At Home in Paris: Embracing the French Art of Living
I have always loved the French — long before I ever set foot in Paris. But it wasn’t until I made this city my home that I truly understood what makes it so endlessly captivating.
Yes, they are often discreet and gracious, they take deep pleasure in the extraordinary French cuisine, and they carry centuries of remarkable history and tradition. But so do many cultures, especially in Europe. So, what is it, exactly, that makes life among the French feel so magnetic?
For me, it comes down to something subtle yet transformative: their ability to build an entire French way of living around the art of slowing down — a defining trait of French culture.
The Luxury of Time
Here, even the start of the week feels different. Many small shops close on Mondays, making the day feel like an unhurried Sunday — a luxurious contrast to the rushed, multi-tasking Mondays I once knew.
I smile every time I order a Café Gourmand, a simple coffee elevated into a miniature feast by a plate of exquisite bite-sized desserts. It is as though the cultural French approach wanted to design a ritual specifically to extend the pleasure of a moment.
During the morning rush in the metro, yes, there are commuters absorbed in their phones — but step above ground and the rhythm shifts. On the street, at café terraces, in the markets, people engage with one another.
Conversations take precedence over screens. Eye contact is frequent. Interaction feels tangible, anchored in the present, as though being part of the French style of everyday connection.
A Culture of Savoring
This dedication to taking one’s time communicates something profound: the French don’t just live, they savour. The oft-quoted joie de vivre is not a cliché here — it’s in the air, woven into French life and daily routine.
Everywhere I go, I notice it. Sonia, my florist, never fails to remind me to cut my flowers a certain way and to change their water just so, a small but telling sign of the high-quality standards woven into everyday interactions.
My butcher, Monsieur Seymat, repeats everything I say with a chuckle — perhaps at my still-awkward French language skills, perhaps simply out of good humor. Either way, he is clearly enjoying himself: enjoying his work, enjoying our interaction.
The Gift of Being Present
Of course, I know Paris is not immune to life’s everyday dramas. Behind closed doors, there are disagreements, disappointments, and the unglamorous routines that fill every life. But I choose to focus on what I see in the open: a city full of people who appear, often, to be in love with life, embodying the essence of the French lifestyle.
And so, I slow down. I taste. I smell. I touch. I live à la française.
I embrace the possibility of countless smiles yet to be shared — even with those famously grumpy-looking Parisians, because I suspect that beneath their exteriors, they too are quietly savoring it all. For me, this is what it truly means to live in France.
About the Author
Lichelle Silvestry
Lichelle Silvestry is the founder and creative director of Lichelle Silvestry Interiors, an English-speaking interior design studio based in Paris. Known for creating timeless interiors with warmth, elegance, and a deep understanding of her clients’ lives, she blends Parisian refinement with modern comfort for a truly lived-in luxury.
