This listed Art Deco villa in the South of France has been restored to its former glory

Once the home of a French film star, this grand art deco villa with its striking pink facade in the south of France was the epitome of faded glory when bought by the present owners. They decided to seek the help of the experts who had helped with the house design of their London home, to restore the villa to its former glory.

That's where Georgina Cave, the creative director and founder of Cave Interiors, came in - she worked on the villa with her daughter Anouska and their team. She comments, ‘It was very much about renovating and bringing it back to what it would’ve been in its heyday'. 

Georgia explains, 'Most of the original features were missing so we reintroduced panelling and cornicing.’ They also opened up window arches and designed the new fanlights in the salon, introducing them over internal doors in other areas such as the bureau and main bedroom. ‘We continued that theme throughout the house to make it more in keeping with the Art Deco aesthetic and French style’, she continues.

The property is listed – the exterior paint color was sacrosanct, for instance. Work allowed included the building of a timber-clad extension at the back of the property with a kitchen, snug, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. A new basement created the space to incorporate a playroom, three bedrooms (two of which benefit from en suites), a family bathroom, and a utility, as well as a redesigned statement staircase.

Cave Interiors were responsible for the planning, which involved reconfiguration of some of the rooms. Upstairs for instance, the main suite was redesigned to create a main bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, and a guest bedroom with an en-suite.

The interior is imbued with an elegant, enduring quality. ‘The client didn’t want the country Provençal look so we worked closely with her to create a classic and timeless design,’ says Georgina. ‘It needed to be in keeping with the environment, so we chose local stone and colors with the Mediterranean light in mind.’

The decor exudes ‘a gentle glamour that encompasses the taste of the client’, and this is epitomized, for example, by the number of pendant lights. ‘The one in the bureau was the first one we sourced and a favorite of ours,’ says Anouska. ‘The client likes pieces with glass so there’s a lot of Murano. Around 90 percent of the lighting was antique - much of it is mid-century.’

The statement kitchen includes an informal dining area that opens onto the terrace. It was a difficult space to design because of its long and narrow shape. The client was inspired by fluted marble, so Cave Interiors designed an arresting Arabescato Corchia marble island. Green kitchen cabinetry, which picks up on the goldy green threads running through the marble, was chosen to complement it.

A muted color palette is used throughout the home. ‘It’s soft and gentle to work with the light,’ says Georgina. The client was open to the occasional strong colour and this is showcased in the bureau where an unexpected red introduces verve. ‘We wanted to create a bold statement with the deep red,’ says Anouska. ‘It has a masculine air but elements of prettiness.’

The elegant redesigned staircase creates an instant impact. ‘The idea was to have this lovely, flowing, circular feel. The steps at the base are curved to bring you round as you walk down, which was important,’ says Georgina.

Paneling is carried down the staircase and through the rest of the house, injecting flow and grandeur as well. ‘We wanted it to feel quite majestic because it is a grand villa and makes a statement with its beautiful architecture.’

Meet the designers

Georgina and Anouska Cave share their style inspiration

What part of the home was the biggest indulgence?

The fluted Arabescato marble-clad kitchen island.

What one small change has the biggest impact?

Creating the effect of a single-pane window in the main salon overlooking the sea.

What's your go-to color?

A combination of Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin and Lime White in the main areas to create a neutral backdrop.

Favorite homeware brand?

Fiona McDonald for vintage and bespoke.

Describe your style in three words.

Masculine yet pretty.

Reveal a secret address we should know about. 

Les Trois Garcons for vintage and antique pieces stored in its warehouse in France.

Can you recommend an Instagram account we should be following?

Atelier Vime.