With breathtaking views of the ocean and Beach Les Pêcheurs on one side and the peak of La Rhune on the other, this compact loft apartment already enjoyed an extraordinary setting. Then it came into the hands of Olivier Granet-Sottis, an interior designer who was given carte blanche to make it as enchanting as the surrounding landscape.
‘The owner had spotted my work at the Hôtel de la Plage in Biarritz,’ explains Granet-Sottis, referring to the modern-coastal style he brought to the boutique spot. ‘He handed me the keys and completely trusted me to reinvent his home. His only request: to favour the view of the Atlantic.’
An outward-looking approach was important because the home itself is not large, with the views almost becoming extensions of the rooms themselves. Granet-Sottis retained the apartment’s load-bearing walls, but rejigged its layout to allow the kitchen and living spaces to enjoy as much natural light as possible.
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After bringing the original parquet flooring back to life, he devised a colourful palette inspired by a Rini Spiel painting that hangs behind the sofa in the lounge, as well as his trips to Morocco. These uplifting paint choices bring character and a sense of identity to each room, no matter how small.
And, when he isn’t playing with sunset-on-the-beach hues, the designer is being inventive with materials. Wood, stainless steel, polished concrete and marble all feature, often used to create bespoke storage solutions that slot perfectly into this loft space’s unique dimensions – think beds placed in alcoves and bespoke cabinetry, such as a bookcase that cleverly conceals a television.
Today, your gaze may still be drawn to what’s beyond the windows, but there is plenty to delight inside, too. olivier-granet-sottis.com
