Three dreamy Provençal houses that will make you want to move to the South of France
The region of Provence in the South of France has long been a destination both for the French and for foreigners, who are quickly enchanted by its glittering seas, dramatic mountains, and fields filled with vines and lavender. A region of varied landscapes, from the glamorous beaches of the Côte d'Azur to the hills of the Luberon and the marshes of the Camargue, Provence is one of those places that has you dreaming of buying a house there on your first holiday. There have been many houses on the pages of House & Garden with such a story behind them, and they always inspire us with a sense of covetousness. We've picked three of our favourites, sure to push you over the edge if you're dreaming of a future filled with Provençal summers.
Richard Powers1/11A stone house set in the lavender fields of the Luberon
Driving towards a pretty house of buttery Provençal stone encircled by lavender fields, it is easy to see why its English owners fell for it. Though it had beautiful views over the valley, the house itself was neglected, and it took three and a half years of restoration to bring it back to life.
Richard Powers2/11The most pleasing discovery was in the entrance hall, where the ceiling was plasterboard. The architect Hugues Bose, suspecting that things were not quite as they should be, poked his finger through the gypsum to reveal a series of elegant vaulted arches.
Richard Powers3/11Lanterns bought at the Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair hang in the flower room.
Richard Powers4/11Rather than fight the architecture, the owners and designers have let it sing. The walls tend not to be hung with art; the furniture is chic yet simple; and the colour palette is understated.
Luke White6/11A 65-acre pear farm on an island in the Rhône River
In her book 'Provence Style', Shauna Varvel explains how her own house in Provence, Le Mas des Poiriers, came to be the beautiful, beloved family house it now is. “The first time I visited Provence it was clear it was going to be a life-long love affair. As I watched the burnt orange sunset melt through to pale violet, I appreciated the fascination this beautiful region held for Van Gogh, Cézanne and Matisse." The kitchen was based on the one at La Mirande in Avignon, where Shauna used to stay while the house was being renovated.
Luke White7/11"Drawing on the European heritage of faience, it was a joy to have Susan Bednar Long help me create a wall-mounted display of blue-and-white antique Delft plates in the dining room, sourced over time from various dealers at the Paris markets."
Simon Upton9/11A generous village house transformed by Lucy Hammond Giles
‘We were young and rather impetuous. When this property came up for sale, we thought, ‘‘Why not?’’,’ says the now former owner of this large and handsome house in Provence. ‘I had spent two summers renting the neighbouring property with my husband and two daughters, and I loved the fact that it was in a residential – not a tourist – village, with a market and shops that were open all year round.’ She called in our Interior Designer of the Year, Lucy Hammond Giles of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, to create a thoughtful and unusual interior.
Simon Upton10/11An arresting mural of folding stripes by the decorative painter Lin Connor runs through the hallways of the house. ‘I brought some images of Bedouin tents to show my client, which are what inspired the design,’ explains Lucy.
Simon Upton11/11An Art Deco-influenced mural in the petit salon, also by Lin, was inspired by an image of an early-20th-century Hungarian café Lucy had seen in a magazine. ‘The plaster and timber-striped ceiling felt very heavy in contrast with the white walls,’ Lucy remembers. ‘I wanted to bring some of the outside in.
