12^th June 2026

French Living: A Q&A With Amanda Baker Of Shutters & Stone

words by Glyn Andrews

Amanda Baker is the creator behind Shutters & Stone, sharing her journey of renovating a characterful home in rural France while embracing a slower, more intentional way of living. Since relocating three years ago, Amanda has immersed herself in French country life, spending her days transforming her home and garden with her husband, exploring beautiful villages and châteaux, and uncovering unique vintage finds along the way.

We caught up with Amanda to talk about life in France, finding inspiration in everyday moments, and the story behind Shutters & Stone.

All photography featured in this article is courtesy of Shutters & Stone.

How would you define your signature style at Shutters & Stone, and how has living in France shaped and refined that aesthetic over time?

My signature style @Shutters_and_stone is a warm, authentic mix of slow country living and farmhouse interiors rooted in natural textures, patina-rich materials, and effortless seasonal beauty.

Blending the soul of a country cottage and the timeless grace of a French stone farmhouse with its weathered stone walls, soft gentle blue shutters, linen textures, vintage finds, and abundant garden elements like climbing roses, lavender, wisteria, hydrangeas and terracotta planters.

At its core here, the aesthetic feels lived-in and unpretentious: cosy yet refined, with a focus on tactile details. It’s cottagecore with sophistication: not overly styled or “perfect,” but deeply inviting, where every corner tells a story of slow mornings, garden harvests, and quiet evenings.

My interiors emphasise natural light, thoughtful but effortless styling (fresh flowers, ceramics, linens), and a deep connection to the outdoors, while gardens lean into romantic, structured-yet-wild planting with gravel paths, antique troughs, and that signature French charm.

Moving from the UK to the French countryside marked a pivotal evolution, the leap amplified the depth and authenticity of my style in several ways:

Material and architectural harmony: The abundance of historic stone farmhouses and traditional shutters in France reinforced and elevated the “Shutters & Stone” identity. What started as a more general country cottage look has become more specifically grounded in French rural elements, and that unmistakable patina that comes with age. My Instagram feed now leans heavily into these as both backdrop and inspiration, making the aesthetic feel more rooted and place-specific.

French countryside living has clearly refined our outdoor space with dreamy lavender-lined paths, olive trees, walled gardens, terracotta planters, and climbing vines add a Mediterranean softness and structure. Our gardens feels more expansive and integrated with the house - less manicured perfection, more seasonal, sensory romance (the scent of herbs, golden light on gravel, bees in the borders). This has shifted the overall vibe toward an even deeper “slow seasonal country living” ethos.

Lifestyle refinement - France has infused the aesthetic with a more pronounced sense of joie de vivre through simplicity: quiet mornings, golden-hour glow, house-sitting in beautiful old properties, and embracing the rhythm of the land.

Overall, living in France hasn’t radically changed my style but has matured and localised it. It moved from a beautiful UK country home aesthetic to one that fully embodies the dream of a stone farmhouse in the French countryside - more authentic, more textured, more connected to place, history, and the slow passage of seasons. The result is something deeply cohesive and aspirational: a modern take on timeless rural elegance that makes followers feel like they’re peeking into a genuinely lived, beautiful life.

It’s a style that whispers rather than shouts - comforting, romantic, and quietly luxurious in its simplicity. Slow moments; they’re what make Shutters & Stone so distinctive.

When starting a new room or project, how much is guided by your surroundings in France - the architecture, light, or landscape?

When starting a new project in our French home the surroundings aren’t just a backdrop, they actively shape the direction of a space from the very beginning.

The architecture of a home is usually the first anchor. Whether it’s old stone walls or rural timber beams, those elements come with a certain “voice.” So I usually let those features set the tone before introducing anything new.

Light is just as influential, and it changes everything. The softer, diffused light we get in many parts of our home naturally pushes me toward subtler palettes, textured materials, and finishes that respond well to shifting daylight. A room can feel completely different at 9am versus late afternoon, so I think about how it lives across the day, not just how it photographs.

