NATURAL INSTINCT

Seamlessly blending verdant outdoor spaces with serene and organic interiors, this Saint-Tropez villa fully embraces the beauty of nature

- RACHEL LEEDHAM

GARDEN

Cushions bring a pop of colour to a bespoke daybed, which provides a secluded spot for an afternoon siesta. Seat and cushions in Marelle fabric by Lizzo

TERRACE

A pair of cloud-pruned olive trees separate two lounge areas and provide shade. A rug furthers the sense that this is a beautifully appointed space. Nodi sofas, Tribù, Outdoor rug, JD Staron

SITTING ROOM

Mirrored panels help to pull the garden right into the room. The joinery was designed to match a console in brushed elm and light tamo wood. Daybed and cushion, RR Intérieur. Etretat console table, Bruno Moinard Éditions

It is perhaps no surprise that when the new owners of this 1970s villa in Saint-Tropez enlisted interior designer Stéphanie Coutas to help with its modernization, at the top of their wish list was a desire to create multiple areas for socializing. The setting is beautiful with its striking sea views, and my clients were keen to capitalize on that,' says Stéphanie. "They wanted to bring nature into the heart of the property by creating indoor and outdoor spaces that are perfectly interconnected.

What particularly struck Stéphanie when she first visited the two-storey villa was its somewhat glitzy décor, a throw-back to the 1980s: 'It involved a lot of chrome and shiny handrails,' she says. "This was an aspect that we needed to counteract and balance by introducing natural tones and textures throughout.'