![]() ![]() ![]() They were the homes of rulers and landed elites, replete with turrets, towers, parapets, and-of course-very burly walls. The ruins sit on hilltops and abut cliffs-whatever best gave them dominion over the surrounding lands. Though a semblance of their former glory remains, today, whether through combative slights or mere neglect, once-fortified sites from Ireland to Romania have degraded. Perhaps that’s why a team of designers recently looked at the now-ruined castles of Middle Ages Europe, lifting the fortifications up from their dilapidated states and digitally reimagining the structures as they were in their heyday. Whether it’s where you were two weeks ago or 10 years ago, there’s a certain security that comes from the certainty of then. Maybe I was Asian in a previous life,” adds the designer, laughing.The past is often a refuge from the present. I imagined the landscapes over there without ever having seen any photos. “Ananbô is the creative culmination of all these Asian images accumulated in me for years. She is completely involved in our family business and takes care of the showroom that we have just opened in Paris.” Facing the vineyard, in her workshop located in the former cellar of the estate, the designer escapes to imagine her decorations evoking a nostalgic vision of the Asia of yesteryear. I’m very lucky it’s an incredible adventure that my daughter Méliné joined this year, after studying fine arts. “This made it possible to democratize the product and meet growing demands. Hand painted, they are now digitally reproduced in a printing house in the region to respond to the dazzling success of the brand. “The Banks of the Nile,” “Borneo,” “Shandapur” - the wallpapers that Anne has been creating since 2008 - represent landscapes animated by picturesque and poetic scenes, inspired by the tradition of panoramas. Travel is a constant source of inspiration. There are two that do not leave my office: one a doorstop brought back from Korea and the other a black crystal Buddha from Baccarat.” Globetrotters, Anne and her husband share a common passion for Asia. On the other hand, I am in love with my objects, mostly brought back from Asia or gifted to me by my children. The furniture is transient in my house! As I renew them regularly, I never buy high-value pieces. It frequently varies according to the mood of the designer. With its sober and elegant lines, the furniture matches the décor. “I need to live in a refined environment to create.” I have always adored black and white it’s chic and timeless,” confesses Anne. “We chose black metal doors to add a more contemporary touch. All other coverings have been changed, as well as the joinery on the ground floor. It was our reward.” The spaces have been preserved as well as the original elements still in place: the parquet upstairs, the ceiling mouldings and the beautiful old wooden doors, just stripped. The final touch was the fitting out of the swimming pool in 2004. “The works were complicated, especially since we lived in the castle with our two young children at the time. They were able to guide us through the restoration,” explains Anne. “The roofers were a big help, because they know the area well. To rebuild the original roof, the owners called on the family business that has been in charge of the roof for a hundred years. ![]() The first task consisted of ridding the building of water. Two years of renovations were necessary to make the castle habitable. “Add to that the work done in the 1970s - everything had to be redone.” Many of the features, such as fireplaces and woodwork, had been looted,” recalls the owner. “The 1999 storm tore off part of the roof. After having belonged to the same family for 150 years, the house was abandoned when the couple acquired it. The facade on the garden side has a much simpler appearance and suggests a future expansion,” explains the owner. ![]() “We liked that the history of the building connected with Jean-Pierre’s work. The bunch of grapes carved above the door alludes to the job of the sponsor, a boatman who brought wine from Cahors, France. The castle, built in the 1830s, reflects the hybrid style in vogue at that time, half classical half Gothic. ![]()
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