lifestyle, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 6, 2018

Reviews

[Shnnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A: Apparently like Californian minimalists with many, many Instagram filters. White, white, even the colorful rooms somehow look white.
A: White?

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it too. Well chosen photos. 'Real' living situations, or at least less sterile and staged than usual in a modern setting. Thoughtful comments go beyond not matching and adding something old into the mix. Loved that old wooden table used in the hallway on the cover. Pages 110 and 267 had particular appeal. Patterned graphic soft red wallpaper in one of the boy's rooms seemed authentic and approachable. The rooms shown in this book seem to be actual homes or at least tell the story of an actual , lived in, family home. Granted, some of those parents are in the design industry, but still, there is a broader vocabulary of materials than in the typical North American home. Convincing enough to me to be entirely relatable and aspirational. Nice.

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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 grandma’s 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."

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Upon seeing this cover I was looking forward to finding a lot of great rooms and areas like it. It turns out that this was the only space that really caught my eye.

I will say that I have great respect for the number of families in the book that say they routinely have breakfast and dinner together. I truly don't think I know a family who typically has breakfast all together outside of the weekends.

Not a bad book, but not for me.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book to flip through on a sunny day. The author explores modern French interior style around the world, showing how it’s simplified and evolved over the years. Inspiring!

[Merideth Mehlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely photos, vignettes and recipes. Reminds me of the simple pleasures in life and the French lifestyle I enjoy so much.

[Marlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one. It’s got some super cute decor ideas.

[Somebody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! All the homes introduced are very lived-in and personal, which gives me a lot of inspirations. Some pictures are over-exposed, but the rooms are so beautiful that I almost didn't notice this. The receipes that follow each chapter is such a great idea. I'd love to try most of them!