Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty

Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty celebrates inspiring wabi sabi wonder and transports our souls to atmospheric calm. What is it about undressed (déshabillé) walls that enchant lovers of Old World style? Maybe they charm because romantics are wired for stories. Peeling, timeworn, decaying finishes most certainly have a tale to tell in whispers.

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
Chateau de Gudanes – Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and also soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

These walls show their age without apology, without fuss. They continue to do their work as shelter even as they transcend the ordinary with sensual texture and interesting layers.

Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely
Photo: Belgian Pearls – Orangerie at Axel Vervoordt’s Castle of ‘s-Gravenwezel in Belgium. Greet’s photo above makes me feel so much more satisfied with my own fan top living room windows which look very much like Vervoordt’s above!

Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty

You may recognize many of my favorite inspiring images of weathered walls in their natural state from Chateau de Gudanes…which now offers a book we can buy HERE!

French windows open in a decaying room of Chateau Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #walls #distressed #chateaugudanes #windows #oldworld
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

Inspiring Quotes With a Déshabillé Backdrop

I couldn’t resist creating a few quotes to pin in the spirit of beautiful things which have fallen apart.

Inspirational quote from Pema Chodron.
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When the Wall Finish Only Appears to Be Ancient!

Image description
Segreto Finishes.
Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. Distressed wall treatment by Segreto Finishes. #oldworld #walls #distressed #european #segreto
Photo: Segreto Finishes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

Lovely Tumbledown Wisdom

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron.

Old World Style Distressed Walls

Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. A distressed wall in lovely shades of stone, putty, and wam grey. #walls #distressed #mottled #elegant #oldworld
Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Inspirational quote from Pema Chodron.
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Mustard wall color in stairway of French Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #walls #distressed #staircase #chateau #French #oldworld
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

Getting the Look

Domingue Finishes (who partnered with master Eddy Dankers) creates beautiful lime wash, plaster, mineral paint, and architectural finishes for walls I want to touch and spend time with. The firm uses terms like ‘nuanced,’ ‘purity,’ and ‘natural dignity’ to describe their vision and passion for such timeless finishes, and the work glows with luminosity.

Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.
Domingue Finishes.

Peely Painted Surfaces

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 de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Inspirational quote from N. R. Hart.
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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 de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Stripped wallpaper and weathered walls of magnificent staircase of decaying Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #staircase #walls #distressed #oldworld #chateau #french
Chateau de Gudanes.

Tone on Tone Palette Inspiration

Inspirational quote from Pema Chodron.

Layers of Paint & Wallpaper Revealed

When ‘Under Renovation’ is Beautiful

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. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
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
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Inspirational quote from Rumi.
Crumbling staircase in Chateau Gudanes with crystal chandelier and decaying, weathered walls. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #staircase #chandelier #walls #weathered #oldworld
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Decaying walls and distress in a bathroom at Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #renovation #walls #weathered #distress #windows
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

Sunset Pink + Decay

Inspirational quote from Pema Chodron.

Weathered Walls + Weathered Doors and Windows

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
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
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. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Chateau de Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #yellow #walls #distressed
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.

Walls With Years of Neglect

Beautifully aged and decaying walls within the French Chateau Gudanes. Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Lovely. #French #chateau #walls #weathered #serene
Chateau de Gudanes. Imperfect Lovely, Weathered Walls & Déshabillé Beauty from lovely rooms to inspire and soothe your soul. Interior design inspiration: Old World style and romantic interiors as well as uncommonly serene spaces.
Inspirational quote from Pema Chodron.

Go Inside a Chateau With Crumbling Walls

p.s. Enjoy 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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6 Comments

  1. Connie
    May 26, 2019 / 9:46 am

    I adore looking at the weathered imperfect walls for the stories they can tell.

    What were they in their original state? How many layers of paint or paper are showing their last vestiges of their former, and most likely, glorious life? How many times of undesired rain came through the roof or an open window, leaving its mark for generations to see….someday? How many times did champagne, opened to celebrate a lovely occasion, accidentally spray out onto the walls as family and friends laughed and rejoiced?

    Oh the stories the walls tell to those of us who have come beyond the walls beginnings! But would I want to live in an entire home with walls that are more than just peeling paint, cracking plaster, hiding damage underneath yet to be discovered? Alas no.

    For me these walls are a living museum to be enjoyed for their stories, their history, and yes, even the quiet way the walls may be saying “Why did you leave me to the elements of time, to decay and fall? Keep part of me visible to all eyes, for what I can show you, what I may tell you. But restore me, please. I was once new and beautiful and lovely, the height of fashion!”

    😉

    • Michele
      Author
      May 26, 2019 / 5:09 pm

      Gorgeous reflections, Connie. I especially like the reference to bubbly making its mark and baptizing beautiful weathered walls. I’m curious about them too, but I am longing for pristine new plaster walls! xox

      • Connie
        May 27, 2019 / 1:32 pm

        Yes, new plaster walls are quite a beautiful sight to behold. Though installing drywall is easier and faster, the charm of “craftsmanship” will never equal that of a plasterer who knows the craft well, after years and years of application.

        • Michele
          Author
          May 27, 2019 / 10:56 pm

          I like the method the Giannettis used for Patina Farm – a thin coat of plaster over drywall. It’s the only plastering I have done personally!

  2. May 27, 2019 / 8:03 am

    These walls are stunning works of art! They impart an old world feeling even when they’re brand new, a plaster like, long time ago quality that I love.

    • Michele
      Author
      May 27, 2019 / 10:47 am

      Truly! I would love to take a million photos of walls like these! 🙂

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White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
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