La Petite Maison du Village in St. Remy

This artlessly chic guesthouse in the heart of St. Remy, in the heart of Provence, captivates me. The warm colors of the furnishings, the art, the walls and floors immediately signal welcoming comfort. Traditionally Provençal in design, the 18th C. maison has been flawlessly renovated with a modern edge that doesn't let you forget you have arrived (luckily!) in one of the hippest villages in tout France!

stepping into this wonderful room is a feast for the designers' eye:

black and white marble tile and limestone fireplace set the stage;

the gorgeous pillows that subtly reference the "fabrics du soliel" ...

the traditional Provençal fabrics with a modern twist are cushy and

welcoming; the chandelier, the painting and the quatrefoil panel

leaning artlessly against the wall all speak of casually chic Provençal elegance

this little vignette tucked under the stairs welcomes

with its vintage iron daybed done with warm corals, deep

aubergines and lots of striped pillows that evoke the feeling

of awnings in a St. Tropez beach house; gorgeous

tomettes on the floor, the easy campaign table and the

modern art photography on the wall .. love them all!

linen upholstered headboards always create a feeling of cozy comfort;

paired with those ruffled soft Euro pillows and the deep

rose color bedcover, the perfect setting for a good night's rest; I

love the way the sconces reference the shape of antlers without

actually being antlers!

this Directoire bed sets an elegant tone for this full height bedroom; the deep

purple of the bedcover and upholstered head and footboard

are accented with the poufy lavender pillows;

the silver and acrylic lamps are very chic with the rich palette and

keep the room anchored in modernity; the gauzy but deeply colored

curtains are perfect for keeping the bright Provençal sun at bay

this sweet room has it all for your petit dejeuner (in winter or

bad weather... otherwise you're outside on the patio!) before

heading out to explore the village:

warm woods, tile floor, French doors that let in

a lot of natural light, rich wine-colored walls

the lovely lacy sign outside lets you know there is

something very special going on inside...please come in!

a friendly, comfortable suite is perfect for a family for relaxing;

the linen chaise and the deep rose daybed invite relaxing and lingering;

the terracotta floor is cool to the touch and the deep purple

gauzy curtains again are perfect...unfussy and elegant in their simplicity

a French door to the patio, hexagonal

tomettes on the floor, the elegant rosy

curtain hung simply with rings on an

iron rod, the two-color painted wall

and that little coolie lampshade

all speak of Provençal chic

the most is made of this room under the eaves with gauzy curtains letting

in lots of natural light; the room is welcoming with the plush wine and

rust colors of the sofa and the bergeres; light wood floors keep the mood

clean and simply elegant

charmingly Provençal bathroom with its deep window sill, double

porcelain sinks, painted walls, individual framed mirrors and

adorable sconces make the daily toilette a joy!

the palette throughout the guesthouse features these

rich earthen tones of aubergines, lavenders, wines and

rusts...the colors of Provence

***

and happily there is a Diptyque shop right here..

the iconic logo and packaging speak of the

ultimate in chic scents for body and home

a green Diptyque candle just

for your

St. Patrick's Day

all images from La Maison du Village

***

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo Kit

There's Magic Afoot in St. Helena!

In Napa Valley the other day, and I had the good fortune to catch the brilliant and creative Daniel Hale and his wife Christine in their amazing home/studio in St. Helena, nestled among the vineyards west of the village.

If I thought I had seen repurposing before, this is transformative magic. In the hands of this skilled artisinal architect the humblest of old cast off materials is transformed into elegant, spare and chic-in-spite-of-himself details, finishes and furnishings.

A Whimsical Bird Sculpture Stands in Front of

Reclaimed Galvanized Fencing

A Door Made From Cast-Off Wooden Fencing

A Canoe Shaped Chandelier Made From Found Wood

This Charming Clock is Daniel's Design, and Reminds Me

of the Charm of Picasso's Satyr Paintings

Another Door Made From Wood Used

Exactly as it Was Found

The Guest Bedroom; Transluscent Plaster Walls, a Headboard

Made and Decorated by Daniel, Christine's French Linens

The Headboard With Fanciful, Hieroglyphic-like Designs

A Sculpture Made From Found Wood for Pedestal

and An Old Iron Hoop

Christine's Inviting Old French Linens Furnish the Sofa Daniel

Crafted from Crating Material

These Angel's Wings Arrived From a Friend

Who Knew Daniel Could Work Magic With Them!

The Approach to Daniel and Christine's Home in St. Helena, Napa

Trained in architecture on the east coast, Daniel's aesthetic was honed by living two years in St. Remy, in the south of France, where he and Christine moved their brood of three children and set up home. Christine spent time gathering lovely old French linens that she has put to good use as upholstery, pillows and bedding for their home in St. Helena.

The home they are creating for themselves is stunning, spare, modern and completely unique. It's clad in beautifully worked plaster that Daniel insisted be mixed with the local dirt so the color would blend perfectly with the land. Situated at the end of the road in the vineyards, the home is open to the views on both sides; large sliding doors are integral to the design. From the great room you can see vineyards in either direction. The imaginative layout includes a dining room "peninsula" that is open to the air and yet sheltered from the heat and the rain. The guest suite is up a flight of stairs in the style of the "pigeonnier" found in the old bastides in France...vaulted ceiling and lovely, high views.

Every single detail, from the refreshingly scaled and liveable floorplan to the elegant and spare materials, to the artistic and creative detailing is a unique synthesis of his creativity and the salvage he finds. Daniel uses what he finds around him to build his walls, his doors, his windows, his furnishings, his art.

In this magical home you will see life as it is meant to be lived: open to the outdoors visually and literally, a work of love in progress, and a place that supports their life work of creating beautiful living spaces and things out of found objects.

See Daniel's Blog: Serendipity Rising and Website

All Photos (except Bird Sculpture) Taken by Kit Golson

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CONTACT:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design