Design contrasts ground the glamour of this family home within the gems of the Côte D’Azur’s landscape and its iconic Italian design heritage.
Embraced by pine trees and refreshing Mediterranean Sea, Villa Pineda sits on Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, near Monaco. Previously owned by in-laws of Humbert & Poyet founder Emil Humbert, the villa is steeped in family memories. Retaining this sentiment while editing the home into its new family chapter, saw this renovation both a professional and personal endeavour for Humbert.
From welcoming Greta Garbo to Jean Cocteau, the region holds a cinematic quality that Humbert sought to expand upon while honouring the landscape and 1980’s original design by Italian architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Contouring rocky topography, the building’s vertical zoning maximises sea vistas. The ground floor hosts gathering spaces including formal and informal dining, the first holds a sea-facing salon, bar, and bedroom suites, and the second, a guest suite and playroom.
Redefining the ceilings has recalibrated the atmosphere, without modifying the footprint. “We approached the ceilings as a fifth façade,” Humbert explains. “A structural element that defines the emotional quality of each space…frames perspectives, modulates light and gives the villa its serene rhythm.” This sculpting lowers wall adornments, providing comforting proportions and, practically, disperses the sometimes-harsh south-facing light, while textured plaster improves acoustic quality.
A homage to Caccia Dominioni, the dining room terrazzo flooring echoes his design for Galleria Strasburgo, Milan, alongside a custom brass dining table by Humbert & Poyet, and 1970s bamboo travertine drawers.
Villa Pineda’s hints of decadence are joyful, nodding to Art Deco, modernism and ancient relic. “I wanted a home where you can host a beautiful dinner or walk in barefoot from the pool, and ensure both moments feel perfectly natural,” Humbert explains. Contrasting materiality is key to this home’s balanced eclecticism. For example, selections juxtapose the staircase’s statuesque ceilings and internal windows with expansive, patterned terrazzo flooring, while matte and reflective surfaces are at play in the bar with tactile furnishings adjacent glossy wall coverings.
Outdoor spaces triangulate the villa, allowing mild winters and dry summers to be enjoyed in comfort. These integrated spaces include the alfresco terrace and loggia space that extends from the grand interior salon and a lounged patio that adjoins the dining room through arched glazing. A glinting emerald travertine pool is wrapped by geometric, grass-fringed pavers beneath a timber pagoda.
Collected rather than curated, far from an orchestrated museum’s cool refinement, Villa Pineda’s abundant design is a sensory invite. Humbert pinpoints this welcoming atmosphere, “…where luxury is first felt through the hand before it’s spotted by the eye.”
The sitting room’s terracotta San Siro lounge suite is alongside white Catalina chairs, all by Caccia Dominioni for Azucena, unfolding around a central bronze coffee table by Erwan Boulloud, Galerie Glustin.
The patinated plaster and marble bar, sculpted by Atelier Tollis is accompanied by vintage 1940s metal and bronze stools, an Italian parchment and bamboo table and 1960s bentwood armchair by Audoux & Minet. The room is wrapped in restored, original burgundy lacquered millwork wall coverings.
Forest green, 1960s bedside tables and LP10 sconce wall lights, designed by the villa’s original architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena. The bedroom features a 1950s brass dome ceiling light by J.T. Kalmar and Nordic Knots rug by Giancarlo Valle.
A Verde Alpi marble bath, designed by Humbert & Poyet sits atop terrazzo flooring, below a 19th century, Etruscan-style marble bas-relief. Vintage glass sconces are by Pietro Chiesa.
Outside, rattan armchairs backdrop the Nonaro blush pink garden lounge set by Caccia Dominioni for Azucena.
The outdoor dining features a Californie garden lounge, upholstered in Nobilis fabric, designed by Humbert & Poyet alongside orange banquette seating and 1960s brass and marble table by Paolo Buffa.
