Our New Site is Here!

Our new site is here! Check it out on your computer, phone, or tablet. We hope you enjoy our new mobile-friendly format. Please call us with questions at (888) 96-FRANCE or (714) 730-2182, or email bonjour@idreamoffrance.com.

 

Spring Celebration Tablecloths

Planning a Passover seder, Easter dinner, or Mother’s Day brunch? Check out our tablecloths to help you set a beautiful table. Click any of the pictures below to view more information on I Dream of France.

Please call us with questions regarding availability and shipping times at (888) 96-FRANCE or (714) 730-2182.

Versailles Blue Cotton Coated Provence Tablecloths by Le Cluny

From Le Cluny French Country Collection, the Versailles coated tablecloth is fit for royalty! It features a blue indiennes or jacobean pattern on a white background. It is 100% cotton coated with acrylic to make it stain resistant and long lasting. Spills will not go through, protecting your table. Cleanup is as easy as wiping it with a sponge. UV resistant, they will not fade and are perfect inside or outside.Available in many different sizes, with matching napkins, placemats, chair pads, and bread baskets.

 

Fayence Cream Cotton Coated Provence Tablecloths by Le Cluny

These Fayence Yellow French Provencal tablecloths and placemats are coated with a thin layer of acrylic to make them stain resistant or wipe-off and reduce the need for washing.  They can still be machine washed and line dried. The coating will not wear off with occasional washing. They are UV resistant and very durable. They are available in various round, rectangular and square sizes. Matching cotton napkins and bread baskets are not coated.                            

Bougainvillea Yellow & Blue Tablecloth by Couleur Nature

This vintage-inspired design features a botanical pattern with bougainvillea flower and leaf motifs. Colors include blue and golden yellow, which exude life onto the table, adding a Provençal feel no matter what type of food is gracing your table.

Bunny Towels

A great choice for your kitchen, or for a hostess gift. These are all made by Coucke, imported from France and made in Portugal.

                                             

 

90″ Round French Tablecloths

Tablecloths for Large Round Tables

Many customers ask us about tablecloths for their large round tables. We now have two great lines to choose from. Order online from idreamoffrance.com, call us at 888-96-FRANCE, or visit us in our boutique showroom in Tustin/Irvine, Orange County, Southern California.

90″ Round Cotton Tablecloths from Couleur Nature

Couleur Nature tablecloths are designed in Paris by Bruno Lamy and made by hand in India following old traditions. They are made of soft thick cotton and are printed with cheerful patterns using wooden blocks.

90″ Round Fig Red-Green Tablecloth by Couleur Nature

90″ Round Coated Tablecloths by Le Cluny

You thought it was impossible to find a 90″ round coated tablecloth? Think again! The ever popular brand Le Cluny uses their French made coated cotton fabric, and by sewing two panels together are able to make oversize tablecloths. The seem is inconspicuous and the result is a tablecloth big enough to cover and protect most round or square tables.

90″ Round Versailles Blue Cotton Coated Provence Tablecloth by Le Cluny

Want to See More?

                            

 

Tour our New Boutique in Orange County, California

As our long-time customers know, we moved last summer to a larger location in Tustin Ranch, near Irvine, California. Below are photos of our new place, now that we’ve been settled in and humming along for a while. Click here to view our location on a map. We are near the 5 and 55 freeways and the 261 toll road, between the Tustin Marketplace and The District at Tustin Legacy shopping centers.

We are open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Occasionally we have special sale days on Saturdays as well. (Join our email list to find out when.) Please come visit and shop with us anytime!

Entrance

French Kitchen Towels, Fishnet Market Bags, and Tapestry Pillow Covers

French Gourmet Food and Candy

French Country and Provencal Placemats

French Scented Soaps

Coucke Terry Towels Close-Up

 

Paris Apartment, Elle Decor Magazine

This month’s issue of Elle Decor Magazine (January/February 2014) is the International issue, republishing highlights from editions of the magazine outside the US. This issue is a lucky treat because it features both a French farmhouse in Normandy and an ultra-chic Paris apartment!

(See our take on the Normandy Farmhouse here.)

On to the apartment. Photography By Antoine Baralhe. Design by Sylvie de Chirée.

