Perfect French Country: Inspirational interiors from rural France

I peruse these books often, great investment.

Nice book

Nice book

Beautiful pictures.

What a beautiful book! Reading this book felt like I had been transported to the French countryside. Lovely words to match the incredibly old world patina aesthetic of this book. I have collected all of Ros Byam Shaw books and this one does not disappoint. I have learned about a very special and gorgeous way to live life. Thank you Ros Byam Shaw for exposing me to such beauty.

Old, dated interiors of homes in the French Countryside.Inspiring were the views of the countryside with rolling hills and the horizon. That was it. Inside the book were tired looking rooms, didn't offer any type of design that would leave you feeling 'refreshed' and in need of a visit to France, which is what this book should have done. Maybe 2 or 3 homes that were new and modern yet lacked depth and personality. Again, not for those who want to see beautifully styled French homes. Further more as usual Am/a/zon sent a very damaged book which is typical.

Beautiful pictures, didn’t disappoint!

I would agree with other reviews that the photos are a little dark and not quite what one would hope for in a coffee table book. However, the writing is good and the interiors are fascinating. A nice glimpse into lovely private French houses.

Excellente transaction

This book is really perfect. Unfortunately it comes with two different covers. So I ordened the two. I didn’t return the second though. It is such a good book that I gave it as a gift for a dear relative of mine.

The photography is the chief glory of this book and there are many stunning interior and exterior shots of a variety of beautiful rural properties in different parts of France. Whether the pictures will serve as inspiration for one's own attempts at decoration will depend on your taste and your bank balance. I bought the book largely to remind myself what summer holidays in France used to feel like before the Covid emergency. It served that particular purpose well. The text is, however, virtually beyond parody but I'll have a go - "Anita Babington-Chorley trained as a stylist before marrying a lawyer and deciding to buy a street of tumbledown cottages in a deserted village in the Dordogne. Fifteen years and two divorces later she spends part of her life in her exquisite retreat near Sarlat, enjoying the company of artists, writers, international bankers, and members of the local aristocracy". But apart from that, the book is a treat for anyone trapped in the UK by gales, pandemics, and Brexit.

Have only read the first chapter of this book but it is one of the nicest books I have ever come across. There are lots of detailed photographs & it is beautifully written - informative & very interesting, giving you a real feel for the houses & the life style they support. Being a large format book it will look perfect left out for others to browse through. I actually live in France & buy lots of home design magazines so am used to pictures of French interiors, this beats them all (& the added bonus is that it's written in English !).Update: have now read a lot more of the book & still enjoying it. However, I have to say that many of the houses are rather bizarre to say the least. Great fun to read about but if you are looking for ideas for your own property it is probably not the right book for you. Unless of course you are into bizarre !

I have long been a fan of Ros Byam Shaw's writing and her "Perfect English" was a revelation when I bought it ten years ago, it being the first book of its kind that I had devoured from cover to cover. Her latest book, "Perfect French Country", does not disappoint. Her writing is poetic and evocative - "rich with the texture of gentle decay" - and her knowledge of curlicues, enfilades and countless other architectural details adds substance to an already beautiful text and stunning photographic images. Even her descriptions of the various occupants of these delicious dwellings lead you to believe that you have just been introduced, so palpable is their presence. I would not hesitate to recommend this or any other book that Ros has imbued with her particular brand of magic.