I hardly ever feature any homes on my blog because even if the house is drop dead gorgeous, there is usually something that is not quite right. Even if I want to show you a house because I think it’s great, a banister or rug can throw me off and I won’t show it to you at all. I can hardly read shelter magazines anymore because usually I am huffing and puffing to myself thinking, “Why is this house even in a magazine?” Too much money, not enough money, overzealous decorators, bad taste, and bad style are my chief complaints but mostly, I feel, no one knows how to leave well enough alone. Let me explain…
I’m talking about old houses. I don’t care about new houses.
When someone is fortunate enough to be able to purchase a historical home, 90%
of the time they wreck it. They usually immediately rip out the soul of the
house. Old kitchens are the first to go. It breaks my heart because usually
this is the best part about an old house. The floors are usually next to be
massacred. A creak or a squeak is hardly ever appreciated.
For example, when I was helping my friend Diandra Douglas
sell her historical villa, La Quinta, in Santa Barbara (check out my blog about
her fabulous house HERE), nearly every realtor and prospective buyer who came
to the house wanted to implement change. I could overhear them discussing plans
to “blow out the kitchen and family room to make a great room.” Ancient
terra-cotta flooring “would have to go.” If they even dared questioning the
plumbing they would be shown the door because, in our eyes they didn’t deserve
this villa (to put it politely).
The typically described “flaws” of an old home are exactly
what I love about a house and those “flaws” are what make a house a home. You
can’t buy that… Or can you?
Over the weekend, looking for inspiration for my ancient
little Provence farmhouse, I was continually clicking on photo after photo on
Pinterest of houses and gardens in Provence restored by Lafourcade Architects.
After some research, I discovered that these beautiful mas, bastides, châteaux
and hotels were restored by the family team of the Lafourcades. Bruno
Lafourcade and son, Alexandre restore the structures and Dominique Lafourcade
designs the gardens. Dazzled, I am.
A family after my own heart who understands the importance
of maintaining the integrity of an old home. Their philosophy is explained in
an article in the Robb Report. Bruno Lafourcade explains, “At the universities,
architects learn how to use computers. They do not learn taste, they do not
learn charm, they do not learn culture. We build with the images we carry in
our heads. We must know how the local winds blow, how a tree will protect a
home in the summer, and how the mistral will blow off the surrounding hills and
winter. Then we must listen to the client is carefully as a doctor making a
diagnosis. Do they have dogs? Do they love music? Do they love flowers? You are
not merely designing a residence, you are creating a way of life.”
This “way of life” in Provence is mastered by the Lafourcade
family. Restoration is a tricky subject. It takes a genius to know how to
restore what needs to be restored and keep what needs to be kept. And if
something needs to be restored, the artistry comes when one cannot tell what is
new and what is old...To create an appearance that a home has been untouched
for centuries. And that, my friends, is what the Lafourcades are all about.
Take a look…
The house that broke the Internet or at least Pinterest is
definitely the home of Ginny Magher, an Atlanta-based interior designer who
bought and restored an ancient farmhouse in Provence with the help of
Lafourcade Architects. Take a look…
The Lafourcade’s do not stop at just the structure of a
home. The brilliant Dominique Lafourcade comes in towards the end of
restoration and starts her work on the gardens. This is what pulls the whole
house together. She knows just what a Provençal garden needs and deserves and
has proven that with her own garden, Les Confines. Cypress, olive trees in earthenware pots,
wisteria and grapevines, lavender, a potager, citrus trees, irises and Russian
sage. Old roses, kiwi vines and blackberries have been added because Mme
Lafourcade loves the idea of grazing as you walk. “Pleasure for the eye is
good, she explains, “but the pleasure of tasting and smelling at the same time,
this is fantastic!”
Let’s take a look at some of Mme. Lafourcade’s work…
So there you have it. Our first foray into the magic of
Provence. If you are in need of restoring your Provence home, my suggestion is
to put Lafourcade Architects on speed dial.
http://www.dominique-lafourcade.com/en/#/Accueil
*Something you don’t know about me? Gracie is currently on
the train to come to see moi. I am so excited for her to arrive but I received
a text from her today as she was on the train and all I could do was burst out
laughing. I thought you would appreciate it as well… (Gracie's words are in white. Mine are in blue.)
