Le Gamin Café, Sharon CT: A Parisian Pause in the Litchfield Hills

A French café in a Connecticut farm town, and one of the loveliest rooms in Litchfield County. What the place actually feels like, what to order, where to sit, and whether it's worth the drive.

Travel and PlaceMary Madore-HickeyNovember 5, 2025Living with imagination, Living with grace, Everyday beauty, Storytelling through design, Women and balance, French inspired lifestyle, tartan, Ralph Lauren Christmas, Tartan holiday tablescape, Elegant Christmas table decor, Classic holiday design, Red and gold holiday table, Romantic pink and gold Christmas, Moody tartan tablescape, Holiday design ideas 2025, Heritage-inspired Christmas, Holiday entertaining inspiration, Reimagined traditional decor, Holiday centerpiece inspiration, Layered holiday table design, Connecticut Travel, Fall in New England, Litchfield Hills, Scenic Drive, scenic fall drive, Litchfield Hills Connecticut, Farmington River Trail, New Preston Falls, Connecticut travel, New England foliage, french lavender soap, organic soap from provence, natural french skincare, handmade soap provence, luxury organic soap, pure lavender cleansing bar, french country lifestyle, slow living inspiration, french artisan gifts, french holiday gifts, luxury holiday gifts, organic christmas gifts, spa inspired holiday gifts, holiday hostess gifts, elegant hostess gift ideas, handmade gifts from Provence, sustainable hostess gifts, French café Connecticut, Galette au sarrasin, Café au lait, French onion soup, Le Gamin Sharon CT, French heritage cuisine, Buckwheat crêpes ployes, Litchfield Hills dining, French inspired food travel, New England countryside café, Cozy café Connecticut, Heritage and food story, Simple French meals, french craftesmanship, travel inspired livingComment

Litchfield Hills Fall Foliage Drive: A Season of Stillness and Color

Travel and PlaceMary Madore-HickeyOctober 25, 2025Living with imagination, Living with grace, Everyday beauty, Storytelling through design, Women and balance, French inspired lifestyle, tartan, Ralph Lauren Christmas, Tartan holiday tablescape, Elegant Christmas table decor, Classic holiday design, Red and gold holiday table, Romantic pink and gold Christmas, Moody tartan tablescape, Holiday design ideas 2025, Heritage-inspired Christmas, Holiday entertaining inspiration, Reimagined traditional decor, Holiday centerpiece inspiration, Layered holiday table design, Connecticut Travel, Fall in New England, Litchfield Hills, Scenic Drive, scenic fall drive, Litchfield Hills Connecticut, Farmington River Trail, New Preston Falls, Connecticut travel, New England foliage, travel inspired living, sense of placeComment

Festive Gathering in the Foothills of Litchfield, Connecticut With Watermelon Martini’s and Caprese Crostini

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Returning to the Ocean House: A Watch Hill Tradition Steeped in Nostalgia

Travel and PlaceMary Madore-HickeyMay 3, 2025Returning to the Ocean House: A Watch Hill Tradition Steeped in Nostalgia, Ocean House Watch Hill Rhode Island, Watch Hill travel blog, East Beach Watch Hill, Merze Lifestyle travel blog, Lavender and daisies garden path, Romantic New England escapes, Where to stay for a New England summer escape, Historic coastal inns in Rhode Island with ocean views, Luxury hotel with garden paths in Watch Hill, Atlantic Ocean, Travel and Place, Sense of PlaceComment

Bicoastal Elegance: A Fusion of East Coast and West Coast Design

Bicoastal design brings together East Coast refinement, West Coast ease, and the lived-in warmth of Provence. Through natural materials, layered textures, and thoughtful use of color, interiors become spaces that feel grounded, personal, and deeply connected to how we live.

