Suzanne Havens

The flooded river Indre rushed by the chateau

The chateau included both French and Italian design innovations

The majestic carved-wood doors are surrounded by a stone arch and pillars

The river Indre flooded the English-style lanscaped gardens seen though an upstairs leaded window

The opulent colors of the velvet fabrics in the bedroom as well as the ornately carved wood reveal the wealth and style of the owners

The mobile desk is protected in a small study

The enormous stone fireplace flanked by desks would have warmed the room and probably warped the hardwood floors

The delicatel fabrics contrast with the roughness of the beamed ceiling

This desk has elaborate scenes inlaid

Created in 1633, the scenes appear to have been created on ivory

The spiral staircase, illuminated by windows in the turret had buffed wood steps

I took two photos with different settings, then brought them together to reveal garden colors, the painted windows and the beautiful interior wood shutters

The sitting room continues the theme of multiple patterns, rich colors, and heavy fabrics, along with paintings

The style of the enormous dining room provides more rest for the eyes than the sitting room, as if the food and beverage should be given center stage

A close up of the china, crystal, and silver reveal delicate patterning which shows off beautifully against the solid-color table cloth

Dramatic towers reach to the clouds

Under other circumstances the chateau would be reflected into calm waters–another time perhaps

The village church next to the chateau

Gracing the Pont Alexandre III and Les Invalides, a cherub smiles despite the raging waters of the Seine below

The negative space of the Porte Sant Denis inscribed “to Ludovico Magno” reminded me of a face, so I filled it with a roaring lion from the train station, now the Musee d’Orsay

The reflection of a mannequin seems to fly above the Paris street

When the Seine flooded in June 2016, boats were stuck between bridges, cars were flooded and patrons to floating restaurants lost access

Centre Pompidou, Paris, known for its inside-out architecture, reminds me of a habitrail for hamsters

View from Centre Pompidou, Paris, Gothic and Modern, side by side

St. Severin Catholic Church, Paris windows are abstract and each one unique in design and colors

Since the sky was so grey when we visited the Eiffel Tower I replaced it with a sunset sky that brought out the drama of the structure

Magenta hair, eating at a sidewlk bistro, and checking one’s phone are all popular in Paris

The fountain was so elaborate I blurred and greyed out the busy background

At the top of Montmartre we found the Salvidor Dali Museum and stopped in to have our reality challenged

Our waiter at a Paris bistro

Sacré-Cœur Basilica on Montmartre is surrounded by lawns and flower beds

Hector Guimard, The French Art Nouveau archtitect, created the Lily of the Valley design for the Paris underground Metro

We returned to Paris 10 days later to find sunshine and the waters receding enough to reopen the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay

Monet’s home backs right up to the narrow lane of the tiny village.

There are two gardens with distinctive styles. This is the open space directly in front of the house , divided into geometric sections bordered by pea gravel pathways.

I have always loved orange poppies with purple irises.

a bit closer

shrubs and trees give another dimension to the design

the trellises match the color of the shutters and the famous bridges to bring a rhythm to the design

climbing roses stand out against the misty hills and sky

I read somewhere that Monet employed two full-time gardeners to give himself time to paint

this gives a suggestion of the countryside surrounding Giverny

peonies are a special treat in spring

repeating arches for climbing roses also give the design unity

the variety of greens around the blooms gives interest throughout the space

the allium spheres play off the spiky blooms

this closeup of a pink and purple poppy reveals a bee

I isolated the poppy and gave it a gradated background