J'adore Fall....

Even though we have officially been in the fall season for several weeks, we are still having warm days here in SoCal, our nights are nice & cool & the leaves are beginning to change..a soft gold now that will become more vibrant as the days pass. This is a busy time of year here at Rue 27 Maison...finishing up a major design project...getting ready for a buying trip to France ...enjoying friends & family on the weekends...I love this time of year...many wonderful upcoming events...the holidays & many fabulous fall antique markets ahead! Sharing with you a few fave Fall entertaining & decorating ideas from the last few weeks....

Fall in the courtyard this weekend at Rue 27 Maison...

Small plates at Rue 27 Maison...

Rue 27 Maison...

Wine & Cheese at Rue 27 Maison...

Simply neutral...Rue 27 Maison

Rue 27 Maison...

Love the petite orange pumpkins at the farmers market this week...

Until Next time....Cheers!

The neutrals of Autumn....

Next week is the first day of fall...in many areas the days are still warm with a hint of the cool crisp weather to come...Autumn....a gorgeous season with the browns, oranges & greens...all beautiful! The last few years I have decorated my home in more neutrals...I love the white pumpkins which seem to be everywhere now...a trend that seems to be here to stay...I still love the traditional colors of autumn...they bring back wonderful memories of past fall seasons. Its a nice change to use the whites this time of year & make new traditions interwoven with the past ones...Sharing with you a few faves this week..the neutrals of fall...

Petite white pumpkins at Rue 27 Maison

Fall entertaining this week..an antique urn with a white cinderella pumpkin...

White pumpkins...fresh from the pumpkin patch

Fall dining at Rue 27 Maison this week...

Beautiful fall display from Cottage Journal...

Love the white hydrangeas with the white pumpkins...

Simple & beautiful neutral fall table...

Until next time...Cheers!

Indian Summer...

Before summer fades into fall...there's this beautiful interlude called...Indian Summer...when the days are still warm with cool evenings and just a hint of crisp air...the trees began to change..a slight gilding on the leaves and the shadows fall at more definite angles. Living in Socal...the Indian Summers are several weeks and usually began the last days of August...the sky is a beautiful clear blue and now & then you will see the occasional puffy cloud...the light in the sky at dusk or twilight takes on a golden hue behind the inky blue. This week...between antique markets...I shopped for fall flowers...purple mums & lots of rusty oranges...we entertained several times this week and the mix of the oranges & purples were a little touch of fall....I love this time of year...not only is this weather beautiful...we know that one of the most joyous seasons is approaching...a time of All Hallows' Eve...Thanksgiving...and the beautiful Christmas season...all before we welcome a new year..Throw in some football...family...friends & delicious fall foods...you have a favorite time of year for many of us...Sharing with you a few faves of mine...crushing on...Indian Summer...

Entertaining in the garden at Rue 27 Maison...

Love these rusty orange fleurs...

 old silver goblets & juleps go well with the orange mums...

Rue 27 Maison...

Wine & cheese...

Almost time for the guests...

Until next time...Cheers!

Design....The Neutrals

I love a neutral palette...a tone on tone room...neutral colors have many advantages as a design color choice. They are colors which are livable, flexible and classic...they are as ideal for those who are unsure about color choice as those who are....neutral color palettes are subtle and can create spaces that are both restful and soothing or warm and energizing.
Off or “dirtied,” whites work well with other light neutrals and brighter whites...the off whites & the neutrals let your look....antiques....art...take center stage...you "see" the inspiration for the setting without the distractions of strong colors. Sharing with you a few faves of mine...the neutrals in design...

Neutral love at Rue 27 Maison

Shades of white & textures make this a stunning setting

Neutral colors enhance this collected home...

Neutral dining at Rue 27 Maison...

Beautiful patina on these neutral antiques...

Modern & collected neutral room

French...classic Astier de Villatte...

Beautiful neutral palette from Tone on Tone Antiques...

The whites plus neutrals in this dining setting...

Beautiful & calm neutral bedroom...

Until next time...Cheers!

Farmers Markets

Rue 27 Maison

This time of year the local Farmers Markets here in southern Cali are in full swing....shoppers are everywhere with baskets brimming with local organic fruits, vegetables & baked goods....also many stands have beautiful & fragrant herbs...lavender and fresh cut flowers. Some stands also have roasted nuts...freshly made pies & local honey. The smells are wonderful...today the sun is bright & the skies very blue with not a cloud in sight...what a gorgeous day to be shopping al fresco. I shop at several markets each week and I am never disappointed....I have shopped at farmers markets all over Europe and the common thread that seems to connect these local markets are the delicious, healthy produce...the homemade freshly baked goods & the friendly & helpful spirit of the vendors. I know many vendors by name & I return each time to find that special local vegetable or fruit of the season and to chat with friends & vendors. I always leave with several bouquets of herbs & flowers. Today I found delicious heirloom tomatoes, fresh rosemary, potatoes & several bunches of lavander. We had rosemary pomme frites & roast beef with gravy "open face" sandwiches with the tomatoes. It was delicious & fresh...Sharing with you a few faves of shopping local farmers markets...

Fresh local vegetables...

A basket comes in handy...

The homemade breads are delicious...

Farmers market in Provence...

Local market in SoCal...

Heirloom tomatoes...local & delicious

Rosemary pomme frites at Rue 27 Maison...

Large weekly market in Aix en Provence...

Homemade pies...

What a wonderful stand...take a few as a thank you...as they say in Louisiana French...."lagniappe"

Until next time....Cheers!

Flower Crush...Sunflowers

Sunflowers have always been the happy flower to me...they seem to smile & nod as they grow tall in the fields...sunflowers can grow up to several feet in height & when mature usually face east. For a few short weeks at the beginning of the summer in Provence, two of the most beautiful & photogenic flowers bloom together...sunflowers & lavender...in vast fields often side by side...I have seen these beautiful fields many times...each time I am unprepared for the breathtaking sight...it is gorgeous...the rich yellow of the sunflower & the passionate purples of the lavender...under the soft glowing light in this part of France..it is definitely an experience that stays with you. Sunflowers are actually native to the Americas, brought to Europe by the Spaniards in the 16th century. There are several areas in southern Cali where you can find beautiful & sprawling fields of sunflowers and they are also seen in abundance in Tuscany. Sunflowers have always been popular as a cut flower & have become more so in the last few years being used in many rustic weddings & country style entertaining. I bought several bouquets this week at a local farmers market...I love to use them in large bunches...sharing with you a few faves of this beautiful & happy flower...the Sunflower..:))

In Provence sunflowers generally grow over 5 feet high, bloom from late June until the end of July with harvest occurring at the beginning of August...

Sunflowers look fabulous in tall vases & containers...

Sunflowers at Rue 27 Maison this week...

Love the look of the yellow sunflower tucked into a napkin at Rue 27 Maison...

Sunflowers mixed with wild flowers...

Gorgeous fields of yellow that can be seen from far away...

The perfect flower for this elegant & rustic setting from Colin Cowie...

Love this country arrangement...

Fields of sunflowers in Tuscany...

Until next time...Cheers!