Villa Albertine

Adrien and Marie have transformed an old blacksmith's workshop tucked away at the end of a courtyard overlooking Barbizon's main street into a haven that is both perfectly eco-friendly and stylish. Starting out as complete amateurs and novices, they went as far as they possibly could, and it's fair to say they really pushed the boundaries. Insulation? Hemp. Paint? Natural and solvent-free. Rainwater? Collected for the garden and toilets. Household products? Organic, of course. The sofa? Togo, what else? Everything here has been custom-designed, including the beautifully curved staircase, and they have been very inspired. They have also set up a concierge service offering a private chef, Pilates or yoga classes, guided forest hikes, meditation workshops, mushroom hunting for children... Here too, they have gone above and beyond. What else? Fontainebleau-based Michelin-starred chef Kunihisa Goto (L'Axel) is setting up a pastry shop in one of the buildings bordering the courtyard...