When an American couple enlisted Bunny Williams to reimagine their classic Provençal mas – which had become an awkward warren of rooms as a result of a century’s worth of alterations – the goal was straightforward. “We wanted it to be comfortable and to flow,” said Bunny, “but also to look as if we’d done nothing.”
Atlanta-based architect Norman Davenport Askins was brought in to envision a more gracious arrangement. He designed a new staircase in the entrance hall and transformed a series of boxy rooms into a comfortable library, formal dining room, and double-size living room. Bunny then worked her magic, scouring local markets and shops for one-of-a-kind items to create ambience and authenticity. The gardens were designed by Tim Rees, who incorporated classical elements such as terraced plantings, stone walls, an olive orchard, and a rose garden.
This story was originally published in the May/June issue of Veranda with photography by Fritz von der Schulenburg and text by Jennifer Ash Rudick.
Portuguese tile mural, Solar Antique Tiles.
“Every room gets triggered by something—often, a great discovery,” said Bunny. “In this case, we found this incredible book of black-and-white, 18th-century Chinese botanical engravings at auction. I love decoupage, so I had the idea to cut out the engravings and put them on silver tea paper, which was turned into wallpaper for the dining room.”
The guest bedroom features a 19th-century French canopy bed with its original restored fabric and trim!
“People ask me all the time, ‘What’s the Bunny Look?’” she said. “It’s about comfort, style, and how we live in spaces…”
To read more, please see the May/June issue of Veranda. And for more inspiration from the illustrious Bunny Williams, I recommend her books An Affair with a House, A House by the Sea, Bunny Williams On Garden Style, and Bunny Williams’ Point of View.
A Fairy Tale Estate in France
Bunny Williams Decorates a Classic Virginia House
An Idyllic Southampton Retreat by Bunny Williams
Style Profile: Joan Carl, Owner of D. Porthault
Love this house…one of my favorites that you have blogged about!
A beautiful house from the outside. Dreamy! I have to say, I’m a little sad to see such a perfect interior. It doesn’t look like “we’d done nothing”. It looks very new. Very decorated. The americanized version of french style. The “reimagined” interior looks like it’s in Atlanta, not Provence. Where is that lovely feel of a century of benign neglect that makes old french homes so romantic? Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I think old houses should feel old. That’s what makes them so charming. In one of your other posts someone mentioned this trend about houses needing to “flow”. A river flows… houses don’t. I couldn’t agree more! I would have liked to see what it looked like before. I’m one of those untrendy people who probably would have liked the before better than the after. Thanks for sharing it and letting me put in my 2 cents! xo