A charming thatched-roof cottage in Normandy, France, has undergone a spectacular renovation that transforms it into what appears to be a scene straight from a Disney fairy tale. Interior designer Joy de l'Hermite was commissioned by a Parisian family to create their dream second home, drawing inspiration from classic British cottage style to fill the picturesque property with warmth, bold patterns, and cozy comfort.
The remarkably well-preserved thatched cottage sits in the heart of green Normandy, surrounded by lush gardens and woodland that immediately evoked thoughts of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for designer Joy de l'Hermite. "They contacted me because they were looking for that Anglo-Saxon style that often appears in my projects," explains the interior designer and founder of Paris-based Studio JLH. The fairy tale context provided the perfect opportunity to embrace this aesthetic, as all the typical elements were present: Normandy's proximity to England, the thatched roof, and the wooded park setting.
De l'Hermite's design philosophy was shaped by extensive international experience, including time in São Paulo working with the renowned Brazilian Estudio Campana, led by designer duo Fernando and Humberto Campana. There she learned to work with textures and playfully blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. "My inspiration is Lina Bo Bardi's Casa de Vidro," de l'Hermite explains, referencing the glass house on a tea plantation that appears embedded in snow. This Brazilian experience was complemented by time in New York with celebrated designer Adam Tihany, who taught her about visual and sensory comfort, including the softness of light, the importance of plants in interiors, and the warmth of materials.
"I've always loved the Anglo-Saxon style," enthuses the Parisian designer, "the patterns, the colors, the contrasts." From this diverse range of influences encountered over time, she created what she calls a "magic potion" suitable for implementing this expressive project. The renovation mixed vintage finds with custom-made furniture throughout all rooms, including vintage Windsor chairs, 1950s lighting fixtures, Bernardaud tableware, old British prints, antique books, and historic fireplaces.
The structural transformation was equally dramatic. "As you might expect with an old building of this type, it was quite heavily subdivided and dark at the beginning – you could barely see anything," de l'Hermite recalls. Despite this, the house actually had many exterior openings, offering great design possibilities. The roof beams also made it possible to remove intermediate ceilings on the upper floor, creating cathedral-like airy ceiling heights that completely opened up the space.
For the interior designer, it was important not to compromise between style and functionality. "The house was designed to be comfortable in everyday life and everything works smoothly; our approach focused on atmosphere and spatial impact," she explains. The design was guided by a clear common thread: British interior style, characterized primarily by strong patterns and a lively dialogue between materials. A mix of linen, cotton, custom carpentry, and expressive wall decorations gives each room the right depth.
The kitchen exemplifies this bold approach with its striking color contrast: light pink walls meet glossy black cabinet fronts and shimmering brass fixtures. "I love it when wallpapers tell a story, shape the ambiance, and set the tone without being intrusive in any way," de l'Hermite notes. "When you enter a room, the respective scenario immediately absorbs you." Throughout the house, she selected papers like the Tangier Iceberg Stripe by Alice Palmer and the classic Strawberry Thief pattern by William Morris for the bathroom.
The entrance area, which offers a clear view of the living room, was transformed from a hallway where absolutely nothing happened into a real living space with a large, custom-built library. To further develop the British-inspired country house style, a potting room for garden work and a mud room – a small anteroom where one can change and clean up before entering the house – were also created, adding authentic English country functionality.
Children's rooms under the thatched roof received special attention, with slanted ceilings covered in playful wallpapers featuring floral or bird motifs, creating an all-over look with Alice Palmer's Callaloo wallpaper and Ottoline's Madame Ziggle pattern. Window seats were upholstered with fabric from Christopher Farr Cloth, and Italian wall lights from the 1950s, discovered at Danke Galerie, add vintage charm. To emphasize the British cottage style even more, a clawfoot bathtub was placed at the end of the bed in the main bedroom, creating an unexpected but quintessentially English touch.
The property also includes a small outbuilding for guests, designed as a tiny house in the same style as the main building. This compact space comprises a double bedroom and bathroom, with optimal use of space in both rooms. The bathtub, fittings, and towel rail are from Burlington, matching the bathtub in the main bedroom, while bath mats and tub trays from Matilda Goad complete the coordinated look.
The completely redesigned garden represents the highlight of the property, now featuring a swimming pool with a wooden deck that appears like a blue oasis amid the lush greenery, as well as a small seating area created from what was previously an interior courtyard. Studio JLH integrated outdoor furniture from Unopiù, planters by Olivier Gagnère, and outdoor wall lights from Corston to create perfect spaces for family gatherings. The summer seating area features cushions by Alice Palmer and a Palissade side table from Hay.
From the outside, the cottage bears a striking resemblance to paintings by British artist David Hockney, who has settled in Normandy and draws daily inspiration from the idyllic surroundings. The fairy tale atmosphere allows visitors to be enchanted and captivated by the charm of this traditional thatched house, where every detail contributes to a cohesive vision of English country living transplanted to the French countryside. The project demonstrates how international influences and careful curation can transform a historic property into a contemporary family retreat while honoring both its architectural heritage and the timeless appeal of British cottage style.
