FRENCH CONNECTION
25 Beautiful Homes|July 2020
Samantha and Oliver Hansard have spent a decade achieving an authentically rustic look for their family farmhouse in the heart of Vendée
MANDI MILLAR
FRENCH CONNECTION

After years of holidaying in the Vendée in France, Samantha and Oliver Hansard decided it was time to stake their claim. ‘This always felt like the “real” France and with the children still young, 2010 seemed like the right time to buy our own little hideaway,’ says Samantha. They had made many friends in the area and it was the owners of the gite where they stayed who spotted this gem for sale.

‘The children Bella, now 20, Will, 18, and Connie, 14, loved the acre-sized garden, even though it was a complete jungle – or maybe because of it!’ says Samantha. ‘Oliver and I loved the original stonework, the huge rooms and its potential. As an interior designer, I’ve always been interested in renovation and interiors, especially vintage, and have gathered up bits and pieces since my student days. This was the perfect canvas to finally bring it all together.’

This story is from the July 2020 edition of 25 Beautiful Homes.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2020 edition of 25 Beautiful Homes.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM 25 BEAUTIFUL HOMESView All
A Labour of Love
25 Beautiful Homes

A Labour of Love

Morgan Scott-Murch and her husband Jon worked hard to turn bedsits into a beautiful home

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
LIGHT relief
25 Beautiful Homes

LIGHT relief

Leila and Ali Mestiri called in the experts to modernise their dated period property and make it bright and beautiful

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Grand ambition
25 Beautiful Homes

Grand ambition

Making changes to a listed historic house comes with many challenges, but that didn't stop Penny and Richard Ballard achieving their dreams

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
COUNTRY calling
25 Beautiful Homes

COUNTRY calling

Anita and Tom Storrar have cleverly enhanced their pretty stone cottage in the North York Moors National Park, which is the focal point of their idyllic family life

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
CUSTOM FIT
25 Beautiful Homes

CUSTOM FIT

A contemporary Huf Haus proved to be the ideal home for David and Greta Iredale to showcase their love of mid-century design

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Urban OASIS
25 Beautiful Homes

Urban OASIS

Interior designer Ruchi A. Mohan was well placed to turn a dated and compact New York City apartment into a calm, cool and collected abode

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Best laid plans
25 Beautiful Homes

Best laid plans

A renovation and significant extension have future-proofed Rossella and Tim van der Weyden's Victorian terrace for years to come

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
AT ONE with nature
25 Beautiful Homes

AT ONE with nature

The couple who built this home on the outskirts of Antwerp were influenced by their experience of living in Japan, so the inside is as peaceful as the outside

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Dream come true
25 Beautiful Homes

Dream come true

Moving from a semi to a detached period house in need of some care was a happy adventure for Am and Aman Hayer

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
CLEAR VISION
25 Beautiful Homes

CLEAR VISION

Katie and Andrew Probert couldn't resist the chance to buy a Victorian doer-upper on a street they'd always wanted to live on

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024