The sunny days are back, bringing with them the urge to enjoy everything spring has to offer – its colors, its flavors, and its vibrant energy.
So let’s not waste a minute – the weeks ahead are full of creativity, inspiration, and lovely surprises. Come take a peek at my Spring to-do list!
1. Spring revamp in progress
I wanted to share a few décor inspirations. After spending my weekends crisscrossing Paris, I’ve put together a lovely selection of fabrics and wallpapers — a mix that somehow captures both the charm of English floral patterns and the warmth of Italian tones.
I’ve never spent so much time in interior design shops, pairing wallpapers with fabrics, picking out paint shades for skirting boards and cornices… It’s been a gargantuan task, but a truly enjoyable one too. That said, I’ve torn my hair out more than once — making a decision, only to change it at the very last minute. Fingers crossed the final result lives up to the effort. I’m still torn between stripes and florals…
But even if you don’t have any décor projects on the go, here are a few great addresses worth keeping in mind:
- Little Greene: beautiful English paints that go on like a dream (my mum, who uses them a lot, actually prefers them to Farrow & Ball).
- Braquenié: exquisite fabrics, part of the Pierre Frey family.
- Colefax & Fowler: high-quality wallpapers and a wide selection of fabrics. The Canovas brand belongs to them.
- G&P Baker: lovely wallpaper designs.
- Robert Kime: a curated selection of wallpapers perfect for creating a cosy, lived-in feel.
- Charles Burger: refined fabrics from one of the few remaining French heritage houses.
- Cole & Son: another go-to for stylish wallpapers.
- Antoinette Poisson: charming wallpapers and fabrics too.
- Arte: elegant, textured wall coverings with a refined finish.
2. Admiring the tulips!
Like dahlias, tulips are among my favorite flowers — I find them utterly fascinating. It’s no wonder they inspired so many Flemish painters. With their incredible variety of shapes and colors, tulips are the first true beauties to emerge from the ground after the hellebores and daffodils. I wait for them eagerly every year, keeping a close eye on the first buds that are about to burst into bloom.
They’re often the result of chilly winter planting sessions in the rain and cold, but all that hard work is quickly forgotten when I finally get to enjoy them in spring.
For the past few years, I’ve been keeping a little garden flower notebook where I jot down the varieties, colors, and heights I love or that work best in my space.
I’m always experimenting, planting new bulbs every year — and I’ll admit, sometimes I forget a few along the way. Personally, I grow tulips mainly for making bouquets, and one of the great things about them is how much fun you can have creating arrangements that are all completely different.
I love playing with colors and shapes, and adding other flowers from the garden to bring in different volumes and textures. Some tulips look just like peonies, while others are more classic… but whatever the variety, they offer endless creative possibilities and bring so much joy into the home.
And if you happen to be near the Château de Cheverny over the Easter holidays, don’t miss the chance to visit — their spectacular ribbons of tulips are well worth the trip. And while you’re there, treat yourself to something sweet in the beautiful old orangery.
3. Bringing out the seasonal wardrobe
The weather’s starting to warm up (around 17°C), and it’s time for a bit of spring cleaning. I’m dreaming of soft blouses in creamy shades, pretty floral dresses, breezy linen shirts, and flowy trousers.
Even though I know I look completely ridiculous in those charming prairie-style dresses or blouses that some people wear so effortlessly, I tend to stick with the classics — they suit me better.
That said, I do like having a few graphic pieces in my wardrobe. They often save the day when a last-minute dinner pops up — a pair of flowy trousers with a bold print, a simple silk blouse, and a smart jacket, whether in denim, linen or a classic tailored cut. Add a clutch, a few delicate pieces of jewelry, and voilà — ready to go.
Now that the weather’s turning milder, I’m starting to put away the heavy knits and winter coats, making room for lighter outfits in softer tones.
4. Savoring life’s little pleasures
Spring, like autumn, is the perfect season for les petits plaisirs (life’s simple pleasures): enjoying an ice cream on a sunny terrace (I’m not usually into ice cream, but I found an incredible gelato place that uses top-quality ingredients — it’s the only one I go to), wandering through sun-drenched streets, reading a book in the garden, or sipping coffee in a cozy countryside tearoom.
