Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Inspiration

It’s very late as I type this, and the whole house is hushed. I’m one of those humans who thrives with a good measure of silence. For me, there is always the promise of healing there. These images evoke a sense of quiet as well.

Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely? There is something so enchanting about déshabillé walls (“undressed” walls), and whenever I spy an interior with them, I have to spend time with it. The age, the layers the incarnations, the mystique, the history, the decay, the texture, and the tumbledown lovely of it all. I remember my friend Greet posting inspiring examples of beautiful weathered walls years ago in this article on Belgian Pearls, including the photo below taken by her at Axel Vervoordt’s castle.

Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely

Photo: Greet Lefevre. Orangerie at Axel Vervoordt’s Castle of ‘s-Gravenwezel in Belgium.

(Her photo also makes me feel better about my living room’s windows which look very much like Vervoordt’s above!)

You may recall seeing beautiful weathered walls of the rundown Chateau Gudanes on this blog and all over Instagram. It’s a remarkable estate which is being gently restored. I am anxious to see how much of the decay remains at the Chateau!

These crumbling walls with their peely paint and mottled variation have me musing about unconventional beauty. Do they stir you as well?

How can something so ravaged by time, the elements, neglect, and abandonment somehow cast a lovely reflection? What does it mean to bear the soot, stains, and scars of yesterdays in such a vulnerable raw state today? Might the master Creator see and cherish the déshabillé layers of my human frailty in the same spirit as my admiration of these walls? Might we learn to better see beautiful layers and stories in each other? THESE WALLS HAVE BEEN TALKING TO MY SOUL, ALRIGHT. Perhaps, they speak to you too.

I hope you will find a few minutes to slow down, let your mind fall into your heart, and allow your soul to open up to something pure.

French windows open in a decaying room of Chateau Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #walls #distressed #chateaugudanes #windows #oldworld
Chateau Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely
 Pema Chodron quote: Things falling apart is also a kind of healing. #quote #pemachodron #healing
Meditative Quotes – Pema Chodron
Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. A distressed wall in lovely shades of stone, putty, and wam grey. #walls #distressed #mottled #elegant #oldworld
Mustard wall color in stairway of French Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #walls #distressed #staircase #chateau #French #oldworld
 Quote about the soul. Souls tend to go back to who feels like home. N. R. Hart.
A gorgeously weathered old door becomes a partition in a bedroom. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #NordicFrench #shabbychic #Scandinavian #farmhouse #weathered #doors #whitedecor
A naturally weathered door to my eyes is lovely distress. via
Chateau Gudanes weathered walls, door, and clawfoot tub in a state of distressed beauty. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely.#walls #distressed #weathered #oldworld #chateau #frenchchateau
Chateau Gudanes – Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely
"Be kinder to yourself and let your kindness flood the world" #quote #pemachodron #kindness
Pema Chodron Quote
Long hallway shot and room with stipped wallpaper and beautifully weathered walls in a state of distress in Chateau Gudanes. .Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #chateau #walls #distressed #weathered #oldworld #French
Chateau Gudanes
Inspiring quote about how everything belongs. Gloriousness and wretchedness need each other. Pema Chodron
Pema Chodron
Stripped wallpaper and weathered walls of magnificent staircase of decaying Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #staircase #walls #distressed #oldworld #chateau #french
Pema Chodron quote. You are the sky. Everything else - it's just the weather. #quote #pemachodron
 Pema Chodron quote. You must face annihilation over and over again to find what is indestructible in yourself.
Pema Chodron
Romantic French chateau with crumbling, distressed, weathered walls of paneling and exquisite architecture. Photography by Carla Coulson for Harper's Bazaar. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #oldworld #distressed #walls #weathered #decay #restoration
Unspeakable weathered romance.
Pema Chodron quote. Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself...
Oh that we might shift our consciousness to rearrange our fears.
Bold yellow and green in the crumbling distressed condition of Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #walls #distressed #weathered #yellow
Chateau de Gudanes
Pale and magnificent, these decaying weathered walls within Chateau de Gudanes have a distinctive shabby beauty all their own. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #walls #distress #weathered #grey
Crumbling staircase in Chateau Gudanes with crystal chandelier and decaying, weathered walls. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #staircase #chandelier #walls #weathered #oldworld
Decaying walls and distress in a bathroom at Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #renovation #walls #weathered #distress #windows
Blush pink inspiration flows from this weathered wall mural with a gorgeous feminine pale pink lower section. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #mural #walls #weathered #distressed #blushpink #oldworld #mottled #twotone
A mural!
Old world doors and magnificent stripped wallpaper and decaying walls within Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #doors #paneled #walls #distress #weathered #oldworld #wallpaper
Rumi quote. You've seen my descent. Now watch my rising.
This poet knows the way to my heart!
Inside the decaying Chateau de Gudanes are these moments of weathered bliss! Old world windows and French doors, distressed mottled walls and magnificent architecture with South of France countryside bliss right outdoors. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #chateau #French #decay #walls #weathered #windows #oldworld
Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #yellow #walls #distressed
Beautifully aged and decaying walls within the French Chateau Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #walls #weathered #serene

Sending you hope and wings for whatever state of transformation you find yourself…the best is yet to come!

p.s. see more weathered walls here.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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13 Comments

  1. Rena
    May 28, 2018 / 3:56 am

    beautiful…would never repaint those walls and the sayings are so true.

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 10:57 am

      Thank you for adding to the beauty right here with your truth. Peace to you.

  2. May 28, 2018 / 6:52 am

    What a life these walls could share….just the perfect visual treat on this Memorial Day weekend! Wishing you a beautiful day lovely friend and thank you for sharing such gorgeousness.

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 10:56 am

      We need a weekend to get away and together take photos of crumbling walls and such beautiful decay, yes? While such walls are not related to “utility,” surely they are blessed with a certain “sophistication,” yes? xox

  3. Sheila Morrow
    May 28, 2018 / 7:42 am

    Beautiful …. peaceful.
    Thanks

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 10:54 am

      Thanks for reading, friend. Peace to you this day. 🙂

  4. May 28, 2018 / 8:31 am

    Happy to see some of my walls on your site!!! One of the favorite rooms I have done! xo

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 10:54 am

      Your work is a continuing inspiration to us, and the walls you touch glow with much more than a beautiful finish. To my eyes, the walls become fine art, elevating the everyday and enriching the formation of memories. What a gem you are, Leslie. xox

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 11:20 am

      p.s. I am crediting the images now and recognize one of these toward top of post as your work but need help identifying any others! It was late last night when I was posting so I couldn’t get all the details in place. Please forgive! 🙂

  5. Gwen
    May 28, 2018 / 8:57 am

    Michele I can’t begin to tell you how deeply beautiful I found this post. Your writing, the photos, and the quotes. No need to add my words. Thank you!

    • michele
      Author
      May 28, 2018 / 10:49 am

      Thank you for blessing me with such kindness. What an honor to share lovely. 🙂

  6. May 28, 2018 / 4:35 pm

    These peeling, blistering, patina’d walls are so gorgeous! Thanks for sharing! As an artist, don’t you just want to paint something like that right now?

    • michele
      Author
      May 29, 2018 / 12:17 am

      Yes! They are abstract art for sure! I’m so inspired by the mainly neutral color palette! 🙂

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SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
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SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
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French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
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French Country Rattan Basket Set
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Rattan Basket With Lid
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Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
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White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing