La Belle Terrasse: The Sea View from Any Direction

Christmas is just around the corner, and so is Italy—where I’m headed on Thursday for a few days in Florence with a friend. I’ve had a hankering for a leather coat from the Italian town for a long time now…so on Christmas Eve I hope to score a beauty (although I don’t have a clue what style I want!). We also have on our shopping list shoes and Florentine papers…all things Italy does best. We hear Firenze is gorgeous during the holidays, so we’ll be taking it all in and next Monday you’ll hear all about the trip…so stay tuned.

In spite of the gray skies, early yesterday morning I hopped the bus to Villefranche-sur-Mer to pay a visit to La Belle Terrasse—our “Luxurious One-Bedroom Fractional Ownership property” ready for purchase with occupancy beginning January 2022—that is in the final stages of renovation, 95 percent complete and ready for occupancy! I was overwhelmed by the transformation designer Christina Collier has made of what was already a great property…but is now an absolute jewel.

The view from the terrace of La Belle Terrasse

From the moment you enter, you can’t help but notice the floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the kitchen that has a perfect view on the water and the boats in the port—a window that had previously been obscured in order to house a kitchen cabinet! Can you imagine anyone thinking it made sense to requisition that stunning view just to house a few kitchen items? I couldn’t and that was the first thing that had to change.

The new kitchen is bright, white and brilliant. It’s missing nothing—equipped with a four-burner stove, multi-cuisson oven (oven + microwave), dishwasher, fridge and freezer and washer/dryer combo. Christina has filled it with dishes and glassware to match our Provençal/seaside color scheme and Jean Cocteau theme. The sea blue tile installation is in progress as are some lighting features and shelving…but it’s already a work of art.

The staircase that was once in a straight line going down, now elegantly curved down to the living room, is still missing the handmade iron railing and terrazzo tile surface, but the terrazzo floors throughout make for a perfect setting. I had remembered growing up on terrazzo floors in New Orleans and requested we consider it instead of parquet…they have gotten the thumbs up from everyone.

The bathroom tile is the most gorgeous aqua blue color—almost as pretty as the sea itself. We opted for a large shower with both a rainhead and hand-held shower heads, a double sink, a towel warmer, a full wall of mirror plus great make-up lighting. One could get lost in there and never come out.

Christina found beautiful Pierre Frey fabric for the headboard and draperies in the bedroom that pull together the beautiful subtle colors of the Riviera. The couch in the living room is overstuffed and comfy-yummy. It doubles as a sofabed in case the owners have a guest or two.

We ordered a secretary-style desk to fit in the niche in the living room that we intend to equip with a printer and bookshelves that will go above it for all the guidebooks the owners will want on hand.

But best of all is the terrace! Christina brilliantly mirrored the back wall so that no matter where you are on it, you see the sea. The terrace is lit and heated at the flick of a button with two units overhead. A large wooden slat table, that expands, can seat up to 8 comfortably and there are plenty of chairs including two that are lounging…as we suspect this is where everyone will want to be in just about any weather.

I met with Christina and Roni Sexton, who will be the concierge for the property, to review the final details. By January it will all be done and the new owners will be moving in. I left with a long list of things to purchase and do, but knowing that all of our ideas have come to fruition and that the new owners are going to love it as much as we do.

You could be an owner, too. There are a few shares left in this fabulous property, priced as follows:
Shares 5 through 9: €73,700.00
Shares 10 through 13: €77,700.00

So don’t delay to check it out. Visit our website to see all the details. If you are seriously interested, email us NOW! We don’t expect the remaining shares to last long.

Merry Christmas to all!

A la prochaine…