French Country Living [Hardcover]

Caroline Clifton-Mogg (Author), Christopher Drake (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2004

Celebrating the distinctive decorative style inspired over many centuries by the French countryside. French Country Living is an invaluable resource for anyone who has ever longed to bring home a piece of France. Combining evocative photographs with elegant and illuminating text by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, the book argues that the familiar romantic landscape is still a vital part of France, and that the roots of most French people lie firmly in the rural way of life. The first part, The Elements, explores the ingredients that make up the whole: the subtle color palette of soft warm grays, cloudy pinks, and misty greens, the traditional materials, the furniture, and the textiles. Then there are the distinctive, often unchanging, objects and accessories, from ceramics to silver to pictures. The second part. The Spaces, looks at the overall style.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Drake was brought up in Norway and now lives in London. After working as a photographer's assistant at Vogue, he moved into interiors photography. His work is featured in many magazines, including Homes and Gardens, the World of Interiors, and Country Living. For Ryland Peters and Small he has photographed Open Air Living, Comfortable Country, Interiors by Design, and Hallways, Corridors, and Staircases.

Caroline Clifton-Mogg is an experienced journalist and author, writing about interior design, gardens, and other subjects. She contributes to several magazines, including House and Garden and the Telegraph Magazine. Her books include Inspired by Antiques, The Curtain Design Source Book, and The Color Design Source Book (all Ryland Peters and Small).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841726028
• ISBN-13: 978-1841726021
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #952,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essence of the French Culture, July 26, 2004

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French Country Living (Hardcover)

Outside of Paris and the other bustling cities, France's image is of small farms, atmospheric medieval villages, and of an age well past but well preserved with an understated elegance. Even newly built houses are often designed with a view towards looking like the 19th century.

In this book, hundreds of color photographs illustrate the essence of the French countryside. The book is in two parts, the first emphasizes the soft, non-contrasting colors and the natural materials and textures that are distinctly France. The second part of the book looks at the overall style. It looks at the French home, starting of course with the kitchen (this is after all France). Only then does it move on to the rest of the house, ending with the French garden. And this is France, so the garden also emphasises a place to eat and drink.

This is an absolutely delightful book.

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and informative, February 2, 2006

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Country Living (Hardcover)

Actually bought this book French Country Living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Christopher Drake (Photographer) as well as New French Country : A Style and Source Book by Linda Dannenberg (Author), Guy Bouchet (Photographer) and this book is really great for those of us who look for more of a French Zen style devoid of lots of tassels and furniture that you are afraid to even sit on.

I especially appreciate the crisp clean photography and amount of white theme rooms and simple room designs. I recommend this book to anyone who loves open, bright and airy homes and rooms, that in my opinion help alleviate or even prevent depression in many people.

And the rooms are so easy to clean and easy to live in. No fear of messing something up. In some ways the book shows what I would call California or casual university town style living that is also environmentally friendly and physically healthy. Also very affordable styles are shown so the book should appeal to all financial groups.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, January 24, 2007

By 

hollygolightly (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Country Living (Hardcover)

Caroline Clifton-Mogg's French Country Living is a delicious book to look at; the pages are filled with beautiful, airy rooms and the accompanying text does a good job of explaining how the effect is achieved--lots of grey in the colors, painted furniture, small-sized fabric prints, etc.

This is French country living in the Marie-Antoinette-at-Petit-Trianon style, not truly rural la France profonde, however. The exquisitely restored rooms are filled with priceless antiques, and a cursory glance over the photo credits suggests that the majority of houses shown are located in either Provence, or the richer departements near Paris (the most famous house in Yvelines is Versailles, if that gives you an idea of what's in the neighborhood of some of the chateaux photographed). Having seen more than one room in a rural French house with vinyl wallpaper on the ceiling and door, I can only wish that all of French country life was this beautiful!