Le Matisse

Le Matisse is one of two luxury apartments that share one common entrance in the heart of Nice’s chicest and safest districts – Le Carré d’Or. Steps away from the beach, Place Masséna and the city’s finest boutiques, Le Matisse is situated on a well-known pedestrian shopping street facing south for a sunny exposure all throughout the day. Fully enjoy the views from the balcony as you can see the activity below clear to the Place and down the street in both directions. Rue Masséna and the Carré d’Or is teeming with cafés, restaurants and boutiques so you will never be for want of anything. One block away you'll find all the necessities (groceries, wine, bakeries, pharmacies, etc.), the rental car companies, the Parc Albert 1er and the Ruhl Casino, plus you are surrounded by Nice's finest boutiques and hotels.

Le Matisse is an artistry-designed newly renovated and decorated one-bedroom luxurious apartment that will put you in happy, high spirits much like a Matisse painting – full of color and life. Inspired by Henri Matisse’s works and life in Nice, the primary colors are sure to raise your mood and you will marvel at the beautiful artistic work of Mosaïste Véronique Husson throughout the bath and kitchen plus in the bedroom and of special note, the dining room table.

The apartment is on the 3rd floor of a “bourgeois” building with a wide white marble staircase that is an easy and pleasant ascent. Thanks to its location opposite a low building and facing the sea, sky and light pour in the three large windows all day long.

When you first enter (the door on the right in the entry), you will no doubt be struck by the clever use of an atelier-style glass wall that allows you to see through to the bedroom, but which can be privatized by its louvre blinds. The windowed partition allows one to benefit from the floor-to-ceiling windows, one of which leads to a balcony – a perfect spot from which to have your morning coffee or afternoon repose – perfect at the bright green table with four folding chairs.

To your immediate left is a tall coat closet in which you can house your suitcases and just ahead is a full kitchen equipped with a multi-cook oven, refrigerator, two-burner stove, washer/dryer, espresso maker and toaster. There is ample cabinetry and it’s completely equipped for even the most serious of chefs and dinner party hosts. The counter and backsplash is artistry hand-laid tile.

To the right are two large closets – one for utilities and the other a large linen closet. In it you will also find equipment for your use including a Rolser 6-wheel marketing cart, folding stool, and beach mats and prasol. Adjacent to the linen closet is the spacious and luxurious bathroom of mosaic tile also designed and hand-laid by our Mosaïste. For long soaks or an invigorating shower, you will find a large oval-shaped tub with internal seat, equipped with a large shower head (choose from five different jets!) and curtain. The heated towel rack keeps your towels warm and fluffy. The bathroom is equipped with a hair dryer (with diffuser), large brightly-lit mirror, magnifying make-up mirror, plenty of towels and space for all your toiletries on the shelves or in the medicine cabinet.

Just beyond is the living room with a wicker armchair and tangerine-colored suede sofa bed that converts to twins or a queen-size bed for your extra guests. Opposite the sofa and near the balcony is dining room for four on a mosaic tile table. On the wall above the hutch next to the dining table is a large flat-screen TV that swings out and swivels with viewing of hundreds of channels and a complete home video system that allows you to play DVDs, CDs and your iPod. On the cabinet below the TV you will find one of the three cordless phones with an answering machine that allows you to phone more than 100 countries free of charge. WiFi Internet access is available throughout the apartment.

On the wall between the windows is a fold-down secretary and work-station where you can plug in your computer or other device and work (or play!) comfortably. It is equipped with a cordless phone. The desk is further equipped with a variety of gadgets any office space needs.

Just past the sofa is the entry to the bedroom with a mirrored back wall that gives a spirit of tremendous space and light. It is furnished with a queen-size bed that converts to twins, night stands with hand-tiled tops, table lamps that dim and can be controlled from the bed or from the entry, a large  mirrored closet and three-drawer dresser with mirror framed in hand-laid tile. Here you can fully unpack and make yourself at home.

In addition, the bedroom has its own flat-screen TV with DVD player that swings and swivels for easy viewing – with just as many channels as the living room TV, and fully independent so everyone has a choice!

The apartment is both heated and air-conditioned so you will always be able to control the interior climate to your perfection. The windows are double-paned so that outside noise can be completely shut out for total calm and quiet. Or fully open them to take in the beautiful Niçois climate.

Le Matisse is also equipped with beach towels for your use on the Riviera. The balcony is equipped with a small table and four folding chairs…from which you may never want to leave!

The apartment adjacent to Le Matisse on the same floor is a luxury two-bedroom/two-bath apartment owned by another American family. It can be rented separately or in tandem with Le Matisse. Please be sure to ask us for more information.

The Carré d’Or

The Carré d'Or (Golden Square) area is a centrally located vibrant, cosmopolitan district characterized by bourgeois buildings, chic cafés, restaurants and designer shops. Bordered by boulevard Victor Hugo to the north, Place Masséna and avenue Jean-Médecin to the east, boulevard Gambetta to the west and the Promenade des Anglais to the south, the Carré d'Or is a favorite area for tourists and residents. Every apartment is no more than a few minutes walk from the beach, to Vieux Nice and Nice’s best shopping. Rue Masséna, which runs from Place Masséna to rue de France, is completely pedestrianized and is lined with bustling cafés, international restaurants and chic designer shops. Apartments with views over this street are some of the most desirable properties in Nice.

Rue Masséna runs parallel to the Promenade des Anglais and is a much sought after location for vacationers and investors. Other popular streets in the Carré d'Or area include rue de la Liberté, rue Meyerbeer and rue de la Buffa. Boulevard Victor Hugo, the northern boundary of the area, is a grand French Boulevard lined with large trees and adjacent to two tranquil parks: Jardin Alsace Lorraine and Jardin Moreno Jean.

Transportation

 Tram: Place Masséna Bus line #s: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 27, 38, 52, 59, 60, 62, 70, 81, 94, 98 (Airport Express), 100, N1, N2, N3 (Nice to Monaco to Menton) (see http://www.lignesdazur.com/)

Amenities specific to Le Matisse:

• Digicode, intercom entry system
• 3rd floor
• Located on a lively pedestrian street south-facing
• Balcony overlooking rue Masséna
• 3 French doors/windows, one leading onto the balcony
• Air-conditioning and heating in all rooms
• Central location near cafés, restaurants, commerce, shops
• Queen-size bed that converts to twins
• Sofa bed that converts to twins or queen-size bed
• Hand mosaic-tiled dining table seats up to four
• High speed Internet and WiFi, plus satellite with over 200 channels including many English-language channels
• Large flat-screen TV in living room with home cinema system to play CDs, DVDs, iPod, etc.
• Flat-screen TV in bedroom with DVD player
• 3 cordless telephones, one with answering machine
• Free long distance telephone service to over 100 countries
• Hand mosaic-tiled bath with large oval tub with five-jet shower head
• Hand mosaic-tiled kitchen complete with equipment: cooking utensils, cookery, flatware, etc.
• Washer/dryer
• Stove with 2 electric ceramic burners
• Refrigerator/freezer
• Multi-cook oven
• Toaster
• Espresso maker
• Electric water boiler
• Hairdryer
• Iron, ironing board
• Vacuum cleaner, broom, mop
• Lots of closet and storage space including dresser, nightstands, storage for suitcases, etc.
• Linens, bath towels, beach towels
• Beach mats, folding beach lounge chairs and parasol
• Nonsmoking, no pets