Chic Provence Design Tour: Where We Stayed in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue!

As villas in the Provence countryside go, ours for the Chic Provence Design Tour at Easter could not have been more stunning. Originally a two hundred year old farm, it has been restored and updated to a stylish and chic country retreat, a perfect haven for the twelve of us to spend our time after shopping the brocantes and antiques markets, exploring the villages, and having our art and culinary lessons. In such a gorgeous setting, the wine flowed freely as guests, originally strangers, bonded and became good friends with a shared adventure. As we scurried around getting everything ready on the day all my guests arrived for the tour, I paused and took a few (iPhone, of course!) photos to share with you.

Next year, join us for this wonderful, life-changing (as one guest described it) experience in the South of France!

the view from one of the upstairs bedrooms

the classical rusted iron bust of an 18th C lady

adorns a corner of one of the bedrooms

I love this bed; so curvy and feminine against the

stark angularity of the stone and plaster

***

etched glass French doors leading to one

of the salons look like they might

have been from a Parisian setting in the

Art Nouveau era

lovely grey bookcase with beautiful carvings and

classical pieces in the main living room

a two-hundred year old piano next to a window framing

the climbing white roses just outside

linen upholstery on this Louis XV settee; Vicky Archer's latest book,

French Essence is on the coffee table!

stunning old candelabra sits

proudly on the piano

***

the view into the small cozy kitchen where

we took our typical French breakfast of bread and butter,

yogurt and fruit, maybe a croissant or two!

and coffee each morning

the cozy kitchen features a La Cornue stove, a

gorgeous butcher block and beautiful

tommettes (hexagonal tiles...remind one of "le hexe", or

France herself) on the floor

simple open shelving for items used daily in

the small kitchen

these kitchen towels are quite elegant in their surroundings!

***

the grey and taupe walls of the central stairway

with a splash of sunshine

another view towards the entry gate through the

central courtyard from an upstairs bedroom

a cozy child's bedroom has its own crystal

chandelier and huge bathroom

one of the very charming bedrooms; all have lots of

light from windows and gorgeous bathrooms

one of my favorite spots is this very charming

outdoor dining setting in an alcove, complete

with stunning crystal chandelier

***

Lisa Tomasi of Pear and Pepper Fine Catering and Events

hurries around getting things ready for our guests' arrival

Lisa and her partner (in business and in life), Steven McCormick, of

Pear and Pepper Fine Catering and Events

are putting last minute touches on the menus in

the large, professional chef's kitchen

the hutch holds a great supply of local jams (confitures)

as well as wines and cutlery

two views of the sixteen-seat dining table next to

the chef's kitchen; here we are preparing gift

baskets for our guests using gorgeous baskets

donated by Andrea of The French Basketeer!

this is the perfect setting for the wonderful

dinners, including a Provençal Easter dinner

prepared by Pear and Pepper Fine Catering and

Events for our group

some of the beautiful French Basketeer

baskets ready and waiting

for the arrival of our guests

another lovely view from an upstairs bedroom

***

Let me know if you are interested in joining us on

a Chic Provence Design Tour in the coming year

...and thanks for visiting! Kit