Anneville

Founder of Velvet House, Gaspard Konrad has a knack for finding homes with soul. A Parisian turned dream hideaway curator, he’s reinventing the art of holiday living: “country houses with no strings attached, to be lived in freely – all built around one dream: making space for memories,” he says.

Each Velvet home is a nature-filled retreat, less than two hours from a major city, where you come to slow down, reconnect, cook, read, wander – or simply do nothing at all. Anneville ticks every box: a 1970s thatched cottage, originally built by a fishing enthusiast, tucked beside a pond, hidden from view and steeped in silence.

Inside Anneville, it’s all about a well-balanced blend of vintage charm and quiet poetry. Most of the furniture has been carefully sourced, piece by piece, with each item telling its own story. “We wanted a subtle tribute to the setting – nautical touches, oars, a vintage lifebuoy in the staircase, a model sailboat on the mantel… and above all, lots of wood, natural textures, and visual calm.”

No fuss, just real comfort: a chef’s kitchen, five-star bedding, a Bluetooth speaker, board games, and a library full of books on birds, fish, and forests – because nothing here is by chance. There’s even a telescope for stargazing after dinner.

The house itself is already an adventure – morning swims in the pond, sunset paddles, a sauna under the stars... But if you're in the mood to explore, the region is full of hidden gems.

Just ten minutes away, you can wander through the stunning ruins of Jumièges Abbey. Hop on a bike to ride along the Seine, or grab a kayak for a splashy escapade. And for the kids? Outdoor activity centers, horse riding, secret cabins in the woods… As for remote-working city dwellers craving fresh air, every bedroom has a desk – and there’s high-speed Wi-Fi, of course.

In just 45 minutes, you can be in Pont-Audemer – the “Norman Venice” – or in Honfleur, a historic gem just waiting to be explored between two crêpes. What we love about this place is that no two days have to be the same: hike or nap, castle or swim, farmers’ market or barbecue. And always, nature all around.