Is chateaucore the next big thing? (And how to get the look)
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Remember cottagecore? The lifestyle trend that took social media by storm during lockdown? Well, now there’s a new ‘core’ doing the rounds – and it’s not a million miles away from the rural nostalgia of 2020. ‘Chateaucore’ blends rustic charm with the timeless opulence of the ancien regime, resulting in a distinctive take on French country style. Though we never like to advocate trend-led decorating at House & Garden, we are more than willing to embrace an aesthetic that encourages a considered mix of different styles and periods. It also seems like the perfect opportunity to channel our current obsession with Marie Antoinette (thank you, V&A) into something more sensible and budget-friendly.
Our fascination with chateau style is nothing new. ‘Castles have always been places of representation, particularly since the 18th century, when they lost their defensive function,’ explains Jean-Baptiste Martin, co-founder of Antoinette Poisson, which began as a specialist paper company and has evolved into an all-around arbiter of French style. ‘Interior decorations were then, especially for royal residences, a way of presenting the best of the contemporary know-how and taste to their guests. These decorations and motifs were then replicated, adapted to other, more modest residences and this is how fashions spread, becoming desirable since they were of a royal nature. Even today, the motifs and decorations of royal residences continue to fascinate and are still used.’
Chateaucore is yet to have quite the same impact as cottagecore, which at its peak was absolutely everywhere, but it is definitely going places. Etsy’s spring/summer 2025 trend report revealed that searches for ‘French cottage decor’ had increased by more than 26,000 per cent since the start of the year, so it could just be the next big thing. With this in mind, we have gathered some of the most memorable examples of French style from our archives along with some lovely products that have caught our eye. Vive le chateaucore!
There are few finer examples of timeless chateau style than the French home of antiques dealer James Jackson and his husband Andrew Bottrill. The couple worked with fabric and wallpaper specialist Christopher Moore, aka The Toileman, to create a vibrant backdrop of toile de Jouy, chintz, indienne and chinoiserie, all based on antique fragments. ‘As it was a chateau, I suggested we put fabrics on the walls in many of the rooms and this was perfect for that quintessential “French look”,’ explains Christopher. ‘The French way of using toile can be described “if it doesn’t move, cover it in toile” (or any fabric in the same pattern) – bed, chairs, walls, curtains, screens…’. By furnishing the rooms in a fairly restrained fashion, with an interesting mix of antiques, James and Andrew have managed to achieve a good balance between chateau and country style.
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If you’re nervous about filling your main living areas or bedrooms with gilded glamour, why not start with a smaller, more private space? This bathroom of hotelier Cristina Lozano’s holiday home in the Basque country is the epitome of chateaucore, with its luxurious wallcovering and blinds, gilt mirror and crystal chandelier cleverly contrasted by natural materials and textured finishes.
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It is perfectly acceptable to eschew louder patterns and stronger colours for a more pared-back interpretation of chateaucore. This farmhouse in the Luberon immediately came to mind thanks to designer Sophie James of Bucknall James’ beautifully light touch. ‘The house spits things out that it doesn’t like,’ says Sophie, explaining the choice of elegant yet simply furniture and understated colours. A few beautiful antique pieces, like the chandeliers above the rustic farmhouse table, really bring the rooms to life and give them a sense of history.
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Le Creuset Shallow Casserole Dish
Timeless in style, instantly recognisable, made from pleasingly weighty enamelled cast iron and comes with a lifetime guarantee - you really can't go wrong with Le Creuset. This clean white edition will look great in any kitchen and is a meaningful gift for a keen chef that will last for years to come.
If you favour a more laidback, eclectic aesthetic, take inspiration from Lucinda Chambers’ incredibly charming house near Toulouse. The former Vogue fashion director and Collagerie founder has filled the rooms with her trademark mix of bright and beautiful things, many of which she found at flea markets. Expertly rummaged fabrics, rugs, rattan and wicker furniture, paintings and ceramics come together to form a richly layered look that leans more towards country than chateau. This sort of scheme would work equally well in traditional and modern interiors, and you can allow it to evolve organically over time as you add new pieces and personal touches.
