At home with Gesa Hansen
This is how I live
The designer Gesa Hansen has found her very own private refuge in the idyllic village of Courances, where she lives with her young children and the restaurateur Charles Compagnon. Villeroy & Boch had the opportunity to visit Gesa in her country home, renovated according to her designs. It now combines her personal Nordic style with the historical feel of the 19th century house. Take a glimpse behind the scenes.
GESA HANSEN
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Courances PROFESSION: Interior Designer LIFESTYLE: slow living
"This house and the natural surroundings really help me to find myself and new inspiration.”
— Gesa Hansen
Gesa was looking for a house outside Paris, because she needed a place where she could find herself again, away from the fast-paced lifestyle and working environment of the city. The atmosphere is almost magical: an idyllic garden with mature fruit trees, beds of flowers and herbs, old horseshoes reminiscent of a four-leaved clover, and a renovated former stable.
COURANCES - WHERE I LIVE
COURANCES.A small French commune in the lle-de-France region,about 50 km southeast of Paris.Known for its chateau and its gardens,natural springs and forests.
“As soon as I saw this house, I knew I was going to buy it. Because I felt that it had a soul."
—— Gesa Hansen
MY INTERIOR
Gesa has very deliberately combined old with new to add a contemporary feel to the soul of her home. For example, wooden door signs and old stone floors that distinctly show the marks of passing time, creating a very authentic effect. Lovingly revamped, they coordinate perfectly with the modern handmade furniture designed by Gesa herself. She has even extended this fusion of old and new to the bathroom.
A BATHROOM FOR MY FAMILY
“The classic design of the collection perfectly suits the house and yet is still very modern."
— Gesa Hansen
HOMMAGE
Paying tribute to a great age
Gesa chose Villeroy & Boch’s premium Hommage collection for the family bathroom. It features a classic colour scheme: elegant black meets pure white to blend into different grey tones. The LaFleur classique taps & fittings collection adds a modern twist to the traditional cross handle without looking nostalgic. A simple oval Cetus bath, offering a relaxing haven for Gesa and fun bathing for the children, completes the look.
View the Hommage collection
A BATHROOM FOR MY GUESTS
“The washbasins are very fine and delicate and the geometric shapes are a perfect representation of minimalism. I created soft colours to overcome the coldness and hardness of the ceramic."
—— Gesa Hansen
View the Artis collection
ARTIS
Fine forms. Strong colours.
The guest bathroom reflects Gesa's personal style, with clearly defined shapes and soft pastel blue on the walls, harmonising with the patterned floor. The highlight is the 'Fog' coloured square Artis washbasin on the Legato vanity unit.
MY LIFESTYLE - SLOW LIVING
The large living room with a wooden table that Gesa designed herself provides plenty of space for get-togethers with family and friends. Just the thing for short breaks, when her father Hans Hansen visits and the two swap ideas over a cup of coffee. Used often – the historical yet timeless decor of the Old Luxembourg crockery. Who says you have to keep good crockery for special occasions?
“I think more and more people are embracing the slow living trend. It’s all about living more consciously, taking time – for others as well as for yourself."
— Gesa Hansen
