Stepping Back To The Nineteenth Century Through Design And Decor By Way Of A Converted Presbytery

The nineteenth century lives on through character, color and design in the converted presbytery home of Muriel Dana. Featured in Campagne Decoration, the decor of this Normandy coast home reflects the fascination of a time gone by.

A self proclaimed decorator and bargain hunter, Muriel’s passion for furniture and objects of the nineteenth century swathe her home in a magnificent interpretation of romance, lace, and femininity.  Shades of pink frame the space flattering brown accents, and the French settee done ooh la la lovely in complementing aubergine.

Repairs were made to cracking walls, doors, and windows, allowing detail to authenticity in the ground floor reception rooms. The greens of both the Louis XVI cane chair with gold accents and velvet curtains draw the eye to the finish of the golden brown mud walls beneath the wainscot.  Two-tone walls, such as in this case, enrich the color palette.

A former upstairs Sunday school room was effortlessly converted to a  dressing room and bathroom.  A pine armoire serves two purposes,  practical storage and perfect complement to the hardwood floors. The six light gold gilt and crystal chandelier pales in beauty only to the claw foot tub and gold gilt drapery crown.

The undeniable hallmarks of French decor- gray(or is it grey), blue, white- Très bien!  The patina of the original mud walls allows an antique finish to be created summed up by two words, perfect imperfection.

Should I begin with the distressed beauty of the copper pot lined cupboard, the silverware cabinet door hardware and napkin holder, the embroidered sheets doing cuisine duty, or the gourmet feeling that French design and decor defines?It’s all so wonderfully French and so wonderfully good!

The upstairs master bedroom became the room Muriel had always dreamed of. Isn’t that exactly what a master bedroom should be?  Baroque influenced accents from whitewashed walls, golden cherubs, and lace panels exemplify the new meaning of the three r’s ~ romantic, refined, restful.

Like mother, like daughter~ a dream room is the wish Muriel granted her daughter Sophie. Decor choices of framed vintage prints, pink as far as the eye can see, a bed crown befitting a sleeping princess, and toile de Jouy are perfect for child’s play.

Taking a meal in the intimate dining room overlooking the gardens would certainly be a dining and visual treat. The deep patina of the gray(grey) wall showcases the rosewood decorative wall clock as a focal point. The chicken wire doors of the china cupboard, the highly decorative appliques and crown, and toile lined shelves epitomize European charm.

Home design and decor should express and reflect the essence of its owners. The homeowner’s passion for the furniture and accessories, reminiscent of the nineteenth century,  is uniquely displayed throughout the home.  Character and charm are two elements of great design, and are the calling card of this stunning home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

images: Christophe Rouffio