Midcentury Eclectic Living Room

Serene Bedroom

Glamorous Dining Room

Midcentury Quirky Kitchen

All the rooms are glamorous in gold and white, with an eclectic mix of midcentury and more traditional furnishings. My favorite details are the paper lanterns in the kitchen and the colorful pottery in the dining room, not to mention the low bookcase in the living room.

Here are some gold and white items from I Dream of France that would mix well in this chic Paris apartment:

 

Le Cluny Jacquard Tablecloths – Lemon Rust

 

Paris Ceramic Mug

 

 

Paris Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers Set

Pré de Provence Shea Butter Enriched 150g Soap Lemongrass

Eiffel Tower & Butterfly Necklace – Antique Bronze

 

French Farmhouse in Normandy, Elle Decor Magazine

This month’s issue of Elle Decor Magazine (January/February 2014) is the International issue, republishing highlights from editions of the magazine outside the US. This issue is a lucky treat because it features both a French farmhouse in Normandy and an ultra-chic Paris apartment!

First up is the Normandy Farmhouse. Photography by Nicolas Mathéus. Design by Franz Potisek.

Normandy Farmhouse Green and White Kitchen

Love the classic green and white color combination. Elegant and earthy. Note the cooking pot and two wineglasses at the ready. It is a French home after all!

Normandy Farmhouse Green and Red Rustic Dining Room

Earthy gives way to rustic in the dining room.

Normandy Farmhouse Elegant Living Room

Softer greens and reds, and a stone fireplace mantel and overmantel.

Normandy Farmhouse Pergola with Pink Climbing Roses

Normandy Farmhouse Green and White Bath

Shades of green and white recall the kitchen combination. This is equally classic and elegant.

Here are some green, white, and red items from I Dream of France with an earthy elegance that would mix well in this farmhouse:

Couleur Nature Fig Red-Green Tablecloths/Runners/Napkins

Couleur Nature Figs Red-Green Placemats

Laguiole Table Knives Ivory Handles Set of 6 on a Wooden Block

French Country Verdigris Metal Oval Bucket with Ear Handles

Pré de Provence Shea Butter Enriched 150g Soap Verbena

I’ll show the Paris Apartment in the next blog entry.

 

French Recipes in February Magazines

I spent some time this weekend catching up on magazines and noticed that two featured French twists on classic dishes in their February issues.

Provence Herbs in Linen Bags from I Dream of France

First, InStyle showed baking halibut wrapped in parchment paper with herbes de Provence. This is our favorite way to prepare fish at home, including sole and salmon. (Aluminum foil instead of parchment works fine.) We also like to wrap lighter-flavored fish with lemon and onion slices, with a little bit of salt and thyme. Just bake at 350 degrees and check every few minutes until the fish flakes with a fork. Wrapping the fish keeps it from drying out while it cooks, and doesn’t make a mess in your baking dish. Easy and healthful — who says French cooking has to be complicated?

Daniel Boulud's Lasagne Photographed by Kana Okada for Elle Decor

In Elle Decor, Daniel Boulud’s column shares a recipe for chicken lasagne with spinach and mushrooms. This is on my to-do list for sure! This recipe is very old-world European because it has you make bechamel (white sauce) instead of the ricotta cheese mixture that is more typical in the States.

This month’s Elle Decor is also the International Issue, which I love because all the articles are republished from other editions of Elle Decor. The pieces are shorter than what usually appears in the American edition and have a different style of writing. Naturally, they feature a Paris apartment filled with art, checkerboard marble floors, klismos chairs, and a copper bathtub. However, my favorite was from Elle Decoration Russia, which showed a traditional Russian country cabin (called an isba) reproduced inside a Moscow apartment. The owner actually took a wall from an old cabin and had it re-installed inside the apartment to be as authentic as possible. My favorite detail was the kitchen’s painted cupboards, beautiful and special.

–Brett

 

Halloween Pumpkins: A Fresh Take

Halloween is coming! Looking for some new ways to decorate a pumpkin? Here are some fresh ideas we discovered this year.

Toile Pumpkin -- Photo by Miki Duisterhof for Country Living Magazine

First, how about a French Country toile pumpkin? Click the photo for a link to Country Living Magazine’s article on how to decoupage an artifical pumpkin. I would make this in  black and white toile and display it with smaller pumpkins covered in black and white checks.

