The French Farmhouse Edit: A Book, A Brush, and the Colour of Somewhere Beautiful

There are some books that stop you in your tracks. But You Are in France, Madame by Australian author Catherine Berry was one of those books for me. I came across Catherine's Instagram account @butyouareinfrancemadam five years ago and sent her a message about life in France and asked where I could buy her book. As it turned out we had a lot in common, especially our love of all things French. From the very first pages, I was transported — to sun-drenched markets, crumbling châteaux, and a life lived at a slower, more beautiful pace. At the end of the day, I longed to climb into bed with a hot cuppa and read more of Catherine's adventures in Annecy with her family.

A memoir worth reading slowly

Catherine Berry's story is one of those rare memoirs that makes you want to slow down and savour every page. It's about falling in love with France — not just the country, but the way of life. The unhurried mornings, the faded elegance, the beauty in imperfection. If you've ever dreamed of a simpler, more beautiful life, this book will feel like coming home. For me with my personal French ancestry, Catherine's book left me longing to uproot my life and move to a village in France, preferably somewhere near the ocean, but oh to be in France, what a dream that would be.

From the page to the paintbrush

As I read, I kept thinking about colour. About the furniture in those French farmhouses — the painted armoires, the worn wooden chairs, the shutters faded by decades of sun. Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint has always captured that quality for me — that sense of age and beauty and quiet elegance. So it felt only natural to pair this beautiful book with three of our most French colours. Nothing says French decor like these three colours, from peeling shutters, Monet's garden and a brocante market. 

Antoinette — the colour of faded roses

Soft, romantic, and utterly feminine, Antoinette is the colour of sun-bleached linen and old rose petals. It's the shade you reach for when you want a piece to feel gentle and timeless — a bedside table, a dressing chair, a set of drawers that looks like it's always been there. Shop the Antoinette bundle here.

Louis Blue — the colour of painted armoires

Soft, smoky and utterly sophisticated, Louis Blue is the colour of the painted furniture you find tucked into the corners of French châteaux. It's a gentle, muted blue — the kind of shade that makes a piece feel like it's always belonged somewhere beautiful. Shop the Louis Blue bundle here.

Versailles — the colour of aged stone

Warm, earthy, and timelessly elegant, Versailles is the colour of sun-warmed stone walls and garden terraces. It's the shade that grounds a room — that makes everything around it feel more considered and more calm. Shop the Versailles bundle here.

A gift for the Francophile in your life — or a little treat for yourself

Now if you've ever dreamed of moving to France, I can completely relate, however, unfortunately I can't make that happen for you but what I can do is help you to feel like you're creating a little piece of France in your own home and that's exactly why I created the French Farmhouse Bundle. Each bundle includes a copy of But You Are in France, Madame by Catherine Berry, a 120ml tin of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in your chosen colour, and an Annie Sloan Small Flat Brush to get you started. Everything you need to read, dream, create and be inspired, be it for yourself or a fellow francophile. 🇫🇷

The paint colours have been chosen to complement the mood of the book — soft, romantic, and utterly French. Whether you're drawn to the chalky warmth of Antoinette, the softness of Louis Blue, or the rustic charm of Versailles, there's a colour waiting to tell your story and become a part of your home.

So if there's a particular bundle calling your name, what are you waiting for? Pick a bundle of your favourite colour and get creating.

À bientôt....Michelle x