The landscape here plays a quieter but important role. I like to echo those tones and textures inside, not in a literal way, but enough that the space feels grounded in its environment rather than detached from it.

So while each project always has its own identity, the surroundings here tend to guide the mood, the restraint, and the overall rhythm of my interior design.

In your experience, how can everyday spaces strike a balance between practicality and quiet, understated elegance?

It usually comes down to restraint and intention. Everyday spaces don’t need more - they need better choices.

Practicality starts with how the space is actually used. If the layout flows well, storage is considered, and materials are durable where they need to be, you’ve already created most of the design. When those fundamentals are right, the room feels effortless rather than overworked.

Quiet, understated elegance comes from what you leave out as much as what you include. Limiting the palette, repeating a few materials, and avoiding unnecessary contrast creates a sense of calm. Natural materials - wood, stone, linen - do a lot of that work on their own because they age well and don’t demand attention.

Details matter, but they don’t need to shout. The perfect balance happens when nothing feels like an afterthought - everything has a role, and nothing is trying too hard to be seen.

Are there particular materials, colours, or finishes you find yourself drawn to in France that now define your style?

Living in France has definitely refined my palette, but more through editing than adding. I’m consistently drawn to materials that feel honest and timeworn.

Stone is a big one—whether it’s pale limestone or something more rugged, it brings a quiet permanence to a space. The same goes for aged woods with visible grain and patina; they soften a room without feeling decorative.

Limewash and plaster finishes come up often too, because they hold light in a way that feels alive but never glossy.

Colour-wise, I tend to stay within a very restrained spectrum. Chalky whites, warm neutrals, muted earth tones—nothing too crisp or saturated. It’s less about a specific colour and more about how it sits in natural light throughout the day.

For finishes, I almost always gravitate toward matte or low-sheen. Anything too polished can feel out of place against older architecture, whereas a softer finish lets materials speak without competing.

What interior habits or approaches have you adopted from French living that you think others could embrace?

The main interior habit I've adopted here is learning to live with less - but better. French interiors often aren’t about constant updating; they evolve slowly. Pieces are chosen with care, kept for a long time, and allowed to age. That alone changes how a space feels - there’s more permanence, less noise.

There’s also a strong respect for the “bones” of a space. Instead of trying to transform everything, the approach is often to work with what’s already here by keeping original details, embracing imperfections, and letting those elements lead rather than covering them up.

Another habit is prioritising atmosphere over decoration. It’s less about filling a room and more about how it feels to spend time in it. That might mean softer lighting in the evening, fewer but more meaningful objects, and spaces that aren’t overly programmed.

Practicality is never sacrificed, but it’s handled quietly. Storage is integrated, materials are chosen to wear well, and layouts are considered so daily life runs smoothly without drawing attention to itself.

There’s a comfort in restraint. Not every wall needs something, not every corner needs to be styled. Leaving space visually and physically gives a room its sense of calm, and that’s something almost anyone could adopt without changing their entire aesthetic.

For someone looking to recreate a Shutters & Stone-inspired home, which key pieces or elements would you suggest investing in first?

For someone looking to recreate a Shutters & Stone-inspired home, the key, grounding pieces or elements I would you suggest investing in first are:

A sofa in linen or a similarly natural fabric which immediately sets the tone, soft, understated, and lived-in. Neutral upholstery keeps things calm while allowing light and texture to do the work which in turn aligns with the idea that fewer, higher-quality pieces create lasting appeal and visual calm rather than clutter.

Lamps which provide soft, warm, layered lighting that enhance texture rather than dominating the space. Lighting is often underestimated, but it’s what makes everything else work.

Rugs made of natural materials that add interesting texture and warmth to your space.

Wood and metal furniture pieces that add character, charm and useful storage - Timeless pieces that age rather than date!

This is essentially the core foundation of a space that is simple but tactile, calm and welcoming but not empty which you can then layer with your own vintage treasures and personal objects.

SHOP THE LOOK

FRENCH LIVING

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