Villa Odaya: a French Riviera vibe

Overlooking the town of Cannes, with a breathtaking view of the Lérins islands, the Villa Odaya is an ode to the blue hues of the Mediterranean.

3 minutes
VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya
© Francis Amiand

The villa was nothing more than a concrete block when interior designers Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet first set eyes on it and were tasked with designing its layout. Today, the water of the infinity pool reflects the colours of the vegetation and the natural stone. This dramatic feature leads onto a home cinema and an aquarium.

VILLA Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

Against the backdrop of the vertical garden, the living room is furnished with a series of straight-lined sofas (Andreu World), teak coffee tables (Il Giardino di Legno), and armchairs with woven seats and backs (Zoé model, Andrea Parisio at Meridiani). The dining room (Wedge table, Arik Levy at Living Divani and Tai chairs, Andrea Parisio at Meridiani), as well as the sun loungers (Meridiani) and parasols (Paola Lenti design) also mirror this modernity.   

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

Luxury and refinement with noble materials

Nestled in the La Croix-des-Gardes nature park and forest, this 1200 m2 family home was also intended for rental. The brief was to reinterpret the unmistakeable culture of the South of France and to convey a certain idea of luxury and sophistication through the use of noble materials, marble, brass, wood and rattan. True to their signature style, Humbert & Poyet, interior designers based in Paris and Monaco, combined furniture and objects sourced from contemporary designers, iconic and vintage pieces and bespoke creations to bestow a unique personality on this exceptional villa. The brass dining room table and the luminous suspensions designed by Humbert & Poyet enter into a dialogue with a large polished stainless steel mirror that conceals a generous storage area. Mathilda chairs (Moroso). “Idol” totems by Bernard Créa’h, Melissa Paul Gallery.

VILLA Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

Subtle border between inside and outside

Humbert & Poyet‘s took on the challenge of structuring the space by distributing the volumes and equipping them with every creature comfort. The active input of the owners gave rise to a project where transparent and open spaces blur the limits between the outside and the inside to better embrace the surrounding landscapes. The main living room, adjoining the family kitchen, with its XXL bay windows freeing up the volumes, is a fine example of this quest to connect with nature, playing on the inside-outside spirit. Airy curtains make the rooms more intimate while taking advantage of the natural light and the generosity of the wide open space of the living room. Grand Theodore sofa, Theodore armchair and side table, designed by Humbert & Poyet. Coffee table by Galotti & Radice. Brasilia table lamp, designed by Michel Boyer. Floor lamp, Lightolight, designed by Jaime Hayon at Parachilna. Paintings by L. Philippon, Galerie Amélie Maison d’Art, and vintage ceramics. The marble floor layout was also designed by Humbert & Poyet.

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

Combination of colors and materials for perfect harmony

In the corridor at the entrance to the master bedroom, the wall covered with fluted wood panels houses a mirror reflecting an abstract geometric composition. The blue colour scheme is a tribute to the Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti. Covering the partitions of the stairwell, this lacquered wood panelling draws the eye up through each of the floors.

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

The bedroom is located on the upper level of the villa and occupies the entire surface, leading out onto a terrace. Grey oak and herringbone floor (Atelier du Parquet), chairs by Pierre Jeanneret, Jacques Dworczak collection. In the kitchen, the floor is covered with Lazza, Grigio Carnico and Nero Marquinia marble laid out to create a 3D effect. In front of the marble island, Utility stools from Stellar Works. Hanging lights and rosewood cupboards designed by Humbert & Poyet.

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand 

The villa’s vertical composition, in the style of Gio Ponti, designed by Humbert & Poyet, underlines the backbone of this house with its rooms distributed over 3 levels. The dressing room has been clad with cane, metal and bronze fronts. In the bathroom, equipped with a glass balustrade and a fully opening window that disappears into the wall, the island bathtub (Céline model, Devon & Devon) with polished brass taps (Volevatch) is set on a marble floor punctuated by a play of contrasting edgings. Méribel stools, designed by Charlotte Perriand. Witmore curtains by Nobilis. Above the marble basins, integrated into a notched and painted wooden cabinet designed by Humbert & Poyet, onyx slabs installed in an open book style with extraordinary veining create a dynamic effect that wakes up the otherwise sober decor.

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand

In each of the five bedrooms, a harmony of tones and a different association of fabrics have been meticulously selected with a play of colours and materials where velvet dominates. They evoke the waves, the foam and the azure of the sky. The upholstered and padded headboard with vertical lines was designed by Humbert & Poyet. The textiles are a mix of Rubelli designs (Vasarely model), Nobilis curtains (Lizzo model), Dedar and Pierre Frey cushions. In this cosy and contemporary space, the kaleidoscope of aquatic blues and organic greens create an oasis of relaxation. In the profusion of intricate weaves, with a great deal of attention paid to the finishing touches, we also find the unmistakeable touch of Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet. 

VILLAS Decoration Villa Odaya

Francis Amiand