A mill in Perch has been transformed into a zen and modern country house

New luxury for the holidays? Take your summer accommodations to a charming guest house. With just a few rooms (maximum five), often located in bucolic locations, furnished and decorated with care by hosts who put their whole soul into it, they are the guarantee of a quiet, unique, unforgettable vacation. They can also become a source of inspiration in terms of interior architecture. An overview of our favorite addresses, with a fifth stop at Le Moulin in Perches and a meeting with its owner, Marine Gabilli.

History of the place

“My initial project with my partner Lucas was to find a country house, a place to make memories with our families, his who live near Nantes and Angers and mine based in Paris. Another important element, we didn’t want noise or neighbors. We were looking for peace, because we live in the very lively Republic district of Paris. Therefore, Perche seemed to us to be a region that met these criteria. The first visits were not final. On the other hand, when we pushed through the Moulin gate, it was an immediate shock. We found ourselves in a hole in a valley, facing a village that looked like a village, with three buildings to invest in, empty hulls. The place, in fact, has not really been preserved. The owners, who bought the mill when they were 35 and were in their 70s, lived 20 minutes away and met there in the summer to celebrate birthdays and enjoy the great outdoors. But inside, nothing was renovated, it was very basic. There was a bedroom and a bathroom, but they were not suitable. In short, the mill had neither a house nor even a wheel, for it had been removed years ago. But if everything was a little abandoned, the rest was pretty well preserved. The buildings were especially cleverly designed to drain water well during the many floods.

Therefore, it was a perfect playground for Lucas, who is an architect. It was especially difficult because he is used to making big and luxurious apartments in Paris. Considering the environment and nature in the design was the first for him. So we made an offer… The loan was accepted the day the foreclosure was announced. This setback allowed us to work on plans. I think I was the most annoying customer Lucas ever had. We collected the keys in June 2020 and started work in August. The project had changed a bit along the way. With material costs exploding, we told ourselves that we could rent the house every now and then to finance the costs. Therefore, we designed the rooms as small suites, each with an entrance, a bathroom and imagined spaces for living together… A year after the project began, we opened the house with an event that brought together 70 people. And very quickly, thanks to a few articles in particular, we started welcoming our first visitors. We still live in Paris, but I quit my job in communications to manage Moulins full-time. We have a housekeeper on site for reception. Many services are also offered: massages, home cooks, packed lunches…”

Works

“There was a working year. We built everything, we rebuilt everything, we rebuilt everything: the floor, the water, the electricity… We worked with Lucas’ teams, with whom he has been working for 10 years. This brought flexibility and speed. We also turned to local artisans for specific knowledge. In the main building there is a living room of 80 m² and upstairs two bedrooms with their bathrooms. The other three rooms, located in other buildings, are accessed via an internal courtyard. The whole forms a U. This configuration allows you to rent more or fewer rooms (but, on the other hand, we never accept several groups at the same time: our clients always have Moulin with them during their stay, even if – They only need two bedrooms.

Decorative options

“Our priority was to design a home where you feel good inside, so that the decor is inspiring from the moment you get out of bed. When I travel, I want to be in beautiful places, better than at home. So that’s what I wanted here. We started with noble materials: marble, wood. And the colors followed, warm and enveloping. No bright colors. In terms of layout, we mixed new and old, creating a dialogue between modern and antique pieces. All details are taken care of. For example, in the kitchen, Lucas created a freehand drawing on the cabinet doors to disguise them, turning them into works of art. We have repaired and reupholstered many chairs. We also paid special attention to textiles. the curtains are of Dedar virgin wool, the bedspreads and sheets are of linen. It is a very neat atmosphere. So, if in the summer we make full use of the garden, in the winter we are also very comfortable in front of the fireplace, reading, discussing, spending time…”.

Favorite brands, objects, furniture

“There are only things in the houses that I like, like Bonsoir bed linen or the Most brand of cotton gauze, which has the advantage of quick drying, which I discovered later. There are also quilts from Gabrielle Paris, tufted frames from Atelier Paolo in Bordeaux. We also have some timeless furniture such as Kartell bedside tables and pieces from the Hauvette & Madani furniture and lighting collections from Lucas’ studio. I also customized a very nice laundry room, a more private room where I spend a lot of time with a little pink Plume cabinet fronts, the only touch of color.

To hunt for treasures

“We sell almost everything. If the visitor has a favorite, he can indulge himself in it. Pieces move around a lot, and since I love bargain hunting, that’s not a problem. One of my favorite finds is the shell-shaped sink in the bathroom at La Bergerie. I’m also very proud of the molded fiberglass Patrick Gingembre desk in the master bedroom. Three years ago I found a pair of green sinks with a matching mirror. I placed them in the bathroom of room 145 and created a mosaic around them that reveals all their beauty. I’ve always been very hands-on. I studied mosaic at the Garance Mosaïque workshop in Paris. I find it a fun and relaxing activity. We break the tiles to make the pattern of our choice. I have also been making ceramics for two years on Boulevard de la Villette in Paris. I made bowls and soap dishes for the mill.”

Tips for decorating

“We don’t think enough about marble. Lucas is a marble fan. We find them everywhere, including Boncoin. Then we cut it to make plinths – that’s what we did in the Moulin lounge – or put it in a door frame. It really adds something extra. Marble is also perfect for creating shelves.’