Color, Character, and a Hint of Daring: Why We Didn’t Choose Minimalism

While scrolling through the endless stream of Instagram posts about design, boutique hotels, and slow living, it’s almost impossible to escape: "beige minimalism." A world where everything—from the walls to the sofas—blends into shades of greige and oatmeal. While we appreciate this calm aesthetic, we steered a different course for Oh, le château!. For us, the light-filled rooms of the house serve as a quiet backdrop for our personal collection of art, antiques, and design. We didn't choose the anonymity of a beige void; we chose color, character, and a soul that speaks.

The Foundation: Respecting the Wrinkles of Time

It was love at first sight. The moment we stepped into the hall and saw the impressive staircase, Gerard knew: "This is it, we’re buying this house!" With his architect’s eye, he immediately saw that this diamond in the rough had everything it needed to become an idiosyncratic home and a characterful B&B. We all felt the soul of the house—an old soul that we didn't want to polish away with modern minimalism, but rather bring back to life.

Large architectural changes weren't necessary. The layout of the house has barely changed since 1860, meaning the original elements are still present everywhere. The classic arches by the monumental staircase and the richly decorated fireplaces emphasize the "French grandeur" of days gone by. Every room has its own atmosphere thanks to the cement tile floors, which surprise you with different colorful geometric patterns.

On the first floor, the soft creaking of the wooden parquet tells the stories of the many feet that have left their mark here over the last century and a half. The attic, meanwhile, shows the honest face of the building: here, we intentionally left the robust rafters and the tie rods that hold the house together exposed. The result is a soulful interplay between 19th-century architecture and our contemporary renovation.

The richness of this lived-in house is the canvas for its interior.

Architectural Eclecticism: A Dialogue with Time

Some things are simply so good they become timeless. That applies to the house, and certainly to its interior. Oh, le château! is not a showroom filled with new items; there is no "cookie-cutter" decor here. Instead, you’ll find a collection of furniture, art, and objects we’ve built up over decades, complemented by special pieces that were already part of the house.

Instead of the "beige emptiness" often found in hotels, we chose a layering of time, color, and material. In the dining room, a sleek, modern table and colorful chairs—in shades of moss green, deep blue, and terra—seamlessly coexist with a classic marble fireplace, an antique secretary desk, and original red-and-white cement tiles. Our salons are designed for coziness: deep red velvet sofas and ocean-blue couches invite you to settle in and lose yourself in a book or a good film. Despite our preference for warm tones, the high windows and abundant natural light ensure the house continues to breathe. There is a constant balance between monumental spaciousness and an intimate atmosphere.

“For us, luxury is not the absence of color, but the presence of character.”

The interior tells not only our story but also that of the previous residents. Every room is furnished with relics of the house: chandeliers catching the light in their glass beads, robust wooden cabinets testifying to craftsmanship, and old mirrors that seem to hold the stories of yesteryear. The interior of Oh, le château! is best described as architectural eclecticism: a bold, warm dialogue between 19th-century French heritage and a personal, modern taste.

The House as a Gallery

This dialogue between old and new is further enriched by the art present throughout the house and garden; from paintings and drawings to sculptures and ceramics. This collection is the heartbeat of Oh, le château! and underscores the personal character of the place. Where current design trends often lean toward a safe "greige" minimalism, we choose the opposite. With us, the colors are allowed to pop off the walls.

You can see this, for example, in the colorful explosion of Van Dijk in the stairwell or the characterful portrait by Claudia van der Linde in the salon. Every piece was personally chosen by Gerard and Miek—not based on trends, but on an emotional connection: pieces that simply struck a chord. Many of these works once hung in their home in ’s-Hertogenbosch; after the move to the Tarn, they found a new, natural place here.

Some works are deeply personal and were specially commissioned, such as the family portraits by Gerard van Zon. The three atypical cabinets, which never fail to catch the eye, were also commissioned for our previous home in the Netherlands. With their idiosyncratic design and bold combination of materials and colors, they are works of art in their own right. These unique pieces, designed by Frank Couteau, perfectly align with our vision that an interior should surprise and stimulate. It doesn’t get much more eclectic than this.

Experience the Richness of a House with a Mind of its Own

Ultimately, Oh, le château! is much more than a holiday destination; it is a personal ode to the French art de vivre. In an era of increasing "hotelification"—where accommodations worldwide look more and more alike in their sleek, empty perfection—we choose the charm of the unexpected and the power of a personal story. We consciously remain loyal to the uniqueness and rich history of this striking house in Salveredonde.

We invite you to escape the anonymity of beige. Come experience what it’s like to stay in a place where colors speak, art stimulates, and the atmosphere embraces you like a warm blanket. You are most welcome in our home.