Gesa Hansen, an interior designer of German-Danish heritage, embarked on a profound transformation of her 1,100-square-foot stone cottage in Samois-sur-Seine, near Paris. This endeavor, following a significant personal upheaval, allowed her to infuse the historical dwelling with a distinctive blend of vibrant hues, diverse textures, and maritime-inspired elements. Her reimagining of the space goes beyond mere superficial adjustments, creating a home that reflects both cozy natural surroundings and an unconventional, liberated spirit, underscored by an innovative garden design and a deep appreciation for color dynamics.
Just two years prior, the notion of residing in a stone cottage was far from Gesa Hansen's mind. Her search for a new abode was expansive, even including the consideration of houseboats. However, fate led her to the picturesque community of Samois-sur-Seine. In 2024, she discovered a two-story stone country house, nestled behind a charming half-timbered Belle Époque villa. In an impulsive move, Hansen approached the resident artist to inquire about the property, only to find an old acquaintance on the other side of the door. Although the artist initially had no desire to sell, circumstances shifted, and Hansen, along with her children and dog, moved into the cottage in the winter of 2024. This period marked a pivotal turning point in her life, having recently gone through a divorce.
Far from a simple redecoration, Hansen undertook a complete overhaul of the cottage's internal structure. Her primary goal was to remove inhibiting walls and amplify the influx of natural light, fundamentally altering the living experience within the 1,100-square-foot space. As the founder of her own furniture brand, The Hansen Family, she brought her expertise and a desire for profound change to her personal environment. The result is a home that captivatingly employs bold colors, an array of fabrics, intricate wallpapers, and a range of tactile materials, all contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere that is deeply connected to nature.
Hansen's garden, a collaborative creation with Estelle Marandon, further exemplifies her distinctive vision. It masterfully intertwines traditional English cottage aesthetics with a more untamed, naturalistic approach, reminiscent of Piet Oudolf's designs. This juxtaposition of old and new, both within the house and its surrounding landscape, serves as a powerful metaphor for Hansen's own life transitions. She candidly describes this period as a challenging journey, yet one that ultimately brought a sense of emancipation.
The influence of Bauhaus principles, which Hansen studied before her tenure with Jean Nouvel and the establishment of her own studio, is remarkably evident throughout her design. The large windows of the cottage, akin to those found in an artist's studio, immediately drew her attention, evoking the spirit of the Dessau school where she learned to truly perceive and understand colors within their environmental context. This foundational training, particularly inspired by Josef Albers' work, informs her ongoing practice of carefully balancing how colors interact with their surroundings, a principle vividly demonstrated in her Samois-sur-Seine residence.
Her kitchen, a testament to this philosophy, boldly foregoes conventional wood or soft tones. Instead, Hansen selected the striking 'Moss' paint from File Under Pop, a rich blend of ochre and mustard yellow. This particular shade, which she had previously been unable to incorporate into client projects, creates a sophisticated contrast with the kitchen's brass accents, existing terracotta floor, and stainless-steel surfaces. For Hansen, the kitchen represents a space of personal liberation, moving beyond the 'cute country kitchen' aesthetic to embrace a more direct, urban, and even masculine design that reflects her evolving experiences.
The dining area is a harmonious blend of custom and curated pieces. Hansen herself designed the Arabescato marble top for the dining table and upholstered a custom bench in Pierre Frey’s Fontainebleau fabric. Completing the ensemble are lacquered oak chairs with woven seats, crafted by Stine Lundgaard Weigelt for FDB Møbler. A graceful round archway leads into the living room, where a white, romantically styled fireplace anchors the space. A Spanish chair by Børge Mogensen beckons as a potential favorite reading nook. Hansen further personalized this area with a grass-green rug from Nordic Knots atop the existing terrazzo floor, alongside a custom-designed love seat and coffee table. Curtains by Fadini Borghi elegantly complement the golden-brown upholstery, tying the room together.
Hansen's early life, spent visiting lumberyards with her grandfather and father and working on wooden boats, profoundly shaped her design sensibilities. Her initial furniture creations were heavily influenced by boat design, and this affinity for wood is evident throughout her home. Her upstairs bedroom features sculptural wooden pieces, and her office boasts a wooden desk, perfectly paired with a Marcel Breuer chair. The connection to water extends beyond the materials; fins and a diving mask in her office symbolize the strength and freedom she finds in the sea, offering her a unique perspective on her terrestrial life.
The aquatic theme seamlessly extends into other areas of the cottage. Her bedroom walls are partially adorned in Little Greene's Mid Azure Green, a serene blue-green, with an irregularly profiled mirror from Ferm Living mimicking the movement of water. The staircase is a dramatic feature, covered in Pierre Frey’s Clapotis wallpaper, which depicts the sun’s reflection on Mediterranean ripples, creating a dynamic, layered visual effect. Even the two bathrooms echo these nautical influences. The guest bathroom, with its varying shades of blue, features Farrow & Ball’s Pale Powder on the walls and light green-blue Zellige tiles from Marseille. Fixtures and a ceramic Hommage column washbasin from Villeroy & Boch, a brand Hansen frequently collaborates with, define the principal bathroom, where Caraibes fabric evokes an underwater world. The Brushed Gold Conum fittings, designed by Christian Haas for Villeroy & Boch, add an elegant touch, while vintage harbor lamps provide ambient light. Ultimately, Hansen’s cottage, with its large windows and sweeping views, embodies a unique blend of land and sea, almost like a beautifully designed houseboat nestled in the French countryside.