I started my career as a window dresser for Burberry, then I met and married Peter Watts, a sound engineer for Pink Floyd, with whom I had two children. After an international career as a stylist for film, television and interior design, I wanted to settle in the south of France and spent five years looking for a property. I wanted a place that was authentic and unspoilt. From the first time I visited this estate, I knew straight away that I'd finally found my new home. Here, I'm continuing to create and, after "The Maverick Soul”, I'm now working on a new book with interior photographer Tim Beddow.
The property consists of three buildings: a manor house, a dovecote and a caretaker's cottage, all of which have now been converted into holiday accommodation. Nothing in the buildings follows a straight line and all the furniture is antique or made to measure. The main house, built of stone and clay, features decorative details that give it an air of Savannah, Georgia, or even New Orleans. The parkland and woods surrounding the property extend over 11 hectares. A vast barn, ideal for large events, completes the ensemble.
It was originally an estate dedicated to the production of Armagnac, similar to many in the region. Armagnac, born 700 years ago, is the oldest brandy in France, originally reserved for the monasteries of the south-west. In the 11th century, it became popular for medicinal use, thanks in particular to the Prior of Eauze. Gradually, the production of Armagnac brandy became more widespread and increased considerably. The Gers is a department historically linked to the production of Armagnac, and this property is an integral part of the region's winegrowing history.
Stay on a romantic estate surrounded by fields of sunflowers, woods and the hills of the Gers, with magnificent views of the Pyrenees. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The environment is peaceful, often only disturbed by a deer visiting, an owl hooting or a cock crowing. The premises offer the charm of period houses with beautiful aesthetic details and authentic materials, all thought out with my stylist's eye. I cook for my guests on request. In the summer, I organise interior design retreats with Francesca Wezel, a renowned colourist who launched Francesca's Paints in 1996, an eco-friendly paint company in the UK.
Enjoy tortillas and a glass of Floc de Gascogne at the Loft Cafe in Eauze, an ideal meeting place during the weekly Thursday morning market. Notre-Dame-des-Cyclistes is a cycling museum in an 11th-century church, and even has a bicycle on display that once belonged to a pope. In Lectoure, don't miss a visit to a fabric-dyeing factory to learn about the history of pastel and Isatis Tinctoria, "Dyers' Pastel" or "Woad", from which exceptional shades of blue are obtained. At Lake Uby, ten minutes away, you can go canoeing, cycling and fishing. The Uby wine estate produces my favourite rosé wine!
The estate has two gites for rent for a minimum of seven nights. The caretaker's cottage, which sleeps nine, has a lounge, kitchen, four bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor. Two bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, while the other two share a bathroom. The dovecote sleeps four and comprises a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms upstairs sharing a bathroom. One bedroom has a double bed and the other two single beds.
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The three guest rooms are on the first floor of the manor house, each with its own en suite bathroom. Guests have access to the lounge, garden and swimming pool.
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In the summer, Miv Watts and Francesca Wezel, the famous English colour consultant, lead interior design retreats lasting from 2 to 5 days. The aim is to learn how to express your personality in your home through colour, texture, shape and comfort, in a way that resonates with the your life stories and most vivid memories. Cultural visits are also available, and Francesca leads yoga classes every day before breakfast and before dinner.
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