Upstairs, on the landing at Le Petit Bijou is an old commode… to the right is a smaller bedroom with a terrace overlooking the historical centre of Saint Rémy de Provence. To the left is the main bedroom with the same pretty views overlooking the Musée des Alpilles and the Hotel de Sade…
The second bedroom… as you look in, the terrace is on your right… I had such fun finding the little decorative pieces for the bedrooms…. and styling them up… So much easier than working out the plumbing and electrical details…
I am a big fan of old linens… so dressing the bed is always my most loved pastime… The side tables were a great find… from a French website called La Redoute… a little little Ikea, only French in style and a touch more individual…
When I am travelling I like to have plenty of space for my clothes… sufficient clothes hangers and a strong hairdryer… When I planned what we needed to make this little house, home away from home… that’s what I thought about… what makes me a happy traveller…
The small commode provides extra storage … and on the right hand side there is a built in wardrobe… on the left, the doorway to the terrace…
One of the taste sensations in southern France is caramel… I have put my favourite caramels in each bedroom… The problem with these is that one is never enough… If you love caramel… then you will love these… True temptation in a wrapper…
Last week at the flea market I found this birdcage… I wanted something pretty to look at but nothing too solid that would obscure the view… What do you think? I am happy with it… and truthfully, found it difficult to part with…
There are a pair of these tables and chairs on the terrace… I imagine a cup of coffee or tea in the morning… soaking up the view… planning the day… Or an evening’s apero when the sun goes down and the temperature drops…
It’s so hot during the summer months that geraniums are about all that can survive without too much fuss… This year I am learning what works and what doesn’t… next year I plan to have lots and lots of geraniums…
The bathroom is at the end of the hall… with a separate shower and bath… The commode style basin was the last piece of this bathroom puzzle… and I am so glad I persevered in my search for an antique table that we could convert… It was found it at the last moment… and the plumber managed to bring it all together..
The bathroom is very feminine… the shower is large and the water pressure strong… Even though the males may feel as if they are in a female haven… they will be very comfortable…
The main bedroom is generous in size and has a vaulted ceiling with white washed beams… The window treatments are similar to downstairs… soft voile curtains that can dance in the breeze… The outdoor shutters keep the heat at bay and guarantee a good night’s sleep…
Some of my favourite little engravings are in this bedroom… and the hydrangeas are from our garden…
Looking back towards the doorway, you can see the commode, the chairs and the mirror that I found at the deballage in Avignon last February…
I think this commode is my best find of all… The paintwork is original and the patina wonderful…
More details… shells from my travels… postcards and linens that I have collected and vintage journals that serve as a side table… small objects that have meaning for me…
That’s Le Petit Bijou… all dressed up and awaiting her guests…
I am sure most of you have read my odes to France, My French Life and French Essence… if you haven’t and you would like to know why am so enamoured with France… you can find them here and here…
If you would like any information about renting Le Petit Bijou, please email me… vicki@vickiarcher.com
xv
