Cevennes SOUL

A global collection of antiques and artwork fills this beautiful mountaintop home in the south of France, reflecting the life, passions and adventures of its creative owners, Lou and Dan Sayers

- KAY PRESTNEY

Lou and Dan added the decked terraces to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. The curved balcony is sited on top of an old bread oven and has stunning views across the valley. Their collection of vintage wrought iron and wicker furniture provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy a sundowner. High up in the lush Cévennes mountains of the Gard in the South of France, British-born couple Lou and Dan Sayers have painstakingly restored a 17th-century farmhouse that is full of unexpected surprises. Antiques collected from across the world – from Kenya to India – share space, unified by a natural colour palette and an elegant feel.

Lou had a desire to see the world from a young age and, after training as a teacher, was posted to a Kenyan primary school where she fell for the 'big skies, vast savannah, freedom and the wild landscapes.' After leaving Africa in 2003, she and Dan moved back to England but felt a pull to return to a wilder way of life. 'We visited family in the south of France and fell in love with the Cévennes, its rich history and also its remarkable scenery,' says Lou. They made the move with their two young daughters, Kitty and Maud, in 2007. Lou now works as a photographer and writer with a popular blog, Fig Tart, where she documents their French life. She has also begun a yearlong photography project exploring the 72 Japanese micro seasons in her garden.