They found the 1920s villa a via an online ad. Located in the centre of a small town, around a 20-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence, it is typical of the types of houses seen in this region. However, this property had been abandoned for about 20 years, so the leaking roof and overgrown garden were the least of their worries. Deciding to do the restoration entirely themselves and in their spare time, it was 'an adventure that lasted longer than expected', admits Marine.
Their choice to undertake all of the work isn't so surprising when you realise how practical they both are. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Marseille, Marine was a film set designer, while Victor is an artisan decorator. This project inspired Marine to pivot to interior design and the couple to set up their studio, Maison Mavi.
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