I saw an Instagram story recently that said, “Approximating a European vacation by walking 40,000 steps in shoes not meant for walking, then eating cheese outside.” Which, having recently come back from just such a trip (in suitably unsuitable shoes), feels accurate.
With all love for the do-it-all, pack-in-as-much-as-possible trip, there’s something to be said for going someplace quiet and doing absolutely nothing.
Located two hours outside of Paris, Le Moulin guest house offers just such a respite. It’s the work of couple Lucas—founder of the design and architecture studio Hauvette & Madani—and Marine, with 10 years of experience in ready-to-wear fashion and “a growing taste for vintage decor and objects, giving them a place in the 21st century.”
“With Le Moulin,” the couple says,” we wanted to create a memory factory, a place to gather and reconnect with what matters most: nature, family, and friends. We found that feeling of escape here in this haven of peace where a river flows through.”
The guest house is designed to inspire slow living—but the two also took a slow approach to its design. Redone by Lucas’s firm, and finished with details hand-done by the couple themselves, “we decorated the house to the rhythm of flea markets and empty houses,” they say. “We favor ‘upcycling’ to give life back. We don’t get attached to objects either—everything (or almost everything) is for sale!”
Join us for a virtual tour—and scroll down for a look at the sublime outdoor dining situation, no shoes required.
Photography as noted, courtesy of Le Moulin.
For more on Le Moulin and to inquire about booking, head here.
And for more French guest houses we love, available for stays, feast your eyes on:
- French Lessons: A Designer and an Antiquary’s Remodeled Guesthouses in Reims (Soon Available to Rent)
- En Résidence: A Guest House and Residency at Château de la Haute Borde in the Loire Valley
- Hotel Le Sud: A Colorful Guesthouse in France, Inspired by Picasso
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