A Passion for Beauty

The painter Catherine Le-Van and her husband are both passionate about design, and their home in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré on the Ile de Ré is the beautiful result of their shared enthusiasm — it's an exquisite balance of classic midcentury design, art and rustic vintage pieces. Love this one. More about it here on Marie Claire Maison.


(photography by christophe dugied)

Pale and Interesting

Furnished with antique French and Scandinavian furniture, the romantic home of Lance and Victoria Lortschers, located in Hidden Hills on the outskirts of Los Angeles, still feels contemporary thanks to a minimalist palette of white accented with black. More here via Vårt Nya Hem.





(photography by birgitta wolfgang drejer)

Light and Airy

A former oil mill near Nîmes is now an open, loft-style home for Marie-Laure and her American husband John. Sensitively restored, they've left the original stone exposed inside and have kept to a minimalist white colour scheme, allowing the soaring ceilings and amazing windows to have centre stage. Outside, bamboo and olive trees add soft green shade around the courtyard pool. Cool, tranquil and lovely, it's the ideal warm weather home. More here on CôtéMaison.


(photography by Nicolas Mathéus)

Colourful Souvenirs

The Marseille home of designer Fabienne Collombel is a reflection of her adventurous personality — Fabienne loves to travel, and she's surrounded herself with beautiful souvenirs of her voyages. Her favourite parts of the world are Africa (Fabienne grew up in Cameroon and Libya), India and Southeast Asia, where she explores offbeat places for the unusual and unique. In her own work as a designer, she often takes the odd items discovered in her travels and puts them together in interesting ways — like the Castafiore collection of jewelry, with necklaces that are both baroque and bohemian in design. Back at home, a relaxed mix of French sofas, Indian rugs, plastic mats from Togo and the odd Ikea piece are a testament to her open and democratic approach to design. More here on Marie Claire Maison.

Heart of Green

Five years ago, landscape designer Chantal Guillemain discovered a sad and nondescript house in the suburbs of Paris. But Chantal could see its potential — and after much work (including completely gutting the interior and adding a new level) she transformed it into a beautiful space where she is immersed in nature. Each room has glass walls overlooking the garden — a green haven of bamboos, perennials and roses grouped around little seating alcoves. Inside, vintage furniture and linens add warmth and personality, while a collection of landscape paintings harmonizes the outside and inside of this peaceful, minimalist home. More in French here. Via Marie Claire Maison.


(photography by Mark Eden Schooley)

Guest Post

I'm doing a guest post today for lovely Victoria of sfgirlbybay while she's away on holiday in Paris — hope you'll visit me there. I'll be sharing the beautiful home of French designer Dominique Kieffer — and you'll definitely want to see this!


(photography by Denise Bonenti/Vega Mg for Marie Claire Italia)

French Bohemian Style

Years ago Myriam and Dominique left a hectic life in Paris for a quieter life in Nimes — their high ceilinged apartment in an 1835 building, flooded with light from the large windows, is both a studio and a home for them. Here they raise Zoe and Alix, their two children, and work — Myriam in textiles, Dominique, as a writer who also runs an internet radio site. I have to say that I'm a bit ambivalent about the distempered walls, but I love the bright prints on the mid-century Scandinavian teak furniture. A great example of bohemian modern style. More here on Marie Claire Maison.


(photography by Vincent Leroux)

Restrained Elegance

A Haussmann-style Paris apartment has been updated and reinvented by architect Valerie Mazerat — now a harmonious blend of classicism and modernity, it's a tranquil home for its studious owner. Love all those books — would love to browse the bookshelves! See more of the apartment here. Via Marie Claire Maison.

Vintage Chic

This atmospheric French home is almost completely furnished with industrial and vintage pieces — often used and/or displayed in unexpected and creative ways, such as the collection of children's chairs on the bathroom walls, or the old ladder holding a tray of soap and loofahs on the bathtub. The gentle tones used throughout allow the eye to focus on the time worn patina of the home — it's all about texture here, rather than colour. Definitely a quiet and gentle place to live. More here from House to Home.


(photography by Paul Massey for LivingEtc)