Living Large In Small Spaces - A Petite French Country House

A French country home near Versailles is this week's featured small space.


French country home



Welcome to the seventy-eighth post in the series
"Living Large in Small Spaces".



This 1200 sq ft restored 16th century presbytery is filled with wonderful details. 



French country home


The once dark interior is now light and inviting thanks to the skills of interior decorator Catherine Sandin of Versailles. She lightened the wall and floors, and bleached the dark brown beams.


French country home


The previous owner brought the old stone fireplace and the paneling from an 18th century castle he owned in the south of France. Sandin's clients, wanting to change the dark paneling, chose a paint and patina that coordinates with the color of the sconces and mirror above the sofa.


French country home


Attention to details brings a collected, timeless feel to the rooms.



French country home


Did you notice that the drapes are knotted at the bottom?



French country home



Sandin kept the old rug in the dining room. It works beautifully with the rustic tile floor.


French country home





A charming Santos surveys the pretty dining room.

French country home



The writing desk, found in a barn on the property, was painted in two tones to enhance its detailing. 


French country home




With light streaming in from the skylight and the sweet little table and chairs, this kitchen gives the feeling of a lovely garden room.


French country home


French country home




I have a serious crush on this coat rack, and I wouldn't turn down the chair, either.


French country home





There are two bedrooms upstairs, along with the bathroom.


French country home





French country home



Blue and white fabric in the door glass adds a bit of color.


French country home


The master bedroom is soft and serene.  

French country home




French country home



Old louvers serve as headboards in the granddaughters' bedroom. Sandin created the look of canopies with organdy voile and gave a nod to the Versailles location with the addition of Marie Antoinette medallions.


French country home


Whimsical touches like the stuffed animals and the doll dress lamp remind us that this is, indeed, a room for children. However, I wouldn't mind sleeping here.



French country home



A terrace with climbing Wisteria invites lingering.


French country home



Another outdoor space was created for dining and conversation at the back of the house.


French country home



The outdoors is every bit as delightful as the interior.



French country home



Imagine dining with friends here in the beautiful French countryside.

French country home


I'm ready to pack my bags for a visit.

French country home


Does anything about this home inspire you?


Join me next Saturday for another post in the special series

 Living Large in Small Spaces

See more home tours in the 
Living Large In Small Spaces Series here.

33 comments

  1. So Beautiful! Love the lilacs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nancy, I love everything about that adorable house. Yes, eating outdoors there would be enchanting. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
  3. the beams..
    the glass doors..
    at table outside..
    oh my heavens.
    swOon.fAint.tHud.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm ready to pack my bags too, I'm coming with you, my darling Nancy !

    How, how much I do enjoy dreaming with the wonderful post of yours belonging to this series, my lovely ... you cannot imagine ... lingering over so little, important, wonderful details recalling the past in every charming room, it's truly terrific to me !

    Hope you're having a lovely weekend, I'm sending blessings of joy to you, Dearest One, with so much gratitude and esteem

    Dany

    ReplyDelete
  5. Got me at French Country, then those blue, gingham, checked curtains to the chandelier in the YARD!
    Where are the keys? Cause, I'm moving in! And yes, I can smell the lilacs, which happen to be a favorite of mine.

    ReplyDelete
  6. To say stunning seems an under statement. Masterful in creating the essence of relaxed yet refined French décor. Love the kitchen, the beams and the emotions this cottage evokes. Nancy needless to say I will be revisiting again and swooning.
    xoxo,
    Vera

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love houses with white or off-white walls because color can be added with accessories. The circular window above the entrance caught my eye in the first photo.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Coming from a masonry family the stone on the outside. The skylight in kitchen and the outside yard and beautiful scenery!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the greenish grays and whites with the old terra cotta floors. I especially love the downstairs. I think this one is my favorite. xoox Su

    ReplyDelete
  10. This gorgeous place is both charming and enticing. I could scroll through these pics for a very long time!!! Each and every space and vignette is something I could gladly want for myself.

    Congrats on a huge number of features.---I enjoy each and every one!

    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  11. The stone exterior is perfect!
    What I love about all the small cottages you feature is the excellent use of storage space. Each square foot is useful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The ceilings and kitchen floor are right up my alley. That cute table and chairs in the kitchen is sweet. And as always I love the outdoor patios. And adding the chandelier over the outdoor dining table is so elegant in a casual setting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a quaint cottage. It is so bright and cheery. I love the old table outside!

