When we first arrived in Beauvoisin, we wandered around the winding streets, trying to peer into various windows and doors, ever curious to see what was behind all those shuttered windows and dark doors.
There was one house in particular that captured my imagination. I played my usual game of, If I Were to Live Here, and I would always pick that particular house; it wasn’t too grand, it wasn’t too small, it looked just right.
Funny too, it’s just up the street from the place we’re renting…
Flash forward:
We have some friends who live in France for around six months each year in a fairy-tale town called Auvillar. However, it’s quite a long drive from here. We had visited them a few weeks ago in their pretty little village, but this time, they decided they’d come up to see us.
Turns out that the house I love, the house that I’ve wanted to see inside, the house that had wholly captured my imagination and that I pointed out to anyone who would listen as my French home…well, that house happens to be a B&B, or as they call them here, a chambre d’hotes. It is called Habanera. And that would be where our friends would be staying.
Turns out too, that it’s absolutely fabulous inside and that the couple who run it, Michel & Mirielle are utterly charming, serve wonderful appetizers and drinks in the garden and are living my French life in MY storybook house.
Our rented house has been a great find. It’s wonderful, after our various excursions to all the great sites in this area, to be able to retreat back to our little village, a village that couldn’t possibly get less-touristy.
But if you’re not interested in a long-term rental, and if you want to surround yourself with utter fabulousness, I’d suggest you go up the street to My Other Life at Habanera.
My French doppleganger is over there, sipping champagne in the garden, petting Vega and wondering where we should go tomorrow…
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Isn’t it wonderful when a wish comes true? So magical and I’m glad the inside lived up to your daydreams, would have been a different experience if it had been a disaster inside 🙂
Exactly true Laurie, like some of those ‘magical’ hotel room shots that turn into massive lunch-bag letdown upon arrival. Thankfully, this is even better than the photos.
Oooh, I love it too. If ever we should be in France, in June, in the sunshine, this is where I’d like to be. Not so much in North Vancouver, in the rain, in June-uary … coldest June on record.
Oh Martha. I’ve been following the weather conditions in Vancouver. Not good at all. I’d definitely recommend this area as a lovely contrast to the cold West Coast rain.
It was 31 degrees today with a nice breeze…
Great pics, Colleen. I’d love to be lounging in one of Habanera’s canvas chairs in that lovely garden. June in France looks wonderful…
Thanks Lesley, I’d be hard-pressed to decide whether to lounge about in some of those great interior rooms or flounce myself back outside to those canvas chairs or the Moroccan-tiled terrasse 🙂
What I appreciated was the artistic sensibility as it was uniquely expressed in each room. The owners have a pitch perfect sense of style which is expressed with a natural feel for both comfort and ease.
Exactement Sharon! Pitch-perfect is the words. The style is gracious and easy without ever tipping into fussy or twee. The colours, the fabrics, the soft soul of each room made me want to move right in. I’m so glad we all got to share the experience.