Monogram Thumbtack Pumpkin -- All in a Day Blog

Next: a nickel-colored pumpkin with your own monogram! Click the photo to go to the All in a Day blog and see how Amy made this. I haven’t seen a pumpkin like this before, and I think it’s unique, charming, and lovely. Another stylish colorway would be a black pumpkin with brass thumbtacks.(I discovered this pumpkin via Pinterest — if you haven’t heard of this site before, check it out!)

Terra Cotta Jack O'Lanterns -- Shabby Chic Shar Blog

A friend of mine collects terra cotta jack o’ lanterns from the flea market. She has several sizes with varying faces. The lid (or hat) of each pumpkin comes off so you can put a votive candle inside. I found this photo of a similar collection from the Shabby Chic Shar Blog.

Halloween Light-Up Pumpkin by Day

Halloween Light-Up Pumpkin by Night

Here is a light-up electrical pumpkin I found at a discount store. It is made of a metal frame covered with a thin layer of woven fibers, sequins, and a felt leaf and stem. Under the frame are light bulbs. The lighted effect is a pleasant anticipation of Christmas lights…only a month or so away!

Coucke Citrouille (Pumpkin) Dish Towel from I Dream of France

And last but not least…a French pumpkin kitchen towel! This design is super popular in our shop, and people love the grommet in the corner for hanging. The cheerful mix of colors make this towel pretty year-round. No need to pack it up after jack o’ lantern season is over.

Hope you feel inspired to try something new this year, and Happy Halloween!

–Brett

 

Happy Memorial Day! Spring News from I Dream of France

Happy Memorial Day!

We’ve been unpacking new shipments all month, and are putting new items online every day! Visitez I Dream of France online or in our Tustin (Orange County), California, boutique and see what’s new.

We have new lower shipping rates. As always, orders of $75 or more ship free! No coupon code required for the shipping special. (Alaska and Hawaii pay $10 extra.) Also, we now ship to Canada!

Below are some examples of what’s new…more info on our website!

New French Kitchenware

Provence Handpainted Ceramic Stackable Pots. As a decorative piece, this is a showstopper — and it’s practical storage as well. We’ve been using these pots to style dining rooms for local home tours, and everyone’s eyes go straight to them.

Provencal Scenery Art Tile Trivet. Another stunning piece for kitchen or dining room, our art tile trivet makes a splendid gift (if you can bear to part with it!).

Couleur Nature Olive Tree Towel. We have added several new kitchen towel designs from Couleur Nature, all block-printed by hand and Provençal in style.

New French Table Linens

Provencale Sunflower Green Cotton Tablecloth. Available in round or rectangular sizes.The printing on both the round and rectangular is what is referred to as “placé”, or centered in the middle of the cloth.

New French Decorative Hardware

Paris Antique Style Dressing Room Hook. Perfect grace note to add to your powder room.

New French Baby Accessories

The latest fashion accessory for babies: pewter pacifier keepers featuring a French fleur de lys! We also have rose and giraffe motifs available. These are made in the USA by a company in New Orleans. Too cute to pass up!

New Sale Items

Summer is around the corner. Do you know a little girl who could use a new dress? Here’s a good buy: Alphabet Safari Girl’s Sun Dress, 33% off.

 

Orange County Register on I Dream of France

A little dated, but I don’t think this piece by the Orange County Register ever made it on the blog:

“I Dream of France celebrated the grand opening of their new location with a ribbon-cutting on Thursday. Tustin City Councilman John Nielsen joined owners Jean-Michel and Brett Carlouet as they cut the red ribbon and greeted many well-wishers and customers. A small reception followed.

Among the shoppers were Linda Jennings of the Tustin Preservation Conservancy, Suzanne Crehan of Seven Gables Real Estate, Pete Beatty and Gretchen Wilbert and Bill Teter of the Tustin Historical Society.

I Dream of France, which features unique home décor and gift items from France, is located at 150 E. Main Street, in the Cox’s Market Plaza building, next to Miss Bobbie’s Low Carb Shoppe and Old Town Flooring.”

Tustin City Councilman John Nielsen, along with Pete Beatty of the Tustin Historical Society, assisted I Dream of France owners Jean Michel and Brett Carlouet with their ribbon cutting. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARGE REDMOND