My
French Farmhouse
Décor Philosophy
To create a true French Farmhouse feeling one must let go of the American obsession with perfection and embrace imperfection. The French are not typically interested in “bigger, better, faster” and this is evident in their surroundings. Homes are old and LIVED in.
A French Farmhouse will hold worn surfaces, well-read books and tattered furniture that appears to have been enjoyed for generations. Its kitchen will smell of herbs and the next savoury meal. Its bedrooms adorned in textiles that have been handed down from generation to generation. A French Farmhouse is lived in, art is cultured there, food is created there and a mystery should unfold in every room.
We stateside Francophiles CAN recreate this look, but it won’t happen in the aisles of Homegoods. It will happen when we “trouvé”… when we find our Farmhouse look is gathered, treasured and perfectly imperfect. These posts will reflect my own French Farmhouse style has evolved over the years and how I am creating this signature look here at our new home; Sur le Rocher in Door County.
Summer Meal Inspiration | Einkorn Carrot Cake, Tomato Confit, Salt Crust Chicken
Summer Meal Inspiration I can't think of anything l love more than being a homemaker. Yes, I'm a business woman, blogger, YouTuber and all that, but creating a safe, beautiful world for these people to call home is my greatest passion. I want our home to be our...
Essential Oils for Gardening & My Gardening Basket
I'm going to share with you how I use Essential Oils for Gardening, and then I'll share my Gardening Basket that I made just for you and here's why... As I am entering my second year of gardening here at Sur le Rocher I thought it would be fun to share with you some...
Compound Butter with Ramps from the Forest
(For more compound butter like this "Compound Butter with Ramps from the Forest" be sure you have a copy of my cookbook, From France to the Farm.) Confession. I'm obsessed with my garden. It's all I think about, all I care about right now, I roll over in the middle of...
German Dark Chocolate Cake from Scratch | May Days
It's May. Here in Door County, that means it's balmy and beautiful one day and drizzly and horrible the next. And so we carry on. All our efforts are going into the garden. We've made such a mess cutting down trees and tilling new beds that I am CRAVING the beauty...
My Gardening Insecurities & a Spring Garden Tour 2019
‘Scuse me whilst I dig the dirt out from under my fingernails… … I just looked down and realized how horrid they actually look. It’s definitely NOT manicure season. ‘Tis the season of compost, and calluses, Of worms and worn wooden handles, The season of a happy heart...
Spring Farmhouse Home Tour 2019
We just had what I thought was our last snowfall about seven days ago and so I've been frantic in the potager repairing the deer fence, planting spring seeds, amending the soil like a mad woman, but I took a little break to welcome my Momma for the week. And you know...
Make Your Dreams a Reality
Recently, I was tagged on YouTube and asked to share my dreams for a What are Your Dreams playlist... WOW. Ask a dreamer what her dreams are? Have you got all day? I actually rather talk about YOU and how to make YOUR dreams a reality. However, I accepted the tag and...
My Tips for Beautiful Skin After Forty
Hello Lovelies! Mirror time is limited as a mother of six. My self-care needs to be quick, effective and ON POINT. I don’t have time for bad looking skin and neither do you. In response to questions about how I care for my skin, I thought I’d share with you seven ways...
Fan Girls and Faux Finishes: Laura Ingalls Wedding Cake Recipe
“That afternoon the finished black cashmere was carefully pressed, and then Ma made a big, white cake. Laura helped her by beating the egg whites on a platter with a fork, until Ma said they were stiff enough. “My arm is stiffer,” Laura ruefully laughed, rubbing her...
Fresh Perspective
Joy in the Mundane. Happy New Year. Better late than never, I suppose. The Christmas décor is cleaned, organized and tubbed away for next year. And I'm thrilled to say there is no company on the horizon for at least two weeks. I do love to entertain but by the fifth...
French Farmhouse Christmas Tour
Welcome to my French Farmhouse Christmas Tour I never meant to go this long in between blog posts. What's the opposite of a Grinch? The opposite of Ebinezer Scrooge? Because, c'est moi! Last year we were surrounded by moving boxes and utter chaos. We had just moved in...
Why I Said “No” to Reality T.V.
Friday's are always a fun day here in the farmhouse. We publish a new video to YouTube every Friday and I have to say, I really, really enjoy this new "vlogging" adventure I am on. It wasn't always like that. About a year and a half ago I got a call from a reality...
What is a French Country Kitchen?
Just what IS a French Country Kitchen? How do you make a French Farmhouse Kitchen? How do you get the look of a real, lived in French farmhouse? The look is more easily achieved than you think. In my recent YouTube two-part video I joked about becoming un-addicted to...
There’s a Hole in the Bucket, Dear Liza
Bucket Sink DIY So this is our Bucket sink DIY. Yep, how to make a vintage bathroom sink with a brass bucket. Joel and I are going to unpack how to make a bucket sink for the ultimate vintage bathroom sink. You can use your favourite bucket to make a copper sink,...
The Cold Calm Before the Garden
Allow me to pause from decorating, painting and wandering these halls, still stunned that this is our home... I have an announcement to make... It's Winter in Door County BUT The snow is receding. For now, that is. For someone who hates winter, I'm... adjusting. No...
Everyday Chateau, Episode III
Woohoo, baby, we are in full fixer upper mode around here! That is, in between the meals and the homeschooling and the oiling and the recipe testing... This vision for the kitchen is coming together and I have to stop myself from saying, "Slowly, but surely." as we...
Where Women Create
Or, at the very least, "Where this Woman Creates" WWC is a fine magazine run by the amazing Jo Packam and once I had the honour of being on the cover of Jo's food based "Where Women Cook" (found here). That was back in the blogging hay-day... but... Forgive my old...
The Rejected House, The Before Pics
If you missed it, you'll want to go back and get up to snuff because I'd love to share with you now the before photos of this French Farmhouse Makeover and why I rejected this house for TWO years! I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to actually have something to...