Layers of Beauty

Capture the elegance of French romantic décor, layer by layer.

- Staci Dumoski

There is beauty in excess, as designer Carolyn West brook knows all too well.

“This romantic French style,” she writes, “is sort of like the beautiful, fluffy, pastel icing on a delicious cupcake.” You might not need that extra topping to enjoy the cup cake, but the extravagance makes the whole experience that much more delightful.

In her book The French Inspired Home, Westbrook describes the elements of French style with which we are familiar: “The gorgeous, massive, yet intricately carved mirrors, the chandeliers that cast their magical glow and the timeworn layered rugs…” But, as she demonstrates through her intimate explorations of romantic French homes, it takes more than a few standard pieces to capture the essence of this look.