07 May 2011

Chic Provence Design Tour: Where We Stayed in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue!


As villas in the Provence countryside go, ours for the Chic Provence Design Tour at Easter could not have been more stunning. Originally a two hundred year old farm, it has been restored and updated to a stylish and chic country retreat, a perfect haven for the twelve of us to spend our time after shopping the brocantes and antiques markets, exploring the villages, and having our art and culinary lessons. In such a gorgeous setting, the wine flowed freely as guests, originally strangers, bonded and became good friends with a shared adventure. As we scurried around getting everything ready on the day all my guests arrived for the tour, I paused and took a few (iPhone, of course!) photos to share with you.

Next year, join us for this wonderful, life-changing (as one guest described it) experience in the South of France!


the view from one of the upstairs bedrooms

the classical rusted iron bust of an 18th C lady
adorns a corner of one of the bedrooms


I love this bed; so curvy and feminine against the
stark angularity of the stone and plaster

***


etched glass French doors leading to one
of the salons look like they might
have been from a Parisian setting in the
Art Nouveau era


lovely grey bookcase with beautiful carvings and
classical pieces in the main living room


a two-hundred year old piano next to a window framing
the climbing white roses just outside


linen upholstery on this Louis XV settee; Vicky Archer's latest book,
French Essence is on the coffee table!

stunning old candelabra sits
proudly on the piano

***


the view into the small cozy kitchen where
we took our typical French breakfast of bread and butter,
yogurt and fruit, maybe a croissant or two!
and coffee each morning


the cozy kitchen features a La Cornue stove, a
gorgeous butcher block and beautiful
tommettes (hexagonal tiles...remind one of "le hexe", or
France herself) on the floor

simple open shelving for items used daily in
the small kitchen


these kitchen towels are quite elegant in their surroundings!


***


the grey and taupe walls of the central stairway
with a splash of sunshine

another view towards the entry gate through the
central courtyard from an upstairs bedroom


a cozy child's bedroom has its own crystal
chandelier and huge bathroom


one of the very charming bedrooms; all have lots of
light from windows and gorgeous bathrooms


one of my favorite spots is this very charming
outdoor dining setting in an alcove, complete
with stunning crystal chandelier


***


hurries around getting things ready for our guests' arrival

Lisa and her partner (in business and in life), Steven McCormick, of
Pear and Pepper Fine Catering and Events
are putting last minute touches on the menus in
the large, professional chef's kitchen

the hutch holds a great supply of local jams (confitures)
as well as wines and cutlery


two views of the sixteen-seat dining table next to
the chef's kitchen; here we are preparing gift
baskets for our guests using gorgeous baskets
donated by Andrea of The French Basketeer!

this is the perfect setting for the wonderful
dinners, including a Provençal Easter dinner
prepared by Pear and Pepper Fine Catering and
Events for our group


some of the beautiful French Basketeer
baskets ready and waiting
for the arrival of our guests

another lovely view from an upstairs bedroom



***


Let me know if you are interested in joining us on
a Chic Provence Design Tour in the coming year
...and thanks for visiting! Kit



23 comments:

  1. Kit, I know you guys had a splendid time and will have beautiful lasting memories of this wonderful visit. Great post!

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  2. Hi Kit!
    So glad you had a wonderful time!!!! And what a fabulous welcome for the ladies that went. The baskets all lined up look great! Maryanne xo

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  3. Me again, I forgot to mention, you were right that villa is a stunner, and after you post all your pictures you will have NO problem filing up the next one....... Maryanne;)

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  4. Kit,

    A gorgeous villa, Pear and Pepper Catering and that's just the start. I can't wait to read more about the trip. Kathy

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  5. Kit how wondrous an estate to visit and stay!!
    The villa is everything one could want!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  6. ALL to DIE FOR! So beautiful.

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  7. Wow! We're all ready to sign up for the next tour, please....

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  8. What a lovely place to live in Provence for holidays!

    Salut!
    Franka

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  9. Kit .. this all looks so beautiful! Absolutley enchanting! The Louis chairs and that sofa and the table for 16 .... parfait! The colour of Provence is incredible and I am so glad you all had such a wonderful, life-changing experience!
    Wish I could have been with you!!!!
    best wishes
    Frances

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  10. The kitchen is absolutely marvelous:)I love the patined walls:)

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  11. Kit, seeing your photos makes me want to up and leave for Provence right now! So much to love about France, but you are surely in the best little corner.....love love love....!

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  12. Kit, All so beautiful. Breathtaking really! I know that everyone had a wonderful time. Am a little green with envy. Mona

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  13. OMG, the whole place is gorgeous! that kitchen is so dreamy! a le corneu is in my lust list and that one is gorgeous in that beautiful kitchen. i love the tiles hexagonal shapes reminiscent of honeycomb. i love the simple alcoves/open shelves. i agree about the linen looking so charming in those surroundings. actually, i love everything! thank you for posting about your provence!

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  14. Stunning. Absolutely wonderful- everything about it has a touch of the ethereal- goodness I hope when I travel in the near future, I may encounter such beautiful places. Thank you for sharing! Have a great upcoming week!

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  15. All looks quite divine! Fiona

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  16. Divine! Lovely photos -- so beautiful!

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  17. I'm loving the details etched in every furnitures, so pretty. I could dream all day wishing I was there, overall house was so adorable and dreamy.

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  18. I am sooooo jealous!! I wish you do this trip again, and again and again. Not only once a year! Your schedule doesn't coincide with mine because my kids are out of school then. Can't wait for your posts!

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  19. ...gorgeous photos!

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  20. It's magnificent! I definitely want to go! What are the dates?

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  21. Found you through Vicki and can see I am going to be hooked! I am a hopeless Francophile...and so love anything that has to do with France. We try to go as often as possible but not nearly enough for my liking:) Happy to find you and who knows maybe with luck and a little planning I will be able to attend one of your tours (told my mom I want to take her just she and I)

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  22. Après avoir suspendu son activité pendant de longs mois, le laboratoire va pouvoir enfin reprendre ses publications sur son site officiel.

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    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear what you think! merci!

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