Country Chic

Sophie and Pierre’s innovative barn conversion blends contemporary, industrial and rustic styles, adding up to a cool yet cosy look for Christmas

- Amandine Berthon And Jo Leevers

When Sophie Mao and Pierre Derville bought a derelict barn in the French countryside, it was a no-frills version of rustic living. ‘It consisted of just bare-brick walls and a dirt floor scattered with straw,’ remembers Sophie. But the couple were unfazed. ‘Just four bare walls were perfect. It meant less demolition work and less rubble to remove – it saved us time,’ she says with a smile. They gave themselves a strict six-month deadline for the work in order to be able to host Christmas for their families. ‘Our new home sits equidistant between both sets of in-laws and it will be a first for us because we usually go to my parents. We’ll be cooking for 23 adults, plus children. No pressure, then…’ Not surprisingly, those six allotted months were quite intense. ‘We headed out here in the evenings, at weekends and through the holidays, because we were determined to finish on time,’ says Sophie.