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After years on the look-out for an old barn to restore in the French countryside, the Henaut family stumbled across 3,000 sq. metres of vacant land just outside the pretty village of Orgeval. Wanting to build a house with soul & one that remained sympathetic to the region, they found Orleans-Eurobat, a Company that specializes in the design & building of regional architecture. 
After two years of work building the house & completing the interiors, the Owners were very happy with the result.
The Great Room has oak beams which have been left raw & a nineteenth century mantlepiece. Neutral furnishings give the room a relaxed, informal feel.
Chouquette, the guardian of the house chills out in the Great Room.
A custom-made cabinet, with mesh door inserts, houses books & also doubles as a cocktail cupboard.
The farmhouse is spread over two levels - the Great Room, dining area and kitchen are downstairs & upstairs are the bedrooms and bathrooms.
In the kitchen, the Henry II buffet, a family inheritance, has been covered by a thick oak top & is used as the centre island, surrounded by designer chairs. Raw oak beams have been used again, but this time are white-washed. From the kitchen French doors lead out onto the terrace which is lined with old cobblestones. Herbs, roses, lavender, hydrangeas and boxwood all in large planter boxes, thrive in the sunlight. Then beyond, lies the large garden.
The Master bedroom is nestled in an alcove upstairs & the bed is covered with crips cottons & a sumptious velvet throw.
Two old mirrors & a linen covered storage cupboard complete the pretty upstairs bathroom.
An ancient & somewhat battered oak door has been converted into a closet, complete with fine wire mesh inserts & a delicate half-curtain. The Owners have combined their love of Flemish & Gustavian interiors to create a beautiful home, with all the advantages of a new building, that still reflects the past. This is one of the loveliest new builds I've seen in a long, long time. Do you agree?
First thing Monday morning I'm heading to the Registrar of Births, Marriages & Deaths & changing my surname to Archer. It seems yet another Aussie Archer is experiencing great success with a bonza product. Not only is brand French Essence attaining world dominance faster than you can say ' Blog Superétoiles' than another Archer makes their mark.
Chris Archer is a well-known Aussie winemaker now living in New Zealand. He's created a cheeky non-vintage carbonated Riesling called Ritzling. He suggests drinking it with a twist of lemon & viola you have what the clever Mr. Archer calls a blend of 'pure happiness'. 
Ritzling comes in a four-pack of 250ml. bottles & just check out that exquisite packaging. I'm sure Madame V. Archer would give it her tactiturn approval & may even want to add it to Shop French Essence. 
So after what's been an extremely average week, I reckon come Monday & the name change, big things are in store for moi. I see a stunning farmhouse in the idyllic French countryside, an olive grove & a big book deal on the horizon - bring it on!! And Vicki if you read this post, I reckon you & I need to open a bottle or 3 of your relative's product for quality control purposes. It's the weekend, so go enjoy!
