How it Happened

 
Papillon Mignon “petit if not cute” butterfly is the playful, happy name of the three villas located around a courtyard that is perfectly in keeping with the lovely harmony of the country homes and the beautiful stone villages of the Ile de France.
It should be said that what is the home’s reality today, was however, a dream, a work in progress and a continued effort by its owners—an effort that was a 10-year project.
Special antiques and accessories were collected throughout their travels in South Africa, in Italy, in Spain including the island of Minorca. Antiques were also collected in Provence, in St. Barth in the French West Indies and of course, in Paris, always Paris! In the planning stages, there was always a clear vision of the finished project. It is a dream that has been a continued effort on the part of Holly Howard.
Hours were spent in open-air antique markets and on sunny mornings, on crisp fall afternoons, as well as on cold rainy days. Climbing over, or under and fitting in-between or around “stuff”, while always looking for the “one find” or “one treasure”, was always Holly’s goal.
Many husbands will relate to the patience of reading the newspaper over and over, finally shifting from one leg to the other in quiet desperation while uttering the words, “Are we ready to go now?” Maybe you can imagine Phil, dressed in his French baret, his tweed slacks, his red striped shirt and his bow tie, looking the part, playing the part but not always wanting to be the part!
Once these treasures were found, there was part II, which included the effort required in packing, wrapping and carrying, or better said, “dragging them home.”  
There is the memory of that morning in Paris, two hours before departure for home when we squished that last box into the “always” to small Paris taxi and then dashed to the airport; and in the contortions we made to accommodate all those treasures!
Many an airport shuffle, took place with carts laden with “carry ons” that were too fragile, too difficult to wrap and too many to check! 

Part III

        Sunday mornings for two years were not spent in “carefree repose”, but were often used as the “stolen moments” to display, wrap and pack each find, each treasure, each antique piece, until one by one, they were tucked away and ready for “Papillon Mignon.”

       

Part IV

        Today the Chateau is ready and waiting for you! Relax, enjoy, and pamper yourselves with the ambiance of this home that was created for you!

 

The Personality of the Home

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