Daydreaming is often part of my kitchen activities. While chopping carrots on Sunday afternoon, I was remembering my last visit to Paris and the street market near Blvd, St. Germaine. The fresh produce laid out on tables creates a collage of rich colors and the dark blue clothing of the vendors is the same that has been worn for hundreds of years.

At lunch later that day, I mentioned the Paris memories to friend of mine who is a photographer. We discussed the many wonderful travel stories and meals we have shared in faraway locales. Two weeks later he appeared at my door with a large envelop under his arm. In it was a beautiful print of a Paris street scene. How could I resist framing the print and hanging it in my kitchen? Since then I have added many mouth watering images that inspire dishes based on favorite ingredients from Morocco, France, and Thailand.

Step by Step project:

o Stand at the counter where you work at most often.

o Think of what you love, comfort foods, favorite spices, ingredients, etc…

o Look for the spaces on the wall that are not occupied by cabinets or equipment.

o Measure the sizes of the spaces and write them on a note card.

o Its time to go shopping for the kind of art that suites your taste (pun intended).

Finding Images:
Shopping for images is easy at local frame shops and galleries. Or you can choose from the many websites that feature art and quick delivery times. The array of images is astounding but be sure to read about the quality of paper they are printed on. Be sure to order only work on archival quality paper or after even a few months you may see colors fading.
Tips for Display:
Consider the style of your kitchen cabinets (color, materials, etc.) when framing your pieces. Art that is displayed in an environment with dampness and fluctuating temperatures needs special framing. Tell the framer that the piece is going into a room with humidity so that they can use the right materials. If you are framing the images be sure to seal the back of the finished piece with a cardboard section, wax paper with another paper on top. Glue this around the edges and you won’t have to worry about warping or water damage of any kind.
Finally, consider extending the kitchen art into the dining room where the images will prepare the tiny taste buds of your family and guests for your newly inspired creations.

The author, Sara Denning is the President of ArtOnYourWall.Com. Resource http://www.artonyourwall.com provides open and limited edition prints by internationally known photographer, Waring Abbott, to designers and homeowners. Member ASID, American Society for Interior Designers.

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In French, the word toile means “canvas or linen.” However, it’s almost synonymous with the fabric originally printed in the village of Jouy, southwest of Paris, near Versailles. In 1760, Christopher-Philippe Oberkampf established a cotton print factory in Jouy. Being an artist and a keen entrepreneur, he capitalized on the rapidly growing middle class interest in home furnishings. Historically, the French fabric industry was subsidized by the court, and its products were used for courtly interiors. Fine silks being cost prohibitive to the middle class, a cheaper alternative was needed. Oberkampf inspired by the cotton prints imported from India, eventually made the fabric a purely French invention.

The toiles by Oberkampf were always printed on a natural cotton, with only one color ink- red, blue, plum, or green. All of the original Jouy prints were marked on the selvage with the words bon-teint, meaning “fast dye.” The designs were printed by hand, using inked blocks. Another method using engraved copper plates is very similar to printmaking. The intricate details of the fabric designs truly make them works of art, available for a nominal price.

The subject matter vividly reflects the interests of the French consumers- love, literature, travel, royalty, music, mythology, and pastoral scenes. In a 1995 article in Antiques Magazine, James Bensasson-Janniere describes a unique example of toile use- a bed found with its original treatment in the western Pyrenees of France. Made more than 150 years ago, the hangings and spread are entirely of toile in a patchwork design. According to Bensasson-Janniere, who documented and researched the patterns, this set was surely made for the occasion of a wedding. Of the 27 different toile patterns used in the quilt, the majority deal with the themes of love and marriage. Some of the patterns used were “Psyche and Cupid,” “Pallas and Venus,” “The Offering of Love,” and the most often used”La noce de campagne” (a rural wedding”).

Document toile patterns (exact copies of historic patterns) can still be bought. For example, “The Monuments of Paris,” originally produced by the Oberkampf factory in 1818 can be bought from the English company Marvic. It illustrates famous Paris monuments and the four French kings who commissioned them. The New York fabric house of Brunschwig & Fils searches its own archives when looking for toiles to add to the line.

