Do You Need A Place in Stay in France?

 

If you do - I have found the MOST perfect place to stay if you’re looking for a vacation house in the heart of Provence.   If not – stick around anyway for some beautiful before and after photographs!    The house,   Les Murets, is located on seven acres and has spectacular views of the nearby Luberon Mountains.  It’s a short hike from Gordes, the amazing town carved out of the mountain’s stone: 

 

The town of Gordes – shown above.

How did I find out about this Perfect Provencal House?   It seems that through the years the owners of this house and I keep bumping into each other – in cyberspace.  It’s a small world, as they say – even on the internet!

Where to start?

At the beginning?

Remember this story from a while ago?

 

A few years ago, I decorated a neighbor’s house using whites and aquas from Kravet’s Windsor Smith’s Collection. 

 

On the mantel, I used an antique mirror from Tara Shaw. 

 

But, much to my surprise – another blog wrote a story about this room – and photoshopped a piece of art work right over the mirror – thinking that it looked better.   Read the original blog story HERE.  It turned out the blog with the photoshopped art work was written by the Huff-Harrington ladies – Meg and Ann.  Huff-Harrington?

The bloggers, Huff-Harrington Fine Art, have an art gallery and their blog story using their art with my design made for a good time and lots of laughs.   I actually loved all their suggestions and over the years have gained a keen appreciation for Meg and Ann’s business acumen.  They have mixed a love of art and travel and France and created something quite special. 

What’s the saying? 

“If you do what you love, it’s not a job?”

  Besides the art gallery, there is also now Huff-Harrington Home, a home décor store.   Both the art gallery and the décor store have a strong online presence – and both have storefronts located in Buckhead, Atlanta. 

Huff-Harrington Home is filled with the goodies they find in France and Europe since Meg and Ann spend a lot of time overseas. 

Their new web site has just launched and it’s a thrill to see all their décor wares:

 

Above is just a small selection from their web site.  I’m going shopping there as soon as I finish writing this story!

 

Besides selling art at their gallery and furniture and accessories at their décor store – they also sponsor trips to France – “From Paris to Provence”  - is one of their more popular trips.  It features 3 days in Paris and 5 days in Provence.   There are also painting trips and antique shopping trips to Provence.  More information is found HERE.

The story continues… 

After the blog story about the photoshopped art -

I showed this beautiful apartment in Paris:

 

A totally renovated apartment in Paris, two bedrooms.  French doors divide the dining room/kitchen from the living room.

 

Remember its darling kitchen with the touch of pink check chairs?   Yes, that really is the kitchen.  And yes, you can stay there while in Paris!

 

It’s hard to tell where the dining room ends and the kitchen begins!

Well, it turned out this beautiful apartment was restored by the Huff-Harrington ladies and is available for lease through Paris Perfect HERE. 

Recently, after showing you yet another apartment from Paris Perfect, I was thrilled to learn that in addition to their Paris apartment, the ladies from Huff-Harrington also have a house in Provence that they have been lovingly restoring for the past few years – Les Murets.  The house is also where their Provence trips are based.  And, it is available for lease. 

Ready to visit?

 

Here’s a quick look at its floorplan – if you are like me and are into that sort of thing.

 

There are actually two houses each with their own front door.   The large house features 3 double bedrooms, a small bedroom and a study/single bedroom.  The Petite Maison, or guest house, has its own living room and bedroom with a small kitchen, a bathroom with shower, and a sleeping loft that has two single beds.

 

 

Take me there!  Yes!  This is the charming house, Les Murets, that has been recently  restored.    The lavender means it’s summer there.   So charming!  So romantic! 

The house as it appears today – after a few years of renovation:  creamy stucco walls and a traditional tile roof, French blue wood shutters and stone terraces along with new landscaping. 

 

A view of the side of the house.  The terrace (center section) is where most meals are eaten in the summer and spring.   To the right of the terrace is one of the guest rooms and to the left is the large, two story high living room.

 

 

Over the years, the house has been painted by some of the Huff-Harrington artists.   Here, Sheryl Lott painted the house.

 

 

 

 

BEFORE:   A wall of slider doors overlooked the terrace, which was replaced with French doors.

 

 

AFTER:  The same view of the house showing the front patio with its French blue shutters, creamy stucco, tiled roof, and stone terrace and new French doors. 

 

 

 

Here’s a before view of the terrace – showing the landscaping not yet trimmed.  The trees had blocked part of the view of the Luberons.

 

 

AFTER:  The terrace with its view of the Luberon Mountains.  After the landscaping was trimmed, the view became much more prominent. 

 

 

 

And another view. 

 

 

The view at a fiery dusk of the Luberon Mountains.

 

 

Here – the house was painted, by Nancy Franke.

 

 

 

BEFORE:  Here is the courtyard – showing the area between the main house and the guest house – which is on the right.

 

 

AFTER:  The courtyard today with its freshly painted stucco and French shutters.  The Petite Maison is reached through the door at the right.  The door straight ahead leads to the large house kitchen.   An iron pergola was installed over the terrace with wisteria vines being trained to cover the courtyard in shade.

 

The courtyard painted by Huff-Harrington artist – Nancy Franke.

 

 

 

BEFORE:  The front hall with its sliding glass doors and stone walls.

