In 2022 Nichola Burns, a self-confessed vintage and antiques collector and passionate upcycler, and her husband, Adam, decided to move from Bristol to Pouzolles in the Hérault region of southern France. ‘Throughout my life, I’ve spent most summers holidaying and supervising school trips in France,’ says Nichola. ‘I have a deep affection for the country and have always felt a pull to make a life here.’
The move was something the couple had talked about for a long time but, with their son, Henry, leaving for university, and Covid enabling Adam to work from home, the pieces fell into place. ‘When we asked Henry if he would be happy for us to move, he replied: ‘It’s about time!’ says Nichola.
The pathway to their perfect home took an interesting twist. ‘We rented a house in Languedoc while we looked at properties, and must have visited about 50 houses. One day, our very patient estate agent asked me to describe my ideal house, and we realised it was exactly the property we were renting. In a stroke of luck, the agent knew our landlord and he agreed to sell it to us.’
Passionate about re-purposing rather than buying new, Nichola had furnished their previous Bristol townhouse with upcycled finds from local reclamation yards, second-hand shops and vintage emporiums. The couple shipped most of their furniture over to France, but their new home was a much larger property. ‘It was the perfect opportunity for me to indulge in my favourite activity – visiting brocantes and flea markets. At last I could justify buying amazing large pieces that wouldn’t have fitted into our old house.’
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Nichola has always loved French style, and the highlight of her week is visiting her local Emmaus charity warehouse. ‘I always find amazing treasures there, but word has got out and all the dealers now go, too – people literally run in when the doors open, which makes for an interesting and sometimes slightly stressful experience!’ says Nichola.
Nichola particularly loves utilitarian items, drawn to their durability and signs of wear and tear. ‘I like how they give you a sense of life before technology. We have a measuring yardstick from pre-metric times, and a library box used for storage, before everything went digital,’ she says.
The house previously belonged to a vigneron (wine maker), and was used to make and store wine. Luckily, it was in reasonably good condition when the couple moved in, and painting all the rooms chalky white gave them a blank canvas to work with. ‘We were fortunate to inherit the amazing original encaustic floor tiles. We have been told that the greater the variety of tile patterns in the house, the more affluent the family would have been. It was a way of displaying their wealth,’ says Nichola.
Nichola found a budget-friendly solution to sourcing all the necessary soft furnishings: ‘I love sewing, so have made curtains using vintage French linen bedsheets and cushion covers from the remnants. I also use traditional French lace curtains and old grain sacks, which have excellent longevity and are robust enough for family life with our two lively English springer spaniels. I like to buy from dealers who know their products, so there is often a tale of its previous use, for example, linens that formed a bridal trousseau.’
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The couple have also solved the challenge of lighting a large house by using an eclectic mix of antique and vintage lights, which Nichola collects. ‘You can either wire them in or free hang them. I enjoy playing around with them,’ she says.
She has also amassed a collection of antique mirrors, which are propped around the house, bouncing light into darker corners, while adding interest with their foxed glass and intricate frames.
The main rooms of her house may be finished, but Nichola won’t be resting on her laurels. The joy of vintage sourcing and styling her own home has inspired an idea for a new career: a staging and sourcing service. So far, she’s worked with estate agents and friends, and is excited to take on more projects. ‘I’ve loved creating a home on a budget.
You really don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a house beautiful,’ she says. ‘Buying vintage and antique pieces is more ethical and sustainable than buying new. Pieces were made to a higher standard and from better-quality materials that allow them to age beautifully. I want to pass this appreciation on to others and to help them to do the same in their own homes,’ she says.
Follow Nichola on Instagram: @noodlefrancais