Interview with Julie Gauthier, Founder

Read new Notes SS16 magazine

One17 is an architectural practice that produces a fantastic quarterly cultural magazine for its high-net-worth clients. The publication is called 'One17 Notes' and we are proud to have been featured in their latest issue.

Kevin Drayton, the magazine founder and One17 partner, was intrigued by our company and story and decided to run a 4-page interview with our founder, Julie Gauthier. The extensive interview goes into plenty of detail on our team, process and ethos too.

The interview is accompanied by some stunning high-definition images of our properties and, as soon as we saw the printed copy at last week's’ cocktail party, we were excited to post it online.

Here are links to two documents, one features just our article, for those who want to read it for themselves and the other features the whole magazine by One17 for anyone who wants to read the rest of their fantastic fourth issue.

Luxury and Simplicity at North Island Seychelles

North Island in the Seychelles is an oasis of calm, offering each guest a private villa to call their own.

In 1998, Cape Town architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens first visited North Island and by 2001 they lived on site with their two children; designing and creating the staff and sample villa. Their design celebrates nature with small details like the outdoor showers allowing guests to feel the night air or dining on the beach with feet in the sand. North Island was finished in July 2003. It has hosted many prestigious guest including Prince William and Kate for their honeymoon in 2011.

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Materials

The original island buildings, originally a coconut plantation and copra furnace, were renovated to make the library and dive centre. Indigenous Takamaka trees were used to create the villas structure and smaller details such as handrails, showers, screens and root pergolas. Casuarina trees, an invasive species to the Seychelles were removed during construction and used to make furniture. The decks were made from sandblasted pine from South Africa and Banuas a chunky hardwood was used for the upright columns in the bedrooms. Other materials include Rosewood, Teak, Giant Bamboo as well as copper and brass. The materials of North Island’s construction have so much texture and natural synergy, such as the beachrock curtains that create privacy at the outdoor showers, the ylang ylang roofing grass, sandstone in the kitchenettes and the extensive use of Seychelles granite rock.

Villa Design

The essence of luxury is captured in the sheer indulgence of abundant volume - space is life’s big luxury. Each villa is a private domain allowing guests to surround themselves with all the features and experiences that they are acquainted to. Guests enter via a ramp at the rear and are immediately greeted by the panoramic view of the ocean. This outdoor room contains a comfortable couch and dining table as well as sandstone hanging drinks tables. The main bedroom has a small lounge area, dressing room and the a locally hand-crafted bed. The bathroom is more of a bathhouse with a large bath for two, huge vanity area and two large mirrors. We love the sala for relaxing next to the plunge pool and the outdoor shower pours out of a log instead of a shower head.

Interior Design

Understated elegance and authenticity is the hallmark of South African interior design firm LIFE, who texture the interiors of North Island with mindful creativity. Textures are tactile - rock, cork, sandstone, silk, cadiz shell, velvet, cotton and copper. Raw nature appears throughout, such as weathered wood, smoothed rock, granite walls and mother of pearl chandeliers. Tones and hues are subtle; sage, beige, stone, chalk, coral, sand, turquoise and aqua.

North Island is one of the finest private island in our Private Islands Collection. It is available for exclusive use as well as partial rental; a naturally crafted paradise, fully staffed and featuring plenty of luxury facilities and experiences. We look forward to arranging your North Island stay, please do get in touch.

The hidden beauty of Lake Geneva's newest exclusive private villa

Looking for a home away from home for your next trip to Geneva? Look no further as last week we visited the most exciting lakeside split-level private villa available to rent short term just 5 minutes from the city. Located in La Réserve Genève, the modern La Villa du Lac, a haven of glass and polished concrete, stood in its garden bordering the lake with an exquisite view of the snowy peaks of Mount Blanc. Subtle luxury - a beautifully simple, uncluttered and stylish villa. 

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Ideal for a couple or small family looking for the ultimate hideaway in Geneva. The villa is 385m² spread over two floors with all rooms facing the lake and gardens. We loved the space of this ideal home with the large glass windows blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. Contemporary decoration and furniture by the Parisian designer Remi Tessier and the owner’s art collection throughout are true delights. 

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The ground floor with ceiling to floor windows houses the generous 160m² open plan living room consisting of a media room, two large sitting areas, a study area and a dining room. The designer eat-in kitchen also leads to a terrace for alfresco dining. Upstairs the master bedroom with bathroom, separate toilet, dressing room, fitness area and south facing balcony. A second bedroom with ensuite shower and balcony. There is a 3rd bedroom which guests could use as a playroom or office. Further personal staff accommodation is also onsite.

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For those who regularly stay in 5* hotel suites in Geneva, the La Villa du Lac offers a refreshing and exciting alternative. Facing south with uninterrupted views of the lake and mountains, the Geneva lake villa offers the ultimate in privacy and tranquillity. Guests will enjoy the acclaimed Swiss hospitality with a personalised housekeeping and concierge service as well as access to the restaurants, pools and 2000m² spa of La Reserve Geneve. The villa is available for short or extended stays, corporate retreats and product launches. 

