Domaine de 
Fleury

I was in charge of La Poterne, a former guard tower of the Château de Fleury, spread over three levels. Initially, Dominique, who had just taken over management of the estate, envisioned a large bedroom, an intermediate dining area, and a living room on the ground floor. But when I saw the space, that layout didn’t make sense to me — you shouldn’t have to go downstairs from one living area to another!
So I suggested something more logical: two bedrooms and a proper living area on the main floor. In such a small space, we needed to simplify and make circulation natural. Dominique immediately understood the concept and had the place redesigned accordingly.

The main challenge was the size. It was a tiny space, so we had to play with proportions, light, and materials... finding just the right balance so that everything felt open, never cramped.
For the ambiance, I drew inspiration from the essence of Pierres d’Histoire: the family home. I love the idea of a place that already has a life of its own — where the charm of the past meets modern comfort. People travel to feel transported, but they no longer accept giving up comfort. The tone had to be just right: neither too old-fashioned nor too modern, but a subtle mix of both.
I also wanted La Poterne to be a true living space, where the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms flow naturally together — each element finding its place without cluttering the area.

Dominique gave me complete freedom for the decoration — and I have wonderful memories of it. He simply said, “Handle it on your own.” I went for it, with both excitement and a little apprehension. When everything was finished on December 22, I handed over the keys. Dominique went up with the owner to discover La Poterne. They hadn’t seen a single photo — didn’t know the colors, the materials, or the furniture. For me, it was a real challenge: I thought, 'My God, if I got it wrong, what happens now?' But I preferred to take responsibility rather than be interrupted at every step.
That day, everything was ready — the lights were on, the table was set, dinner was waiting upstairs. They discovered a space that was warm, cohesive, alive. And for me, that was the greatest reward.