Darby Cottage Southern Living
Large brooding skies, tall grasses dancing in the winter breeze, and the gentle sound of birds flying overhead – there's a lot to fall in love with in this hamlet in Brittany. "The landscape here is very similar to where I grew up in Ireland," says Liz O'Brien, who fell under the spell of these wide-open spaces 20-years-ago when she met Corentin, a Frenchman whose family owned the restaurant where she was working to improve her language skills.
"I had no idea," she recalls, "that, two decades later, I'd still be here, the wife of a French farmer, raising a family and running our own business… Back then, the farm and all the barns and cottages in the hamlet belonged to Corentin's grandparents, Louise and Isidore, and the cottage we live in now was their home. They built it themselves from stone brought in from the fields, so it is incredibly rustic.
Brent Darby
"After they died, Corentin took over the farm and we moved in here. It was such a wonderful place to start our married life, although I have to admit it was a little chilly in the early years, as the cottage was pretty draughty… After spending a long day working outdoors on the farm or renovating the property, we'd huddle up together in front of the fire, drinking hot chocolate and planning our future."
The living space is all on the ground floor: there are two good-sized bedrooms on either side of what is now an open-plan sitting room/kitchen/diner, with a bathroom next to the main bedroom, so there was space to grow as a family. "Our first two children, Dara and Molly, were born here, so we feel cemented to the home's family traditions," Liz says, smiling. "During the winter, before we updated the heating, we'd all pile into one bed to keep warm – I'm sure that Corentin's grandmother would have done the same with her children.
Brent Darby
"Over the years, we've gradually made improvements," she continues, "but we always try to be sensitive to the building and its history. I love wallpaper, for example, but it wouldn't feel right to use it here; besides, it is relatively expensive and we couldn't justify that luxury. Instead, we've kept the texture with exposed stone and added dashes of colour with a few painted walls. Keeping it simple also means I can easily add decorative art, cards and photos without it looking too busy."
Brent Darby
Cheerful frugality is not a new concept here, as Liz explains: "During the time that Louise lived in the cottage, it was managed and maintained in a 'make do and mend' fashion, regardless of whether things matched or not, and we've tried to celebrate that part of its history. So when we took down the wall between the entrance hall and the living area to make one large space, we didn't worry that it resulted in chequerboard floor tiles in two different colourways sitting side by side."
Brent Darby
In fact, Liz has played homage to that striking, mismatched flooring with a large painted chequerboard pattern in the bedroom – it looks like a rug and is slightly off-centre to continue the quirkiness. "When I decorate a space, I want to work with what's there, adding my own twist," she says. "I also like to incorporate antiques and vintage pieces alongside upcycled items from around the farm – it's been a good way to keep the costs down while giving our home more personality.
Brent Darby
"As we planned to have more children, we knew we'd outgrow the property," Liz admits. "So we converted the piggery next door and now rent out our cottage as a holiday destination. We've created more individual gîtes within the hamlet, too. I figured that if I'd fallen in love with this location, even though my own upbringing was pretty bucolic, others would as well."
Brent Darby
During the winter months, the couple close the business down for a few weeks so they can have the farm all to themselves. "We love coming back to the cottage: we light candles and make mulled wine for the grown-ups and spiced cider for the children, then gather around the fire and remember what wonderful characters Louise and Isidore were, and the stories they told," Liz says. "We rarely go to Ireland at this time of year, but when we visit in summer I try to bring a little bit back with me, such as Irish turf to burn in the fire – that smell takes me right back to my childhood. It truly is magical here, and I am so glad we can pass memories from both sides of the family on to our children, while at the same time creating new ones ourselves."
La Maison de Louise is available for holiday rentals at roselouisemarie.com.
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Source: https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/property/a457/french-cottage-folklore/
