Interior Motive: Pierre Frey’s Top 5 Tips

An artful clash of patterns, vintage textiles, a mélange of antique pieces… At Pierre Frey’s rural weekend retreat in Normandy, eclecticism reigns supreme. Built in 1850, the charming two-floored longère – a long, low building – sits amid lush greenery, while pale-pink wild roses and vines creep up its walls. Just as you'd expect from one of the three brothers at the helm of the family business, Maison Pierre Frey, the interior exudes a clear sense of style and good taste. With treasured heirlooms, flea-market finds and, of course, fabrics and wallpapers, he’s created a bright, airy and effortlessly chic home. And he was only too happy to share his top five styling tips.

TIP 1: WHO DARES WINS

"Be daring with your choices. Follow your instinct. I love the mixture of vintage pieces from our own designs and flea-market finds, together with a rug that belonged to my mother. Don’t worry about what doesn’t match – put together pieces you love and it will work."

Velvet textures inside Pierre Frey's house

Tip 2: Vote for Velvet

“For instant luxury, try velvet. It’s such a great material, the way it falls heavily and captures light. I have never had velvet drapes before, but when we put them in, I just fell in love with them.”

Tip 3: Get Green-Fingered

“Surround yourself with nature. While we were away one weekend, we noticed a real difference in our son Georges – he was a year and a half at the time, and seemed so happy in and around nature. The more greenery you have around you, the better for your mind and spirit.”

Pierre Prey and his son standing outside his house looking at roses

Living room setting in Pierre Frey's house with sofa, armchair and bookcase

Tip 5: Say Yes to Pattern

“You can never have enough pattern. Sometimes, when we’re styling a property or doing a photoshoot, I look at the mixture of patterns and I worry it’s too much. But if the colour palette works, you can mix it all – prints, geometrics – and somehow it just comes together. My favourite pattern in this house is on my kitchen tiles – they are by a Marrakech-based company called Popham Design.”

Tip 4: Don't Shy Away From Colour

“As a rule, try to stick to two or three main colours. I love colours, and I honestly feel you can never have enough. But to keep things even, I try to choose three per room, and then you can add in small pops of colours on top of that.”