Read more about La Villa du Lac, Geneva

In the next few weeks we will be expanding our European villa rental portfolio further to include many new beautiful European villas for rental in Cote d'Azur, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Greece. If you are interested in renting a European luxury villa, please do enquire and we will provide you with a selection of properties for rental for you to choose from.

A successful year for Seychelles luxury villa rentals

Art de Vivre has seen an unprecedented 20% increase in bookings from our luxury private villas in the Seychelles this past year. We began in 2003 as Villas de Maitre Ltd and evolved into Art de Vivre a decade later, after huge success in the Indian Ocean. Whilst we have expanded our property rental portfolio internationally, we are proud to continue our success in the Indian Ocean. 

We have three high-end properties in the Seychelles:

Li Al Do Maison

Residence on the Rocks

Villa Praslin

The first two are located in the south of main island Mahé. Whilst the third, Villa Praslin, is a rare beachfront property on the second-largest island, Praslin.

Each of the three villas are unique and offer guests privacy and stunning views. They are fully-staffed with house managers who organize clients’ entire stay.

The villas are first and foremost second homes and are owned by investors from Switzerland, Italy, U.K. and Mauritius. Potential clients who appreciate the architectural beauty and locations of the villas rent them from 1,500 to 5,500 Euros per night.

We have built strong relationships with our villa and chalet owners around the world but we have known and worked with the owners of the Seychelles villas since Villas de Maitre’s debut in 2003. Li Al Do Maison’s owner has kindly offered the villa, as a grand prize in the Princess Alexandra NHS Trust Charitable fund – Breast Unit raffle prize draw at the London Boat Show 2016 this week. We love bringing business to such charitable and congenial owners that we have known for over a decade.

Read our feature written on Art de Vivre's success in the Seychelles

If you are interested in renting a designer villa in the Seychelles, we encourage you to make an enquiry or call us on +44 (0) 1296 334138.

Art de Vivre are proud to be at The London Boat Show 2016

Here at Art de Vivre we are busy preparing for this year’s London Boat Show, from 8th to 17th January 2016. Located at the ExCeL Centre in London’s Docklands we will be beside Sunseeker’s large and impressive stand volunteering with the PAH charity raffle. When the Princess Alexandra Hospital breast-cancer trials charity needed a grand prize for their raffle this year, we were proud to offer a 7 night stay at one of our top luxury Seychelles properties Li-Al-Do Maison as the Golden Raffle Prize.

Li-Al-Do Maison is a stunning oceanfront 4 bedroom property in Takamaka, Mahé, Seychelles. Our founder Julie Gauthier has been working with its Italian owner for over 10 years and has had many repeat clients coming back year after year. Ideal for families and groups of friends Li-Al-Do Maison’s staff and its location are its highlights. 

We have always found the London Boat Show to be an exciting event and are proud to see so many British maritime businesses present together. When we heard from The Luxury Network partner Sunseeker London that we could be involved in this huge event and make a positive contribution to the PAH charity we jumped at the chance of getting involved.

For those of you attending The London Boat Show 2016, we really look forward to seeing you at our dedicated PAH stand next to Sunseeker and invite you to enter the charity raffle to have a chance of winning one of the fantastic prizes that have been donated to PAH.

If you have any more questions for us, feel free to comment below or drop us an email. We look forward to seeing you there.

James Bond's Top International Villas

James Bond knows a thing or two about the high life. With box office smash Spectre seeing Bond travelling the globe once again, we take a look at the villas that would most please the silver screen’s most stylish secret agent.

SPECTRE
CASA TRES SOLES, MEXICO

One of the most talked about scenes in Spectre is the action-packed opening sequence set at the Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico City. Bond has a hard time in the film, barely getting a chance to soak up the scenery. But if he did, we are sure he’d feel right at home at Casa Tres Soles. Situated just an hour and a half’s flight from the capital by private jet, Casa Tres Soles is the kind of beautiful, secluded villa that meets all the needs of the original international man of mystery. There are endless coves nearby to explore by boat, and a wraparound pool for soaking up the sun with martini in hand. When Dia de los Muertos comes around, make sure you have a mask ready.

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DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
LEOBO OBSERVATORY VILLA, SOUTH AFRICA

Sean Connery’s final official appearance as 007 saw him jetting off to South Africa to stop Ernst Stavro Blofeld building a giant laser out of diamonds. If you want to follow in Connery’s footsteps, Leobo Observatory Villa might be the place for you. Built into the bush, Leobo Observatory is full of genius design that would make even Q proud. On top of the research-quality observatory for midnight stargazing, Leobo Reserve offers countless Bond-style activities to engage in. Sky diving, helicopter flying, rock climbing and quad bike safari are all readily available for those who want to live fast and die another day.

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GOLDENEYE
VILLA C-VIEW, COTE D’AZUR

In GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan can be seen spending time in the luxury casinos of Monte-Carlo, and surveying the port of Monaco after dark. If you would like to pull up in this port and try your hand at baccarat, Villa C-View is the perfect place for you to retreat to. With minimalist modern decor and unrivalled views of the Riviera, this villa is a contemporary spin on the traditional James Bond glamour.