One pattern was added after the firm received a special commission by the Taft Museum in Ohio. The museum hoped to duplicate one of its own document toiles, Les sphinx medallions. Designed in the early 19th century by Jean-Baptiste Huet, one of the most famous artists at Jouy, this toile used motifs we associate with Napoleon and the Empire style (lyres, laurel wreaths, sphinxes, and Grecian figures). Because it was unique, Brunschwig added it to its line. Two of Brunschwig & Fils’ current toiles, “Bird and Thistle” and Bromley Hall” are document patterns from Winterthur.

Not all toiles are French. England produced many, as did Ireland and Germany. Even within France, not all toiles are from Jouy, although that factory was the most famous. There were others in Nantes and Rouen.

So the next time you see a toile fabric, stop and examine the drawing. You may see part of French history, scenes from an opera, or characters from a favorite novel.

Kippie Leland, ASID of Nashville, TN. is a highly creative and problem solving interior designer with 25 years experience. She has earned her reputation by paying the greatest attention to the design details, execution and business of design. She was an assistant for 13 years to noted Nashville interior designer and antique dealer Ted Leland and an additional 12 years as owner and principal designer of Leland Interiors, L.L.C., a business with an emphasis on client satisfaction and quality interior design work. Please see samples of her projects at http://lelandinteriors.com/

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LISTEN. To get a good grasp on how French words are spoken, you must listen carefully. Listening is your key. Listen and pay attention on how the words are pronounced. Then, listen and repeat. Repeat the words properly the way they are mentioned. You can do this until you get attuned to the French sound — like it is the only accent you know and nothing else. You can begin by listening to French audio CDs or tapes, movies and TV programs. Like music, you need to be able to dance to its rhythm and learn it by heart.

PRACTICE. There’s nothing comparable to practice when it comes to mastery, and language is not an exemption. Try to speak French as much as you can. When you’re shopping for instance, try to say what’s on your list in French, count your tuna cans in French or imagine that you are in France and no one speaks English. You can also try to find a native French speaker to practice with and talk to. There are a lot of people seeking language exchange partners. If you cannot find a French language exchange partner, hiring a French tutor is your next alternative. But the good thing is that you can always check with your tutor how you’re doing with French pronunciation.

To acquire good French pronunciation you should listen very carefully on how words are pronounced and practice. Prepare, listen and practice! And then what follows is more practice… French words are very complicated, so doing your best to correctly pronounce words at the earliest stage of learning can greatly help you become a good French speaker.

Yannick is a French teacher living in Paris, owner of ParisByPod.com. Learn French the easy way with dictations, exercises, tests, photos of Paris and French lessons by email!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yannick_Di_Mondo

A few years ago, I visited San Francisco, where ornamental plaster on both interior and exterior walls is so commonplace that it’s like visiting a never ending museum of elegant plaster detailing. Being an avid “do it yourself” enthusiast, I did extensive research on the history of ornamental plaster application. What I was amazed to find is that in very early applications, actual plaster was used as the adhesive. What a novel idea! So I did some testing.

Where many of the plaster masters across the universe today use construction adhesive, I wanted to apply the plaster pieces so that they could someday be removed by the home owner if need be. Joint compound to the rescue! Joint compound mimics plaster in many ways, such as durability and strength. But its greatest attribute is that it remains moist and workable much longer than plaster of paris and doesn’t begin to set up (harden) if the lay out and application require time.

In a test, I applied an ornamental frame around my crystal chandelier. Using joint compound as the only adhesive, I attached the cast plaster pieces from a mold, directly to the painted ceiling surface. Low and behold, that beautiful, ornamental frame hasn’t budged in the 4 years since I created it. Each piece remains stuck like glue and completely stable with no cracks or evidence of separation. With the love of plaster Victorian wall frames in mind, I created a mold that combines an arched corner piece and straight frame rail. From this, I am able to create Victorian plaster wall or ceiling frames as tall and wide as I wish.

Much easier than creating architectural frames from wooden moldings, there is no need for angled cuts or corners. Joint compound is used as the adhesive between pieces and the frames are installed in minutes. Filling any gap between the wall and the plaster piece with joint compound seals the pieces to the wall but also makes them look like part of the wall itself and ensures a high quality installation.

