Cosy Natural State Country House with Pool in the South of France

warm timber material kitchen interior design

Major renovation or almost total rebuilding is sometimes required to bring a house up to date and back to life. Within a principal residence in Switzerland, the owners of this house near Nice, in the South of France, had spent many happy holidays here but they decided it needed to be redesigned.

A London-based design duo was asked to come up with plans. There were a number of problems associated with the 1930s stone building, and after much discussion it was agreed that the property would be rebuilt. It needed to be enlarged where possible, and a local architect-builder was called in to advise on construction and the supply of correct materials.

In order to retain a strong country character, many of the stone walls were left in their natural state; others were just painted, while in some rooms they were both plastered and painted.

Structural beams were exposed and the windows frames left natural. Outdoor living is an essential part of any holiday home and in France it is usual to create several shady dining areas, but here cooler evenings have been catered for by building an open-sided pool-house, complete with fireplace.

The interiors are furnished with a mix of contemporary and antique furniture and made cosy by many warm-toned timbers used througout the house.

open sided country house pool with fireplace