La Belle Époque: French for "The Beautiful Era"
French: belle, beautiful + époque, era (pronounced “ eh-pock”)
In general, The Age of Beauty or the period of comfortable well-established life before WWI. Literally: fine period.
The La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until WWI. The Belle Époque was named in retrospect, when it began to be considered a “golden age” when compared to the horrors of WWI. In the U.S., the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age and in the United Kingdom, it overlapped with the late Victorian era and the Edwardian era.
La Belle Époque Bed & Breakfast Inn in Napa Valley, CA
My husband, Tim and I were married in a grand Victorian mansion in Napa Valley, CA, named La Belle Époque. Hence, this is why the name La Belle Époque has great meaning for me. We had a charming ceremony and short stay here before heading off to Monterey and Carmel for our honeymoon.
We were in the San Francisco area in the winter of 2007 and traveled to Napa to re-visit our beloved place of marriage. There were new owners, but they were very nice and let us walk around and re-live some fond memories.
This is the room where we said our vows!
We built our current home in 2005 and aptly named it La Belle Époque.
And, this is our La Belle Époque in Kentucky.
I love the building process probably because I love anything to do with houses, architecture, design and decoration.
Our home is on top of a mountain overlooking the city of Pikeville. The views are magnificent.
Yes, that’s me, probably bossing a bunch of burly construction workers around! Did I mention I love the building process? (I know, I know I have the same blue coat on in these photos from 2005 & 2007. I must have loved that coat. But, alas, it’s gone now!)
This is the back before it was completed. I’ll show you current photos in the spring and summer when everything is in bloom.
So, this is the explanation for Kimberly Hites’ La Belle Époque Home blog name. Hope you visit often to see what’s happening at La Belle Époque!
The annual Parade of Homes is December 5, so I’ve got to start decorating for the holidays very soon. Stay tuned…
Au Revoir,
Kim
3 comments:
You know I love your home. It is simply incredible. However, you know that more than the aesthetic of your home is the love you have built inside it in the form of your family that I admire most and that which I find the most beautiful. You, as a person, and the family you have are the true show pieces and that gorgeous home you have is but the exquisite frame that surrounds it.
Wow, Kim, your home is beautiful! I'm a new follower visiting from DebbieDoo's. The Man (aka: my hubby) & I would probably get lost in a house so big & he would probably starve to death....lol! I really enjoyed your tour.
CAS
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