It’s also about taking the time to soak in the gentle stretch of the days, marvel at the flowers in full bloom, and savor simple, seasonal dishes like asparagus with mousseline sauce, fresh pea and mint soup, or wild garlic omelettes (picked straight from the garden) — all the little things that make this season feel so special.
I don’t always get the results I hope for in the garden — some plantings don’t take — but each spring, I still manage to find a mix of flowers and foliage to go along with the tulips I grow faithfully every year, followed by peonies and roses.
I love the idea of a small bouquet placed on a bedside table, or on the kitchen counter… I’ve also managed to grow beautiful poppies over the past few years, and I’m so happy to see they’ve settled in well. They’re stunning flowers, and I love playing with their different colors.
And then there are the flowers we don’t pick — like irises and hollyhocks — that we simply let live their quiet lives in the garden.
5. Making bouquets
The most interesting bouquets I create are usually in spring and autumn. There’s such a wide variety of flowers blooming in the garden, and I’m lucky (though it’s the result of quite a bit of work!) to have access to blooms I’d never find at a florist’s.
Of course, I do sometimes buy flowers to complete a bouquet — especially for special occasions — but I’m not particularly drawn to the idea of buying flowers that have travelled halfway across the world.
6. Wandering through Paris
That’s something my mother and I often do when we’re together — we love to stray off the beaten path, wandering through little side streets to admire beautiful architecture, stopping for a coffee before setting off again with renewed energy.
The cute shop on the right is Voyage on rue de Grenelle in Paris.
Paris comes back to life in spring. After the long winter weeks, when most buildings seem grey and a little sad, you can feel a new energy stirring as early as March. The trees dress themselves in bright green leaves, the gardens regain their colors, and people step outside to enjoy the sunshine.
I love staying in Paris on the weekends too — it gives me the chance to wander through neighborhoods I don’t know so well. And I always discover something: a little square I’d never seen before, a shop that catches my eye, a pâtissier offering old-fashioned cakes I adore but that are getting harder to find.
Paris is like a big village, and it’s so easy to stroll around just for the simple joy of it.
Not to mention other beautiful regions like Alsace or the Dordogne, both full of hidden treasures… They’re not always listed in the guidebooks, so I’d suggest picking up a good old-fashioned paper map and following the green scenic routes.
You’ll be in for some lovely surprises — just like I was last year in Brittany, when I stumbled upon a stunning, wild little road running alongside a river, completely off the grid (no signal at all), just a few kilometers from where my grandmother used to live. It was right next door — and I had no idea.
7. (Re)discovering the beautiful villages of the French countryside
Spring is the perfect time to explore charming villages — places full of character, some of which have been beautifully preserved. With half-timbered houses or old manor homes, flower-filled squares and tucked-away little inns, these springtime getaways are full of adventure and wonder.
Between the Oise, Normandy and Burgundy, there’s no shortage of lovely destinations just outside Paris!
8. Visiting plant fairs
In spring, plant fairs pop up all over France — and it’s become something of a tradition for us to visit them every year. It’s a chance to discover unusual varieties, get gardening advice, chat with fellow enthusiasts, and buy plants (some of them quite rare) in a charming, countryside atmosphere.
Now that we no longer have room in the garden, we mostly go for the simple pleasure of it — though none will ever quite compare to the plant fair at the Domaine de Courson, which is sadly no longer held.
This year, I’m planning to go to the plant fairs in Chantilly, Chaalis, La Roche-Guyon — and probably a few others too! But honestly, I think we’ll be taking it easy. With the renovation work going on, I really don’t feel like spending all spring planting (aside from a few alliums).
I just want us to enjoy the season without being tied down by the garden — there’s nothing fun about endless weeding and watering, especially when my parents keep planting new trees every year, which turns watering into a full-time job…
This year, we simply want to enjoy the little things. And with local farms and growers nearby offering great produce, we’ll be keeping things simple in the vegetable garden too.
9. Feel-good reads for sunny days
I’m setting aside darker-themed books (perfect for winter) and diving into lighter, more comforting reads. The Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery are just perfect — though I love the entire Anne of Green Gables series.
