La Maison d’Hortense travels back in time from Toulouse
Located in the Minimes district, in Toulouse, the Maison d’Hortense is an address of character with a chosen decoration which has a lot to tell.
Before even pushing the door, we wonder who Hortense is. A neighbour, friend, family member? A little all at once. “It’s a family story. As a child, I lived in this street in the Minimes district, with my aunt. Hortense was our neighbor but she became like a second grandmother. She loved life and entertaining people. When I bought his house, I decided to make it a guest house. But for me, it’s not just accommodation. It’s not just about giving the keys. I like to exchange and share with passing visitors explains”, Catherine Berthomieu, the owner of the premises. Like the building, completely renovated, all the objects and furniture that inhabit it have a story to tell, a past life. Some belonged to Hortense. In the entrance hall which leads to a large living room, very bright and overlooking a small garden out of sight, sits his old radio set. We can see her in a photo, camping, reading a letter a neighbor had written to her and finding out her date of birth, November 8, 1924 on her elementary school diploma. This evocation-homage makes this unknown lady suddenly very familiar. We also wanted to meet her.
In Hortense’s house, many other objects of affection have found their place in a subtle mix of genres between contemporary and old, present and time travel. Some spaces are composed like paintings and decoration, very studied, put in situation finds from the past, trinkets and unique pieces, sometimes diverted from their original function. In the living room-veranda, for example, a former woodworker has abandoned the spools of thread to accommodate flowers or potted plants.
Upstairs, two bedrooms have a private bathroom, one of which has found in a dressing table, an ideal support for a washbasin. Canvas and crocheted blanket do not stand out in this set which makes the other times very current and has fun with winks. “I carried out this house approach exclusively with furniture and pieces that I found, with the idea of extending their history but also in an ethical and sustainable way. I wanted to show that by taking a different look on the objects, you can imagine a warm place. In the garden it’s the same, I didn’t buy any shrubs or plants in the store. I preferred to make cuttings and give nature time”. Catherine Berthomieu has also set up a “flea market” corner where her guests can unearth small items that are easy to transport.
Open since July 2021, Hortense’s house does not only appeal to travellers. It also lends itself to professional and artistic meetings which find in its privileged setting an extra soul for their events. Since September, a club of women entrepreneurs, Douce Tribu, have been organizing a monthly meeting there. In May, this still somewhat secret address will host the opening of a photo exhibition. The story of Hortense’s new house is being written every day.
Johanna Decorse
Have to do
– Le Chameau sauvage: this independent generalist bookstore, open since November 2019, is also a cultural café which offers activities and workshops, in a very warm setting. Address: 43 avenue des Etats-Unis.- The AHPY workshop-boutique: Annette Hardouin, textile ennobler and stylist, presents at 89 rue du Caillou gris, in Les Minimes, clothes and accessories dyed by hand in pastel blue. These unique models are made in natural fabrics. Information: 05 62 79 17 91. Practice: La Maison d’Hortense, 4 ears Gîtes de France in Toulouse. To book: Haute-Garonne Tourisme Reservation, 14 rue Bayard in Toulouse. Contact: 05 61 99 44 10 (ask Alix) or [email protected]. Tourist information: hautegaronnetourisme.comTopo Guide Via Garona-GR861 offered for any reservation made within 48 hours of publication.