Plaster of Paris is cheap which makes it an exciting decorating medium in today’s tough economy. A large plaster wall frame can literally cost under $10.00 in plaster to make. Yet the resulting beauty can add thousands of dollars to the homes resale value with “custom moldings” now listed as one of the homes features.

Drywall specialists and home builders can benefit greatly by offering ornamental plaster moldings as part of their service line up. The profit margin for this specialty work is incredible since costs are minimal. But real plaster wall frames are not limited to the professional. The average home owner can create this high end look with no experience what so ever.

How do you create ornamental plaster wall frames? It’s easy and requires absolutely no practice. For each frame, I cast 4 corners and 4 straight moldings using Plaster of Paris and a Plaster Wall Frame Set Mold.

Applying them was a cinch. I pre-measured my finished frame and marked the wall in pencil. Beginning with the upper corner piece, I simply butter the back with joint compound and hold to the wall for 60 seconds.

Line up the additional 3 corners with the penciled line corners and do the same. Now, add the straight pieces between the corners. Plaster of paris can be easily cut to size once the piece has been removed from the mold and still in its damp form. Simply score the piece on both the top and bottom then snap apart.

Use your finger to fill any joints with joint compound, allow to dry completely, then use an emery board or even a damp cloth, to sand smooth.

For more ornate frames, additional ornamental plaster pieces can be added to the top, bottom and sides of the frame or to the open space inside the frame.

For simple architecture, paint the frame the color of your wall. The inside area of the frame can also be used for faux finished paint effects, murals or stenciled designs. Free plaster lay out patterns are available on the web to assist you in creating ornamental plaster designs on walls or ceilings. It’s easy, it’s fun and the look is just incredible.

Victoria Larsen is a professional wall stencil designer and interior specialist. Her products and ideas have been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Day, Craft Trends, Creating Keepsakes, Rubber Stampin Retailer and Memory Maker magazines and The Wall Street Journal. Victoria’s website features ideas, techniques, stencils and ornamental wall molds for easy and beautiful home decorating.
Visit Victoria on line at http://www.victorialarsen.com
“Decorating with Class on a Budget” Blog: http://victorialarsen.typepad.com

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Only by the 9th Century the language known in Gaul was almost the same as the one we know of modern France and it was enough different of the Latin language to be a distinct language. It is also known as Old French and was used from the 9th to the 13th Century. The oldest still remaining text dated from 842 in Old French is the Oaths of Strasbourg.

Because of the Cultural and Political importance of Paris the dialect of Old French called “Francien” became the most standard form of speech in Paris and its suburbs.
By the 14th until the 16th Century the French language was known as “Middle French”. To improve and develop their literature and language some French Poets called ” Pléiade” where pushing the French because at that time a lot of words where taking from Latin, Italian and Greek.

Only in the 17th Century the French language took its own steps to modernization. Cardinal Richelieu was the founder of the French Academy in 1635 and strived to keep the French language pure as its literature and he was the ultimate judge to approve the usage of the French.

Even if the style of Modern French and its vocabulary is influenced by romanticism and realism, actually until now it only changed a little bit from the “Middle French” period. By ways of widespread education and mass media the French language has been aided in modern times to gain a real standardization.
As you see there’s a lot of the French language that we didn’t even knew.

And believe me! There’s still a lot to learn. It isn’t a coincidence that over years and years different countries and cultures are striving to attain the goal to speak that very beautiful language.

You could ask yourself: For which purpose?

o A lot of them just want to penetrate the world and history of the French culture with its language.

o Others only want to be able to go and live one day in the ancient villages that are still visited by

thousands and thousands of people the day of today.

o Some of them want to gain the knowledge of a language that had and still has its importance in this

world.

o …

What ever it is! Nobody can tell me that this “Language of Romance” isn’t marvelous…

Everaert Patrice is a Belgian native French speaker who loves to learn and teach others about the French language and its history. Join him in his adventure on How to Learn to speak French Online

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Everaert_Patrice

The inspirational Ultimate Collection from Abstract Bathrooms has become the benchmark for the bathroom industry. These superb ultra minimalist, design lead, contemporary free standing baths are made from 8mm reinforced acrylic and are finished to exacting standards.

