RELAXING RIVIERA LIFE

The acclaimed interior designer Stéphanie Coutas opens the doors to her beautifully restored farmhouse, just a stone's throw from the centre of St Tropez

- INTERVIEW AND PRODUCTION: ANA FERNÁNDEZ

As an interior designer who's worked on endless exclusive properties, Stéphanie Coutas isn't easy to impress.

But the first time she set eyes on her Côte d'Azur refuge, she knew that it had something special - a discreet charm all of its own.

Surrounded by plane trees, cypresses and olives, the old farmhouse blended seamlessly into the landscape. It even had a vineyard. And, she marvels:

That said, she could also see the scale of renovation needed. Fortunately, she was just the person to take on the challenge, as she proved during the three years she spent restoring and remodelling her find to bring out its very best.

Fast-forward to today and the place is an oasis of low-key luxury, where Stéphanie and her children, Arthur and Valentine, love to unwind during breaks from their busy lives in Paris.

And this summer, the designer confides, with Valentine soon to make her a grandmother, their Saint-Tropez days feel sunnier than ever.

Stéphanie, what changes have you made here?

“The house had been owned by the same family for years. It was remarkable and had tons of character, but it wasn’t very elegant and was in a state of disrepair.

“While preserving its essence, we added a whole new basement level and an upper floor. So the renovation was a major architectural project, but really rewarding.”

Which is your favourite corner?