Villa Julia

The villa

A villa above the perfume town

On the green slopes of Grasse, the hill town famous for its perfume houses, Villa Julia is a warm ochre house with green shutters and bougainvillea, set in terraced gardens that look out over the hills to the Mediterranean.

Inside, the rooms are calm and full of light, with terracotta floors, old beams and softly painted walls. The living room gathers around a stone fireplace with deep sofas, and an arch leads through to the dining table. A sweeping staircase beneath a chandelier climbs to the bedrooms. They include a green double with a sitting corner, a blue double with French doors to the garden and a twin room, and there is also a study with a desk and a sofa, and a small gym.

Outside, a long pool with a round spa at one end looks straight out to the coast. The covered terrace is the place for long lunches with the view, while balustraded terraces, a sunny courtyard and shady corners of the garden give everyone a spot of their own. The old town of Grasse, with its perfumeries, markets and lanes, is close by.