French Riviera Style: Real Home Decorating Ideas from St. Tropez

The French Riviera has been frequented since Phoenician times by fisherman, herders, craftsmen and merchants who benefit from its ideal trade position on the Mediterranean, as well as by wealthy elites looking for respite from the harsh weather of their origins, be it the cold of northern countries or the heat of southern climes. All along the coast, Roman ruins keep company with an odd assortment of architectural styles, from stone fishermen's cottages, Middle Age castles, winding Renaissance villages and Old Regime gardens, to 19th century bourgeois apartment buildings, seaside Belle Epoque and Art Deco villas, and ultra contemporary design. Yet somehow, it all ties together in the potpourri we call Riviera Style.

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the updates that are currently being made by the present owner--an interior decorator turned fashion designer--to this classic Mediterranean style beach home she sometimes makes available as vacation rental. The house was built in the days when Brigitte Bardot still graced the beaches of St. Tropez, which are only a five-minute walk through the exceptional no-build environment of vineyards, olive groves and parasol pine forest that surround it.

Make it transparent

Wishing to keep this massive wood table with its time-worn character, yet wanting something more contemporary for the house, the owner has lightened the look by replacing the original matching wood benches with Kartell ghost chairs designed by Philip Starck in transparent acrylic, chairs which also exist in transparent colors. The bold blend of a contemporary designer knockoff of a baroque chair with the provencal farm table lends an airy, playful feel to the interior that moreover recalls the 1960s when the house was built.

Add tiles and towers

What the French call simply the Maison méditerranée began to flourish in the 1920s and continues to today. These houses borrow from the best, combining the cool clay roof tiles found throughout southern Europe with towers recalling dovecotes, once the exclusive privilege of lords and nobles. Though similar to Mediterranean style in Florida and California, like most French houses they bear shutters.

Bring in taupe

Taupe, French for mole (as in the creature, not the beauty mark), has been a growing trend in France, showing a marked presence in upholstery and accessories. In St. Tropez, the color is replacing white, wood and blue as the new neutral, even for building elements such as the door and shutters seen above and of course garden furniture.

Angle closets for space & light

With this positioning on either side of south-facing French windows that open onto grounds beyond, these built-in closets don't take up a full wall. Oblique, they allow in all-day light as the sun moves east to west. Notice the taupe walls that recall the exterior woodwork.

Add visual interest to a long hall

This long hall leading to the downstairs beds and baths goes beyond functional, espousing the overall atmosphere of the home and the Mediterranean beyond by breaking up the length with typical features. The archway in the middle recalls a Moroccan Medina and sets the tone for the arched doorway at the end of the hall, which in turn adds intimacy to the rooms at the very back. The moorish wall sconces before and after the arch and on either side of the wall add further interest.

Note: If on the contrary, you have a snub-nosed hallway, see here for a depth-adding solution gleaned from another Riviera home.

Keep it timeless

The art of renovating a house resides not just in knowing which new features will pass the test of time, but also in not bowling over the original features that give it its timeless quality. The red tiles in the kitchen are one such original feature. The best quality enamel tiles at the time the house was built, they haven't aged a bit, and provide built in highlights to the overall neutral taupe decorating scheme.

Borrow from the rest of the Mediterranean

Another classic keeper: the tiles of Morrocan design. Moroccan tiles, inspired by Moroccan trellises and latticework, have a timeless quality that can't be beat. There's actually a source in the US which, believe it or not, is called none other than the St. Tropez Boutique! To continue the look in other rooms, a quick search online brings up great sources for Moorish or Moroccan stencils. Try Etsy.

Support branches with branches

This old tree is not quite on its last limb, but it is on one of its limbs. Rather than prop an aging tree with an unsightly plastic and metal support, use one of its trimmed branches for a discrete look that tricks the eye into believing it's part of the tree. After all, it is!

Mark your territory!

After renting the house in the summer only to find the lawn in shambles on their return, they realized people were parking anywhere but on the dirt drive. In this photo they have just finished clearly and attractively delineating a parking area with railroad ties and filled the dirt drive with gravel. A few decorative shrubs and voila! No more crushed lawn!

Here you can see more photos of this house, or better yet rent it to see for yourself!