Andrew Skipper Chateau Life

25/01/2023

The corner of a bedroom at Chateau Chenonceau.

04/09/2022

On a beautiful day, we walk through the gardens at Bolehyde Manor, a 17th century house in Wiltshire. Just as we enter one of the walled gardens, my friend who lives nearby tells me about how Andrew & Camilla Parker Bowles used to live hear, and Prince Charles courted Princess Diana in these very gardens. If these walls could talk…

20/11/2021

The walls of Queen Catherine de Medici’s bedroom at Chateau Chenonceau are covered with intricate tapestries, and over hung with Renaissance paintings by the masters. This chateau previously belonged to the King’s mistress, but upon his death, the Queen swiftly took possession of it. Thus began a time of changes and additions to the castle & grounds.

27/10/2021

26/09/2021

We’ve just left Virgo season and have now entered the seventh sign of the Zodiac, Libra (an air sign). This month long time is said to bring balance & harmony with a focus on beauty. Here, signs of the Zodiac adorn the ceiling at Versailles.

12/09/2021

An enchanting moment… On an ideal autumn day in France, I turned the corner into an allee of trees to find a classical stone busy resting atop a column, perfectly tucked into a nook in the hedge. It was a visceral moment filled with magic; the type of thing one hopes to discover.

20/08/2021

The magical towers of Chateau de Chambord.

15/08/2021

The stuff of fairytales. Schloss Neuschwanstein is nestled in the Bavarian Alps, boasting breathtaking views and impressive architecture. However the interiors are somewhat cold and impersonal, in my opinion. Nonetheless it was certainly a highlight of a trip I took with my friends Scott & Jennifer . We spent a lovely time touring castles, eating schnitzel and drinking beer, and enjoying Bavaria.

27/07/2021

One of a pair of Sphinxes at Chateau Chenonceau, standing guard at the main alley as you enter. The Sphinx is a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It is said to have set riddles for travelers, and kill those who get them wrong.

18/07/2021

A rather tired looking passage at the Villa Borghese in Rome. Leading from a brick drive to one of the many gardens, we came upon the open gate and a wheelbarrow sitting just outside it. Even, dare I say, most especially grand estates require regular maintenance. Nothing lasts forever… isn’t this forgotten spot just dreamy?

07/04/2021

Lucknam Park has a certain magic about it. Perhaps it’s the centuries of history at this place that make one feel ancestral voices calling. My friends & colleagues Gail and Toma took me here while staying in the nearby village of Colerne. Since the 13th century, a house has stood on these grounds, albeit a much humbler farm house in those days. The current house, now a luxury hotel & spa, has been added onto, altered, and updated, as many English country houses have been over the years. To me, this gives it a charm and intrigue. Rambling rooms, additions, out buildings, and walled gardens all make for a magical experience.

02/04/2021

Spring time at the Moorish Kiosk on the grounds of Linderhof Palace, nestled in the Bavarian Apls.

01/04/2021

Elements from the past... they stir something within us.

07/02/2021

It’s so bitter cold today, I find myself wanting to stay in bed! I loved the dark and moody atmosphere of this bedroom at Chateau Chenonceau. It’s like something out of a fairy tale...

06/02/2021

The chapel of Saint Hubert, built in 1493, sits within the stone fortifications surrounding the property of the Chateau d’Amboise. King Francis I was raised at Amboise, which had belonged to his mother, Louise of Savoy. In December of 1515, Leonardo da Vinci came to the chateau as a guest of the King. Four years later, da Vinci died and was buried nearby in the chapel of St. Florentin, which was subsequently destroyed in the late 18th century. Amid excavations some 60 years later, the remains of Leonardo da Vinci were discovered and are said to have been moved to this chapel behind me. If you look closely, you can see four stag heads protruding from the spire, watching over Amboise.

05/02/2021

High atop the town of Amboise lie the gardens of La Chateau d’Amboise. Rich and luscious greenery trimmed into topiaries and formal boxwood gardens set the tone for a traditional landscape which overlooks the surrounding town down below.

01/02/2021

Craftsmanship is the quality that comes from creating something with passion and skill. Just look at the rope detail in this mantle! It took my breath away when I turned the corner and entered this room at Chateau d’Amboise.

01/02/2021

When my friend told me we were going to have tea at Bolehyde Manor, I must admit that I had no idea the allure that this should have stirred in me. Any property with a 700 year old history is naturally intriguing, but Bolehyde happens to be the former home of the Duchess of Cornwall while she was still Camilla Parker Bowles and married to her first husband, Andrew. The main structure is essentially a medieval house greatly expanded in the 17th century, with several additions made since then. Surrounding the house are magnificent grounds; a veritable succession of secret gardens, one leading to the other. Of course, it also boasts a moat, swimming pool, and tennis court. To me, it was everything the Cotswolds promised. Tamed grandeur, charm, connection to nature, and quintessentially English.

