When you think about French homes, what do you imagine? Maybe it’s the enviable apartments in Paris’s 6th arrondissement or the fairytale-style châteaus that can often be found in the Loire Valley. Whatever springs to mind, the image is always the same: elegance and luxury.

One such property is Château de Chanet, situated around 90 miles from Bordeaux in Périgord, south-west France. With 11 bedrooms and grounds that boast a heated swimming pool and pétanque court, its founder, Laetitia Morlat, has made every design choice in the property. Whether it’s the bedroom paying homage to her family’s friendship with the renowned singer and dancer Josephine Baker or the ‘Secrète’ turret bedroom that allows the inhabitant to feel like a real-life princess, every room is the epitome of chic French design.

Château de Chanet is not the only property where Morlat has carefully and tenderly lent her hand to interior design. There are three other properties that make up her Domaine de Vieux-Mareuil estate of holiday homes: Bagatelle, which offers a luxurious home complete with an orangery; Lavy, a historic house with panoramic views; and La Roussie, a villa that’s perfect for families. Each has been designed solely by Morlat herself and features carefully selected art, furniture and timeless design pieces. A further property is set to open in 2026. Despite having no formal interior design training, Morlat has taken years to choose decor that suits each venue. “I have a passion for it,” she says. “I used to travel the world and get my inspiration that way. I enjoy the triumphs and challenges of picking the right pieces. I just love decoration.”

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