From chateaux to chalets
Many of us dream of a house in France: the landscape, the food, the wine, the weather – and, of course, the fabulous homes themselves. From sumptuous chateaux, reflecting the magnificence of Versailles, to cosy ski lodges and historic bastides, bathed in the warm ProvenÇal sunshine and surrounded by the chirruping of cicadas, France has more than its fair share of truly magical properties.
Clockwise from left: an 18th century velvet wallhanging decorates the dining room at Maison du Bonheur, Paris; a portrait of Mary Balfour hangs in an artist’s atelier in Paris; two Charles Eames chairs in the dining room at Lou Mazet de L’Estagnet, St Tropez
And in Romantic French Homes, writer Lanie Goodman and photographer Simon Brown take us on a journey through the keyholes of some of the most spectacular properties, such as the grand Château d’Outrelaise in Normandy, which now offers the elegance of Louis XV’s court in 75 acres of grounds, and the Savoyard Farm Chalet, built in 1916 by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, who grew bored of the ski resorts of the time, so moved to the ‘undiscovered’ village of Megève.
From left: the conservatory at Maison du Bonheur is a showcase for contemporary artwork; Les Confines, Noves, Provence – this garden-view atelier, originally two dark rooms, has been opened up into an artist’s loft
But it’s not only the country’s grandest homes that should be celebrated. Just as enchanting are the maisons bohèmes, bohemian retreats of writers, artists and musicians, and the thrifty maisons paysannes that pepper the glorious French countryside. All are individual and idiosyncratic, but the common thread running through all of them is romanticism. ‘Conceived as liveable works of art, the atmosphere and décor of French homes reflect a certain insouciance for rules,’ says Lanie Goodman. ‘Beyond the search for elegance and comfort, there’s something intangible – call it fantaisie, whimsy – that shapes the soul of each house.’
From left: in the dining room of Savoyard Farm Chalet, a salvaged pine farm table is set off by Balthus chairs; the kitchen of Lou Mazet de l’Estagnet in St Tropez is a colourful assembly of retrieved and repainted furnishings from flea markets
There are many influences on show – Roman, Greek, Italian, a dazzling ‘cultural crosspollination of styles’ – and all of the homes connect intimately with their surroundings.
‘Inseparable from every décor is a window on to the exterior – a patch of burnished blue sea, the shimmering reflections of a river, a leafy vineyard, an Alpine peak, a Parisian cathedral. Above all, what these houses all share is their theatrical mise en scène, a harmonious assemblage of colours, materials and textures that reinvent the essence of romantic reveries.’
From left: a 17th century portrait sits above the fireplace in the music room at Villa Baulieu, Provence; at L’Aumônerie, Roquebrune, the 17th-century loggia combines North African and vintage design
Romantic French Homes by Lanie Goodman, with photography by Simon Brown (Cico Books, £30). Readers of The Lady can buy a copy for £25 (including UK P&P). Call 01256-302699, quoting reference GLR 8BH.
Clockwise from left: an 18th century velvet wallhanging decorates the dining room at Maison du Bonheur, Paris; a portrait of Mary Balfour hangs in an artist’s atelier in Paris; two Charles Eames chairs in the dining room at Lou Mazet de L’Estagnet, St Tropez And in Romantic French Homes, writer Lanie Goodman and photographer Simon Brown take us on a journey through the keyholes of some of the most spectacular properties, such as the grand Château d’Outrelaise in Normandy, which now offers the elegance of Louis XV’s court in 75 acres of grounds, and the Savoyard Farm Chalet, built in 1916 by Baroness Noémie de Rothschild, who grew bored of the ski resorts of the time, so moved to the ‘undiscovered’ village of Megève.
From left: the conservatory at Maison du Bonheur is a showcase for contemporary artwork; Les Confines, Noves, Provence – this garden-view atelier, originally two dark rooms, has been opened up into an artist’s loft But it’s not only the country’s grandest homes that should be celebrated. Just as enchanting are the maisons bohèmes, bohemian retreats of writers, artists and musicians, and the thrifty maisons paysannes that pepper the glorious French countryside. All are individual and idiosyncratic, but the common thread running through all of them is romanticism. ‘Conceived as liveable works of art, the atmosphere and décor of French homes reflect a certain insouciance for rules,’ says Lanie Goodman. ‘Beyond the search for elegance and comfort, there’s something intangible – call it fantaisie, whimsy – that shapes the soul of each house.’
From left: in the dining room of Savoyard Farm Chalet, a salvaged pine farm table is set off by Balthus chairs; the kitchen of Lou Mazet de l’Estagnet in St Tropez is a colourful assembly of retrieved and repainted furnishings from flea markets There are many influences on show – Roman, Greek, Italian, a dazzling ‘cultural crosspollination of styles’ – and all of the homes connect intimately with their surroundings.
‘Inseparable from every décor is a window on to the exterior – a patch of burnished blue sea, the shimmering reflections of a river, a leafy vineyard, an Alpine peak, a Parisian cathedral. Above all, what these houses all share is their theatrical mise en scène, a harmonious assemblage of colours, materials and textures that reinvent the essence of romantic reveries.’
From left: a 17th century portrait sits above the fireplace in the music room at Villa Baulieu, Provence; at L’Aumônerie, Roquebrune, the 17th-century loggia combines North African and vintage designRomantic French Homes by Lanie Goodman, with photography by Simon Brown (Cico Books, £30). Readers of The Lady can buy a copy for £25 (including UK P&P). Call 01256-302699, quoting reference GLR 8BH.