Real Life: An interior designer’s influence

UK-based interior designer Paul Alfred Andrews was delighted to help his friends from Australia, Graham and Neil, create the French holiday home of their dreams amid the sunshine and sunflowers of the gorgeous Gers…

I have spent my career designing residential and commercial interiors across London and Europe. Originally from Lancashire, I recently moved from London to the seaside town of Margate where I’m currently transforming the interior of a historic printworks into a modern seaside retreat. So it’s rather a contrast to have been designing a townhouse in the Gers for my Australian friends, Graham and Neil, who also originally hail from Lancashire. This is where our ‘French fancy’ begins…

I was delighted to be a semi-finalist on the BBC1 show Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr. It was during my time on the programme that Neil and Graham, who were looking for an interior designer, spotted me. As teenagers, back in northern England, we were best friends. Fast-forward some 30-plus years later and we were reunited through their love of Gascony and interiors.

Having moved to Australia in 1999, Graham and Neil were looking for a bolthole back in Europe, where they could spend time with friends and family. They wanted a property in a town or village where they could enjoy the tranquillity of the Gers while having amenities within walking distance. This was important as they wanted to spend time there with their Uncle John.

Suzanne Bullerwell of Leggett Immobilier was integral to helping find what is now their dream holiday home. In late summer 2019, they arranged viewings in the beautiful bastide of Valence- sur-Baïse, nestled in the Golden Triangle between Condom, Lectoure and Auch. As its name suggests, the village sits above the Baïse river, and is centred around a square, surrounded by ancient ramparts. Lovely restaurants and shops nestle under the arches and there’s a weekly market and brocante.

The house that stole their hearts there is 19th century, and typical of the style in Gers. It was important to retain its character while designing a contemporary interior. We started the renovation work in late summer 2022. This kicked off with an inspiration and research trip, informed by the palette of the Gers region: Bleu de Lectoure. I immersed myself in the French lifestyle, soaking up the colours of the area, the sunshine and the sunflowers of this beautiful rural landscape. We visited the brocante, local markets and surrounding villages – full of the most amazing art and antiques – while sampling the many culinary delights!

Graham and Neil were very specific about what they wanted. The challenge was to create a holiday home that embodied their personalities. It had to be a relaxing place for family and friends to stay, a luxurious retreat to while away the hours under the azure blue skies, plus it needed a private study space so they could work remotely when necessary.

It soon became apparent that we needed a project manager who could speak French to manage the various artisans, order new products, deal with the builders’ merchants and manage a schedule of works. Suzanne and her husband Ian had recently set up as auto-entrepreneurs, doing property management, so this Ewas perfect! They became invaluable in helping transform what was essentially a blank canvas over three floors. We completely changed the layout on the ground and top floor. Collaborating on site, pulling together a team of local builders and artisans, landscaping and the addition of an outdoor plunge pool has not been without its challenges.

Graham and Neil are avid art collectors (follow them at @Ausieartnow) and fans of the artist Juan Gris since discovering a lithograph in a brocante. Our early trips helped define the colour palette for the house. This approach allowed flexibility to adapt the design to capture their personalities and what was right for their home. The Designers Guild ‘Bougival Azure’ fabric, where fluid colour combines to create a masterful and geometric pattern, echoes their love of Cubist art. The salon is an inviting and relaxing space. Iconic, timeless and classic, the Louis Poulson ph5′ pendant light creates an interior design ‘moment’ in the welcoming day room, kitchen and dining space. The colours echo the reflections of the azure-blue plunge pool and David Hockney prints. Throw into the mix, the Farrow & Ball ‘Dayroom Yellow’ staircase, and the scene is set!

This design concept mixes the classic and the contemporary. Personal touches, selecting fabrics, advising on finishing and styling are so rewarding. At the end of the project, to see all the colours, textiles and vision become reality is such a pleasure – and my favourite part of any project.

Back in the UK, I was also working on a 17th-century cottage, and Graham and Neil saw the mood boards for the ensuite bathroom, which I call ‘modern country’. The soft blues of hydrangeas, combined with a traditional bathroom suite, wood panelling and limed oak flooring all evoked their English heritage.
It was now clear the scheme needed to bring together their characters and passions, English heritage and life in Australia where the sunshine is the colour of the sunflowers in France. I set about creating the vision for their master bedroom ensuite, the pièce de resistance.

It was obvious early on that the top floor of the home didn’t work. There were two bedrooms (one used for clothes and storage) and an awkward shower room. The addition of a master bedroom ensuite, separate shower and WC and a glorious walk-in wardrobe for their holiday clothes and suitcases, were a must-have. Crittall-style doors were installed to create drama. I love this mix of classic and contemporary. The doors and fluted glass are a triumph as you enter the master bedroom, adding an element of surprise, set within the wooden panelling and lime- wash wooden floors. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Schoolhouse White’, with Burlington bathroom furniture and accessories.

Art was selected for each guest room. You can stay in the ‘Hockney’, with its tranquil duck-egg blue colour palette, or the slightly racier ‘Gaultier’. In this room, wallpapers and fabrics from Nina Campbell ‘Beau Rivage’ are complemented by the French bed linen and Louis Poulsen ‘Cirque’ lighting, while the Hockney landscapes and treasured 1980s prints – a family heirloom, adorn the walls. Window blinds and bolster cushions coordinate in each room, with every thing handmade, hand-finished and installed as part of the process – these finishing touches bring the interior design story to life.

This project would not have been possible without the 100% commitment and trust of the clients and the whole team. Huge thanks to Suzanne and Ian, as well as the local artisans for their attention to detail and immaculate finish.

Graham, Neil and Uncle John, are absolutely delighted with the transformation, and are now enjoying village life, the markets and brocantes, and of course the sunshine, sunflowers (and armagnac) of Gers.

PAUL’S TOP TIPS

GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS:

This is a great way to begin your search when looking for your dream holiday home. Not only will you get a feel for the area, you’ll also get recommendations for local tradesman and artisans.

FINISHING TOUCHES:

The finishing touches to any interior design project are the curtains, linens, cushions and accessories. Textiles are a passion of mine, and a service I like to offer my clients. Handmade and installed as part of the personal interior design service, the Portland denim blinds at the French windows add a touch of ‘joi de vivre throughout the house.

LUXE FOR LESS:

Do your research. Search out pieces that look identical but cost a fraction of the price. For example, the elegant Florence wall light from the M&S Collection is perfect in the master bedroom, complementing the Burlington bathroom suite and fluted glass doors.

PASSION PIECES:

We all have those ‘must-have items’ that make your interior design dreams come true. Once your budget is agreed, make these major purchases in advance. Often towards the end of a project, money will have been spent, so when those must-have pieces are installed at the end of the project and the vision becomes reality, it reminds you that it was all worth it and the finished result looks stunning. Time to crack open the champagne and celebrate your beautiful new home!

Paul Alfred Andrews Design & Interiors

Tel: 07941 017468;

paulalfredandrews.co.uk

lan and Suzanne Bullerwell Young Tom Homes & Gardens (property management)

Tel: 0033 (0)6 02 15 48 23

[email protected]

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