 

 

 

AFTER:  The front hall in an earlier renovation.

 

AFTER:  The front hall today is half office and half main hall located off the large terrace.  Through the door is one of the guest rooms.

 

 

And today – the front hall overlooks the terrace.

 

The newly installed French doors replace the old sliders.

 

 

BEFORE:  The living room.

 

AFTER:  The living room today!  Notice the doorway between the kitchen and the living area was opened up.  And notice the beautiful newly installed – antique fireplace mantel.  Gorgeous.  I love the balcony overlooking this tall, two story room.

 

 

BEFORE:  The mantel.

 

AFTER:  Today – the antique mantel is now the focal point that it should be. 

 

 

AFTER:  Looking the other direction.  There is a dining room table at the end of the living room.  The large French doors open onto the terrace that overlooks the mountain.  Just beautiful!!!!  Love the décor – simple French furniture in linens and white slips.  Easy to keep clean, especially with guests.

 

 

I love this view of the living room – the corner of the living room.

 

 

 

Here’s an early view of the renovation.  I like this  too!!!  So much!  Today, there are darker gray curtains and colors brought into the décor. 

 

 

 

Sunset at Les Murets’  dining room.

 

 

BEFORE:  The dining room/kitchen, overlooking the courtyard.

 

 

 

TODAY:  The kitchen has been totally redone.  Instead of the dining table – the chairs are set up around the island.  aNow, the French door leads to the courtyard – without the table in the way.  Beautiful French appliances. 

 

 

AFTER:  The island takes the place of the breakfast table, freeing up space. 

 

 

 

BEFORE:  The bedroom downstairs, off the front hall.

 

 

AFTER:  Today, the same bedroom, totally renovated.  The ensuite bathroom is through the wood door.

 

Another view.  This French door leads out to the side of the house.  While the other door leads to the side of the terrace.

 

Love the mirror on the wall!  Pretty bedroom.

 

 

 

BEFORE:  The bedroom at the back of the front hall.

 

 

AFTER:  Through the wooden door is its own bathroom.

 

 

After:  Another single bedroom off the kitchen.

 

 

Upstairs:

BEFORE:  The study, upstairs.

 

 

AFTER:  The study upstairs – an earlier renovation.  Love the art work and curtains!

 

 

AFTER:  And more recently, the same space, converted into an extra bedroom.  The French door overlooks the courtyard.

 

 

This bedroom has a balcony that overlooks the living room – the curtains close off to provide privacy.  Love this room!!  So romantic with both the balconies!

 

 

BEFORE:  The master bedroom, upstairs with its private balcony.

 

AFTER:  Today, the master bedroom.  Love this!!!!!

 

AFTER:  another view of the master bedroom.  So cute!

 

 

Petite Maison:

 

In the guest house – the bedroom and living area are combined.  Here’s an early renovation.

 

TODAY:  And, a more recent redecoration – adding more color.

 

TODAY:  The kitchen in the guesthouse.  So cute! 

 

 

The upstairs loft bedroom in the guesthouse.

 

 

 

 

Here’s a picture of one of the bathrooms – totally renovated.   Love the sink vanity – and the tiny window.

 

 

                      

After an afternoon rain – the view of the Luberons.

     

The swimming pool and pool house.

 

                  

The swimming pool can be heated if you want the water warmer.

 

Like to paint?  Consider taking the painting week at Les Murets. 

 

 

 

The terrace set for afternoon drinks.

 

I love this list of 100 Fun Things To Do at Les Murets HERE.

A few favorite ideas:

#22. Celebrate your wedding anniversary with lunch at Domaine de la Capelongue.

#23. Celebrate it again the next night with a catered meal, at home, and ask the wine merchant in Coustellet to pick out the wine for you.

#74. Go for dinner at the delightful Bistrot a Michel in Cabrieres and walk home, in the moonlight. (Love this one!!!  Sounds so romantic!)

#100. Or, if you are like my daughter Alexandra, spend a week happily at the house without ever leaving the property!    (Hmmm – I’d probably be like Alexandra!)

Still – read the list of 100 things to do – it gives you ideas of ways to have a good time no matter where you are – whether at home or in Provence!!!

 

Dinner set out on the terrace. Just beautiful.

And remember how I told you that Huff-Harrington and Cote de Texas keep bumping into each other?

Here’s this:

Look at this piece of art work Huff-Harrington sell:

  

This painting by Laura Shubert turned up on the Huff-Harrington web site!  Look familiar?  HERE.

 

 

It’s a painting of my living room!  To say I was stunned would be an understatement.  I think Ann and Meg were too!

It seems that someone had given the artist a picture of my living room and she painted it.   When Huff-Harrington saw it – they recognized it and sent me a photo of it! Small world indeed!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The painting displayed at the gallery.  

 

I have never met Ann or Meg of Huff-Harrington in person– though I feel like we have, a million times before!  I guess when you share similar aesthetics, your paths are sure to cross – like ours have over the years – which is what makes blogging all the more fun and personable.

 

A huge thanks for sharing Les Murets with us!

 

To rent either the house in Provence or the apartment in France, go HERE.

And to learn more about their fabulous trips to France, go HERE.

And, now, if you will excuse me, I’m going shopping in Europe – on the Huff-Harrington Home web site HERE right now!