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M


ost people would admit that before they came to live in France (and possibly even still) there were


moments spent dreaming of what the interiors of the many large, enigmatic and illusive French homes looked like. Possibly your mind wandered whilst you were strolling across a historical town square, where you may have caught a glimpse of a second floor balcony with its seductively open-doors. Doors that led to (in your mind) a high-ceilinged apartment with delicate, French-lace curtains trying (in vain) to constrain the sun-light as it fell on to the wide, oak, floor-boards lying within.


Or, maybe your mind wandered whilst driving through the region and noticing a large, turreted, romantic- looking house nestled deep in protective woodland on a sun-drenched hill-top. Who could resist a moment to consider the possible mirrored walls, effortless colour schemes and elegance that lay within?


Now back to our everyday reality! Having settled into our French homes the creeping need for practicality and reliance on ‘what we know’ comes to the fore. However, that latest trip to Ikea does not need to erode completely our original dream, a dream that, after all, originally fuelled our desire for a home in France.


We may not all live in originally-furnished, period, French homes; but we can still bring a little of that charm into our world. Maybe by acquiring just one key-piece of original furniture, either (luxuriously) already restored or maybe in need of professional restoring, a chance to create the perfect match for your home. What about investing more than money and learning how to do the repairs yourself? A chance to create not only a stand- alone, original feature for your home but a chance to


invest your time and energy into something that may remain in your family for years.


It is easy to envy CiaraMcClinton-Staines, luckily for her, when she was just 2 years-old she was given a large needle, some thread and a sheet and she was taught to sew. This early start was then fuelled by a childhood spent with a highly creative and practical mother. She developed the desire to design, create and repair that has lived on and led her to a life of artistic creation and being able to follow her love of furnishings and interiors, culminating eventually with the opening of her business


Please mention The Gascony Local when responding to adverts.


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