Maison Côté Sud is a stunning 19th century village house, beautifully decorated in traditional Provençal style but with all the modern comforts you would expect in a five-star hotel.

The house was impeccably refurbished several years ago by eminent husband and wife design team, Gérard & Cléo Faivre; since then it has featured in numerous style magazines, and has recently undergone a further programme of redecoration and improvement.

The result is a very well-equipped, comfortable and spacious home – total surface area 450sq metres – in which every bedroom boasts its own ensuite bathroom or shower room. The interiors have been exquisitely designed to preserve the period style and original features, such as the beamed ceilings and fireplaces, with the addition of original touches and modern conveniences.

Outside is a pretty garden with bassin d’eau swimming pool and canopied eating area.

Tucked away off a quiet leafy lane in the tranquil village of Maillane a few km from St Rémy de Provence, Maison Côté Sud is a destination in itself as well as the ideal place from which to experience one of the most charming and picturesque areas of the world: the famous market town of St Rémy de Provence, immortalised by Van Gogh in his paintings, is just a few minutes away, and the area's many cultural highlights are all within striking distance (plus tennis, golf, horse riding, cycling all nearby).

Downstairs

Kitchen / Dining room

Maison Côté Sud's is a deceptively well-equipped kitchen where all mod cons (fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave) are cleverly hidden to maintain the traditional feel; an antique bayou displays a range of quality glasses and crockery, while the centrepiece is a beautiful zinc-top wooden table seating up to 10 adults, the focal point for mealtimes. A back kitchen (with second fridge) provides extra storage space for groceries and wine.

Living room

The focal point of the house is an impressive beamed living room with two gloriously comfy sofas either side of a vast stone fireplace: the ideal place to congregate with a chilled glass of wine, or to curl up in front of a roaring log fire in the cooler months. A Sony CD player and selection of CDs (plus an i–Pod speaker station) are at your disposal as well as a selection of glossy magazines, periodicals and beautiful art books.

Snug & Hearth room

The snug is a little retreat: somewhere to escape the midday summer sun, to curl up and watch a movie, or a play area for kids. The adjoining hearth room – with a large desk and a cupboard full of maps and local literature – is the obvious place to plan excursions or perhaps catch up on some e-mails. Maison Côté Sud is equipped with a 40-inch flat screen TV, DVD player (and selection of DVDs) and wireless broadband.

Back kitchen & storage area

The newly converted back-kitchen area houses a second refrigerator for drinks and extra pantry space.

laundry room

Guests have access to a full laundry room with washing machine, separate tumble dryer and ironing board.

Garden and Pool

The traditional Provençal garden is fairly small but perfectly formed with a bassin d'eau swimming pool (7m x 4m), a canopied dining area – perfect for long lazy summer lunches and a little old stone fountain. It provides a peaceful and private sanctuary and, in spite of its village location, the garden cannot be overlooked.

The garden is generously planted with flowering shrubs, tilleul trees and bamboo (after which the house was named) - the remaining area is either graveled or, around the pool area, paved.

A choice of seating means you can either recline poolside in the sun or curl up with a book in the shade of the tilleul tree. Ambient garden lighting creates a magical backdrop after dark.

Bedrooms

The owner’s believe it’s the little details that make a stay really special: crisp Egyptian cotton bed linen, soft white towels, sumptuous bathroom products, plentiful storage space… which is why these are all features of every Maison Côté Sud bedroom. And because every room is as gorgeous as the next - each with its own bath or shower room - nobody in your party need feel shortchanged.

Rose

Dramatic master bedroom with large double bed, ‘his and hers’ en suite bathroom and separate monsoon shower room. A spacious, airy room with plenty of seating space, a vintage armoire for your holiday wardrobe, and a balcony overlooking the pool area.

Miel

As the name suggests, a soothing bedroom decorated in gentle yellow tones with separate twin beds, en suite bathroom, plus its own walk-in wardrobe and a balcony overlooking the pool area.

Tilleul

Decorated in citrus tones with original tomette-tiled flooring, this double room looks out on the garden and the tilleul tree that gives it its name; what makes this suite so special though is the large bathroom with ‘his and hers’ basins and a freestanding roll top bath tub.

Bleu

A characterful double room (also with original tomette- tiled flooring) with its own angelic theme, an old stone fireplace, antique wardrobe and ensuite shower with monsoon shower head.

Grenier

This rustic family suite under the eaves boasts a light and airy double bedroom leading into an interconnecting twin room (for kids), an adjoining bathroom and separate WC. Perfect for couples with small children.

The Village

Maison Côté Sud's location also make it the perfect base for guests who like to immerse themselves in village life: Maillane life is all part of the unique Maison Côté Sud experience - wandering over to the boulangerie to pick up breakfast baguette and croissants, enjoying an evening apéro in one of the café-bars in the village square, buying provisions at the small weekly market, joining in the fun at one of Maillane’s many festivals or celebrations.

Maison Côté Sud is tucked away in the attractive and peaceful village of Maillane, just north of the Alpilles mountain ridge and 20km south of Avignon. Maillane has particular cultural significance as the birthplace of Nobel prize-winning author and champion of the Provençal language, Frédéric Mistral (the house where he was born has now been converted into a museum) and the Maillanais are fiercely proud of this connection.

Maillane village life is all part of the unique Maison Côté Sud experience: wandering over to the boulangerie to pick up bread and croissants, enjoying an apéro in one of the café-bars in the village square, buying provisions at the small weekly market, joining in the fun at one of Maillane’s many festivals or celebrations.

However, the village is also a convenient launch pad for exploring the wider area: the famous market town of St Rémy de Provence, immortalised by Van Gogh in his paintings, is just a few minutes away, and the area's many cultural highlights are all within striking distance.

All essential amenities are within short walking distance of the house, including a couple of boulangeries, a small grocery store, a deli / green grocer, a post office, a pharmacy and a newsagent. There is a weekly produce market in the church square on a Thursday.

There is also one very good restaurant, L'Oustalet Maianen, which is highly regarded in the area and offers extremely good value for money. Guests are entitled to use the tennis courts at the edge of the village – all three are in good condition and floodlit when necessary. All other essential amenities – bank, supermarket, ATMs, petrol etc - can be found in St Rémy de Provence, 7km away as well as a wide selection of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.

The house is available to rent all year round: so whether you prefer to hole up in winter with a glass of red wine in front of a crackling log fire, or enjoy the Provençal summer sunshine, stretched out by the pool, Maison Côté Sud is a truly magical experience at any time of year.