LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
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The family of five discovered
the area through holidaying there.
"We bought it as a place to unwind
from our high-pressure jobs - we
both run businesses and it has
been bliss to spend the summer
holidays here," says Samantha,
whose children are now 14, 18 and
21. "After the six-hour drive down
from Eurotunnel it was a place
where we could instantly relax."
With a neutral, calming palette
throughout using natural materials
and textures it is easy to see why.
After some structural shoring up
and re-roofing, the stone walls were
restored and sealed, and the darkwood
beams white-washed. Used
throughout is the Little Greene
Paint Company's Dark Lead, with
gentle greens. "I like neutral shades
with a dash of drama," she says of
the touches of black, the copper
taps that the builder made for the
bathroom, or the large pendant
lamps in the kitchen.
The furnishings complement
the feeling of laid-back elegance,
with vintage pieces carefully
curated from brocantes, videgreniers
(car boot sales), Le Bon Coin
(French e-bay) or brought over from
the UK. The beds came from mailorder
companies Loaf, La Redoute
and Feather & Black. "I had great
fun finding vintage mirrors and
How to renovate
remotely
* Get quotes for everything.
Ensure you know that everything you
expect is included in
quoted prices
* Employ a French-speaking
project manager on site to deal
with the builders
* Use French artisans to keep
the locals on your side
* Virtual tours, FaceTime chats
and emails make it much easier
than 10 years ago