"In the old days, this former summer house on the outskirts of Gros—an architectural mashup of Surrey Tudor and bourgeois Basque—was a frowzy, fusty kind of place. Following its purchase and re-opening by the Soldevila family of Catalan hoteliers, the Villa (which dates back to 1898) has a new lease of life and the fin-de-siecle ambiance is all part of its charm. The six-month overhaul, under the careful hand of designer Núria Ferrer, combines original elements—such as the carved wooden staircase with smart new furnishings and judiciously chosen modern Basque art (look for the original works by Eduardo Chillida). Bedecked in fine wallpapers and rich fabrics in stripes and tartans, this old lady now has quite a spring in her step." - Paul Richardson
