April in Paris

Having just moved into my new apartment, I am enjoying personalising my space. I guess one could say it is a "Room With a View". I have downsized to the max........meaning I have opted for living in one large room. With my youngest now in college, I am reassessing. This happens with major events such as the last child leaving home. Having been told that I would experience feeling lost and lonely, I decided to change that scenario to "having fun" with changes. Do not get me wrong, I miss her like crazy, but time has come to let her have her independence, and hence, I am taking mine.

My new apartment is on the left bank and just one block from the Seine. When I walk out the door and turn to the right, I have a glorious view of the Seine and the Tuileries just across the way. The Tuilerie gardens are where I run in the mornings. Does that sound a little pretentious? Sorry, not my style, but hey, I am trying to adapt to my new life!!! I now have taken more time to exericise, also.

Meanwhile, spring flowers are appearing in the windows of the numerous beautiful little floral boutiques in Paris, and I am enjoying finding just the right place to put them Chez Moi. Something else new for me is living on the ground floor. Loving it!!! As you see in the picture above, I am trying gardening in Paris. Yes, that is an exageration.........So,yes, I bought some Laurels and some boxwood. In the court yard of my building is a beautiful old tree that seems to be the home of a few singing birds. I had the pleasure of waking up to that new noise this morning. Just wanted to share my Room With a View with you this morning. It is a glorious spring day in Paris.........

xx Linda

The Princess In Me

Once upon a time about five years ago, I discovered a designer. She was showing her collection in a beautiful suite in the Ritz Hotel on the Place Vendome in Paris. Her name is Luisa Beccaria, and I fell in love with her clothes. She is of Italian nobility and has a chateau in Sicily. This woman only knows luxury. Her creations are what dreams are made of.........luscious silks, pretty velvets, gold threaded tweeds. Her prints often reproduced on silks and satins are vintage 18th century designs she discovers. They are the ultimate in feminity. This coat makes me feel like a princess when I wear it. Pastel aqua tweed with gold threads.......aqua velvet piping...... seed pearls and gold glass beading embellish both the collar and cuff.....lining is aqua charmeuse silk. It probably deserves better company that my cords and boots, but what can I say........I do not know how to pull off the head to toe princess look. Still, I do feel slightly precious when wearing my Princess Coat. Must admit it is a feeling I could become accustomed to.......

xx Linda

India and her New Crimson Cardie

Perfect lunch with my darling daughter. What made this a perfect lunch you ask?

Easy Recipe: Lunch at Hanawa included my favorite salade with a wonderful mix of different greens and topped with fresh slices of sashimi (white fish only). Next four pieces of the best salmon ever......melted in my mouth. Numerous cups of green tea and finished off with a beautifully ripe mango.

India then very patiently let me take a few snaps of her look today. I have just received in my shop a new sweater I have been working on for a few weeks.........takes time!!! Loved the way she was wearing it today. Simple fluide grey crepe de chine jacket with her slim fitting cords.

Vintage t-shirt found in London's Top Shop and Oh Those Shoes. Louboutin, of course!!!

That classic jumbo size Chanel doesn't hurt either.......Yep, just the way I like to see my cashmeres worn.......something old, something new...........

xx Linda

Out With The Old - In With The New

I loves textures, and I love fabrics, and I love pretty around me. Pretty can mean a million things of course. So, I will not start listing everything I think is pretty. Each to his own in that department. With time my tastes have changed as to how I want to live. These pictures demonstrate a period of time when I collected "things" and bought "things". Auctions were a big part of my life. Decorating with objects were important to me. Well, guess what?

I got over that!!! Now, I want clean, modern and fresh.

So, in a few days I will be posting my new abode. Changing from Right Bank to Left Bank. Right Bank is more Establishment and Left Bank is more artsy I have heard and read. Not true!!! I have been told by the dictators of my new building that I am obliged to paint my front door dark green. Simple as that. Those are the rules in this 18th century building. Did not want to get off on the wrong foot, so I did as told. My only worry now is that they will not accept that I put a brushed chrome door knob and not the brass round thingy that everyone else has.

More on my move next week..........Will take pictures of my scaled down new Left Bank apartment. Wish me luck that I will not be snobbed for my choice of door knobs.

I have my reasons!!! Goes better with the interior. You will see.......

Wish me luck on my move. xx Linda