Ambiance

Crisper in large.

Continuing the Journées du Patrimoine theme, today I went to Saint Laurent for a guided tour of Anna Camille's house mansion. I've visited the art gallery on the ground floor many times, but this was a chance to see the rest of the huge and magnificent house, which had been empty for a decade when she bought it in 2013, with only the ground floor inhabited for 50 years before that. Because of its situation on the steep slope down to the river, it has four floors at street level, but there are a further two floors below, with massive walls protecting them from floods and general collapse.

It's not listed (fortunately for her) but she has done everything she can to restore it sympathetically. It has lovely original encaustic tile floors, and she has now removed the loud 1960s wallpaper and painted the gallery walls white, more suitable for displaying art. On the first floor she has used this glorious sunny yellow, which works well in the light-filled south-facing rooms. And as you can see, recently installed central heating, only 35 radiators required. The house has seven fireplaces but none of the chimneys were usable when she moved in so it was a chilly few winters.

I used to be underwhelmed by her art, and positively disliked some of it, but she's changed style since I last looked, and I was quite taken with these drawings using gel pens. More art (and yellow) in extra 1 -- two self-portraits.

She uses the top two floors (one of which is just a tower) as her studio. Lots of light and a great view from the window (extra 2) -- a pity it was cloudy today. The tower room has very atmospheric lighting from the window (extra 3). I'm pleased to have seen what the rest of the house is like, and impressed with what she's done with it.