Not far away from where I live is this big old abandon house. It has stone walls, frame less windows, a basement, and gigantic wooden support beams without a roof. Over the years I have watched it change like the seasons, weathering away slowly. It stands alone on a massive piece of wild property surrounded by vineyards and unruly oak trees. Certainly in its heyday the French owners knew how to live and work in such an isolated place. Today there is a highway that runs in front of it.
I don’t know why it has been abandon… most likely it is due to to an inheritance feud which is common in France with real estate, or maybe the owners just don’t care to do anything with it. Whatever the case I imagine many people have asked about it, hoping they could buy it and restore it into a French dream home.
I couldn’t live in this house, I am too big of a chicken to live alone in the middle of nowhere. But that doesn’t stop me from imagining what I could do with it, or how I would restore it. Though my imagination leans more towards what type of French antiques use to be in this house, and how I wish they were still there!
As this two hundred plus year old house is situated in the middle of nowhere, with the nearest town about 10 miles away, the people who lived there had to be self sufficient and mostly practical. The style of the house is called a "Maison de Maitre." Which does not correspond with other homes in the middle of nowhere. Which leads me to believe (or wishful thinking,) that the habitants where slightly romantic as well.
Provencal style this is the look:
Provencal style wine bottle drying rack. Every French home had one in the basement. After drinking a bottle of wine the bottle was rinsed and set on a rack to dry.
In a French country kitchen a set on cannisters would lined the mantle over the fireplace.
Provencal pottery without a doubt was in their home. Yellow was the most common color in French Provencal pottery, then green, blue and the rarest was white.
A ton of baskets were needed for storing potatoes, gathering vegetables in the garden, and storing the mending.
A trousseau of nightgowns, shirts and linens filled the closets.
A basin and pitcher would be needed in the bathroom.
Their lives would reflect post card scenes…red poppies, sunflowers, fields of lavender…
Of course without a doubt the door knocker would be one of my favorites, you know it would be!
A lantern would be lite in the evening only is company was expected to visit.
Would you like to see more of Provence style and my imagination? Or are you growing tired of antiques? Please do not say you are growing tired of antiques or when you come to France I will take you to Cafe Mc Donald’s! Which is actually ten miles from this abandon house!
Photos: Classic Provence style around where I live.
For more information about where to swoon or buy French Antiques check these sites:
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Note:
I am off to peek into someone’s home in Marseilles. A future magazine assignment…Isa is an antique dealer and one that I have admired for years. When I asked her if I could photograph her collection for a magazine she gladly said, "Oui bien sur!" (Yes, of course!) Tomorrow I’ll add a few shots to show you a sneak peek! I am beyond excited to see what she has!
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