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THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
INIALA BEACH HOUSE RESIDENCE, THAILAND

The Man with the Golden Gun saw Roger Moore facing off with Christopher Lee in several Asian locations. The film takes place primarily in Thailand, which is also the location of the wonderful Iniala Beach House Residence. This complex is a collection of three villas and one utterly unique penthouse. Designed by people almost as well-travelled as Bond himself, the complex features a gourmet restaurant, a fantastic bar/games room and, of course, brilliant views of the Thai coast. It is right on the beach, after all.

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ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE
CHALET ZERMATT PEAK, SWITZERLAND

George Lazenby only played James Bond once, but he still managed to appear in one of the most iconic scenes in the entire franchise: the Alpine ski chase in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The ski chase has since become a staple of the Bond film, with several subsequent entries in the series (including this year’s Spectre) seeing 007 get into various ski-related scrapes. For those who want to create their own ski chase, Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland is the perfect place to stay. Built into the side of a mountain with private tunnel access, walk-in wine cellar and luxurious wellness spa, Chalet Zermatt Peak has everything you need after an edge-of-your-seat ski scenario.

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THUNDERBALL
VILLA TAGOMAGO, PRIVATE ISLAND, THE BALEARICS

A lot of the action in Thunderball takes place on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. This island has its own appeal, but for a real island paradise of your own, Villa Tagomago is the place to go. Perhaps the most Bond-like villa in our collection, Tagomago is close to the glamour of Ibiza’s exclusive private bars, but entirely secluded at the same time. Reachable by its own private mooring, the island comes with access to two boats and two jetskis. Several more ‘toys’ are available, including the Mangusta 108 yacht that can reach 40 knots; and a Boston Whaler 320 with an electric grill.

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THE NEXT BOND FILM
VILLA AQUA, AUSTRALIA

Whether or not Daniel Craig reprises his role, we are promised in the end credits of Spectre that JAMES BOND WILL RETURN. But where will he go this time? Our suggestion is a country that, surprisingly, 007 has never visited: Australia. Specifically, he should go to the Great Barrier Reef, where no doubt he can find some nefarious underwater activity on a scuba diving expedition. If you want to beat Bond to it, you should consider staying in Villa Aqua. With its own helipad, library, cinema and private marina, this villa is truly fit for a globe-trotting super-spy.

If much like James Bond, you are all about the details, you can read further information on our Worldwide Villas, European Villas and Alpine Chalets. When it comes to experiencing James Bond-level glamour for your stay, nobody does it better than Art de Vivre.

Introducing our Australia and New Zealand Villas

We are proud to announce the addition of four beautiful properties for rental in Australasia, including an oceanfront villa, a lakeside architectural masterpiece, an elegant sydney harbour apartment and a chateau with a view.

Villa Aqua, Whitsunday's, Queensland, Australia

La Corniche, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia

Feathertop Chateau, Victoria, Australia

Interested in renting a designer property in Australia or New Zealand? Please feel free to send us an email on [email protected] or make an enquiry.

Room for Everyone: Large Family Villas for Rental

Large Verbier Chalet, Summer Breakfast in the Alps

Private Designer Cinema in Large Phuket Villa

Bali Designer Villa, Family Dining

Horse riding with Family in Africa

Learning golf with your children, Mauritius

Cosy Bunkbeds in the Swiss Alps, Verbier

Dining in style surrounded by family, Alpine Chalet

Alfresco Dining with family in French Countryside, Cote d'Azur

Written by Julie Gauthier, Founder & Director, Art de Vivre

We are often approached by clients to find a villa for a large family get together. With grandchildren, son-in-laws and distant cousins, all needing enough space and activities, what seemed like a good idea initially can become a stressful task for the host. Sound familiar?

Pleasing everyone and finding the perfect balance of location and property is where our expertise is invaluable. Luckily many of our private properties are made for large gatherings with vast areas of space in the gardens and living areas, separate sleeping areas, as well as many different areas for dining around the property.

While some guests will prefer a quiet relaxing time around the villa, the little guests may like to be on the beach and the active ones, be they teenagers or aunts and uncles, may want water sports, cultural trips, golf, hiking, snow sports or cycling nearby. We take pride in getting to know the complete makeup of each of our guest parties, using our experience and imagination to ensure each guest's priorities and interests are fulfilled during their stay.

Our portfolio and contacts have large villas and chalets around the world located in Mediterranean, Majorca, Ibiza, Italy, Cote d'Azur, Dubrovnik, Bali, Thailand, Caribbean, South Africa, Indian Ocean, Central America, South America and the Alps.

Whether you are searching for a villa or chalet for a family celebration, wedding anniversary, milestone birthday, family get together, special occasion or group of friends staying together, send us a request with your family's unique requirements and we will be happy to aid you in finding the perfect property for rental.

“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.”

— Albert Einstein