Little bird chandeliers: Mathieu Challieres

I came across these beautiful light fixtures made by French company Mathieu Challieres on the blog Famille Summerbelle. I love these bright little birds in illuminated cages. I'd love one in my study (if I had a study, that is.) And the apples! Wouldn't that be a fun fixture for a kitchen?

Lyndie Dourthe: paper fantasy

Lyndie Dourthe is a French artist who is self-described as passionate about paper. She creates lovely jewelry to be worn as well as objets d'art. Her installations are intricate and naturalistic.

A peek inside Paris apartments

Some fun interior vignettes from one of my Jeu de Paumes books, Appartements d'amoureux a Paris (couples apartments in Paris) with photos by Hisashi Tokuyoshi. Don't you enjoy getting a look inside real people's homes?

Céline Wright, French designer

Céline Wright creates handmade cocoon-like lamps of Japanese paper. They are delicate and strung along in interesting ways. All of her designs seem very nature-inspired.

French Find: Jeanne Bayol and Gypsy Style

There is something wonderful about someone who takes their very specific craft and makes it their own- and makes it into their livelihood. If you ever think that no one would be interested in your "niche," you're probably wrong. Take for example, Jeanne Bayol - créatrice extraordinaire who is passionate about l'esprit tzigane- (gypsy style). She restores old gypsy caravans and swaths them in bright colors, fabric and layers of decoration. Doesn't this make you want one? It would be like camping out in a fanciful mini technicolor palace...

You must check out her books, Les Roulottes and Vivre Bohême, ...There are more incredibly inspiring photos from these books at this flickr set. If you need an injection of color in your surroundings, definitely have a look! Or, order your own roulotte (caravan) at Les Verdines. (images: Jeanne Bayol; Les Verdines; Le Journal des Femmes).

More French Friday: La Maison de Marthe Desmoulins

I wasn't able to post much this week after traveling and then catching a cold. I've found so much to share, though, so I'm posting over the weekend to catch up. First, Stylist Marthe Desmoulins' home in Vaucluse was in Marie Claire Maison, the September edition. It is curious- the idiosyncratic decor seems more Scandinavian (all the chairs) with a little American vintage thrown in (like the Toledo chair at the table), than French, does it to you? She seems interesting: Marthe is a stylist I'm not familiar with, but apparently everyone knows of her for her legendary, (and now closed,) Paris boutique, Absinthe. Now, she has a boutique in Tokyo, Bazar et Garde-Manger, and plans to open a guest house. photos courtesy Marie Claire Maison

French Friday: Vincent Leroux

The photos of Vincent Leroux are often found in Marie Claire Maison and Il Corriere della Sera. These dreamlike and serene settings as seen through his lens really create a mood. I like the absence of decoration: simplicity can be decor enough. The bedrooms are my favorite- so peaceful. If only I could get my rooms this sparse!

French find: Marie Christophe

Marie Christophe is a talented iron sculpture artist whose work takes the form of chandeliers, lamps, and decorative shapes. I love the way the dress and boots look hand-sketched in pen & ink- there is movement in the dress. The sculptures with the shoes were made for Roger Vivier, the iconic Parisian shoe designer. The ceiling sculpture reminds me of a constellation! It's fanciful and unique- she says her work is an "unlikely marriage of sculpture and weightlesness," which I think is an accurate way to describe the visual effect. Where does art end and the object begin, she asks. I think they are one and the same. Photos: Marie Christophe's website