All posts filed under: French vintage

boutique hotel pick – le meurice – paris, france

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There is a certain charm  to Paris which most  woman understand and appreciate and  although we learn of this at a young age, some take almost a lifetime to figure out.  Those who understand, once Paris is mentioned in conversation,  immediately come alive while exchanging  thoughts of the allure of the city. For those woman who have not yet had the opportunity to truly understand Paris as it should be, convince your travel partner to stay at Le Meurice hotel, even if for a night and I can guarantee, the ambiance will surely set the stage for an experience you will never forget. {Recommended classic reads to understanding Paris – click on photo}

holiday gift idea: exquisite furniture pieces

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My other half and I often discuss gift ideas for one another, but ultimately we come to the decision (every year) to buy something unique or exquisite for us, which we both can enjoy for years to come. I am not a fan of uniformity when it comes to furniture and love just picking pieces which would, not only compliment one another, but will also give me the feel of classic Europe or just Parisian 🙂  So for this year’s gift to ourselves, we are shopping for a multi-purpose chest for our current small but stylish apartment. I have found some ideas here and was glad to discover all the pieces are crafted in the US, which of course make for happy purchase. Merry Christmas to us 😉

the importance of detail in decor

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Like most people I have gone through many phases of decor appreciation, even though I have never been one to buy into trends.  I usually pick and choose what I like and create my own happy place from those things. However, even though that may be the case, I do appreciate detail (trend or not)  in decor, without them no room is complete in my opinion. Check out my latest favorite details in decor (for photo  resources click here)

midnight in paris – thank you woody allen

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Couple of nights ago, I finally got a chance to see the film, Midnight in Paris. I don’t know what took me so long, but no excuse is a good enough excuse in my opinion. I have this amazing love, love relationship with Paris and if the name is referenced in any title, such as movies, books, travel articles, museum special events, musicals or concerts or blogs, I will make every effort to see what it is all about. To see a film by Woody Allen, I think it is very important to be a fan. If not, the message and film contents may not go very well for the newbees. To see a film made by Woody Allen about Paris, you must have a certain understanding of the city of lights to completely appreciate the film for what it’s worth. I took a friend, who  has a youthful appreciation for Paris, to see her reaction.  The funny thing is that,  after 30 minutes into the film she turned to me and said, “what am …

happy blog anniversary to me

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One year ago, I decided to start a blog different than my other blog here. I dabbled at first at another blogger site and after a few entries and not knowing which direction I wanted to go, I opted to join the WordPress family to get inspired. Sure enough, within a week I knew what I wanted to write about and quickly imersed myself into the project. One year  later, here I am with over 50,000 hits worldwide and several hundred, subscribed loyal followers. Not bad if you ask me for a years worth of work. However, I hope year two will inspire me enough to keep the blog alive and fresh for my readers and for myself. I want to thank everyone for encouraging me to continue and praising me for a job well done. I can honestly say, if it weren’t for this blog, I  would probably be working at Starbucks to get my pop culture on 🙂 With sincere appreciation, your truly Manya

best books written about paris or are they?

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In reviewing the Guardian UK the other day, I came across an article with their list of top 10 books written about Paris. Of course, you know that immediately grabbed my interest, so I decided to share their suggestions in my blog and ask my readers for their opinion. Are the suggested books the best books written about Paris? Has anyone read any of the books and what you thought about it? if the listed books are truly not the best, please feel free to make a recommendation.

outdoor sitting french style

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This is going to be my first summer without a backyard. After selling our house in the country, we traded in a grand backyard with a pool and garden for a view of the Pacific Ocean. Not a bad trade off. But I vowed I would not write about outdoor spaces, patio furniture or backyard get togethers until I worked the entire experience out of my system. But knowing me and the need to talk outdoors, I had to include some of my favorite photos of French country backyards and furniture.

royal wedding day – across the world

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Happy Royal Wedding Day to all my British friends and loyal U.K. blog followers!!!  Enjoy the day off. We can only hope to have such a day here in the states. In light of the event and knowing not so many people will turn to their favorite blogs today, I have decided to pay homage to my favorite exhibition of royalty at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Pulp Fashion by Isabelle de Borchgrave, running through 5th of June 2011. “Pulp Fashion draws on several themes and presents quintessential examples in the history of costume—from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel. Special attention is given to the creations and studio of Mariano Fortuny, the eccentric early-20th-century artist who is both a major source of inspiration to de Borchgrave and a kindred spirit.” (Legion of Honor site) It is a must see in my opinion and a good idea for those taking …

decor ideas: vintage cupboards

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You know the funny thing about vintage cupboards is that, you either like them or hate them.  I happen to be one who loves seeing them when I go to Napa or Sonoma, California because, cupboards are used in most boutique stores, wine shops, deli’s and some bakeries to house their goods. I really can’t imagine a store without them in the wine country, but having one in an apartment just doesn’t seem ideal in my opinion. So, although I shop for cupboards at antique stores and online, I always talk myself out of bringing one home. I tell you though, if I were fortunate enough to have my own coffee shop, I would most certainly incorporate them into the decor of the shop. What’s your take on cupboards?