When Caroline and Olivier Girault de Burlet first set eyes upon their 19th-century farmhouse it was in a ruinous state. Commanding a hilltop location on the border of the Ardèche region, the main building had not been lived in for around 100 years and had served only to shelter the livestock of the local people. The picture you see now tells a very different story, with La Maison Papillons, which it is now called, transformed into a comfortable abode nestled in a Mediterranean woodland garden complete with a newly installed pool. ‘It is what we call a “mas” and was originally for farming purposes,’ says Caroline. ‘When we first bought the property it was uninhabitable, with no windows and a dirt floor.’
There’s a distinct connection between the house and its surroundings. Not only do the hills and woodlands form a vital part of the experience – the gardens are peppered with social suntraps that tempt you outside – but the majority of the interior decor and architecture has been curated by Olivier, an artist and craftsman, using locally sourced materials.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2021 من Homes & Gardens.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2021 من Homes & Gardens.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A love letter to...
Nina Campbell explains why New England's Maine exerts a permanent pull on her heartstrings
A great escape
The iconic Gleneagles hotel marks its 100th anniversary this year
A PIECE OF PARADISE
This classic English garden in the Sussex countryside was a true labour of love, resulting in a place where there are stunning spaces - and vistas - at every turn
NATURAL ATTRACTION
A garden that invites wildlife in is rich in so many ways, as these diverse spaces illustrate
WILD PROSPECTS
Lulu Urquhart of Urquhart & Hunt takes a deep dive into the importance of our waterways as well as the work of nature's eco-engineer: the beaver
LIFE IN COLOUR
Around 30 years old, this country home used to be described as a white box - now it's a joyful place with fresh hues and uplifting pattern.
CALMING INFLUENCE
With its peaceful palette and carefully curated collection of antiques and modernist pieces, this handsome farmhouse is a balm for the soul
THE JOY OF...A rural idyll
This month, our columnist Joy Moyler extols the virtues of living - and working - in the countryside
Gather round
Dining spaces these days have many functions, but it is still important to make them beautiful for when they are playing host
Floral arrangement
Interior designer Sarah Vanrenen shares her wisdom on using floral fabrics and wallpapers