{"id":692894,"date":"2026-07-15T11:44:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/692894\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:44:19","slug":"this-french-home-is-a-masterclass-in-custom-interiors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/692894\/","title":{"rendered":"This French Home Is a Masterclass in Custom Interiors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Set among the sun-drenched vines of the South of France, where the landscape shifts between the elegance of Aix and the raw beauty of the Luberon, interior designer H\u00e9l\u00e9na Monnet-Plat has reimagined a modern bastide (or French country house) into something far more personal: a home filled with pieces designed mostly by herself.<\/p>\n

Taking inspiration from the rusticity of Morocco, the pared-back palette \u2014 with the occasional pop of print \u2014 often found in Portugal and the feeling of sunlight you get in the best Spanish villas, this modern home<\/a> is a culmination of her career so far.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Dining\n<\/p>\n

Located a little further away from the windows, this is the house’s shadiest spot so homeowner and designer H\u00e9l\u00e9na Monnet-Plat uses it mostly for evening entertaining.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n

“Boldness, passion, vision” \u2014 these are the three words H\u00e9l\u00e9na Monnet-Plat<\/a> uses to define the project. Original works sourced from a range of French galleries punctuate each room, but thanks to the sense of space and light with which H\u00e9l\u00e9na has now imbued her home, the art<\/a> pieces end up coming together to feel relaxed and layered, rather than curated.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Interior\n<\/p>\n

Interior designer H\u00e9l\u00e9na Monnet-Plat stands in front of the sculptural spiral staircase she designed for her home.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n

Originally built in the 1980s, the house “had little charm”, she admits, so what had to follow was a complete transformation. “We renovated and extended<\/a> it, incorporating key features of a traditional Proven\u00e7al bastide to give it both character and soul.”<\/p>\n

Working alongside her husband, the reshaping of the house took just 10 months to complete. “My husband and I have been renovating houses since we met 10 years ago,” she says. “He takes care of the structural aspects and overall architectural vision, while I design the interior layouts, custom joinery, and decoration.”<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

\n

\"Breakfast\n<\/p>\n

“The view over our grounds is mainly that of the Proven\u00e7al countryside, with olive trees, oaks and pines,” says H\u00e9l\u00e9na. “I feel fulfilled by all these different shades of green<\/a>, which personally soothe me while also providing us with shade during the summer.”<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Vivienne\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Mrs. Alice<\/p>\n

Vivienne Rattan Chair<\/p>\n

Rattan dining chairs from Mrs Alice add a relaxed feel to this casual breakfast area \u2014 and at \u00a3168 a pop, they’re a total steal.<\/p>\n

The defining feature of the home’s new look is the spectacular, soaring modern living room<\/a>, anchored by an eight-meter-high, arched window that floods the interiors with light. Bathed in the warmth of the French sunshine, soft rugs cover hard floors and zesty fabrics line built-in banquettes. H\u00e9l\u00e9na’s avowed intention was “to blend comfort with artistic works”.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Wood\n<\/p>\n

The undulation of the honey-stained oak island matches the wavy edges of the living room sofa. “I designed these decorative bead moldings, which were handmade in Morocco,” says H\u00e9l\u00e9na.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n

H\u00e9l\u00e9na’s approach is instinctive and with so many of the pieces here being custom-built, the overall result is hyper-personal<\/a>, almost autobiographical. “I am an interior decorator before being an interior architect,” she says. “I designed almost everything in this villa because I wanted it to reflect who I am \u2014 to create a strong yet timeless interior, one that looks like no other.”<\/p>\n

The Livingetc newsletters are your inside source for what\u2019s shaping interiors now – and what\u2019s next. Discover trend forecasts, smart style ideas, and curated shopping inspiration that brings design to life. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Vanity\n<\/p>\n

This vanity top is in the same red onyx used in the kitchen, adding to the sense of cohesion H\u00e9l\u00e9na has created throughout the house.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Dunelm,\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Dunelm<\/p>\n

Ruffle Check Easy Fit Lamp Shade<\/p>\n

We’re lusting after these Hermine Torikian wall lights, but in the absence of an appropriate budget, we’ll happily go for these cheery shades from Dunelm instead.<\/p>\n

Not having a client to design for, it’s always fascinating to see where the mind of a designer goes. “This project is a kind of culmination of all my desires,” she says. “There were no limits in terms of color, material combinations, or bold choices. I followed only my instincts to create a warm, rounded cocoon.”<\/p>\n

\n

\"Bedroom\n<\/p>\n

There is a playful contrast between the arch of the headboard<\/a> and the graphic straight lines of the rug and braided trim of the curtains and cushions.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Ga\u00eblle Le Boulicaut\/Living Inside)<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Pasture\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nordic Nest<\/p>\n

Scandi Living Pasture Wool Rug Natural White\/rust<\/p>\n

Capture the linear look and poppy essence of H\u00e9l\u00e9na’s custom-made rug with this design from Nordic Nest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the project is more than a home; it’s a manifesto. “I ask my clients to forget the photos they’ve seen from<\/a> social media<\/a>,” H\u00e9l\u00e9na says, believing that designing from the heart \u2014 not from what you’ve seen already \u2014 is the only way forward. “It is only through the uniqueness of the people who live in a home that design with true soul can be created.” Here, that philosophy feels not just realized, but lived.<\/p>\n

For more inspiring home tours and design ideas, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter<\/a>, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Set among the sun-drenched vines of the South of France, where the landscape shifts between the elegance of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":692895,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,1120,96,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-692894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=692894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/692894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=692894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=692894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=692894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}