The Italian Riviera style boasts columned houses, a succession of pools on different levels and curved terraces, the blue line of the distant sea, straight cypress trees, and yellow ochre façades like those in Nice and Menton. Villa Marie makes excellent use of its exceptional location nestled in the pine forest with unobstructed sea views.

"When we took over the hotel in the late 1960s there was no defined style. But there was an incredible location and funny curved pool so typical of the time", says Jocelyne Sibuet. “We traveled as far as Italy and saw the yellow ochre façades, the Palladian columns, the pools, the round terraces, and the opulence of gardens found on the Italian Riviera. The inspired us to revamp the veranda in a greenhouse style using black and white with splashes of coral. We also preserved or replaced the mosaic floor tiling and painted the façade ochre. The living room is in mandarin orange with large, inviting Baroque armchairs. And every bedroom is different.”

Nature is very present along the Mediterranean coast. Its sounds and aromas are part of the setting. Try to find a “home fragrance”, a candle or scent that will always conjure up the image of the house. Think about the beautiful sound of a fountain, or the southern winds blowing through the pines. Decorating means telling a story.

La panoplie du style Méditerranéen

The façades in this style feature the palette of yellow and pink ochres seen on the houses along the coasts of Nice, Genoa, Menton and Bordighera. The twisted iron furniture on the terraces are typical of the 1960s Riviera Style, beautifully reinterpreted by today’s designers. The floor is crafted in stone or patterned orange tiles. Stone is the cornerstone of this style (just like wood in the mountains). The walls are adorned with deep colors such as mandarin and cobalt blue, and hung with a blend of contemporary and Baroque artwork.

The fabrics are sophisticated with a raw aesthetic, such as wild silk, thick linen, hemp, and woven raffia. Meanwhile, joyfully colorful Vallauris ceramics, succulent plants and potted all create a jungle in the veranda.