Chronicles of my April weekends

• Being lucky enough to enjoy the good weather (a bit too dry, admittedly) and the blossoming trees while sharing a delicious, creamy Piedmont hazelnut ice cream with friends (the first of the year!). It’s always the most unexpected moments that turn into the best memories. I was showing my friends the progress of the work in my new flat and we decided to step out for a coffee… which ended up as ice cream in the middle of April! It was also the perfect excuse to admire the magnolias in bloom (I know the season has been over for a little while, but they’re so beautiful I couldn’t resist sharing them with you).

• Oh my… here is a charming hat spotted at Le Bon Marché (another one of our so-called “Parisian secrets” that is gradually filling up with tourists. I understand why, of course, but sometimes I worry it might lose its soul. It’s a place that used to feel preserved, where you’d run into friends or colleagues, but things are starting to shift a little…). Anyway, this hat is a little gem - a pity the fabric isn’t slightly longer, it would look wonderful in the garden paired with a lovely beige linen blouse found at a plant fair (another little Parisian secret); we do like to hunt down pretty blouses, shirts or dresses in small boutiques, either at these kinds of events or by the seaside.

• Enjoying a weekend in the countryside to put together a small spring bouquet using flowers from the garden. I always plant my tulip bulbs in autumn at the worst possible time: late in the season, usually in the rain or drizzle, and preferably when it’s cold, just to make things more interesting. It’s a habit at this point, I always do it in dreadful conditions. Probably because I love autumn and spend the nicer weekends visiting gardens or plant fairs. In any case, even if I grumble when planting them, I have to admit it’s pure joy to see them appear in spring and offer such a beautiful gift. Like dahlias, I love their variety and their different colours. They’re also very easy to grow and look lovely in bouquets, perfect for bringing a touch of spring indoors. I’m now looking forward to the poppies opening, and then the cosmos season, which will make for airy, slightly poetic bouquets.

• Discovering Sézane’s Spring collection, which opens the door to a chic, fresh world and makes you want to slip into a pretty dress and wander through the Bagatelle rose garden on a beautiful spring day. Contrary to what one might think, it’s not necessarily a brand Parisian women gravitate towards. I actually have the impression I see more tourists (the shops are often packed, which I must admit puts me off a little) than true Parisians, but I still stopped by to have a look at the current collection. Unsurprisingly, it was far too crowded and I left quite quickly, but I did spot a few pieces, including an ochre jacket and a waistcoat with unusual buttons. A little pair of black trousers too, which will certainly come in handy.

• A colour search at Ressources in Paris to repaint a wardrobe in a tone somewhere between a warm beige and an ochre. I recently made quite a mistake that didn’t seem like one at first. I wanted to repaint my bedroom wardrobe in a lovely dusty pink (which would have worked perfectly with the brass handles I had bought). But disaster. The shade I chose (“Rose Champignon”, a collaboration with Antoinette Poisson), which looked very chic on the sample, turned out to be quite dreadful once applied in the bedroom. Proof that light can completely change a colour. After another unsuccessful attempt (yes, it was painted three times), I finally found a beautiful shade called “Lin Lavé - Washed Linen”, which is perfect and works very well with the wallpaper.

• Every year, twice a year in fact, we go to plant fairs around the Paris region. It’s something I always look forward to, and they are often held in beautiful family châteaux and elegant French estates. The plant fair at the Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard, south of Paris, is one of the most important. We go there to find beautiful plants, superb peonies (notably Coral Charm and All That Jazz in spring), dahlia tubers and many other things, such as tablecloths or handwoven baskets, before taking a well-earned gourmet break and enjoying the park and kitchen garden.

I went to see the exhibition “Renoir and Love” at the Musée d’Orsay, and it did me a great deal of good to see so much beauty gathered in one place. Being moved by the paintings, inspired by that pastoral world. A small emotional moment in front of Dance at Bougival, which I encountered again after first seeing it years ago at the Museum of Fine Arts when I was living in Boston (Lorelei Gilmore knows this one quite well too!). How fortunate it is to live in a city where you can admire some of the most beautiful works in the world whenever you like. It’s a real luxury. Next on the list will probably be the Matisse exhibition at the Grand Palais in May.

• After Orsay, I crossed the Seine via the Tuileries Gardens on my way to Smith & Son to stock up on English magazines. Every time I walk through the gardens (always too quickly), I’m struck by the elegance of the orange trees in their boxes - effortlessly chic. Many people don’t know this, but there used to be a wonderful bookshop in the Tuileries called… La Librairie des Jardins. It had a remarkable selection of gardening books, but it closed a few years ago. I always feel like a slightly grumpy old soul when I say this, but quite a few things really were better before.

• A botanical idea to keep in mind: pairing espalier apple trees with bi-coloured tulips.

• Asparagus season is here. Time to visit the market or a nearby farm and enjoy them in every possible way: with mousseline or gribiche, in particular. I love seeing them appear on market stalls, and we’re lucky to have producers who sell them in generous bunches. I could eat them all spring long, and they always make a lovely starter when hosting friends at this time of year, even if I really dislike peeling them. I also buy green asparagus to make a savoury cake with chorizo. Served with a simple salad, it makes for an easy and appealing meal when you have guests.

• A quick stop at Antoinette Poisson to pick up a few gifts (birthday season is beginning). It’s also an opportunity to discover a new addition that dresses up a wall in no time at all: their friezes and the various versions available.

• Looking through the new Colefax & Fowler collection to find a fabric with a pleasing pattern for a headboard. I find it hard to decide, I’m always afraid of making the wrong choice (it’s not as simple as repainting a wardrobe) or that I might tire of the fabric. I will probably stick to something classic, like stripes or small prints. But I would still like it to have a bit of presence. (Image source in my collage: Colefax.com)

I really hope you enjoyed my April Chronicles, and I cannot wait to share the next ones with you soon!