Leaving everything behind to embark on an adventure close to nature… That’s Marie and Philippe Lafarge’s plan.
We had the pleasure of meeting Philippe Lafarge, the co-founder and manager of Domaine le Verdier. He tells us about his background, how the project got started, and his collaboration with Kipli.
An Exclusive Interview with Philippe Lafarge
What is your professional background? "Marie and I both have over 20 years of corporate experience—Marie in customer service and I in HR. We met as college students in Paris back in the ’90s! Now, with three wonderful children and a little over 25 years later, we’re bringing this magnificent project—Domaine Le Verdier—to life."
Can you tell us the story behind Domaine Le Verdier? "When we found the Le Verdier property, we had already envisioned this project and outlined its details a little less than 10 years earlier. Our primary goal was to change our lives and start a business; we wanted to leave the city, build our own business, and welcome travelers and groups to a place we could shape according to our own vision, guided by our values and inspired by our experiences."
You could say that the place found us, since there was no advertising for the sale of this farmhouse. This was followed by nine months of construction for the first phase, which allowed us to move into Le Verdier, then four months to finish the bedrooms, and after a lockdown or two, we resumed work to complete the common area, starting in September 2021.
"We opened Le Verdier to the public in June 2022 for a yoga retreat—a full-scale trial—and officially in August 2022."
Can you tell us about the project and its values? The project involves welcoming travelers and groups for stays at Le Verdier and organizing private events in a venue steeped in history—a former farmhouse where we have restored and highlighted the traditional Cévennes architecture, with a strong focus on comfort (awarded a 4-épis rating in August 2022), all while showing the utmost respect for nature. It is, therefore, first and foremost an ecological, eco-responsible project. All our building materials were chosen to minimize the use of petroleum as much as possible. All our equipment and furnishings were carefully sourced from bio-based materials by us, etc.
We believe that tourism today should promote values such as respect for nature, environmental awareness, authenticity, and sharing—and that is exactly what our stays at Domaine Le Verdier offer.
At Le Verdier, we serve organic, local, and seasonal food; Marie is in charge, and everything is homemade. Here, time stands still; we live in tune with nature and celebrate life every day with our guests. What drives us is meeting people, connecting, and sharing—telling each other our life stories—we love it!
Our mission is simple (though complex to carry out): to ensure our guests have an unforgettable stay!
What makes this estate special? "The view—it feels like we're all alone in the world! Nature—we're completely immersed in it!"
What was the history of this place before? "A former farmhouse where chestnuts were harvested and chickpeas and melons were grown to sell at the market. Up to ⅘ families once lived in this small hamlet, which grew over time to accommodate the families’ needs. Before we arrived, a couple looked after the farmhouse and raised sheep, goats, and other animals. Le Verdier has had several incarnations. This will be the first time Le Verdier has served as a tourist destination, so we had to build everything from scratch.”
What are your plans for the future? "In the near future, we’ll continue our tourism project to create unique lodging options. We’ve been delayed by administrative issues, which has given us time to refine the project. The first ‘treehouse’ is scheduled for the summer (the timeline is tight), and then we’ll continue during the off-season."
An educational vegetable garden project is underway; the goal is to raise awareness among young children about permaculture, ecology, the taste of vegetables, etc.
"A larger-scale agricultural project is also in the works, aimed at restoring our chestnut grove to its former glory, etc."
If we had to choose three words to describe the estate, what would they be?“Sharing, Ecology & Nature, traditions and modernity!”
Kipli x Domaine le Verdier: Where Nature Meets Luxury
Why did you choose Kipli products to equip the estate? "Because they met our specifications better than the others in terms of:
- Environmentally friendly (minimally processed products, 100% natural latex, solid wood from sustainably managed forests, etc.),
- Designed for our guests' comfort (high-quality materials) and free of VOCs for a restful night's sleep.
"The sleep and rest experience at Le Verdier was also a major concern."
Tell us about the collaboration between Le Verdier and Kipli. "Our collaboration began in 2019, I believe—we were in the process of shopping for bedding for our bedrooms. That was when we first began to realize the importance of natural materials for a good night’s sleep. Kipli was a young company with a very clear focus on natural materials. After several conversations with one of the founders, we felt we could work well together—offering quality products at reasonable prices. We chose to work exclusively with Kipli for bed frames and mattresses; their offerings perfectly met our specifications, communication was easy, and they were flexible and attentive to our needs—what more could we ask for!"
What Kipli products can be found at the estate? "All of our box springs and mattresses are manufactured in Kipli’s own workshops, as are our pillows."
What is your favorite product, and why? "The 100% latex mattress, without a doubt—for its comfort, durability, and high-quality craftsmanship."
If we had to choose three words to describe Kipli, what would they be? "Service, quality, sustainability."
That’s also why we work with Kipli—we share the same values when it comes to serving our customers… and we’ve grown together 😉!
FIND THE DOMAINE LE VERDIER- Instagram: @leverdier_unptitcoindparadis