Décor inspiration with Justine Colnenne
After 10 years of frequent moves, Justine and her husband decided to return to their native Lorraine, the land where they met and where their families live. They set their sights on a house in a hilltop village with an incredible view. This former military building had been renovated and divided into several homes. The icing on the cake: their new home is nestled in a forest where the wind gently rustles through the trees.
Refined softness
On her Instagram account, Justine shares many snapshots of her home and family life. Among the main characters are Paul, aged 5, and Côme, aged 6 months. The family embarked on a lengthy renovation project to turn it into their dream haven. "I'm a homebody by nature. I like my home to be pared back, but full of life," Justine tells us.
She has chosen a very gentle atmosphere, with white as the main canvas. Her recipe? Light walls paired with floors painted white or green, or left in their original pale wood. This harmony is enhanced by the addition of textiles in natural materials, such as rugs. As you will have gathered, the colour palette is deliberately limited. Touches of green or blue appear here and there, along with graphic wallpaper.
Children's bedrooms
When asked how she designed her children's bedroom, Justine shares her tips: "My eldest Paul is starting to accumulate a lot of ugly toys… I immediately thought about storage! His bed is custom-made, with drawers to hide the clutter. They let us tidy his room in a matter of seconds. The walls are white and beige to let his imagination run free and not stay locked into one single world. At 5, you love so many things, especially my curious Paul."
For her baby's room, Justine drew inspiration from the bedroom's view overlooking the forest. "I chose a beautiful wallpaper, wood, animals, soft toys, lovely Olli Ella pieces and above all a magnificent Charlie Crane bed." Justine plans ahead and recycles her furniture: "His old vintage wardrobe used to belong to his brother. For the changing area, I opted for a Charlie Crane wall-mounted changing table and some storage units." That way, as he grows, Côme will be able to access his toys freely.
A serene retreat
As you may have guessed, Justine is not fond of excess or visible clutter. "I'm not obsessive, but I like everything to be hidden away. It saves me a certain mental load." And when you have two children, that visual load builds up quickly. Once again, she shares her tips. "When it comes to décor, you have to listen to yourself and not necessarily follow trends. Not spreading yourself too thin also helps avoid an overly busy look, as does good storage."
Justine's tip for a neutral bookshelf: store books spine-in.
Photo: @justine_cln
Our advice? Head over to Justine's account to discover the rest of her home.
The Charlie Crane team
