The French Riviera
5th August 2022
I’ve recently returned from a family holiday to Saint Cezaire Sur Siagne, on the French Riviera. Getting 5 adults and 4 children, including a 2-year-old, to France wasn’t the easiest challenge but we made it and it was certainly worth it!
The Villa, aptly named Villa Mas Des Lavandes, sat amongst grounds bursting with lavender plants, was beautiful and finished throughout with tumbled travertine.
Photo: https://www.villaplus.com/destinations/villas-in-france/french-riviera/st-cezaire-sur-siagne/villa-mas-des-lavandes
The travertine ran through every room in the villa including bedrooms, bathrooms, living and kitchen areas before flooding through to the terrace and poolside. It was interesting that the owners had chosen the same material for every room but it really suited the Mediterranean coastline feel and complemented the modern décor.
Photo: https://www.villaplus.com/destinations/villas-in-france/french-riviera/st-cezaire-sur-siagne/villa-mas-des-lavandes
Photo: https://www.villaplus.com/destinations/villas-in-france/french-riviera/st-cezaire-sur-siagne/villa-mas-des-lavandes
We regularly get asked about how to finish edges and skirting when using travertine. It was reassuring to see in situ that the owners had created skirting from tiles and had left the tumbled edge as a natural finish rather than using a trim, which to be honest I feel would have spoiled the look. If you’re considering recreating this, I would recommend our Light Tumbled Travertine in a 610×406 format.
We spent most of the time at the villa making the most of the pool and views but we ventured out a couple of times. We visited the pretty town of Grasse, renowned for making perfume, where the streets were lined with pink umbrellas overhead to offer shade.
We spent one day at Croisette Beach in Cannes which runs alongside the iconic beach walk, lined with designer shops and supercars. The sea was crystal clear and the kids had a great time playing in the sand and splashing in the water.
I hadn’t been abroad in almost 4 years so it felt great to travel again. I certainly didn’t get to do as much sunbathing as I used to and I’m not sure why I even packed my book but spending time together as a family, seeing the joy on the kids faces and spending evenings watching the sunset over the picturesque countryside was just what I needed.
