Calico and chalk. Milky and opalineé
Virgine loves every version of white under the blazing sun of her Australian home. There is depth in her whitewashed aesthetic, added using varying weights and weaves of fabric and textures such as scratched-up metal and weathered timber. And then there’s the constant presence of nature, which has made its way indoors from the beach and nearby hedgerows. The stark beauty of dried branches and crisp leaves, foraged on long walks, stand out brilliantly against Virgine’s pale backdrops.
‘I love how the passing of time adds texture,’ says Virgine. ‘That can mean paint peeling or metal flaking away. Things that could be perceived as imperfections become significant, creating character.’ The effects of water, wind and sand are all part and parcel of the beach life that Virgine has embraced since moving to Australia from France 18 years ago. After starting out in Sydney, Virgine, her husband Scott and their children, Kenyon, 20, Ella, 15, and Liam, 11, have now settled near the town of Avalon, in the Northern Beaches region.
Their Seventies house, originally built as an architect’s home, has proved to be the most natural setting for Virgine’s white-on-white style. But her affinity for the antique linens, vintage furniture and raddled textures essential to her look started long ago. Although her children have been raised on an all-australian diet of surfing, swimming and generally chilling, Virgine grew up in Lille, one of France’s antiques meccas. ‘The streets of Lille seem very far away now – but I have never lost touch with my roots and French heritage,’ she says. ‘I have always loved brocantes and whenever we go back to Paris, I have to visit Les Puces. But any shop or market that sells vintage clothes or old books is bound to attract my attention, wherever I am.’
This house’s layout seemed particularly well suited to Virgine’s collections, with a mixture of open-plan, high-ceilinged spaces and then plenty of smaller nooks and crannies, including two mezzanines, which present the perfect spots for her objets trouvés. But before she could begin adding these layers of interest, Virgine and Scott took the house back to basics by painting all the walls pure white. Milkier, starker and more variegated versions were added in the form of cotton seat covers, chunky knits and luxuriantly kinked fleeces. Dark-stained timbers, metal lockers with flaking enamel, storage in a grid of wire mesh and concrete flooring in the utility room and kitchen add rougher elements.
With three children, plus running clothing and accessories boutique Mamapapa, Virgine tries to keep the mood at home laid back, the emphasis on enjoying meals together as a family. The personal thread that runs through Virgine’s spaces goes beyond her beach finds and trinkets. For example, striking dual portraits of her sons, taken by Australian photographer Michele Aboud for her Still series, preside over the reading room; one reason why it’s Virgine’s favourite place to hang out. ‘Family is everything to me,’ she says.
Finding a balance within a pale scheme sums up Virgine’s nature-infused style approach – so much so that, on occasion, she has felt the need to restore monochrome order to spaces that feel unnaturally garish to her, such as hotel rooms. ‘I’ve been known to do a quick whizz-round when I arrive, hiding all the bad, bright cushions in the wardrobe,’ says Virgine. And then, as at home, calm, balanced order is restored. Check out Mamapapa at mamapapa.com.au