Stephen and Kath Hazell established The French House 25 years ago and it is now one of the largest French antique businesses in the UK. They spend many weeks of the year at their second home in France where they source their extraordinary range of beautiful furniture, mirrors, paintings, and kitchenware. A typical day in France begins early.
5 AM
If we are going to a fair we get up at the crack of dawn to make sure we are there when it opens. We plan our trips to coordinate with antiques fairs and auctions that are taking place in the region. Before we head to France we always contact our regular sources and liaise with them over dates and venues. The fairs sometimes start before it gets light so we head out straight after breakfast, often armed with a torch, so we are among the first there. If you leave it too late the best things will have gone. Although village fairs are unpredictable, they are a really enjoyable part of our visits. Some of the most interesting objects in our showrooms have been found at such fairs – things that may well have spent many years in the attic or outbuilding of the owner’s property.
8 AM
Esta historia es de la edición November 2020 de Yorkshire Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 2020 de Yorkshire Life.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Charity Starts At Home
How do we teach our children the importance of giving back?
THE INTERVIEW Steph McGovern
Live from Leeds - Steph McGovern returns to the studio after a scary lockdown lesson in live TV
THE SCENE SETTERS
Hidden away in a North Yorkshire village, you’ll find a business making huge stage sets for global audiences, from TV’s The Voice, to the Olympics and Trafalgar Square’s plinths
On solid ground
Dry stone walls are the thread that bind Yorkshire’s landscape. Fancy giving it a go? Pete Maynard quit his job to do just that
The French furniture hunters
A day in the life of Stephen and Kath Hazell who run The French House in York, one of the largest French antiques businesses in the UK
Face value
We caught up with Sarah Thomas, co-founder of the York-based beauty brand that’s changing the game with waterless, vegan, natural and organic products
Wildlife in crisis
From the bottom of the sea to the top of the tallest tree, there are tales of wildlife woes all over Yorkshire. The good news is that it’s not too late to save what little remains
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
Boxing clever
The Hare at Scawton was named Yorkshire Life Restaurant of the Year in 2019 and owners Paul and Liz Jackson had big plans for their gourmet hotspot. When lockdown happened, they put down the kitchen knives and opened the tool box. The results are spectacular
All the dales
This route from Thixendale to Hanging Grimston is often missed by local hikers, but it covers a number of glorious dales. Warning: there’s a one in six climb, but the views make it all worthwhile
