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Lavender Holiday

19C country house near St-Remy-de-Provence

Provence is a popular part of the South of France for holidays homes. The London-based owners of this 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom 19C house near St-Remy-de-Provence began their search in 2004. It was a project for the French-born wife, formerly in fashion and antiques, who eventually found the property via the internet. She moved in with basic furniture to get a feel for the house before undertaking a 6 month-long refurbishment. It was structurally sound, had been extended and well cared for by previous owners but the decoration was dated, the kitchen old fashioned and the bathrooms needed modernising and central heating installed. The garden was mature and included a swimming pool and tennis court. The owner approached David Price Design, a local English architectural and design practice, after seeing a house the firm had restored, to carry out the work. Furniture was brought from London and Paris and added to by shopping in the area. Unusually the husband never saw the house at all until it was finished, furnished and ready for the holidays. The family, with 3 children, holiday here year-round.