The joisted ceiling and supporting structure shown on the right is entirely ‘new’, constructed from re-used timbers obtained from a French demolition yard. Recycling old building materials is a tradition that stretches back centuries. In Greece today, it is common to see perfectly finished masonry blocks, as well as more decorative fragments, that have clearly been quarried from classical monuments. In England, there has been a long tradition of reclaiming timbers from demolition, or the breaking-up of wooden vessels in the Royal Dockyards. Re-used timbers can usually be identified by unrelated mortises and non-matching joint reference numerals.

Where French country houses retain original features, these will remain untouched. In others, however, reclaimed materials need to be introduced to create an authentic French rustic feel. 

French vernacular architecture of the south is usually associated with the region of Provence, with its vibrant Mediterranean colours, rustic furniture, courtyards and vines. Most importantly, though, it is an informal style of design and decoration which seems to have come together naturally over time in response to the landscape and climate. Rustic French interiors comprised of wood and stone give a feeling of warmth and earthy charm, with stone floors, timbered ceilings, weathered shutters and not least, the creaking hinges of the ornate front door.