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 • We are delighted to have the following talented writers and photographers contribute to this issue.

Dusted in White • The village of Eygalières, in the heart of Provence, found itself remarkably blanketed in a soft, unexpected layer of snow. Captured through the lens of one of our regular contributors, Joanna Maclennan, this surprise dusting revealed yet another facet of the region’s year‑round beauty.

The Start of Something New • When Victoria Stainow made the decision to depart from her London life and comfortable job at Sotheby’s to settle in a 17th-century Provençal farmhouse, little did she know that while revitalizing a building with a glamorous past, she would also find herself inspired to launch her eponymous furniture brand, pieces from which are now showcased in her home’s elegant and design-driven interior.

A Feast for the Senses • In winter, Richerenches, a town situated along the Rhône River, is renowned for one, tempting, reason: its truffles. Every Saturday morning, from mid-November to the end of March, the town comes alive with a truffle market, where locals and visitors alike gather to snap up the very best black truffles (tuber melanosporum) m) from that week’s precious trove.

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

Haute Couture Garden • The former Paris home of one of French fashion’s greatest power couples is graced with a secluded courtyard garden that fully embodies their commitment to high style and joie de vivre.

Divine Illumination • In the foothills of the Alpilles mountains of Provence, we met up with France’s last traditional candlemakers. From a modest workshop in the village of Tarascon, they are perpetuating this ancestral know-how passed down from the 15th century — and grabbing the attention of interior decorators and film set designers with a love for le charme de l’ancien (traditional old charm).

Magical Menagerie • Behind a modest storefront in the chic Paris neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the gateway to a storybook kingdom hides in plain sight. For almost two centuries, the Maison Deyrolle has been a mecca for scientists, artists and casual visitors who come to study and marvel at its astonishing collection of curiosities from the natural world.

An Artful Abode • In the world of artisans, there are some who master a single craft, while others excel in a multitude of disciplines. Alix D. Reynis, a ceramicist and jewelry designer, falls into the latter category, and — unsurprisingly — her Parisian home is a showcase of her enviable interior design skills.

Get The Look • Pair a few classic pieces from Alix D. Reynis’s boutique alongside statement French antiques and colorful décor to achieve the vibrant look and feel of her apartment.

Winter Warm-up • To kick off the new year in a healthy and nourishing way, we are featuring five fabulous soup recipes by French food blogger Géraldine Levard that are sure to warm the soul.

Alpine Escapade in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc • Winter storms roll in quietly, shrouding the sky and inhibiting visibility. Flakes fall in flurries, blanketing the landscape and making you forget the terrain extends still higher, beyond the clouds. For a moment, all that exists is the road in front of you and the inches of snow piling up around you. But nature’s canons of white confetti don’t last long. Before you know it, the gray skies part, revealing a...