The main house

A stone stoop leads to the main entrance on the façade with three vertical rows of openings. The joinery of the windows, fitted with Venetian shutters, and doors is painted in a gentle shade of blue, underlining the golden hues of the stone and the colour of the roofs made of local tiles.

The guests’ house

Once inside, it becomes evident that this dwelling acts as a counterpoint to the main residence, opening into a 25-m² lounge with a fireplace and carpeted floor. Next to the lounge, the 6-m² kitchen paved with hexagonal terracotta tiles opens onto the flowery courtyard through two wide French windows. A winding staircase covered in sea grass flooring climbs upstairs, where a bedroom painted in light yellow with exposed purlins boasts views of the catalpa tree. The adjacent bathroom has been installed in the former tower with a hipped roof, where the crossed beam roof frame is visible, as is the period half-timbering on the walls. It includes a bath, a lavatory, a washbasin and a shower. The white tiles blend into the underpinnings.

The artist’s studio

A north facing window allows light to generously stream into this 16-m² room and to remain constant, which is ideal for artistic activities. Adjacent to the main room are a shower, washbasin and a lavatory. The exposed beams, half-timbering and terracotta tiles provide a sober setting. Two adjoining outbuildings are used as storage space. They could be converted to form an extra bedroom when added to the surface of the studio.

The relaxation area

At the end of a paved path through the garden, an approximately 10-m² travertine stone patio dominates the residence and its flower beds. It leads to a vast, almost 60-m² room dedicated to well-being: an indoor pool with a counter-current system allows uninterrupted swimming, while in large pots there are exotic plants that thrive on the light and ambient humidity. One window runs alongside the pool, while through another light streams into the relaxation area, in which there is a sofa, a reading area and a shower. At the end of the room, a bullseye window looks down on the pool, covered with a mosaic of blue tiles that highlight the terracotta floor tiling and ochre-coloured walls. When the pool is full and the plants are installed, the whole area gives off the impression of a tropical greenhouse.

The landscaped garden

The garden is divided into four sequences of different levels as well as moods and makes up a veritable living décor. The focus of the first of these levels is the catalpa tree surrounded by cobbles. Stone is the dominant feature in this scene of cobbled paths, weathered steps and beds of pruned shrubs. Climbing roses, magnolias, irises and agapanthus punctuate this sober composition with nuances of purple and lavender blue, while daisies can also be found in between the cobbles. In the second picture, a few steps higher, a garden surrounded by a stone border boasts a colour palette ranging from white to violet, including touches of pale pink. A water tap and a cosy outside dining area are enveloped by the deep green of the foliage. Through a gate, the scene of the third section is freer in style. The path is lined with carefully chosen perennial plants and winds through a cornucopia of colours. In the background, a tall bamboo hedge underlines the verticality of the stone walls. Finally, through a larger gate, a last enclosed space opens out onto the rear façade of the house with a covered area and makes up the fourth canvas. A table stands opposite the fishpond, while eight olive trees form a protective arch and wisteria, climbing roses as well as aromatic plants colonise the low walls. The kitchen and dining room open directly onto this space, making it almost like an extra room for the property.