I bought that magazine myself and it is great!

Red

You know I had to bite at this post OS, :)

I have the fall/winter copy right by my computer that is covered in drool. The wall colors and window treatments are my favorites. Can't seem to find the spring/summer anywhere. Got the last issue at Lowes. Maybe I'll stop in a book store and see if they have one.

Thanks for the heads up!

Yes -- it is a lovely magazine!

Had to buy it at the very second I saw it hit the bookracks at Borders! LOL!

Jan

I can't wait to see it.

Oh, I've never heard of that one! Thanks for the heads up : )

I also have that issue and the rooms are so beautiful and timeless. It was interesting that it had virtually nothing that is pushed by catalogs today as "French Country".

So are the following bigger cliches in the US than in their original countries?

1. English cottage
2. Tuscan villa
3. Shabby chic (where is that from anyway)
4. Asian modern
5. Mexican hacienda
6. Japanese minimal
7. Scandinavian modern

Thanks for the heads up - I'll be stopping by to grab a copy today!

Ha-ha, you're funny! Thanks for letting us know another special issue has come out.

Pharoah...I think Rachel Ashwell made up the term Shabby Chic, she may even have a trademark on it. So there's one that's home grown. :)

pharoah: Here's my take:

English Cottage and Tuscan Villa "styles" are organically native to the country of origin, in terms of architecture and culture, but the concepts were developed and turned into "styles" by Americans.

Shabby Chic is totally American, in terms of "style" and popularity, but I don't don't whether Ashwell is English or American herself?

Asian Modern is an American concept.

Mexican Hacienda, Japanese Minimal, and Scandinavian Modern are totally authentic, also organically native to the respective cultures, and are styles we borrowed with little to no alteration.

I could be totally wrong, of course. :)

But many Mexicans, who can afford it, go for very modern and avant-guarde architecture. And the Japanese who live in tiny apartments by US standards, aren't all tatami mats and shoji screens.

Rachel Ashwell was born in England (1959), but has lived in CA for the past 20 years. She opened her first store in Santa Monica (1989) and named it Shabby Chic. Ashwell trademarked the name - but I don't know what year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bio from 2004

Rachel has a British accent. Her parents made an appearance on her show one time and I could have sworn her father had an American accent. She said they lived in England. After all these years you'd think he'd have picked up the British accent by now. He didn't say a lot so maybe it's just my hearing! Rachel has been in the US so long she's probably a citizen by now. She doesn't talkk about her personal life in her books so it's hard to say how long she's been here or what brought her here.

Here's a question for you organic...what style do the Germans have? You never hear anyone say they want to decorate their home German style. What would the interior of a German style home look like? Bauhaus is very contemporary, not exactly what comes to mind when you think of German style. Of all the Western European countries it's the Germanic ones that don't seem to have a distinct style of their own like the French and Italians do. Why is that? How come only the latin-based language countries are known for their style while the germanic-language countries arent?

Allison, thanks for the link, I didn't know all that about Rachel! I had no idea she was a high school drop out. What a success story she turned out to be.

flyingflower: I don't believe I've ever thought of Germany in connection with the word "style" (except for Jil Sander's clothing)--lol. But now that you mention it, I guess the first thought that comes to mind is "Bavarian"--in particular, the exterior style of traditional Bavarian homes, rather than the interior. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Bavarian Architecture

flyingflower: Swedish country decor is lovely and very similar to French country.

Here is a link that might be useful: Swedish Country Interiors

pharaoh:
So are the following bigger cliches in the US than in their original countries?

...7. Scandinavian modern

Yes. At least the Teak 'scandinavian designs' stuff.
"We got rid of that cr4p in the '60s."

'Eurokitchens' are another rumor. Maybe some very rich folks have something like Americans imagine, but average folks are cooking with three burner hobs and sinks the size of large pie tins. Gotta admit that a voltage of 220 with 440 for electric appliances heats things up a bit quicker.

Ikea, on the other hand, seems to sell the same merchandise on both sides of the Atlantic, with the names making a little more sense in Scandinavia.

Further bubble bursting, no one has heard of krumkake or rosettes; and when you ask about lefse and lutefisk they say (translated from Swedish)" "Poverty food! Who ever ate that after 1880???"

vi ses, Lena

I couldn't resist! I searched "French Country in France" and came up with these actual homes. You can search by region also. Nice!

Here is a link that might be useful: REA:L French Country

Here's the link to the rest! Sorry.

Here is a link that might be useful: FC

Okay, as long as we're on the subject....what's all this I see about Belgian Style lately. I have seen that moniker in several shelter mags in the last few months. Huh? Are the editors running out of ideas?

Lena, I loved hearing your from-the-horses-mouth info on Scandinavian Modern. It's kind of funny what we Americans sometimes do to styles and food from other countries and cultures, isn't it?
As for Mexican Hacienda, there are many versions of it as well, as Mexicans AND we New Mexicans use what we have available and what we pick up on trips abroad, down in Jaurez or at the local flea market to decorate our haciendas . . . after all, who wants to live in a museum setting?!? Furniture can be rustic or beautifully carved fine antiques, but usually is a mixture of both. Art can be be primitive or museum quality from Europe . . . or a mixture of both! Walls are usually adobe or at least trying to look like it (LOL!). Talavera tiles are almost always used in bathrooms and kitchens. If anything, it's the mixture of primitive with fine antiques, along with kiva fireplaces, adobe walls, Talavera, brick or tile floors . . . but *NO* howling coyote or kokopelli decorations! ;^P