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More inspiration from the House & Garden archive
Boz Gagovski1/11The bedrooms of James Jackson’s Périgord chateau have been given the full toile treatment by The Toileman himself Christopher Moore. ‘I’ve always felt that toile never truly goes out of style and I think there is definitely an increase in people using it once again,’ says Christopher. ‘The last big revival was back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I’ve worked with owners on monuments historiques in France and quite a lot of historic houses in America to create the classic chateau style.’
Ruth Ribeaucourt2/11Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly of Antoinette Poisson have restored an 18th-century house on the Brittany coast, filling it with their charming wallpaper and fabric designs and carefully sourced pieces. Here in the Chambre de l’Amour is an antique table and a Louis XVI banquette seat, upholstered in a printed linen fabric. The partition has been dressed in Antoinette Poisson’s ‘Torrent’ pattern, inspired by an 18th-century motif.
Ruth Ribeaucourt3/11In the bathroom of Jean-Baptiste Martin and Vincent Farelly’s Brittany house, the walls are in a design inspired by Chinese wallpapers made in 18th-century Canton. Originally hand-painted, this paper depicts an imaginary garden full of flowers, insects, birds and fruit. An Etruscan red claw-foot bath sits boldly against the cool blue paper and lichen-coloured paint.
Simon Upton4/11Marie Antoinette was known for bringing bold global influences into her interiors so she doubtless would have approved of this handsome property in the South of France strikingly rejuvenated by designer Lucy Hammond Giles. A striking mural, inspired by Bedouin tents and painted by Lin Connor to Lucy’s design, frames the doorway to the grand salon, where a chateau-worthy gilt mirror hangs above the fireplace.
Paul Massey5/11Furniture designer Victoria Stainow’s 17th-century Provençal house might not be a chateau, but it does have royal connections. The Queen Mother once spent the night in what is now Victoria’s bedroom, which was stripped right back during the restoration work. A chandelier from Antiquités Ramis accentuates the original ceiling, while Delft ceramics are showcased on the reproduction chimneypiece. Armchairs from Victoria’s Sotheby’s days ‘in the oldest upholstery you can imagine’ and a rug from Sanaiy Carpets add rich pattern and texture.
REBEKAH WESTOVER6/11This 500-year-old house in the South of France is a beautiful blend of French and English style. In the sitting room, an antique chaise reupholstered in Schumacher check is paired with a blue velvet sofa was from Neptune. The antique sconces are topped with Pooky lampshades. Most of the art, included this painting, is antique and was slowly collected from flea markets over three years.
Daniel Schäfer7/11Interior designer Benji Lewis has skilfully restored a rustic manor house in southern France, retaining much of its period charm. The pink toile wallpaper on the landing is original to the house, as is the chest of drawers. Above the chest is a vintage Indian painting on silk, and the polar bear is Royal Dux and dates from the 1940s. The striped kilim is from IKEA and the fauteuil is covered in linen by Galbraith and Paul from Tissus d’Helene. It is a triumph of blending old and new, and high and low.
Dean Hearne8/11Designer and illustrator Marin Montagut’s 19th-century cottage in Normandy is a reflection of his wonderfully whimsical style. The bubblegum pink walls, frilly bed canopy and Marin’s collection of curiosities offer a vibrant, playful take on chateau style.
Daniel Schafer9/11The verre églomisé wall panels in the dining room of Cristina Lozano’s house in the Basque country create an invitingly atmospheric feel. The large rattan ceiling light and bamboo chairs were picked up at Parisian marchés aux puces while the marble-topped dining table is from El Rastro flea market in Madrid.
Christopher Horwood10/11The main bedroom of designer John Tanner’s Provençal house is artfully furnished with antiques including an Italian chandelier, an 18th-century mirror, a rare Provençal boutis quilt and gilt-bronze candlestick lamps. The otherwise pared-back scheme really allows these pieces to sing.
Christopher Horwood11/11Don’t forget to give your outdoor space the chateaucore treatment. In this covered area of John Tanner’s garden in Provence, a table made from salvaged materials is teamed with 1960s rattan and cane chairs from Hellouin Antiquités.
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