When choosing a reproduction roll top bath there are some general rules that apply to each individual bath. The majority of people that buy a reproduction traditional free standing roll top bath are trying to restore their period properties back to there former glory. The baths usually fall in to one of two categories, either British or French. The styling of the reproduction baths are derived from the original baths, a typical British bath would be single ended ( taps at one end ), the roll of the bath on the more grandiose baths would be anywhere between 4″ and 7″ and would be a major factor when purchasing one of the original baths. The feet of the baths were not as ornate as the French baths, although a nice ball and claw foot or lions paw foot was commonplace. There are some fantastic examples of these original roll top baths at companies like the Water Monopoly of London and Drummonds of London.

The original baths were made from cast iron, and vitreous enameled at more than 800 degrees centigrade. This service is still available through unique enameling services of Ribchester in Lancashire. The French baths were and still are the Crème de la crème of free standing baths. The original French roll top baths are smaller than the British baths as the French were a smaller race than the British. The bath legs on the French baths are design classics, with wonderfully ornate detail. The best examples of these rare baths are usually found in the French Châteaus or in our own British stately homes. Wentworth Woodhouse a privately owned stately home in South Yorkshire, England , houses a fabulous collection of original baths that have been sympathetically restored by Traditional Bathrooms Limited.

The same principles apply when choosing your reproduction free standing bath. Is the bath right for the property? The proportions of the bath, how it stands, the symmetry of the bath, the ornateness of the legs. The roll widths on the reproduction baths aren’t as wide as the originals as the acrylic tries to go back into it’s original form and can cause delamination.

Traditional Roll Top Free Standing Baths – Types And Styles

Single Ended Roll Top Baths
British baths with tap holes at one end of the bath. The original baths were between 5 foot and 8 foot in length either parallel or tapered ( like a coffin in shape) the larger single ended roll top baths were used as shower baths also known as Canopy Baths and Plunger Baths . These baths are probably the most comfortable of all roll top baths.

A good example of the reproduction bath would be the Oxford Single Ended Bath made by Qulaceram this example is made from twin skinned acrylic and is sandwich filled with resin throughout the cavity.

Roll Top Slipper Baths
French style baths originally this type of bath didn’t have legs and sat straight on the floor. The bathing position of this bath is more upright than that of a single ended bath. Good examples of this bath are the Tiffany Slipper Bath from Qualceram a superb bath made from stone cast resin with an inner skin of 5mm acrylic. A less expensive option would be the Balmoral Slipper Bath from the Paris Collection by Abstract Bathrooms. This bath is made from twin skinned 5mm acrylic and is reinforced at the base. Don’t confuse this bath with similar looking baths as this bath has a superior specification.

Roll Top Double Ended Baths
French in it’s origin although there are British an American versions. The original French Baths are easily distinguishable as they didn’t have any tap holes. The Paris Bath from Traditional Bathrooms Limited is a superb bath made from stone cast resin with an inner skin of 5mm acrylic and the most fantastic bath legs you are ever likely to see. The less expensive option would be the Balmoral Double Ended Bath from the Paris Collection byAbstract Bathrooms. This bath is made from twin skinned 5mm acrylic and is reinforced at the base. Don’t confuse this bath with similar looking baths as this bath has a superior specification. Unusually this bath is available in a 1500mm size.

Roll Top Bateau Baths And Boat Baths
The epitome of French design flair and possibly the most stylish baths ever made. The first examples of these stunning baths were developed by Jacob Delafon of Paris the original baths sell for thousands of pounds and are as popular now as they were when they were first developed circa 1850 to 1900. The reproduction baths are available with or without legs, the best examples of the bateau baths on legs are the Paris Bateau bath from Abstract Bathrooms be sure to choose a bath without tap holes for that authentic look. The Boat baths sit on an integral plinth and go right to the floor. Although a little expensive the boat bath from the Clearwater-Collection is a faithful reproduction of the original boat bath with the Abstract Bathrooms boat bath been a better value bath. These baths are at home in both contemporary and traditional settings as there style transcends decades of interior design genres.

