NATURAL HISTORY

Once two humble farm buildings, this French villa has evolved into a spectacular home that is no standard rustic retreat

- Sara Dal Zotto/Kara O'Reilly

taking her design cues from its bucolic setting, French interiors doyenne Claude Cartier has brought this country pad bang up to date by using a vibrant palette of colours inspired by nature and the changing of the seasons.

The house, located in Irigny, eastern France, is owned by longtime clients of the designer and was due some TLC. The owners, with whom we have a loyal and trusting relationship, are a family that work a lot and like to entertain a lot, too. Hence the choice of a house somewhat removed from the city in this glorious setting. They work in artistic fields and gave us carte blanche,' says Claude.