See How 5 French Women Decorate Their Homes
In the new book, My Stylish French Girlfriends (Gibbs Smith, $40), Sharon Santoni, the blogger behind My French Country Home, introduces readers to the everyday lives of 20 French women. “These portraits of women and homes show a side of France that visitors don’t normally get to see,” writes Santoni. “Women who work every day, with passion, who love to take care of their homes, their families, themselves.” The book not only explores the women’s day-to-day experience but also showcases some of their chic, effortlessly stylish homes. From Calais to Provence, take a peek inside the interiors of these grand chateaux, old stone houses, and artists’ lofts, many of which reveal their owner’s creative pursuits. Take the 14th-century home of Claire, for example, an artist who left no surface untouched by her murals. Read on to be inspired by the je ne sais quoi of five of the women.
1/5A childhood dream came true when Catherine and her husband, Guy, purchased the 1870s-built Château de la Marine in Wimille to turn into a bed-and-breakfast. She had a clear vision for the interiors, choosing a muted palette and favorite hotel decor as inspiration. “She loves to hunt through antique and brocante [flea market] stores,” writes Santoni, “and in her part of France, the choice is particularly rich.” During the château’s restoration, the couple were careful to preserve architectural details, as seen in this foyer.
2/5Tired of the hustle and bustle of Paris, Cecile and her husband, Frank, wanted to raise their three boys in a simple country life with tall church spires, small villages, and rolling hills. They purchased an old stone house in the countryside of la Perche. Bright colors dominate the home, including the living room (shown), which is furnished with a mix of flea-market finds and designer pieces.
3/5Running a fifth-generation winery that produces Champagne Boizel in Epernay, Evelyne and her husband, Christophe, navigate a business that merges centuries-old traditions with modern-day marketing and innovation. This mix of old and new is also reflected in her home—a classic 19th-century house decorated with antique furniture and contemporary art. In the salon, the original wood paneling is a backdrop to an eclectic combination of furnishings.
4/5Claire and Pierre were looking to move out of the city and onto a small property. Instead, in a remote village in the center of France, they became owners of a 14th-century château that had no heat, no electricity, and had been abandoned for 40 years. After two years of renovation, Claire, an artist, turned the château into her canvas. “Claire’s life is full of flowers,” writes Santoni. “Those she paints and those she grows and displays in every room of her house.” Pictured here is the dining room.
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5/5With six home renovations in their back pocket, Laure and her husband, Bertrand, have finally settled into a 20th-century artist’s studio in the 15th arrondissement. A successful showing of Laure’s contemporary works of art at Maison et Objet led to the creation of Maison Caumont—a line of vintage-inspired wallpaper, fabrics, and home accessories. The couple’s eye for design is evident in their home’s modern interiors and architectural details. In the dining room, midcentury furniture sits easily with a hutch outfitted in antique doors.
