Each summer, famed textile and interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland welcomes a group of guests to her home, La Castellane, nestled in the Midi-Pyrénées region of southwest France. There, designers and design-enthusiasts are invited into Kathryn’s world to learn from her expertise and to experience her distinctive approach to hospitality.
I joined Kathryn at her countryside abode last summer, and now find myself reflecting on that time with continued nostalgia and admiration. Days unfold with both ease and intention… wandering through medieval towns, sourcing antiques at nearby markets, and evenings spent enjoying foie gras and rosé on her terrace. Kathryn has an intuitive and generous way of welcoming guests into her world.
Exclusive for the MILIEU Insider, Kathryn has shared how her home in France has evolved, her distinguished perspective on hosting, and a preview of what guests can expect this upcoming summer at La Castellane.
La Castellane feels deeply personal to you and your family, yet so effortlessly welcoming to guests. What led you to begin sharing your home in this way and how has that idea evolved?
It happened very organically. The boys in their late teenage years wanted to spend time by the sea, travel on their own with friends, and there were a few summers when the house was no longer a ‘summer camp’ with childhood friends. And I just thought, what a waste. This divine property sits here, let others enjoy it.
Since I’d bought it before I was an interior designer, it’s been my laboratory. I taught myself how to restore a property and in French! It seemed like a great opportunity to have others from the design community, and anyone with a love of architecture, flea markets, food, and wine to come stay.
From the piece that Kate Betts wrote for Travel + Leisure some 15 years ago, the program is now fine-tuned, and we host not only amazing groups, but magazine editors, art experts, and other A-list designers who come to share their knowledge and insight into the world of design.
Are there any hosting habits you swear by?
Make everyone feel at home.
The thoughtful itinerary you curate is complemented by a sense of ease. How do you strike that balance between planning and leaving spaces for spontaneity?
That’s a good one. We have the backbone to the week sorted, and we stick to the big picture, but there is so much that has to be organized last minute. The ‘vide-greniers’ are always unexpected. I like to mix it up for myself as well and learn new things.
The last few years we’ve been hoping to Lectoure, a town in the Gers, where an old antique dealing friend of mine from Santa Monica, Claude Hubert, now lives. It’s a mini Ilse Sur la Sorgue.
The retreats experience extends well beyond your home, with days spent exploring the nearby region and visiting the homes of your friends in the area. What moments are you most looking forward to this upcoming summer?
It’s the guests that make the week so extraordinary. It’s their stories which we get to listen to, and the interactions between everyone. That, to me, is the gift this week gives.
To share a place that I’ve put so much love and attention into over the last 30 odd years, and see the enjoyment the place gives, is really what it’s all about. Jane Churchill has become part of the week over the last few years. I never get bored listening to her adventures, between Blenheim Palace, founding her fabric line, and everything in between.
When guests leave La Castellane and return to their everyday life, what do you hope lingers with them the most?
That they all have made new friends and come away with insight into how to entertain, decorate, and live life in an unpretentious way.
For those eager to experience life at La Castellane, Kathryn will host two retreats in France this summer. The September retreat will additionally include an excursion to Paris and Maison & Objet. To inquire, contact kate@kathrynireland.com.
PRODUCED BY AVERY BOWERS, MILIEU Associate Editor