30/01/2021

The Moorish Kiosk was originally created for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1867. King Ludwig bought it and had it placed on the grounds of Schloss Linderhof, nestled in the Bavarian Alps. Here he read and drank tea while servants appropriately dressed in Oriental costumes and smoking narghiles lent an added touch of authenticity.

23/01/2021

It was a beautiful day for slowly meandering through Versailles and it’s grounds. We let the tourists rush through, snapping pictures and chattering in various languages. But we reveled in the stolen moments when we were left alone, somehow feeling that we were at home...with each other and with the place itself. A ménage a trois that satisfied all parties involved...

30/10/2020

Formal gardens are always intriguing to me. It’s the taming of wild plants like ivy and boxwoods that create a sense of order in areas near a house. If not maintained, these plants can take over a garden and even structures! But if carefully pruned and cared for, they enhance the overall atmosphere and lend a sense of magic to a garden.

28/10/2020

Symmetry, order, and classical style set against the rugged and wild backdrop of the Bavarian Alps. The creation of God and man flirting with each other to achieve an overall effect of inspiration which stimulates the imagination to no end. What could be more thrilling, more enticing?

26/10/2020

The Venus temple on the grounds of Schloss Linderhof nestled in the Bavarian Alps. Venus is a Roman goddess whose functions encompasses love, beauty, desire, s*x, fertility, prosperity, and victory. This temple sits atop the the terraces opposite the palace on the slope known as Linderbichl.

21/10/2020

As we walk the grounds of the magical Chateau de Chenonceau, we stumble upon a folly in the forest. A folly is simply a structure designed for decoration with no other purpose than to add a touch of whimsy or extravagance to the surrounding landscape. What a wonderful thing!

16/10/2020

While the rooms at Versailles are certainly grand, there are elements we can take away and adapt for use in our own humble abodes. The enveloping effect of patterns, yards of sumptuous fabric creating a cocoon like atmosphere, and the use of fine art like oil paintings are all things to consider when creating your own bedroom oasis.

14/10/2020

Espalier- an ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame. Such is what I found when visiting my friend Simon at his home, Chateau de Deulin in Belgium. To the north of the chateau, there is a formal walled garden dating back to the 18th century where espaliers still grow. It is said that this technique began with the ancient Romans. In more recent times, style icons such as Bunny Mellon had an affection for it. In fact, the late Mrs. Mellon commissioned a brooch to be made by Duke Fulco di Verdura in the likeness of an espalier apple tree she had on her estate (scroll to see). Inspiration can be found everywhere!

14/10/2020

On a brisk autumn day, we climb the centuries old stairs that lead to the Château d’Amboise. The castle is like a fortress, built high on a spur above the River Loire and the city. Dating back to the 11th century, the castle has undergone much change. As we climb higher and eventually arrive at the doors to the chateau, I think what it must have been like to live here. King Francois I grew up here. I wonder if he used to come in from the cold and warm himself near the massive fireplace in the great hall. Luckily we are ushered into this same hall and find a roaring fire. To walk in the footsteps of kings... what an amazing experience!

01/10/2020

It was a beautiful autumn day at Versailles, and we’d just finished touring the palace when we decided it was time for luncheon. I settled for some chicken dish at Angelina’s and I can’t remember what Arnaud ordered, but I do recall sharing a small dessert. He not only had his driver pick me up, he also was keen to play tour guide for the day. I swear I have the best friends... I wish we lived closer together! Once finished, we made our way out to the garden and eventually to the Grand Trianon, with its beautiful vestibule framing views of the grounds in between pink marble pillars. The afternoon was slipping into evening and we had no time to waste if we wanted to see the Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s special village before the car was to fetch us in front of the palace. But when we passed through to the family drawing room, I had to catch my breath. The light was so beautiful in this room, peering in through the impossibly high butter yellow drapes. I thought to myself, “Is this where Nancy Lancaster got her inspiration for the famous drawing room on Brook Street in London?” There truly is nothing new under the sun, or shall we say the Sun King!

09/08/2020

There is a charming town called Durbuy, nestled in the hills in the province of Luxembourg in the Wallonia region in Belgium. Durbuy is, in fact, the smallest town in Belgium. On a buying trip for we stayed at an hotel in the shadow of the Château de Durbuy which dates back to the 17th century and was built on the ruins of the former castle that was first built in 889 AD. Over the centuries the castle was destroyed many times, but each time it was restored or rebuilt. Since 1756, the castle has been privately owned and occupied. It is one of the few castles in the Ardennes that does not allow visitors and is not available to rent for events.

02/08/2020

A view of the beautiful formal gardens from the roof of Chateau de Chambord.