Once a thirteenth century fortress, a fifteenth century castle, and then an eighteenth century palatial château, Château de Gudanes lay abandoned until the recent trend in château restorations has rescued it from anonymity. It was a photo of the château, the afternoon sun light streaming through its tall windows, the soft and dreamy look of a romantic bedroom that inspired New Zealand artist Chloe Fletcher to recreate that mood in miniature.
Chloe’s French-inspired room box is quite a departure from her Beacon Hill mansion we featured in DHW 355, but no matter how much her design interests vary, almost every item is handcrafted in exquisite detail. “I made the bed first and the rest kind of followed,” she recalls. “The chair and side tables were repurposed Bespaq pieces, and the fireplace was an inexpensive resin one that I cut down and repainted. Everything else is handmade.