On the journal with Araceli
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your beautiful lifestyle….
I was born in Spain, but i’ve been living in France for 9 years now. I first lived in Paris and I moved to the south of France, in Montpellier, two and a half years ago. I studied interior design in Madrid and worked in this field in Paris. My husband Pierre and I decided to launch our own project when we moved to Montpellier. More than a professional path, we chose to have a sort of makeover, Doux Août is actually a whole life changing project. We wanted to get closer to nature, to add meaning to our day-to-day life and to work in something that both inspire made sense to us.
I would love for you to take us on a journey on creating Doux Aout and what inspired you to start this divine adventure?
It all started with a trip, in Colombia to be precise. We traveled there and out of nowhere we decided to start imagining how we could develop a professional project that would include us both, and fit our life goal. We dreamed for two weeks and when we can go back to our Parisian life the choice was made. We took one more year to organize and think through our project, and in June 2018 we took the step. Pierre and I have always been passionate about the old pieces, we always loved the idea of mixing vintage and contemporary furniture, feeling the history through a decoration set is priceless to us. Our approach is always unique, as we compose our sets with unique (or rare) pieces that fit our clients needs and aspirations.
Please share with us your favourite places to visit in Montpellier…..
We have the chance to live in the center of a beautiful city, Montpellier. The old buildings are very well conserved, and we truly feel the history through their stones. The city is also very dynamic, and full with little squares very nice to stop by to have coffee. We love to walk around the magnificent botanic garden, going to the beach by bike, or to escape from the city and explore the beautiful country yards that the region has to offer, such as the Salagou Lake and its red volcanic stones for example.
What inspires you?
I try to stay as curious and open minded as possible. I don’t know if you can really ‘look for '' inspiration. I try to let it come to me. It can be from books, like Toledo Olvidado, an edition that enlightens old photos of my home town, as well as the lifestyle in those times. I also like to observe movies from an esthetic point of view. Movies like the blow-up from Director Michelangelo Antonioni really forged my artistic tastes I guess. Nevertheless, i think i find most inspiration in my day to day life, wandering the streets of Sevilla, Ronda, or Vejer de la Frontera in Andalusia when i have the opportunity to go, or even in the french mediterranean countrysides, where there are some abandoned castles that really let your imagination go wild.
Where are your favourite places to explore?
I really think it is totally complementary to both explore new places and explore deeper the places you already know. When i was in Paris i loved to go to the Bourdelle Museum and to Brancusi’s Studio, I always found something new each time. For the same reason I absolutely need to come back as much as I can to my roots, my grandmother's house in a small village in the Mancha’s countryside. On the face of it’s a place like many others, but when you look closer, you see the history, the lime walls, the old ceramics, it’s a universe I feel great in. Of course I love to travel as well, to discover new places, new energies, new ways of life. I always look for places with history, heritage, and have a thing for decadent buildings, peeling walls or paintings… I’d love to go to Sicilia for example, I love to go the Cabo de Gata in Andalusia, or Mallorca. We also love Tanger and the white lime villages in Morocco. There are always some exceptions, but I try to stay around the mediterranean sea, because it has so much to offer.
With Love, Araceli @douxaout x
ARACELI WEARS
—
