Villa Méditerranée

For this villa built in the early 19th century on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean, the story begins with a meeting with the owners who had acquired the 450 sq meter villa and its grounds 25 years earlier.

Nestled in a grove with almost 600 olive trees, the villa is sheltered from prying eyes, but at the same time enjoys exceptional sea views.

The design began by Barnes immersing himself in the spirit of the place: a Provençal house covered in lime chalk, surrounded by dense Mediterranean vegetation. The aim was not to create a faux Provençal style, but rather an authentic one. Elliott did not want to impose a contemporary style, but rather seeks to reveal a perfect marriage between the ancient and the modern. "The result must reflect the character of the occupants and the vernacular quality of the villa and the site. The result is a subtle intervention, where the quality of the materials sets the tone for a quiet, soothing elegance.

The spaces remain fluid, and the boundaries between rooms seem to disappear thanks to the unity and simplicity of the color palette used. Occasionally, a piece of hill rock can be glimpsed embedded in a partition, like a tribute to the surrounding nature. Barnes covers the walls with traditional lime chalk to preserve the Provencal soul of the spaces. When the floor is in stone, he uses a darker paint color to create a baseboard, a detail from the Provençal architectural language

The kitchen plays an important role where entertaining is a must. It respects traditional codes, with a large central table and an old-fashioned gas stove. The exposed ceiling framework has been totally re-imagined. The adjoining dining room is deliberately uncluttered, highlighting the solid oak furniture designed by the Barnes.

The time spent studying the villa and the region to liberate the home’s soul, the character of the occupants and the spirit of the place, and the quality of the materials used, makes you want to spend time there.