Monthly Archives: April 2009

If you don’t know what to do with your fire wood, why don’t you pile it up? I think this pile of wood looks gorgeous.

In the village of Bugnien in France, antique dealer Aurélien and his wife Pascale discovered a sleeping beauty in the form of a small chateau built in the late 17th century. With infinite care they have created a home with an imaginary past, filling it with treasures found on antiquing expeditions throughout France and Europe. The beautiful living room (above) is lit by an 18th century Italian chandelier. The Louis XV daybed is covered with a small gold silk quilt and scattered with simple canvas cushions, a large Florentine candlestick rests on the Gustavian style table.

An old bird cage, a painted dresser and a Venetian mirror are paired with a pastel 18th century Provence style chair.

Aurélien created a living room with an imaginary Swedish ancestry, installing Gustavian furniture and painting it in classic Gustavian shades of dove grays and soft blues. These gentle tones have been tempered by the accents of gilt, crystal and Venetian gilded wood, while a French 19th century chandelier and a contemporary sofa give the room a more cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The bathroom was discovered to be almost intact, and has kept its enameled cast iron bathtub and original tiles. A Napoleon III cabinet in the corner was a find of Aurélien’s from years ago, as was the Executive chandelier placed on it.

(images from marie claire maison)