After a friend took part in the artist residency program at the Château de la Haute Borde a few summers back, I’ve admired the interiors and images of artists and guests gathered around long dinner tables in the tall grasses of the surrounding grounds. Located in Rilly-sur-Loire, the chateau was initially built in 1876 before operating as a hotel from 1940 to the early 2000s, then as a family house through 2020. From there, Parisian art directors Cécile Simon and Céline Barrère were asked to maintain the family’s property through starting an arts program. Joining with Violette Platteau, the trio developed the concept for Château de la Haute Borde (CBH) and CBH Arts. “We wanted a slower life, in touch with nature and each other” says Cécile.
The group worked with Charles Marmion and Jeanne Lefrand of MPM Architecture to renovate the interiors using natural materials in a minimalist aesthetic, and the chateau now operates as a five-room guest house and artists’ residence. Within a framework of Italian cocciopesto floors, Languedoc red marble, plaster walls, and isolation bricks, interior designer Erin Korus integrated existing antiques from owners Jacques and Marie Barrère with vintage and antique pieces sourced from Parisian dealers, the Netherlands, and online resources. Here’s a walk through the chateau from the grounds to the lower salons and upper guest rooms.
All images courtesy of CBH; photographers noted below.
Above: The chateau exterior is maintained as it was in 1876. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: A Jean Royère desk in the artist residence space looks out onto the grounds. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: The lower salon is designed with a Martin Visser sofa, found on a sourcing trip to the Netherlands with MPM. “We also did a lot of flea market and Leboncoin (French eBay) digging,” Cécile explains. Photo by Julie Lansom.
Above: Two large jute rugs anchor separate lounge spaces in the large salon. Photo by Julie Lansom.
Above: Vintage lounge chairs upholstered in wide navy stripe fabric. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: Chambre 1. Organic French linens from La Redoute dress all of the beds. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: Chambre 3 features a simple bed, vintage pendant light, and handmade storage benches. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: The bathtub surround is Languedoc marble. Photo courtesy of CBH.
Above: MPM sourced marble from previous constructions across different countries in order to reduce the cost and use leftover material. Photo by Barrere and Simon.
Above: Carrying from the bedroom into the ensuite bath is cocciopesto flooring, a type of Italian marble made up marble and shell fragments, akin to terrazzo. Photo courtesy of CBH.
Above: “We wanted large, open showers made of natural materials,” says Cécile. “The walls are isolation bricks, they don’t need to be covered. We loved the simple lines and touch of the clay.” Photo courtesy of CBH.
Above: Vintage armchairs in the corner of Chambre 2. Photo by Anna Fouquere.
Above: Classic French patio umbrellas pair with Fermob Luxembourg furniture in Cactus (the same model and color seen in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris). Photo by Barrere and Simon.
Above: The minimalist pool designed and newly built by MPM. Photo by MPM Architecture.
Above: A view of the chateau, grounds, and resident row boat available for guests and artists. Photo courtesy of CBH.
For more historic interiors, see our posts:
- Maison Collongue: Midcentury Meets Modern Art at a Farmhouse in Provence
- La Vie en Rose: A 12th-Century Poet’s Villa in St.-Paul de Vence, Restored for Modern Living
- Manufacture Royale de Lectoure: An Abandoned Tannery Turned Retreat in Southwest France
- A Famous Filming Location, Available for Let: Glenfeshie Estate and Cottages in Scotland
- An Atmospheric Manor Hotel in Rural Germany, Redesigned by Studio Oink