Why does it have to be from Stosa?

Does the building's architecture come through in the apartment? Would you consider incorporating some antique Art Deco furniture- one or two special pieces with a lot of presence- into a sleek and modern European design?

For the kitchen, I would go with the modern look, since it's open plan. The European idea with kitchens like those is to have them disappear. I think it's a great idea- so long as you make absolutely sure there is enough storage space so you are not fighting between clean and clutter all the time. The UK version of Houzz shows great examples of very modern kitchens in period houses- so does Bulthaup- for inspiration.

You have an amazing project on your hands. Congratulations!

@writersblock -- the unit is in the process of a total gut renovation and the contractor has fixed certain vendors, thus Stosa is the cabinet line.

@abby krug -- Thanks -- it's smaller and less work than I was facing before, but it should be interesting. The architecture shows up in the railings on the terrasse, which opens up through a wall of doors and windows into the main living space. