Books to Whisk You Away

The second my eyes open, I walk to the French doors, swing them open onto the quaint balcony and absorb the city’s sounds. It’s the hustle and bustle of those going to work, Parisians wandering to the flower boutiques for a fresh bouquet, or filling their baskets with that night’s dinner necessities from the markets. It’s a new day and the only thing on the agenda is to explore, eat, and explore some more. As soon as everyone is ready, we descend the creaky staircase, sing a “Bonjour” to the front desk and set out for the day.The first stop is our favorite café for tartine with butter and jam, croissants, and café crème. Smiles are on all our faces as we slowly make our way, embracing the whimsy of the start to the day. The views soaked in during the 13,000 plus steps are exhilarating: monuments, boulangeries, century-old churches, the Seine, the vast Luxembourg gardens, and of course, the Eiffel Tower. It’s a feast for all the senses and our only wish is to stop the clock. Paris is exhilarating! While the City of Lights holds a special place in our hearts, similar feelings sweep over us when we visit other places like London, Sydney, Maui; travel is everything.

We sadly can’t freeze time, but we can escape to places and experiences through books. While I wish I could continously channel that whimsy derived from roaming the globe, the next best thing is to fill my space with images that prompt the drive to explore somewhere new, or take me back to a place I once saw. It’s for this reason that I have curated a collection of coffee table books throughout the house, most of which focus on Paris and Provence.

It was not initially my intention to create our family room as an ode to France, but as each book was acquired, the more our love for travels there became evident. Each one is a little different and brings me so much joy to flip through the pages and let my mind be whisked away to Paris, Provence, Italy or be mesmerized by simple and extravagant flower displays. What better way to spend an evening than with a little armchair travel. Books are such a beautiful item with which to decorate one’s home and one of my favorites is from Assouline. While I would consider these investment books, the photography is truly luxurious. Many have been gifted to me, making them even more special. Bon Voyage!