January 9, 2026 | TRAVEL
TWO LANDSCAPES, ONE VISION
VELVET HOUSE
words Onur Baştürk
photos Portrait - Yvan Moreau, Houses - Michael De Pasquale + Martina Maffini
Velvet House is a growing collection of rental homes in France, quietly hidden within nature. Each house is designed as the kind of place one might dream of owning—secluded, thoughtfully composed, and far removed from everyday noise. There are no neighbours, no distractions; just space to live and rest. The idea behind Velvet House is rooted in a personal memory. Founder Gaspard Konrad traces it back to the summers of his childhood: “Every summer, we left Paris for the Atlantic coast, to a house overlooking the ocean, lost among the dunes of Saint-Girons beach. It wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything—waves, silence, the scent of pine trees, an endless horizon. That’s where I learned to surf, to slow down, and to feel truly alive. That house shaped me.”
With Velvet House, Konrad wanted to create places where others could feel what he once felt. To translate this vision into space, he collaborated with Label Experience, the Paris-based global design agency led by CEO and Creative Director Sophie Darrière.
Today, Velvet House homes are set within two distinct natural landscapes: the Vaudoué house, at the edge of the Fontainebleau Forest, and the Anneville house, located along the Seine River in Normandy. While each responds differently to its setting, both are conceived as characterful, soulful retreats, deeply connected to their surroundings.
Here, Sophie Darrière shares her perspective on the spirit of Velvet House and the design thinking behind these quietly immersive homes.
WHERE IT BEGAN
How did your path cross with Velvet House? When the first house was proposed, did you imagine it would grow into a long-term collaboration?
Our collaboration with Velvet House began with a meeting with Gaspard Konrad, an entrepreneur deeply passionate about creating a collection of unique houses immersed in nature. The project started at a very early stage, and we visited several locations together. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of designing the first two houses, and we hope this shared adventure will continue with future projects.
What was the initial idea or emotion that shaped the Vaudoué house? How did its position at the edge of Fontainebleau Forest guide the early design intent?
The founding idea was the sensation of being nestled within the forest, almost like an old forest keeper’s house. Its position at the edge of Fontainebleau Forest dictated everything: the notion of a secluded refuge, deeply and authentically connected to the surrounding landscape.
WE WANTED TO CREATE A PREMIUM HOUSE
Holistic design, craftsmanship and environmental sensitivity are core to Label Experience. How did these principles take form in the Velvet House homes?
Our holistic approach is first expressed through the direct relationship between interior and exterior. Windows frame the landscape and invite nature into the house, creating a comfortable and warm cocoon that never feels cluttered. Inside, materials echo the environment: weathered wood, natural leather, textured stone and dark metal. A subtle balance is established between vintage pieces and custom-designed furniture. The living areas, widely open to the landscape, embody this approach—a place anchored in its site that breathes with its surroundings.
BALANCING RURAL AND CONTEMPORARY
Velvet House brings hotel-level comfort into a countryside retreat. How did you balance rural character with a contemporary sensibility, and what atmosphere were you aiming to create?
We wanted to create a premium house without ever drifting into something smooth or impersonal. The inclusion of vintage furniture adds soul and a sense of narrative. We worked carefully with materials, volumes and visual openings so the house could fade into the landscape and fully absorb it. The aim was a seamless balance between the rural character of the site and a contemporary sensibility.
Which elements most strongly shape the atmosphere—light, materials or landscape? Where do you feel the soul of these homes resides?
Light, materials and, above all, the presence of nature play a defining role. Yet the soul of the house lies in its contemporary interpretation of a forest keeper’s home: a place of silence, welcome and sharing—a refuge where memories can genuinely take shape.
TWO LANSCAPES, ONE IDEA
Anneville is the second chapter of your work with Velvet House. What connects the two projects, and what did Anneville allow you to explore differently?
While the Vaudoué house is nestled within forested hills, Anneville opens onto a serene pond and a horizontal, water-oriented landscape. The two projects are connected by a strong relationship to nature, which is the guiding thread of the Velvet House concept: authenticity, comfort, timeless elegance and harmony with the environment.
Though not a hotel, Velvet House aims to offer hotel-style comfort. How did guest experience guide your design decisions?
Every detail was conceived to offer the level of comfort expected from an exceptional hotel house, while preserving a sense of domestic warmth. The objective was to create places that feel premium yet deeply human, allowing each guest to enjoy a secluded and memorable experience.
A NEW IDEA OF LUXURY
How do these homes reflect your studio’s vision for hospitality? And where do you see the future of luxury retreats heading?
For us, true luxury today lies in premium yet warm environments—spaces that offer genuine privacy, silence and a privileged relationship with nature. Refuges that enable a deep disconnection from everyday life. This is the vision of hospitality we pursue within Velvet House: sensitive, understated and rooted in experience.