This article was written by Steve Ratcliffe the Managing Director of Traditional Bathrooms Limited, a UK Bathrooms And Bathroom Suite Superstore that specialise in Free Standing Roll Top Baths. For further details please contact Traditional Bathrooms Limited at:

http://www.victorianbathrooms4u.com/contact_us.php
Luxury designer free standing roll top baths, at affordable prices delivered free throughout the UK. We offer free expert advice on all aspects of your bathroom renovations and a genuine guarantee that we will not be beaten on price.

I am sure that when you have read this article, you will be in a position to make an informed decision as to which freestanding roll top bath you would like to buy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Ratcliffe

One of the most wonderful contributions of the Internet is online tutorials. Now, you can study French and master it with less effort through online French lessons. There are countless online French courses in the Internet but it’s important that you know which program corresponds to your needs. It won’t be as useful and effective to you as it can be to others if it doesn’t suit you.

One way of learning French language is by studying the online course lesson via the Internet. However, there are also online programs that allow you to download the whole course so you can copy it on CD and listen to it anywhere you go. Aside from that, interactive programs are also available online in which you can assess your knowledge as you advance your French lesson.

In addition, you can make use of online French courses in increasing your vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. You can find such programs online that bring about creative and useful lessons that are designed for people who are having difficulty in learning French. There are lots of websites that offers French vocabulary games and mind-benders that can help you enjoy while learning. Also, there are several online exercises such as critical analysis, web research etc. that could help you progress in a much enjoyable way.

On the other hand, in selecting online French courses, choose the one that offers money back guarantee so that you can demand for a refund if the product is a big flop. If you could find offers like a free trial on French programs, then it’s better. Other websites offer some free lessons hoping that you will like their programs. So take advantage of it and decide which program could help you most with your goal.

However, it is important to remember that you should take a mental break when you get tired to save the stored information in your overloaded brain. Whatever the medium you use in this pursuit, it is best that you know there is no such thing as instant learning. Therefore, if you are determined to learn French, you have to dedicate enough patience, willingness and time.

Yannick is a French teacher living in Paris, owner of ParisByPod.com. Learn French the easy way with dictations, exercises, tests, photos of Paris and French lessons by email!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yannick_Di_Mondo

Go French, Go Bistro

There’s no doubting your devotion to that little Parisian bistro you just have to go to every time you find yourself in that city. So, why not bring Paris to your home? Nothing says Paris like bistros, and by making bistro tables and chairs a part of your kitchen or your patio, you can recapture the charming and timeless appeal of one of your favorite places.

Good bistro tables and chairs are ones you could use indoors as well as out. They are comfortable, weatherproof, and sturdy enough to brave the elements. At the same time, they are highly inviting. Bistro tables and chairs open up spaces. When used in the home, particularly in the patio or the kitchen, they act as an elegant invitation to conversations. They draw people towards one focal point; and because bistro tables and chairs do not eat up much space, they gather people round without making them feel constricted or cramped.

Bistro: Beautiful and Versatile

Most bistro tables and chairs are made of wood. However, if wood makes you feel wooden and uninspired, you need not worry. There are a variety of bistro tables and chairs in the market today. They come in almost any design, and are made of just about any material you could think about. If you are the creative type, and you believe you’d have a new concept to try out in a few months’ time, get bistro tables and chairs of a classic make. The good thing about bistro tables and chairs of this type is that you can change their appearance whenever you feel like it. How? Through upholstery! Get a wooden bistro table and chairs. Then, upholster the chairs with any fabric of your choosing. To complete the Parisian look, go for beautiful fabric. Velvet, damask, brocade, lustrous silks, and flowered fabric are tres chic. Details like tassels, cording, and fringes will add an old-world charm to your bistro chairs. You can even take the look further with bistro chairs with carved legs.

You don’t have to go to Paris to be at your favorite bistro. Make your kitchen your favorite dining place with bistro tables and chairs. Not only will it change your kitchen or patio space for the better, it will help soothe the wanderlust in your soul.

