Home truths THE PROPERTY

After years of holidaying in the Vendée in France, Samantha and Oliver Hansard decided it was time to stake their claim. ‘This always felt like the “real” France and with the children still young, 2010 seemed like the right time to buy our own little hideaway,’ says Samantha. They had made many friends in the area and it was the owners of the gite where they stayed who spotted this gem for sale.

‘The children Bella, now 20, Will, 18, and Connie, 14, loved the acre-sized garden, even though it was a complete jungle – or maybe because of it!’ says Samantha. ‘Oliver and I loved the original stonework, the huge rooms and its potential. As an interior designer, I’ve always been interested in renovation and interiors, especially vintage, and have gathered up bits and pieces since my student days. This was the perfect canvas to finally bring it all together.’

Fluent in French, Oliver had no difficulties navigating the legalities but the first few nights in the house were daunting. ‘It was more like camping,’ smiles Samantha. ‘For months we took thick socks and woolly jumpers whenever we visited, as the house needed a complete overhaul – a new boiler, roof, windows, doors, septic tank, kitchen, beams, bathrooms and shutters.’

Although the couple wanted to start straight away, juggling their jobs and three small children meant managing the project from their London home was hard. ‘Lots of emails and frequent visits kept

POOL AREA

SHOWER ROOM

The couple turned part of the garden into a pool, while the outhouses now form a covered lounging area. ‘When furnishing this place, we wanted to do things properly, in a sustainable way, so we often waited to find the right piece or material,’ says Samantha. Samantha shopped around to find a butcher’s block large enough to command this space and this vintage find is now the focal point of the working area.

BEDROOM A herringbone throw adds pattern and texture while an old ladder gets a new lease of life as a towel stand. The Marvel herringbone throw, £36, Perch and Parrow, is similar. The Ladder Bamboo linen rack would suit this space, £39, Tikamoon. Antique French-style wall mirror is a good match, £145, Homes Direct 365 BEDROOM Four beds in a row adds charm. Similar striped cushions, £15 each, Secret Linen Store. For a cast-iron bed, try the Normandy, £1,145, The French Bedroom Company A Belfast basin looks suitably rustic. Try the Belfast sink, £42, City Plumbing. Metro wall tiles, £32.44sq m, Victorian Plumbing MASTER BEDROOM There’s a nod to the glamour of art deco in the lines and reflections of this vanity unit and stool. For a similar dressing table and mirror, try the Tiffany, £380, Melody Maison