{"id":12559,"date":"2022-07-13T09:30:37","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T07:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=32210"},"modified":"2022-07-13T09:53:10","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T07:53:10","slug":"a-french-apartment-filled-with-second-hand-finds","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/a-french-apartment-filled-with-second-hand-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"A French apartment filled with second-hand finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Christianne Raymer\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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\u2018My terrace is filled with flowers and looks out over the neighbouring church. I hear the bell chime throughout the day. It feels as if I live in a village \u2013 it\u2019s really lovely,\u2019 says Laurence Delibie, the owner of this floral sanctuary in the centre of Bordeaux, France.<\/p>\n

Laurence used to live in a villa by the sea in Arcachon, and was in need of a green, tranquil space when she moved to the city. She chose the Chartrons neighbourhood of Bordeaux, which is particularly appreciated for its village-like atmosphere and second-hand shops<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When it came to making the move here, Laurence had several strokes of good fortune, particularly in finding this apartment. \u2018I didn\u2019t even have to look. A local restaurant owner was moving out and told me about it. I was very lucky \u2013 it\u2019s a rare find in the city centre,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

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As the daughter of an ornithologist, and having grown up in the countryside, Laurence has a love of nature. This passion is reflected in the interior of the apartment, decorated with floral and bird motifs.<\/p>\n

\u2018The whole scheme began with the wallpaper in the living room. I fell in love with it when I saw it in the interiors shop below the apartment, RKR. This design, by Nathalie L\u00e9t\u00e9, represents everything that I love: nature, bright colours, and a light, fresh style. Anne, who runs the shop, is a friend of mine. One evening before I moved in, she asked if I could leave her my keys so that she could have a drink on my terrace. When I came back the following day the wallpaper was up. It was a great surprise\u2019, says Laurence.<\/p>\n

On moving to the city, Laurence switched her classic antique furniture for vintage<\/a>, pop pieces: apple-green hanging lights, late 1950s Tulip chairs upholstered in a psychedelic print and mid-century<\/a> sunburst mirrors. The look could be in danger of becoming a little pastiche but white walls, rustic floorboards and a good smattering of contemporary items (think a digital-print quilt and a pair of ceramic cockatoos) keep things on the fun side of stylish.<\/p>\n

The colours and floral motifs are echoed in the wallpaper. Again, it was the people in the neighbourhood who came to her rescue: \u2018It was adorable. The local vintage dealers would call me saying, \u201cI\u2019ve got something you might like\u201d. Thanks to them I was able to find most things second-hand and furnished the apartment really quickly,\u2019 explains Laurence.<\/p>\n

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On the sideboard in the living room sits her favourite object, a bust<\/a> of Brigitte Bardot as Marianne \u2013 a symbol of France. \u2018It\u2019s the only piece I will never part with. I think she\u2019s the most beautiful woman in the world. To me, she represents the 1950s-1960s \u2013 a fabulous era marked by great freedom,\u2019 says Laurence.<\/p>\n

For someone who loves the outdoors so much, the large terrace \u2013 accessed from the open-plan living and dining rooms, kitchen and Laurence\u2019s bedroom \u2013 was an important draw. The suntrap has been covered with rustic planters<\/a>, turning it into a bucolic haven right in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

\u2018When I moved here, I managed to recreate what I had left behind \u2013 a house with a big backyard. The morning is my favourite time here, with the birds singing. And, at night, the church is lit up in blue. The atmosphere is magical,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n