Get your own bistro tables and chairs [http://www.simplybarstools.co.uk/tables-c-11.html] now. SimplyBarStools.co.uk offers you first dibs on the best tables and bar stools in UK, from bistro sets to bar stools with contemporary [http://www.simplybarstools.co.uk/contemporary-bar-stools-c-4.html] designs.

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The French language has a unique pronunciation system which makes certain alphabets silent in such a way as to produce musical sounds when speaking. To give you an example the last consonant of any French word is only pronounced if it is followed by a vowel otherwise it is kept silent. The second thing is that J is pronounced as Y in French and i as ee. Moreover the CH is always pronounced as SH in French. So the name Jacques Chirac is pronounced Yak Sheerac. For similar reasons the world famous city Paris is pronounced as Paghee- the sound of r is quite different in French and not easily pronounced by English speakers.

Apart from the beauty and the music, learning of French is beneficial to enhance one’s vocabulary of English for many English words and expressions are derived from French. Art déco, attaché, bête noire, blonde, brunette, carte blanche, coup d’état, critique, cuisine, déjà vu, du jour, en bloc, en masse, en route, fiancé, force majeure, genre, hors de combat, joie de vivre, laissez-faire, matinee, nouveau riche, objet d’art, par excellence, queue, rendez-vous, sans, souvenir, toilette, vis-à-vis etc are just a few words out of a long and almost unending list of words which the English language has borrowed from French.

It follows from above that learning French is not only a delightful activity but also an activity which enriches one’s vocabulary.

Waqar Awan is a platinum level writer. His hobbies include reading books and writing articles about Climate and Weather, History, Geography, Religion, Self Help, Self improvement, Vocabulary skills and other topics of general interest. Waqar Awan has more than 10 years of writing articles and many of his articles have also been published in various journals internationally. If you have any comments about his articles you can anytime contact him at waqar5670@gmail.com

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Begin by choosing a neutral palette. Chanel style relies on glamour in your accessories, not on your walls. Choose colors that make you think of suede, coffees, or clean whites. The wall color is simply the backdrop for your furniture and special additions, so be sure not to paint with a color that is overpowering.

If you are in the market for a new couch, choose one that is similar in color to your walls. Couches shouldn’t stand out in a room that evokes Chanel style. You can find microfiber sofas that would look great in a neutral room, as well as suede or buttery leather. Try to avoid cloth sofas, as the material will stand out too starkly in a room if you are trying to achieve a luxurious feel.

Gilt mirrors are a must have. Larger mirrors with carved wooden frames or beveled glass would look beautiful on the wall behind your sofa. If you can’t find what you are looking for in home stores, try various antique markets. Although the mirrors will be more costly, the look cannot be matched. You can often find replications in antique stores as well.

Lighting was perhaps the most important factor in a Paris apartment. Chandeliers and wall sconces were hung in each room. To match the style, find wrought iron wall sconces with candle-type lights. Chandeliers can be gilt gold or black iron, but be sure to avoid any modern styles as they will look out of place in your room. Table lamps that have crystal or glass stems with white shades look beautiful on your end tables.

It’s the little things that take a plain room and make it stunning. Coco Chanel focused on items she picked up in her travels. Large glass globes lined the coffee tables, hardback books filled the book shelves, and items such as small wooden masks were heavily used. Although purchasing these specific items would empty your bank balance very quickly, you can buy reproduction items in home stores that will fit the bill nicely.

The use of Chinese silk screens to divide rooms was one of the many signature pieces that Ms.Chanel used to bring color into her rooms. Chinese fabrics were stretched across screens and placed in vital areas. You can create your own screen with patterned fabric that you love.

What was one of the last, yet most important items that Coco Chanel used to decorate her apartment? Chanel Number 5 was liberally sprayed throughout her rooms on a daily basis. You may wish to use a different scent, but a spray of perfume or other fragrance really brings life to your space.

We can’t all have an apartment in Paris, but we can bring some of that style into our own homes by channeling the spirit of the Rue Cambon and adding luxurious touches to our rooms.

Fran has a love and flair for interior design and decorating with French influences. Her number one suggestion is to look at her favorite place for finding reversible braided area rugs and wool braided rugs.

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