Most of us at some point in our lives dream of that very special place. A sanctuary of calm and beauty that can inspire you and where you can take refuge from the tribulations of everyday life. 

For some this can be a house by the seaside where your feet can sink in the wet sand and you can smell the iodine on the fresh algae left by the sea.

Or a small cabana in the woods where you can be in a harmonious communion with nature. 

Or even a winter chalet surrounded by a white carpet of freshly fallen snow.

My very special place would probably be a combination of all.  But I do have a version of that where I can escape, breathe and be inspired.

So when I entered Claude Monet house in Giverny,  I understood why he had chosen to live here for 43 years and had gotten inspired to paint some of his most famous works.

To begin with, this was home. A home that was added to along the years, that grew and adapted as his blended family did.

A place of gathering and exchange with many of his famous peers along the years. If only these walls could show us a peek of those lively gatherings full of laughter and heated arguments…

If we could feel the scents and heat emanating from the kitchen …

Or even see Monet at work in his studio …

But at the same time, this was his life to live, his moments to create, his emotions to feel, his family and his friendships to cherish.

Left are the colourful walls for which he chose carefully each palette and the wonderful gardens where he spent most of his time. A source of inspiration, a scented explosion of colour where bees are busy at work.

And yes there is also that very special place where you almost wish you could linger on forever …

Whatever your special place is I hope it will bring you happiness. It does not need to be a house in the French countryside. It can even be just a room where you surround yourself with the things you love. Or even a special chair near a window where you read a comforting book. That very special place can also just be your heart and your mind where you feel and cherish all the memories that are worth keeping.

To visit :

Claude Monet’s House and Gardens