For fellow fans, I also highly recommend the Emily series — such a treat! And of course, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is always a joy to revisit — a timeless classic.
It’s also the time of year when I always seem to have a gardener’s biography in my bag or on my bedside table — books like those by Beth Chatto or Vita Sackville-West, which transport me straight to England and feel like a balm for the soul.
I love reading a few chapters in the evening before falling asleep, often underlining little nuggets of advice — always worth keeping.
With all the renovation work going on, I’m thinking it might also be the perfect opportunity to do a proper sort-through.
Speaking of tables, I’ve also been wanting to get back into baking. I cook every day — I love it — but since we try not to eat too much sugar, I don’t make many desserts. Still, I’m tempted to try a lemon loaf cake or something with a lemon mousse. A Victoria sponge or a raspberry cream roll are also calling my name…
Spring really is such an inspiring season — it brings out a creative energy I just love.
And for once, I’ll spare you the photos of my tables and share a few inspirations from Tressé instead!
10. Setting the table
(again and always)
It’s a bit of a recurring theme with me, I know — but we truly love having our loved ones over, and it brings so much joy to make others feel special by setting a beautiful table.
With spring cleaning just around the corner, I’ll be airing out all the tablecloths and napkins — something that needs doing from time to time (especially to keep the moths away). It’s also the perfect moment to store away the autumn and winter linens with little lavender sachets, and keep the ones for the warmer season close at hand.
11. Getting lost in museums
March and April are my museum months — perfect for wandering through places like the Musée d’Orsay or the Musée Marmottan. I’ve been feeling especially inspired by Impressionism lately, and it’s influencing the way I set my spring tables.
I’ll be heading back to Giverny soon, and I plan to stop by the Musée des Impressionnismes while I’m there. I also have a list as long as my arm of gardens labeled “Jardins Remarquables” that I’ve always wanted to visit — I’m sure they’ll spark ideas for future plants or flowers to grow (though, let’s remember, no planting this year, as we said!).
There’s also an exhibition I’d love to see — “Paris, Capital of the Pearl” — held at the École des Arts Joailliers. It sounds like a little gem in itself.
Other exhibitions: Wes Anderson at the Cinémathèque, Rococo & Co at the MAD, Bamboo – from pattern to work at the MAD too.
12. Taking care of the potager & the garden
Things are getting serious now! It’s time to weed the garden, clean up the vegetable patch, prune the roses and shrubs, apply white oil to the apple trees, and prepare the tomato seedlings. For the tomatoes, we usually go with Marmande, Sainte-Lucie, Cœur de Crimée, Pineapple, and Malinowy—an excellent Polish variety that’s both productive and perfect for preserving.
As for the dahlias (I’m actually working on a little guide about them), I’ve started planting them in pots filled with garden soil and compost to speed up their growth. That way, by May, they’ll already be well-developed when I put them in the ground. Dahlias are among my favorite flowers—their incredible variety of shapes and colors makes them truly special. They bloom from late July to late October, which is perfect for always having fresh flowers to make beautiful bouquets for the house.
Recipe: Simple Weeknight Salad
Lately, my go-to dinner combo is simple, quick, and satisfying: soup + salad. I prepare a big batch of soup on Sunday, which lasts me for several days. It could be beet soup, watercress velouté, creamy cauliflower, or broccoli soup—always followed by a hearty, easy-to-make salad when I get home from work. Here’s one of my favorite versions:
Ingredients:
- Lamb’s lettuce & arugula
- 1 avocado
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cremini mushrooms
- 1 soft-boiled egg
- Artichokes
- 1 can of tuna
- 1 spring onion or a small shallot
Preparation:
Toss all the ingredients into a large bowl, season with salt, pepper, and turmeric, then drizzle with a generous splash of cold-pressed rapeseed oil and three tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Give it a good mix, and enjoy with a warm, crusty baguette and a little good-quality butter (just a bit!).
A simple, wholesome dinner that’s both delicious and satisfying!
PS. The links in this article are absolutely not sponsored. I’m recommending these brands based on personal experience.
