Les Pénates,
“Making New With Old”

This project has turned our lives upside down because now we are doing what we love. We realised that the combination of our two activities was a real asset. So, there’s no such thing as a typical day here!

For my part, the thing I like best is when I start a new project. The imagination I bring to bear around a new place, the way I have to plan and anticipate, and find solutions, before I put on my overalls and get down to work! The part I hate is the paperwork, the administration. That feels like a waste of time to me.

Our schedule is certainly hectic, but the keyword is “freedom”! We love our jobs and what we do with a passion. We are both self-taught and learn something new every day. What I like best is working with my partner and, of course, treasure hunting! And as Annabelle says, the administrative side is very hard for both of us. Not having to deal with it would be a real luxury.

We wanted our visitors to feel at home here, and during a discussion – over a nice little glass of Bordeaux, as usual – (laughs) I said to Brice, “When I come back to Bordeaux, I always say I’m going back to my Pénates, to the bosom of my family.” That was the trigger. And then, (as if I had itchy feet already), I added: “If it works, we’ll open other Pénates elsewhere!”As a result, it became Les Pénates Reims. It was like a secret desire for there to be Les Pénates elsewhere.

The idea was that it would stay out-of-the-ordinary, and would not look like what we are used to seeing, and would still respect the spirit of the place. I like – in my work – the purified, the immaculate, space. So we approached the design of this place in the same way. In Guesthouse #1, we played with white to highlight all the woodwork and antique furniture we brought back here. We have taken great care with even the smallest details so that there is a strong visual identity, a clear logic to it. But for Guesthouse #2, we wanted to show something else… while sticking to our original theme: “making new with old”! So we decided to offer a more defined space with furniture and (here’s a surprise) strong colours.

For the renovation work, we have surrounded ourselves with local craftsmen and specialist companies. The 9-metre long skylight I designed, and the entrance doors, were custom-made with a partner who specialises in frames for historic buildings. Together, we studied the details of the period and the place and were able to integrate, for example, a grille we found into the front door. The only flooring we have added is the one with these flower mosaics that we commissioned from a tiling specialist in Paris, as well as the switches and sockets. As for the refreshments on offer, the apartments are both equipped with a fully equipped kitchen in which we leave coffee and tea for the morning. We can deliver breakfasts on request, prepared with local products. In terms of decoration, we sourced everything, each object is unique. The only thing that is “new” is household linen. For this, as for some other items and supplies, we work with French brands that we meet on Instagram and are receptive to our world. They’ve taken over the place like a shop!

Here’s a list of names that we automatically recommend for lunch and/or dinner: Chez Jérôme, a restaurant-antique shop that we like very much. Le Bocal, for a table in the heart of a fish shop. Les 3 Petits Bouchons, an intimate and trendy wine cellar. Le Bon Manger, a bar where you can eat, and a grocery shop. Le Sacré Burger, the benchmark for homemade burgers. Le Jardin des Crayères, a brasserie in the heart of the Crayères gardens. Our Saturday lunchtime rendezvous, Le Marché du Boulingrin, is a real culinary and festive gathering. In a completely different style, we would strongly advise you to visit La Villa Demoiselle. It is a unique example of art nouveau and art deco architecture; it was built by Henry Vasnier in 1890 and completely restored in the style of the time by Mr and Mrs Vranke. And how could I forget the unmissable cathedral!