The French Connection

Conventional wisdom may say that we cannot have the best of all worlds, but one need only peruse the pages of The French Connection to see that this simply is not so. A look around has opened American minds to the bazaar of choices, rendering loyalty solely to France passe. Pushing the borders of design, best-selling author and interior designer Betty Lou Phillips focuses on distinctive, pleasing interiors that are at once a bit English, a dash Swedish, a trace Italian, to say nothing about ties to other central European countries or even the Far East. Indeed, no dwelling with impeccable "bone structure" is complete these days without an enviable mix of treasures, however modest, culled from assorted nations circling the globe. Yet a chance survey of sprawling high-rises as well as commanding mansions suggests that most living spaces remain noticeably French. At the center of savvy stateside tastes are sumptuous pieces whose seductive beauty--provenance, painstaking carving, and mellow patina of age--offer a glimpse into souls, in addition to more than a modicum of pleasure. Showcasing glamour and comfort for the interior as well as grandeur for the garden, Ms. Phillips embraces a world of classic design with her inimitable style and panache. Betty Lou Phillips is the author of the award-winning Villa Decor; plus Secrets of French Design, Unmistakably French, French Influences, French by Design, and Provencal Interiors. A professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, her work has appeared in Southern Accents, Traditional Home, Decor, Decorating, Bedroom & Bath, Window & Wall, Paint Decor, and more. Additionally, she has appeared on the Christopher Lowell Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She lives in Dallas, Texas. "Purists, rejoice . . . Phillips explains French styling in the context of French history." --USA Today