Audrey Hepburn once said, “Paris is always a good idea,” and after scrolling through numerous French design boards on Pinterest, we can see why. The French follow a raison d'être design philosophy, which directly translates to “reason for being” or “reason to be.” What this actually means is that they view their living spaces as a tangible embodiment of their way of life. “France doesn’t revolve around work, money, or having the nicest and most expensive things,” says French lifestyle blogger Leonce Chenal. “Instead, it’s all about enjoying the best moment in life, whether it’s through social gatherings, amazing food, art, fashion or architecture.”
That philosophy carries over to interior design as well. While their furnishings tend to skew minimalist, decor acts as a manifestation of what brings them joy. They tend to keep things classic with traditional staples and antique or vintage pieces and sprinkle in touches of trendy decor throughout. We spoke with celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, whose collection with The Shade Store was inspired by his travels to Paris: “French style is always in fashion, and constantly gets reinvented with vigor and panache.” Here are six ways it’s being reimagined today.
