Everybody knows Maurice Ravel for his beautiful music. Not everybody knows that he lived for many years just outside of Paris in a pretty little town called Monfort l'Amaury. He even composed his famous Bolero there.
He bought this charming house in 1921, and lived there until his death in 1937. He took personal pelasure in redesigning the garden, and decorating and furnishing the house.
Today, the interior looks surprisingly modern, with his bold use of colour, and the furniture which today is vintage but then was à la mode.
Today the house is open to the public with guided tours to explain the history. Another stop for your upcoming tour de France?!
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Gorgeous and yes, so surprisingly modern. It must have been amazing to have lived during that time period. Such creativity!
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting to see a masculine style.
ReplyDeleteHaving been a piano teacher for many years, I find these photos stunning. His music is very elegant and so was his home.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home...love the masculine touch and deep color. I can just picture him working on his music in this setting. Thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeleteHow utterly beautiful. I love learning something. Thank you. I find the chairs around the tea table so lovely. He could have had a second career!
ReplyDeleteWow! Is that exactly how he left it?
ReplyDeleteI love this!!!! I've always been a fan of masculine decor. This has a very chic Ralph Lauren style. Love those deep colors and the floors well those are the icing on the cake. I'll be sure to come back and study these photos more.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Kathy
Lovely home and I am sure we all remember Bo Derek running on the beach to Ravel's Bolero! She was just on TV last week and still looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Love it! Very unique and harmonious! I never get tired of looking at French homes, though I have to do it online. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour...I would so enjoy this in person
ReplyDeleteWhat an elegant home - and the amazing thing is that not one of those rooms would look out of place if they had been designed today. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEvery room is delightful. I especially loved the door that has the built in display cabinet as part of the door. Very clever. I love to see the old books too. What a great home.
ReplyDeleteWow - I can imagine him composing those beautiful harp parts in that gorgeous place, one inspiring the other.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous place. I love how neatly the items are arranged on his dresser. Beautiful color blue on the walls in the music room. Perfect for a gentleman!
ReplyDeleteReally wonderful! I think it suits him perfectly and am certain that he was very happy there. It is masculine but welcoming to ladies too. : ~ )
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised to see lattice on the outside of Ravel's house. He obviously loved checkerboards!
ReplyDeleteHoly Smokes. That's all I can say.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea. I'll keep this in mind for summer viewing. :) Jenny
ReplyDeletevery charming! love the dark grays with danse du solei yellow (have that going on in my house too!! my favs) and just want to enter the secret library room behind those camouflaged doors...I have the opportunity to do this in our reading / office room and I am now thinking about it! thank you for the inspiration! Z
ReplyDeleteI SO enjoy touring homes of famous and artistic people. Last week we toured Carl Sandburg's home (poet). It was a thrilling visit!
ReplyDeleteThat beautiful space and imagining it filled with beautiful music is perfection!
ReplyDeleteCompletely fascinating; I remember studying him in school. Thanks for the mini-tour. Really interesting post. I once worked for wealthy people who were Basque and, one time, I was privileged to visit their elegant home. I don't think they'd bought one new thing in 30 or 40 years (they were now in advanced age 80s) except perhaps a television set. Walking into the house was like stepping back in time. It was of an era past, undisturbed, and perhaps the best memories. I felt like if I snapped my fingers, the whole thing might vanish right before my eyes, it seemed so unreal.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I love the art deco interior. Thank you for this! :)
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