If you haven’t guessed by now…I’ve been showing you
photos from Lillian Williams’s Louis XV chateau in Normandy…
photographed by Fritz von der Schulenburg and featured in
World of Interiors in April of 1994…
Lillian restored the chateau, reproducing 18th century fabrics
such as “Quinconce” above, that was based on a Ikat like fabric
indigenous to Normandy. Lillian lent many of her antique
fabrics to textile companies for reproduction before, unhappy
with less faithful editing, she created her own…
These Walker Zanger “Contessa Damask” tiles
have been so appealing to me…
Though I’m normally not big on pattern…
I’m just drawn to their charming exuberance!
Have been considering how I could weave
them into my more staid decor…
In Lillian Williams’s Swedish style bedroom…
A Laura Ashley sprig fabric on the polonaise and chair.
Lillian painted many walls herself with free form whimsical designs
drawn from surviving antique screens found in the chateau…
Another free-form wall painted by Lillian…
Her painting tip “If you’re not fast it doesn’t work…
the minute it gets refined it loses its charm”
I used to love dropping into Lillian’s shop in San Francisco La Ville du Soleil
back in the 80’s…a complete wonderland for the Francophile…
Another shop in New York was called La Vie de Chateâu…
Her passion for 18th century France is carried through in the
world she spins in her homes in Normandy and Provence…
down to the details that she carries through herself…
I’m inspired by someone who lives her passion…
engaging herself even in the small details.
Sometimes its the little details…the little
finds…and the times we roll up our sleeves to
add our own effort that give us the most satisfaction.
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