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is all inspiring. I loved the first photo, so quaint and ancient.

    The master bedroom was oh so lovely and peaceful. Kitchen a nice place to fix delicious meals.

    So many wonderful old world details.

    Thanks for sharing ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nancy,

    I keep sighing and sighing as I read your descriptions and looked carefully at every detail. This IS MY STYLE 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy to see that all the elements we have added to our home are pretty much the same as I see here. The bleached out beams in the rooms resemble ours in the great room, the white furniture, the almost wonky and simple furniture (wonky in terms of not being perfect) - it all works together perfectly and THIS is authentic French country. LOVE THIS and I think this is my favorite cottage that you've posted....(oh dear, that other French cottage you shared once is too!)

    ReplyDelete
  16. really lovely cottage and grounds. I'd definitely live here!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Certainly French Country . . .
    For me . . . loved the stone and entrance door . . .
    Interior touches . . . dark writing desk . . . or was that a dressing table
    and yes . . . "the chair" . . .
    I liked the white in the master bedroom . . .
    I noticed the knotted drapery . . .
    Wonderful to view . . . very white . . . for me . . .
    The dining room had warmth . . .

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh Nancy this by far is my favorite in the series. Ohhhhh so me. Just swooning. Love every room.
    It is making me excited to get into my new place and start the transformation. Lots of inspiration here.
    Hugs,
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my, what a charming, adorable cottage. I wouldn't change a single thing...it's stunning. And I love the way the outdoor spaces extend the living areas. I'm ready to move in! :-)
    Mary Alice

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, each room is just more charming than the next. The view takes the cake, though. Can you imagine cake out there? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am so enchanted by this home. It's unbelievable and though I could never transform my home into something like this, I have gleaned many ideas. Not sure what the owner has used to create a soft backing for the beds as opposed to headboards...bolster pillows? Our lakehouse is a double A Frame and all of the second floor rooms have sloping ceilings. I love how these rooms show off the ceiling and walls to an advantage and the clever ideas. I also love the curtains knotted at the bottom. I have living room curtains that simply don't 'puddle!! They look long and frumpy! Going to try this.

    Thank you, Nancy. I may be Pinning every picture! :-D

    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's a lovely house. It looks a lot like the stone houses I was drooling over when I was a child as I grew up near that house, wherever it exactly is. I love all the attention to detail in the interior decor. It does look a little too perfect and not enough lived-in for me, but I guess it's only because the pictures were staged. The little white bathroom is very inspirational for my own.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whenever I see it, I just love the all white look, especially when it is carried throughout. I love color too much too, so I will have to just gaze at this beautiful home in envy!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is one place that I could honestly see myself walking into and living comfortably in, Nancy! It's so calm, serene and beautiful! Thanks for sharing this one! Blessings, Cindy xo

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm not usually drawn to all-white rooms, but these are beautiful. I love how the tile floors give some weight to the rooms. The kitchen - tiny and perfect. I could live here!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Simply gorgeous...every single room, and the outside is just as beautiful. Love this one Nancy.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Awesome!! If I could have a cottage right now this would be what I would have in mind. I looove the white furniture and all the white accents. Marvelous!! I want one just like this one! A girl can dream right?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nancy, you certainly hit the nail on the head with this choice. In my wildest dreams of the perfect French cottage, this one is total perfection in every single detail. The floors, the beams, the light flooding in, that adorable little round window up stairs . . . I could go on and on, but I'd rather just go back and take a second look. Oh, am I drooling on my keyboard? Not very lady like of me, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  29. J'adore French styling! That's all I have to say.
    Plus, I want to be in the picture which says: Imagine dining with friends here in the beautiful French countryside.

    ReplyDelete
  30. J'adore French styling! That's all I have to say.
    Plus, I want to be in the picture which says: Imagine dining with friends here in the beautiful French countryside.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Ooooh! How lovely! It's a little fancy for me, but I do love the kitchen, bathroom and that garden!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am way behind with my blog reading as its been a crazy couple of weeks but I finally made it to see this gorgeous place. I love a place that only gradually reveals its secrets, where there are so many details to take in.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete

Your comments bring me joy! Thanks for stopping by.