Florence de Dampierre French Chic: The Art of Decorating Houses

When a part is used as a reference to a whole, it is a synecdoche. What Florence de Dampierre has done with this book is to offer her own home as a synecdoche for a level of French interior design that is beyond the imaginations of most of us. Located in the remarkable town of Litchfield, Connecticut, and on a row of homes dating to pre-Revolutionary days, her home is a magnificent tribute to French design. Were the Comte du Rochambeau to show up by surprise, he would find the de Dampierre lodgings very satisfying indeed. Cardinal Richelieu himself would consider himself right at home (providing Rochambeau had already departed).The fact is that French design works remarkably well in the Early American home. What makes this home - and this book - so remarkable is the cost-is-no-object approach. De Dampierre has approached the restoration of her home with a museum curator's attention to detail. Every molding, every fabric, every lamp...chair...table has received the curator's blessing. Whether you walk from room to room or flip pages through the book, you are struck with the obsession to detail that has produced it all. Day job? What's that?My favorite room in this home, the conservatory, is only visible in the background in some of the photos. While it may not house any treasures of French interior design, it does provide a a garden setting refuge during the long New England winters. It is a glassed-in porch, designed into to the south side of the house, and it is filled with plants and garden furniture. Perhaps de Dampierre's next book will be about French gardens. After all, she has left little to write about chic French interior design.

For once, the style depicted in a design book is one readily adapted to "real people" who have a budget that includes both nice antique purchases and Pottery Barn items. Her home is, of course, fabulous, but her advice is totally down to earth. The author is an expert on antiques and provides the history of dining, rugs, windows, etc.. My daughter was not interested in reading all this, but I loved it. We both loved the Chic Advice sections. While decorating my new "old" house, I've stepped a little outside my comfort zone because of this book's amazing photos and advice. Note that rugs designed by the author are readily available - just google- and at good prices. Highly recommend this if you are interested in history and like the idea of updating traditional design.

I have to admit I got bogged down in the beginning of this book. Following the "crash course" in French design history, the rest of the book was just OK, nothing to inspire me. I ended up turning the pages and looking at the photos only. The cover is one of the best parts. I recommend looking through this book in a store before buying from Amazon. You may decide that, for the price, you can live without it. However, if you are addicted to books like I am, you won't be sorry you bought it, but it may not be your favorite "go to" book for inspiration.

To sum up this book for you - Its a woman who decided to photograph her home believing she knows a thing or two about French décor and to be frank, there is very little of anything French in this book - The photos are traditional and often used again and again - The cover misleading and the interior an epic failure - If you are truly looking for French inspiration - keep looking - this is not the book for any knowledgeable French enthusiast !

French Chic is a treasure because it bridges the divide between the great French historical tradition of interior design to practical design for today's home. Many interior designers develop complicated and elaborate interiors only a billionaire could afford. De Dampierre gives the reader beauty and design with historical tradition, yet it is something that most households can acheive and afford on their own. This is the practical bridge that Martha Stewart acheived with cooking and household items; de Dampierre does this with interior design. The book is filled with practical advise and suggestions that help you find what you need. If you want the luxury of French style in your home, but want it to be consistent with American life today, this book is a MUST HAVE. BOFFO de Dampierre.

I am a fan of french style and I'm always looking for new publications,this book has some nice elements but for the most part is nothing new or inspiring,there's a lot of flowery,fuzzy,gilded stuff that has been done before.In my opinion this is nothing special.

Like the first reviewer, I'm not sure what to think. I suppose its alright: there are some pretty photos, but her home (unlike the overdressed palace of Charlotte Moss) is not enough tosustain an expensive coffee table gewgaw like this book. I guess that's where the potted history of French decoration and *Chic Advice* comes in -- they serve as filler, because there are simply not enough photos. Ms Dampierre also seems to have an excessive interest in gilt mirrors -- there is a chapter on the subject, with multiple shiny views of the glowing goldiness of it all. I am also not certain why there are so many pages on table settings & recipes. Recipes do not interest me, because Maximum Toile does not cook -- she DECORATES! My rating: B-