After 15 years living in Hydra, where she ran a gallery and interior design boutique, Véronique Bloch-Powell felt it was time to return to her roots in the CharenteMaritime in southwest France. Even though the area was close to her heart for its comfortable climate and unspoilt countryside, as well as her family ties, it was hard not to feel a little nostalgic for the island life she'd left behind in Greece.
But when she came across the old millhouse that is now her home, she quickly fell under its spell. Nestled in a grove of trees and surrounded by water, 'just like an island,' she says, 'I took it as a sign. The property also presented her with the perfect renovation challenge. An interior decorator, antiques dealer and artist, Véronique is also passionate about old buildings and a seasoned renovator. "This is my twelfth personal renovation, in addition to lots of decorating projects,' she says. "I love hunting down properties, still in their original state, and giving them a second life.' During her time in Greece, she restored a number of houses with her son, Tom Powell, who is also an artist (@tom.powell) as well as a qualified carpenter. We complement each other and work well together, without even having to talk to each other!' she says.
The house had already been partly renovated by the previous owner, who only used it in the summer months. There were three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the top floor, and a living room, study and kitchen on the ground floor.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place
Pride of place LEEDS CREAMWARE
In its heyday the pre-eminent rival to Wedgwood's Queens ware, Leeds creamware is still much revered by collectors for its understated elegance
Bohemian Rhapsody
An exuberant approach to decor, with rooms enveloped in colour and pattern, has brought this historic home merrily into the 21st century...
THE ANTIQUES THAT SHAPED ME Rory Hutton
The accessories designer on his love of silver spoons and Sévres porcelain
European HERITAGE B&Bs
Is there anything more inspiring than staying somewhere that's both beautifully stylish and imbued with history? Rhiannon Batten explores five gems across Europe, from Sweden to Spain...
STAR SALES
A Hitchens painting, a museum-quality teapot and a Parisian chocolate box are all top of the lots
Textile designs by artists
Influential 20th-century fine artists and sculptors, from Picasso to Barbara Hepworth, gained additional status as textile designers until decline set in during the 1970s
Period DRAMA
A painstaking renovation has brought this 1725 former Huguenot silk weaver's house in London's Spitalfields back to life
An artist's RESIDENCE
Rustic details and a restrained palette lend a sense of simplicity to this lovingly restored Friesian bakery
Carefully Curated LIVING
This lovingly restored Gustavian manor has become both home and showroom for its owners, Maria & Jan Åke, who deal in European antiques