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Cultivating Calm: The Art of Self-Care with Provence Lavender & Slow Living

Travel and Place, Women and BecomingMary Madore-HickeyFebruary 27, 2025tartan holiday design, design edti, how to edit a design, old and new table design, Holiday Decor Trends for 2024, Holiday Decor Trends: Bows Nostalgia, Holiday Trends Bows., Holiday Decor using bows, Holiday Decor Trends nostalfgia, rethinking work life balance: finding harmony within, how to find harmony within, calming yourself, rethinking Life, How to build a tablescape, How to design a table, Spring Table Decor, Spring Table Design, Galentine's Table Decor, Coastal Fusion, French Coastal Style, Coastal French Decor, Blending Coastal and French Design, French Coastal Living, Coastal Chic, Coastal Elegance, Curated Coastal Design Relaxed Coastal Style, Sophisticated Coastal Living, Embroidered Linens, Coastal Floral Centerpiece, Coastal Inspiration, Interior Design, Home Decor, Coastal French Tablescape, confit pot, french confit pot, bringing Provence into your home, biophilic design, biophilic decor, biophilic design aethetics, Rare confit pots for sale, homedecor, timelessdesign, coastal living, Design inspiration, natural interiors, organic design, slow living, earth tones, collected home, Self care, self care and lavender, cultivating Calm, Slow Living, Provence lavender, the art of self care, lavender soup, lavender soap imported from Provence, Provence Lavender soup, Soap from Provence, Imported from France, Soap imported from France, Lavender from France, intentional practice, daily ritual, organic lavender skincare, sensory grounding, ritual and idenity, women and becoming, personal evolutionComment

Bringing Provence Home: The Biophilic Beauty of Antique Confit Pots

Travel and Place, Home and DecorMary Madore-HickeyFebruary 21, 2025tartan holiday design, design edti, how to edit a design, old and new table design, Holiday Decor Trends for 2024, Holiday Decor Trends: Bows Nostalgia, Holiday Trends Bows., Holiday Decor using bows, Holiday Decor Trends nostalfgia, rethinking work life balance: finding harmony within, how to find harmony within, calming yourself, rethinking Life, How to build a tablescape, How to design a table, Spring Table Decor, Spring Table Design, Galentine's Table Decor, Coastal Fusion, French Coastal Style, Coastal French Decor, Blending Coastal and French Design, French Coastal Living, Coastal Chic, Coastal Elegance, Curated Coastal Design Relaxed Coastal Style, Sophisticated Coastal Living, Embroidered Linens, Coastal Floral Centerpiece, Coastal Inspiration, Interior Design, Home Decor, Coastal French Tablescape, confit pot, french confit pot, bringing Provence into your home, biophilic design, biophilic decor, biophilic design aethetics, Rare confit pots for sale, homedecor, timelessdesign, coastal living, Design inspiration, natural interiors, organic design, slow living, earth tones, collected home, palette inspired by place, atmosphere driven design, Provence Lifestyle, European design Influence, artisan ceramics, travel inspired living

Infusing Interiors with Coastal and Provençal Design Aesthetic Elements

Travel and Place, Home and DecorMary Madore-HickeyFebruary 4, 2025tartan holiday design, design edti, how to edit a design, old and new table design, Holiday Decor Trends for 2024, Holiday Decor Trends: Bows Nostalgia, Holiday Trends Bows., Holiday Decor using bows, Holiday Decor Trends nostalfgia, Travel and design and how it relates, Provencal design aesthetics, desigfn aesthetic elements, how to design your interior using coastal vibes, coastal vibes

Discovering the Enchanting Beauty of Gordes, France: A Traveler’s Guide

Lost in the Beauty of Napa Valley: A Wine Lover's Paradise

Travel and PlaceMary Madore-HickeyApril 12, 2024central coast vineyard, central coast wine tasting, Paso Robles wine tasting, Napa California lodging, winetasing in napa, larkmead winery, napa, off the beaten path napa, napa valley, sonoma valley, napa and Sonoma valley, difference between Napa and sonoma, sonoma california, napa california

Larkmead Vineyards, Napa: What a Tasting Is Actually Like

The oldest wineries in Napa are not always the famous ones. My daughter found Larkmead first, and it has become the place I send anyone who has a single day in the valley and wants to spend it well.

Travel and PlaceMary Madore-HickeyOctober 6, 2023larkmead vineyard, larkmead winery, larkmead in napa, larkmead vineyards, larkmead napa, winetasing in napa