A farmhouse turned family home in the countryside south of Paris

Decorating preferences often change when you move to a country house. Its old stonework and natural setting inspire a different approach than a city apartment would. Isabelle and Patrick’s house is a perfect example of this. It sits enthroned on a little knoll amidst fields. This old farmstead, composed of several buildings in the middle of nowhere and standing out in the distance, is the stuff of dreams. It is exactly the kind of place that Isabelle and Patrick had always hoped to find. Patrick worked for a long time as an agent and producer in the fashion photography business, collaborating with personalities such as Peter Lindbergh. “I spent my time traveling between Paris and New York, and we also had a London office. It was London, Paris, New York, all the time; constant photo shoots, one after another, for fifteen years. I took my breaks when we were in fabulous places—in gorgeous houses with sumptuous gardens, or beautiful landscapes. But I only wanted one thing: to create a place of our own. To have the things we love: a garden, dogs, and perhaps a horse or two.”

Isabelle is an actress and model. For her, the change was a little more complicated. She had to attend rehearsals, network, and have access to cultural events for her work, but she adapted quickly. “I’ve always spent time in the country. I grew up in Yvelines, to the west of Paris, on a farm at the edge of a forest. New York and Paris were parenthetical interludes for me.” Moving to the country was also a question of family priorities. “I didn’t see myself with two children in Paris, it’s as simple as that. When you live in the city, you’re only experiencing a tiny aspect of life. Here, you have the sense that life is richer. You’re close to the earth and in touch with things.” After trying out a few houses in the Île-de-France region, they eventually settled in a small town near Courances.

When it comes to style, this inspirational couple is an example to us all. Their house blends handsome contemporary and traditional looks flawlessly. There’s a distinctively British charm that’s set off by an eclectic mélange gleaned from the four corners of the globe. “It’s an accumulation gathered over the years from all parts. We did a lot of bargain-hunting in New York and in Norfolk, as well as in Belgium and in Africa,” says Patrick, who admits that their tastes have evolved since they left the city. “We had a penthouse in New York whose decor was pure American modernism: very spare, in gray, white, beige, and black. There was a lot of marble and a Knoll coffee table. Here, I find that I prefer Persian rugs, kilim carpets, and color.”

Isabelle and Patrick’s older daughter has left the nest and lives abroad. Their younger daughter is soon to graduate. Admittedly, the house will be big for just the two of them, but they say they could never return to the city. “There are drawbacks, but what matters is being close to nature and experiencing it every day,” says Patrick. “In New York, I remember, we sometimes couldn’t tell whether it was winter, fall, or summer. Nature is part of life, and human beings aren’t supposed to be cut off from it. When you reconnect, you realize how nourishing, stimulating, and fascinating the natural world is.”

Extracted from Coming Home to Nature: The French Art of Countryfication by Estelle Marandon, Gesa Hansen, Charlotte Huguet (Flammarion, 2022).