5/07/2011

Ma petite maison d'hôtes

My little guest house/transitions


Trinidad and I bought our home almost 9 years ago.  It's a tiny little cottage but we liked the fact that it had room for a large garden and also to house our merchandise as well as a workshop/studio.  It is out in the country in Corralitos, surrounded by orchards and strawberry fields, so we came up with the name Atelier de Campagne: Country Workshop.



In our previous home, I fashioned a "workshop" out of our car port.  Our neighbors would walk by and stop to talk to me as I worked either on refinishing a piece I had found in a flea market or antique fair or creating a new piece of furniture out of reclaimed wood.  "Every time I see you work, it makes me want to go home and work on a project" some of them would say. It made me feel good to know I could inspire people to create.



As we moved into our new place, I was ecstatic about having more room where I could build a workshop/studio and have room to store my tools and materials. Soon after we moved in however, I had to return to my native Belgium and was not able to build my workshop.  This sudden change and transition as much I resented at first, propelled us to reinvent our business and it transitioned into an import business.



As we began to import European antiques and brocante, we began to focus more on French Country and expanded into a sort of Temps Perdu and Style Industriel.  I foud new inspirations and my designs also transitioned.  I now had more, and varied materials that I could work with. Trinidad and I also talked about the necessity to build a storage shed where we could protect the merchandise we would be importing from Europe so he hired someone to build it.  It served it's purpose as a storage of merchandise and now it is also time for this little structure to transition.  It is becoming a petite Maison d'Hôtes.



During my short visits, aside from preparing for our bi-annual container sales, I have been focused on creating "a room of my own."  It is not quite ready to be lived in, so in the mean time, I have been using it as a sort of canvas where I can rehearse designing different vignettes.  I thought I might share some of these with you.  Hope you get to come to one of our events and see it.
Johan





41 comments:

kathee said...

Such a beautiful post! I love your Maison d'Hotes! Thanks for sharing your pictures...wish I lived closer!! It was so nice to see you at ROTP....have you seen your pics on my blog? xokathee

Home and Lifestyle said...

Wow...your photos are fantastic!

Faded Charm said...

I'm so glad I came across your blog and am loving your style. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful photos to inspire us all:-)

Kathleen

the vintage bricoleur said...

Your Maison d'hotes is beautiful! I feel honored that the beautiful garden chandelier that my husband and I created is hanging right in the center. It looks so at home. Your work is very inspiring, keep it up! Terry

La Brocanteuse said...

Love it! love it! love it!thank you for sharing with us. regards Colette ~ Afrique du Sud

Atelier de Campagne said...

Hi Terry! I'm so glad you got to see us. We love the chandelier and Johan found a great place for it. I want another one for outside! For the rest of you, please visit their blog and web site The Vintage Bricoleur.
These guys are amazing. Terry, I am serious, if you could bring me one to the Alameda. Love em!

Trinidad

http://thevintagebricoleur.blogspot.com/

flowers on my table said...

Johan, your home is just gorgeous and such a good advertisement for your business. I love everything about it. Enjoy your weekend, love Linda x

Acquired Objects said...

I am loving your Maison d'Hotes and all your vignettes! Your pictures are a dream too!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Debra

puur wit said...

hallo lovely it looks very beatifull
gr sandra

Vintage Home said...

....beautiful pictures!

creekside rummager said...

It is inspiring and inviting. You and Trinidad have such incredible style. Thanks for sharing.

Blooming Rose Musings said...

I love your Maison d'Hotes! Beautiful! You have such wonderful style and you are so very inspiring. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Allie said...

So lovely to see "where it all happens", the "think tank" so to speak. The arrangements look very natural and organic. Beautiful objects, wonderful photos too. Thanks for the tour!

desde my ventana said...

Gracias por compartir esta muestra de vuestro precioso espacio. Las fotos son geniales!!!

Un abrazo y muy feliz fin de semana,

Cecilia

Little Leslie said...

Loved the tour, and adore the basket coffee table. You have such a wonderful gift of creating gorgeous comfort!

Vintage Maison said...

Beautiful blog, wonderful photos, delightful peek into your atelier...

Atelier de Campagne said...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you wonderful women who either biologically or via your creations bring life and energy into our planet.

May your creative force and spirit live on.

Trinidad

Melissa said...

i am in heaven whenever i visit this special place of yours...
would you notice if i took up residency in this gorgeous little spot?
i would look after everything and promise to not bring my three lovely children...
heaven!

melissa x

under spanish moss said...

What beautiful vignettes! Are those live boxwoods and do you have a difficult time keeping them alive indoors?

flowers on my table said...

Trinidad, thankyou so much for your lovely comments. I hope you enjoy baking when you get the chance. I love it, it relaxes me and I love the smell permeating the house. Can I recommend you start with scones, so quick and easy. Have a great week. By the way the pictures of the Hollyhocks in the Ile de Re post are so scrumptious! Love Linda x

The Paper Mulberry - Glenda Steel said...

Oh my what a divine blog!!!! I adore your style, you have a new follower!! Warmest Spring wishes from England - Glenda

blossoms vintage chic said...

Johan & Trinidad, You are a constant source of inspiration & I'm in love with the Maison d'Hotes
how wonderfully divine to have such a beautiful space to rehearse in!
Love the "Atelier De Champagne"
pillows...
Have a wonderful week!
xo
Debbie

Trouvais said...

Bonjour Johan,(and Trinidad!. Love what you've done to that little garden "storage" shed. My favorite place to walk in to at the last sale. It just couldn't be lovelier...and dressed with the most fantastic finds. Keep wondering where I could fit those rounded top glass doors...so gorgeous! Happy hunting, Johan. Can't wait 'till August!!! XOXO Trish

RUST ~a vintage vibe & design~ said...

Lovely lovely lovely!

Ido said...

I love your petite maison de'Hotes, simply beautiful. Have a lovely day!
XXXX Ido

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

It is of a dream but a wonderful reality for you!

Thank you for sharing, see you Sunday!
xo~Tracie

Heart Vintage Design said...

Beautiful. I wish I could come!

Catherine said...

I've recently found your AMAZING blog! It looks so french, do Californians go for this style? hope they do, wish you all the best with your project. I'll come back!

The enchanted home said...

So happy to find you from Sharon at French Country Home, I can see it could be easy to get lost in your blog for hours and hours....have to scoot out, but will surely be back and am your newest follower!

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