French architect and designer Philippe Starck used warm tones and modernist references in his renovation of Villa W, a boutique wellness hotel on the coast of Saint-Tropez. Created as a little sister to the existing Starck-designed Lily of the Valley hotel which is located nearby, Villa W is a fitness and wellness hotel located in an existing villa that was renovated by Starck.

Philippe Starck says they all dream of a chalet by the sea, a log cabin or a fisherman's cottage. But now there's no need to dream, because this has gone from dream to reality -- a romantic retreat nestled in a pine forest overlooking the Mediterranean at La Croix-Valmer.

Set over two floors, the boutique hotel has three double rooms and can cater to up to six guests at a time. Each bedroom has its own private terrace with views of the surrounding lush landscape and the Mediterranean sea. During the renovation process, Starck decided to emphasise the original architectural features of the villa. It was built in the 1960s by a local architect called Jean Nielly.

Made from vast sheets of glass, concrete and steel, the villa already had unparalleled views onto its surroundings. In a bid to celebrate this, Starck focused on drawing attention to the length of the villa, adding arbours made from chestnut wood along its long, south-facing glass facade. Large French doors set in aluminium frames allow plenty of natural light to brighten up the interiors and merge them with the exterior, while a decked terrace that wraps around the edges of the building has a private 17-metre-long pool.

Inside, Starck Starck drew on the mid-century modern style found in Charles and Ray Eames' home in Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighbourhood for Villa W. Guests enter the hotel through a main lobby and reception area where tan leather sofas, wooden ornaments and rust-coloured rugs can be found.

On one side of the lobby is a patio area with rattan seating, while a bar behind the space serves what the hotel calls "healthy Mediterranean cuisine." Wood floors and soft furnishings provide additional warmth. The warm colors continue in the hotel's upstairs bedrooms, while the three bathrooms adopt a cleaner, brighter aesthetic with marble floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors, designed to emphasize the Mediterranean's ubiquity.

Interiors:PhilippeStarck

Photos:NovembreStudio