My French Country Home

MFCH is a luxurious bi-monthly publication which features the greatest elements of French life. Join us as we explore lush gardens, bustling brocantes, the elegance of baking from scratch, and living simply but well. Our pages will transport you not only to the glamour of Paris, but to the sweeping lavender fields of Provence and the rolling hills of Normandy.

Editor’s Letter

Contributors

Coastal Chic • Along France’s northern shore sits Trouville-sur-Mer, a vibrant maritime town, rich in history, culture, and undeniable charm. Those who come here are attracted not just to the expanse of golden beach and the crashing waves of the English Channel, but also with a spectacle that has become synonymous with leisurely sophistication: its iconic beach tents and umbrellas, here captured in their billowing glory by Aude Jolijour, a Parisian interior designer and photographer.

QUOI DE neuf?* *What’s new? • What caught our eye this month

Building on Tradition • Located approximately two hours from Paris, Château de Chanet is a vision brought to life by Laetitia Morlat after her return to the picturesque Périgord in the late 1990s. Now one of five luxury estates that collectively constitute the Domaine de Vieux-Mareuil — all owned and carefully restored by Laetitia — this delightful accommodation is an ideal base for exploring the region, Bergerac’s vineyards and the city of Bordeaux.

Get The Look • For the artistic and luxurious look of Laetitia’s Château Chanet, combine modern furniture items with antique décor pieces.

Emerald Wings • Casual visitors to the grand parks and squares of the French capital don’t always notice them. But if, on your next visit to Paris, you see a flash of vibrant green plumage darting among the ancient chestnut and plane trees, rest assured: You are not hallucinating!

A Taste of Home • When Stephane Nguyen, originally from Fontainebleau, settled “Down Under” with his Australian partner Kate Blenkiron, he soon discovered that if he wanted delicious and authentic French food, he would have to make it himself. His passion and determination on this self-taught journey unexpectedly led to a booming YouTube channel and now a cookbook with mouthwatering photographs shot by Kate. Featured here are five of the 100 classic dishes from Stephane’s book, which aims to prove that French cooking doesn’t have to be difficult.

Royal Revival • A walk through the gardens of Château de Chambord is like taking a step into a verdant time machine back to the age of the French monarchy. After centuries of benign neglect, its expansive gardens underwent major restoration that successfully returned them to their former glory as a full jardin à la française (French formal garden) as the royals of the 17th and 18th centuries intended.

Petals on the Page • Growing up in the Auvergne, a mountainous region in the center of France, Etienne Gouttefarde always loved the outdoors. As a sporty child, he was an eager explorer of its dense forests, babbling rivers and sunlit meadows. In addition to its natural richness, Etienne felt deeply attached to the area’s artisanal heritage, a fondness that eventually drew him to the ancient craft of papermaking.

Heirs to the Loom • For the better part of two years, a small team of artisans has devoted countless hours to the restoration of a monumental, yet rarely seen treasure extracted from the charred remains of Notre Dame. With their sacred task now nearly complete, MFCH was given an up-close glimpse of their talent and dedication.

Homeward Bound • Enchanted by Eygalières during the first stop of a purported year-long project to find their new home, Jeffrey and Peter unexpectedly fell for a house in this quiet Provençal village — and a new challenge for their retirement.

Easter in Bloom • Easter is the ideal...