By Invitation Only...

Dear Marsha of Splenderosa is asking for us to reflect the world's problems by considering  these critical points... What is wrong with the world and what is good with the world.

Of late, I have seen a little too close up of what is wrong with the world and the media - driven as it is  by ratings (read revenues) - is more than happy to constantly remind us of what is wrong with our world. I guess their financial bottom lines depend on the woes of the world.

I am going to focus on a beautiful remote country, hidden away in the Himalayas, that has taught me a wonderful lesson of what is good with the world.

The Kingdom of  Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the most mysterious places on Earth with very few visitors. I was very fortunate to travel through this extraordinary kingdom, visit the monasteries, trek and sleep in tents among the most beautiful untouched nature. Bhutan tributes to economic theory is not about their GNP, but the country measures itself according the the Gross National Happiness. I will not go into the mathematical dissertation on the measurements of happiness, but rather on a theory that, in reaching for a perfect good world, we must strive for happiness. On March 28, 2012, The United Nations implemented a resolution, placing happiness on the global agenda: "Conscious that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal, and recognizing that the gross domestic product does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of people." An impressive array of luminaries spoke for this remote Himalayan kingdom. His Royal Highness, the Price of Wales, Nobel laureate, Joseph Stiglitz, economist Jeffrey Sachs. The Bhutanese have combined  Buddhist spirituality and barefoot economics into a unique model that other nations can learn from. The ex French president Nicolas Sarkozy even commissioned a study of "the economic performance and social progress" that include some Gross national Happiness indicators such as walking, reading and love making...well France is the nation of lover after all!!

Traditional values are the pillar of the Gross national happiness, the operating concept of governance in Bhutan. There are 4 pillars of Gross National Happiness.

Environment

The environment is 100 protected as are the animals that thrive in the mountains and the plains.It is illegal to kill animals or feed on animal meat in Bhutan

Culture

Traditional dancing festivals

Education is extremely important. Children taking their examination

Children walk up to 2 hours each way to go to school

Spirituality

Tiger's Nest Monastery

Children are enrolled in Buddhist studies at a young age.

Society

Young scholar,soon to attend Harvard University

Archery is the national sport

Farming is the main source of income

Very artistic and graphic phalluses are displayed in rural houses to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossips...

Shopping

The children are very much loved, cared for and protected... which is all we can  ask for to our society.

A bientot,

Francine

It's a New Year!

A New Year is here, a symbol of time and renewal. I want to look at this coming year as a year of acceptance and yet of resilience and perseverance. I am not one to make New Year resolutions but was  thinking that perhaps there is a real value in resolutions. Here I am at  my computer, desperately trying to come up with a resolution and ...drawing a blank. I guess, I need to be true to myself and just wish you the full enjoyment of the incredibly precious and beautiful gift of life.

Love life

Love and respect nature

Embrace others

Surround yourself with family

Be a good friend

Smile

Laugh

Go for your dreams

BONNE ANNEE!!

A Bientôt,

Francine

Christmas... Noel

All these years, the spirit of Christmas always lifted my moods, no matter what could be happening in my life. I feel that this year, I am going through the motions but factors outside of my control are a heavy damper on my Christmas spirit. I just need to remember the profound true meaning of Christmas and try to find solace and peace. I am not one to disguise behind a business face, I will continue to put all my energy into my family, my work, my friends... but I am afraid....what happens when the energy runs out? Do I get stuck on the mountain ? ....do I rest and gather my inner forces?. The single moment in my life that required the most will power, was the last hour reaching the top of Kilimanjaro, when my head felt about to explode, with nausea from mountain sickness... I kept going, forced myself to look to the top, breath in, breath out... These times are very challenging and humbling, I need to learn acceptance and perhaps defeat.

Meanwhile, I will keep going, breath in...breath out...

At night, when all is quiet, I lay on my daybed, take in the silence, the scent of the tree, the fluttering lights and think of Christmas pasts.

