I like to think that every single property we take on has something truly “special” about it. Something unique, that sets it apart, and that we can get really excited about. Our first “French Riviera Property of the Week” is for the ladies, and we’re setting the bar pretty high with Number 1!

“Estee Lauder” can be found in all of our cosmetics drawers. A prestige cosmetics brand, born in New York City in 1946 by Josephine Esther Mentzer and her husband Joseph Lauder. They started with 4 skin care products, and 2 years later appeared in Saks Fifth Avenue. Their brand grew rapidly, and by 1960 they went international, being available in Harrods first, and then Hong Kong. Some 6 years later, Estee Lauder started a new company, Clinique, the world’s first ever dermatologically tested, fragrance free and allergy tested cosmetic brand. Another respected household name today.

What we all want to know is how people like Estee Lauder lived; and where, and what were their houses like? This heart-breakingly-beautiful villa in Cannes, on the French Riviera, gives us exactly that insight. We see a lot of homes, and for me, this villa, Josephine Esther Menzer’s French Riviera holiday home, is right up at the top of the list. Entirely restored, this villa is, well, impeccable. It traverses the tight rope between history, and the modern conveniences that buyers in this price range expect today, giving equal respect to both, creating a perfect balance, and a lovely home.

When one thinks of the USA, New York, California and Florida come first to most peoples’ minds. In France, one thinks of Paris, St Tropez and Cannes. Cannes is a little “gem” on the French Riviera. Sandy beaches differentiate it from Nice and other “pebble beach” towns towards the Italian border; and its’ year round buzz with 5* restaurants, world class boutiques and a long history of loyal visitors sets it apart from all other towns along the coast. It’s no wonder that Estee Lauder fell in love with Cannes, and in particular, with this Belle Epoque dream.