Château de La Croix Boisée

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What has been the most surprising aspect of château life that you didn’t expect?

When we bought our first chateau, the selling chatelaine —a very eccentric old lady— warned us that having a chateau is like having an unpredictable lover: “It’s all-consuming, passionate, and with unbelievable highs and lows.” We thought she was having a bit of a rant (albeit a poetic one!). In less than a year, we knew exactly what she was talking about. The chateau is definitely a “member of our family”, and it’s always been the most demanding one! 

How do you balance modern living with the historic charm of your château?

We believe that our chateau is primarily a home, so comfort, safety, and technology are important considerations. However, we are obsessed with antiques, “lost arts” like wood carving, porcelain painting and embroidery, and recreating historically-inspired interiors. So, other than “where to put the television”, we feel very at ease “living in the past”. Modern living is very fast and overrated. Chateau life is a return to gracious hospitality, art, nature, maximalism, creativity and personal expression. Unfortunately we have very modern “day jobs”, so we cannot dedicate ourselves exclusively to the care of the property as we would love to do!

What are the biggest challenges of maintaining a château?

Budget and time are our biggest challenges! All old properties need constant maintenance, but a chateau requires this on a much larger scale. So, our biggest challenge is how to faithfully honour the chateau while not bankrupting ourselves. Also, finding tradespeople who can understand the labyrinthine systems of the property can be daunting. The challenge of time is always omnipresent, as we must earn money to fund the chateau from our careers, but then that only leaves us weekends and evenings for renovations, gardening, and maintenance. Owning a chateau is generally a full-time job in and of itself. 

What is your favourite room or space in the château and why?

We have two favourite spaces! Our latest Primary Bedroom renovation is a dream come true. It’s truly a fairytale space, and imbued with so much love and attention by us and our family who helped us execute this vision. We also really love the indoor pool and spa area. It’s very unusual to have such a space in a private chateau, and our guests feel really pampered when they come to stay, especially in winter! 

What has been the most rewarding renovation project you’ve undertaken so far?

Our most rewarding renovation was the kitchen, which we did almost entirely ourselves during the pandemic. Other than the worktops, we did everything from the design to the carpentry to mosaic tiling to the lighting. As the original kitchen was in the basement, we transformed the former billiard room into a modern fitted kitchen with antique inspirations, and we are very proud of the results. 

Have you encountered any unexpected obstacles during your renovations?

We have encountered many unexpected obstacles! Other than the omnipresent obstacle of budget, with every single project there is a hidden challenge. It might be the electricity or a leak or furniture that is too big to go through the door. We love puzzles, and making the final design work is one of the great frustrations and rewards of this journey. 

What tips do you have for someone considering restoring a historic property?

Make sure you have a basic knowledge of the local language and continue to improve this. Integrate into the local community; your neighbours will give you great advice about tradespeople and help you make friends. Always listen to the previous owner and others who have already done similar projects. You may think that you can do it better or faster, but the property will have a mind of its own. Respect the knowledge that is shared with you. Be aware that you should quadruple whatever you think is your budget. Watch lots of shows like Chateau DIY and other YouTubers who have undertaken similar projects to get a sense of scope and inspiration. Make sure you are physically and mentally fit. The mental fitness is often the most important thing, as sometimes the challenges can seem overwhelming. Projects move slowly and patience is your friend. Look at the property as individual projects within a grander space to avoid being overwhelmed. Take it room by room. Embrace and unleash your creativity. Make mood boards. Ignore the naysayers. Believe in yourself. 

How do you source authentic materials and furnishings for your château?

We spend a great deal of time at antique auctions, brocantes, flea markets and architectural reclamation yards. We regularly shop at the Paris fabric market. Sometimes we even have “swaps” with other chateaux! As a designer, Vivienne also has access to designer fabrics, trims and wallpapers, so we take advantage of this whenever possible. 

What is the next big project you’re planning for the château?

Our next big project is our Entrance Hall transformation. It started out as a redecoration and has evolved into a dramatic restoration involving the removal of a wall, altering the ceiling, an extraordinary mirror project and some fabulous wall art.

How has living in France influenced your daily routine and lifestyle?

After 27 years in France, we really feel that we are French at heart. We have changed everything about our lifestyle from the way we eat to the time we share with friends and family. Holidays are highly valued;  food is prepared slowly and enjoyed slowly; Sundays are a day off;  and, the appreciation of art, music, architecture and history are important parts of the culture and daily conversation. We feel really lucky to have incorporated these philosophies into our everyday life. Our design sense is very French. We hold the French values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity to heart. 

What are some of your favourite local traditions or customs that you’ve adopted?

We love attending the village events in celebration of everything from the wine harvest to the annual Fete de la Musique which showcases local musicians. We honour the fallen soldiers from our village on Remembrance Day, and we attend an all-day celebration of the local wine called the Fete de St. Vincent where a king or queen is appointed to reign over the coming year. One year Simon came dangerously close to being chosen! There is also a huge classic car rally in our village with markets and entertainment that pays homage to the nearby races in Le Mans. Many residents of the village volunteer to raise money. We especially love experiencing local French cuisine and learning how to cook accordingly. 

Can you share a typical day in your life at the château?

The days change so much depending on the season! In summer, we wake up and share our coffee inside or out, depending on the weather, and make a plan for our day. Then, it’s time to work! During the week we have “day jobs”: Simon works for a big company and Vivienne is a designer and antique & vintage jewellery dealer. This involves sourcing, cleaning, listing, packaging and shipping jewellery around the world or visiting a client’s property and helping to create a vision for the space while also sourcing the perfect decorative accents. At the weekend, we spend our days gardening, doing DIY, and frequenting auctions and brocantes. When we’re lucky, we have guests visiting and our days are spent showing them the local sites, cooking amazing food, drinking champagne, and enjoying all that the chateau has to offer. 

What do you love most about the local community and area?

The Loire Valley is the “garden of France” and also the home of the majority of the royal castles. The natural beauty and gentle seasons are breathtaking. Most importantly, the people of this region are kind, welcoming, helpful and generous. Also, we are lucky enough to be a “village chateau”, so we can walk to the bakery, the restaurant, the bar, and even buy wine from our neighbouring vineyards! Our neighbours are incredibly nice and we love feeling like we are a true part of French life. We adore this region!

How do you celebrate holidays and special occasions in France?

We incorporate many French traditions! The most important tradition is to spend the holiday periods at home with friends and family. Long meals are celebrated, and we try to feature many French recipes. Christmas is especially festive, and we love to blend French inspirations with our native customs. Like the French, our big Christmas meal is on Christmas Eve. We’ve been in France for 25 years, so we also follow the “holiday rhythms” of France where everyone is often on holiday at the same time for long weekends in May, a few weeks in August and at Christmas, Toussaint (Halloween), and the famous Ski Break in February.