HOUSES
Sophie and Baligh have found a little piece of paradise on France’s Blue Coast – and their home’s interior is also divine
TERRACE
‘Thanks to the sliding doors of the veranda, we live simultaneously inside and outside,’ explains Sophie. ‘I chose the same tiles in the kitchen and on the terrace – but in a different colour – so we have the feeling that there is no separation between the two spaces.’
POOL AREA
‘I painted the front door blue to reflect the colour of the water in the pool and the view of the sea,’ says Sophie. Equally suited to the sunny setting are the complementary yellow and white striped doors under the steps, where the beach towels and children’s water wings are stored.
Sooften a milestone birthday sparks big life changes. In the case of Sophie Ferjani, it was her husband Baligh’s 40th that prompted the pair to leave Paris, their home for 20 years, and finally realise their long-held dream of opening a shop together. ‘Baligh has worked in retail for a long time, so we always knew that we wanted to have a concept store together; we just didn’t know where or when,’ recalls interior designer Sophie, of the move they undertook six years ago. ‘We were drawn to the south of France for the sunshine, and chose Marseille because when I was young my mother used to take me there during the summer holidays. I remembered it as a place full of energy and possibilities, which it still is.’
When the couple first saw this hilltop house, it was love at first sight – for Sophie at least. Built in 1880 by a ship owner, it had belonged to the same family for three generations and has uninterrupted views of the Blue Coast. ‘For me, it was an immediate crush. It had so much potential and I knew it was our home, but Baligh was worried about the amount of work needed. Now he loves it as much as me.’
The biggest transformation is the new kitchen, on the footprint of a badly-built extension that was used as a guest room. ‘It has completely changed the personality of the house and it’s where we spend most of our time,’ says Sophie. ‘The children do their homework at the farmhouse table and I cook while looking out at the sea.’
Being outside is also an important part of family life, whether that’s weekends by the pool, cooking fresh fish on the plancha grill, pottering around the garden, or jumping in the car to escape the city. ‘We like hiking and exploring the nearby creeks,’ says Sophie. ‘We try to connect with nature as much as we can.’
Original features of the house
