Apartment La Vue, La Garde Freinet
Apartment La Vue sits just underneath Maison Teranga, and when we first bought the property, it was far from habitable. In fact, it had never really been usable at all. The ceiling wasn’t waterproof, which meant years of damp had taken their toll. Making the apartment accessible via a brand-new staircase and properly waterproofing it were two major projects that demanded a lot of time, energy, and investment.
When we first moved in, the main room had only two small windows with broken glass, and nature had well and truly taken over — trees were growing in from outside. The space was dark, damp, and
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mouldy and it was hard to imagine what it could eventually become.
One of the biggest transformations was adding two large French doors that open onto a newly created, balcony, terrace and garden. This single change completely transformed the feel of the apartment and allowed us to make the most of the breath-taking views. To make it all possible, this new exterior layout required building two substantial retaining walls, secured with massive steel beams.
The main living space now combines a kitchen area, dining space, and lounge. There’s also a bedroom, a small hallway, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. We chose natural limewash paints with earthy pigments for the walls and laid travertine tiles throughout the apartment. The colour palette is light and grounded, inspired by the wild nature that surrounds us, with soft pastel accents added to lift the space. The sofa is covered in raw linen and easily converts into a bed, providing extra sleeping space when needed.
The kitchen and dining area are still a work in progress so we’ll be sharing photos of these soon.
The bedroom, which once had no proper window and felt dark and unwelcoming, has also been completely reimagined. Although the space is compact, we managed to fit a 1.60-metre bed by opting for smaller bedside tables and hanging lights instead of traditional lamps. Most of the furniture and accessories are vintage pieces, lovingly sourced from local brocante markets. The eclectic mix includes seashells, Provençal pottery, Moroccan ceramics, handmade Berber rugs, colourful artisanal glass vases, and cotton curtains dyed with natural pigments. A special mention goes to the shelf in the living room — a unique handmade piece dating back to the 1960s that we found in a villa in Lorgues, about 50 km from us.
We’ll be sharing more photos and stories soon, so watch this space ✨