Presents are wrapped, large or small... I love giving presents and it is my small way to say thank you... I care... to  everyone who works with me at Interieurs or at home, my friends, my family ... a couple of years past, my mother who lives in France, was very ill. I sent her a Christmas tree with boxes upon boxes of ornaments and she did the most wonderful thing ... on her visit to the hospital right before Christmas, she arrived ladden with the boxes filled with the beautiful ornaments and garlands and gave them to the nurses to decorate the halls of the wing where she spent so many days. This is the true spirit of Christmas, giving, sharing , bringing a little smile in some stranger's life who needs it more than you do.

Table set...

Promise of brighter days to come

A Bientôt,

Francine

Jose Esteves celebration of light in Cote Sud

The greatest thrill in my job is to work side by side with creative minds. I love the thought process, the inspiration, the moment when something clicks in your mind....and you know...that's it! This is what i envisioned... I will be going back to Paris in january to work with Jose on our annual show of signed unique lighting sculptures. Jose is commissioned all over the world for his lighting creations... to think I found a pic of a small lantern in a copy of Cote Sud a few years ago and searched for the artist for more than a year! Tenacity paid off and Jose and I not only have an amazing working relationship, but became close friends as well. 

His work has been often published, enjoy this latest issue of my favorite magazine, Cote Sud...

Let's dream..

Interieurs represents Jose exclusively in the US. Please check: http://www.interieurs.com/collections/jose_esteves

A Bientôt,

Francine

Innocence lost

image via flickr

Today, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters ask...WHY... when nothing makes sense, when the pain is too hard to bear, when total strangers stop in shock, when our President shed tears, when I cry for the innocent souls... I ask WHY....children are the pure innocent souls that bring love and joy to our lives.

To day, we all grieve... tomorrow we will need to find comfort if not understanding.

Celebrating Interieurs

Our Holiday window

Last Tuesday night we celebrated our Luxe Interiors and Design Cover Story for the New York Issue, with 350 guests bee-lining straight to the bar (good thing Luke ignored my instructions and bought more wine than I had approved). 

Mercifully, it was a beautiful balmy late Fall evening, I made many attempts to try to get at least one glass of wine to soothe my nerves (did I mention I cannot bare hosting parties.... I am always a nervous wreck!) but securing a spot on the terrace was impossible.

The entire Luxe team was present and the Editor In Chiel, Pamela Jaccarino surprised me with her unexpected visit prior to hosting the Art Basel festivities in Miami.

Two days before the party, the transformers for our 16 feet  glass chandelier blew out. Panic set in, immediate phone call to the electrician, window display dismantled, scaffolding rented, 8 hours later...the new transformers are installed, scaffolding taken down, I finally relax... the ordeal was over, to morrow (day of the event) we will redo the window and get the showroom ready. 

As we pack our bags, we witnessed one by one the lights turning off... we all looked at each other in dismay...new more powerful transformers were needed. I went home, collapsed in physical and emotional exhaustion and slept for  a few hours. Early morning on the day of the event, I met with the electricians, we rebuilt a much larger scaffolding (which had to be returned by noon...) and hoped and prayed to... PLEASE let us have a break... By 3pm, chandelier in all its glory was lit again. Then the race to get the showroom ready started again in earnest.

Estera putting the final touches. (this scaffold was actually too short, we had to revert to a huge scaffolding that took the entire entrance... I was too stressed to even take a pic).

Tanzania chandelier finally re-installed.

I took a few shots of the showroom with my iPhone as we were re-arranging furniture to accomodate our RSVP list.

Pamela Jaccarino, Editor in Chielf of Luxe magazine with me (looking exhausted...no time to even put a little make up on), and Team Interieurs, Estera, Anthony and Jennifer.

Jeanelle Wing chair.

Our Bamboo dining table set with Rina Minardi handmade plates,

 Lieux Floorlamp Affolee, and acrylic prints of photographs I took in Cambodia.

Just received our containeur a couple of days before the party with mid century pieces I found at the deballage in France. Chandelier Simon Collection for Interieurs.

Our Juliette chaise with lighting by Jose Esteves.

The Julien L shape sofa with Antoine Bamboo table

Armande bed

The last of industrial steel mesh screens

Mezzanine

Kathryn bed

A Bientôt,

Francine