Meet some of the likeminded August families who share the love of travel, passion for culture and quality time together

‍

​​Fiona and David, who recently stayed in their August French Riviera home, joined the Signature Collection last year. They both expressed a fondness for certain locations, such as the south of France, anywhere with snow for skiing, and the authentic town of Sóller in Mallorca.  The French Riviera home was perfect for their first stay in their August home, we were overjoyed to learn about their trip to Valbonne.

‍

"It seems forever since we first started talking to August about the Signature Collection – long before the words ‘lockdown’, ‘quarantine’, ‘social distancing’, or ‘PCR tests’ became a part of everyday conversation – and when travel was something we did at the drop of a hat.

‍

We often spoke about owning a home abroad but it always seemed too much hassle, and we could never quite decide where it should be.

‍

This was all before hearing about the August concept... but since meeting the August team, our dream has finally come true and we have spent a week in the Valbonne home, which felt more like home than we could ever have imagined.

Having seen photos of the house before, during and after the renovation process, we arrived feeling that we knew exactly what to expect. However, the reality of the house surpassed expectations and it delivers exactly what August promised – and more!

‍

August home before and afters

‍

Every aspect of the interior design and the finishing touches has been so carefully thought through and the house flows seamlessly from room to room as well as from the interior spaces to the outside areas, with so many places to relax either in or out of the sun.

‍

‍

There are so many windows and doors that the house is always filled with wonderful Provencal light. Whilst we loved lounging by the pool and eating at all the various outside tables, we can’t wait to try out that magnificent fire in winter and to spend time snuggled up with a good book on the comfiest sofa ever!

‍

‍

‍The house is ideally located to explore the amazing variety of sights and activities that the South of France has to offer

‍

Without driving more than about 35 to 40 minutes in any direction, we visited numerous unspoilt hilltop villages, went to the coast and ate dinner on a beach with our feet in the sand, took a boat trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer, discovered all sorts of art in unexpected places as well as the delights of the magnificent Foundation Maeght at St Paul de Vence, and earmarked mountains and spectacular gorges for long walks when we have more time.

David is already planning a trip with his golf friends to try out the 4 golf courses that are each within about 10 minutes of the home!

Our sons were deeply envious that they weren’t able to join us on our first visit but there will be lots more opportunities – and it only took 6 hours door to door to get there… about the same time as driving to Cornwall, in the west coast of England.

‍‍

Valbonne itself is utterly delightful and only a 4-minute drive from the home. Each time we went, we discovered something new and came back wanting to go again.

‍

However, one of the most important things is that there is a boulangerie within walking distance of the home for those vital morning croissants, and the local supermarket sells everything you could possibly want for a quick stock upon arrival.

‍

We even discovered that you can walk to the closest village – Plascassier – where there is a great family-run restaurant if you don’t want to get in the car to go further afield.

We are quite happy to let August make all the decisions for us

We feel so fortunate to be part of August, and knowing the next homes in the Collection will be refurbished with the same attention to detail as the one in Provence then we are definitely in for a real treat as the others become available. We are quite happy to let August make all the decisions for us, then to enjoy more voyages of discovery in Tuscany and Mallorca – not to mention the Cotswolds! It is great to have so much to look forward to.

A huge thank you to the August team!

Fiona and David‍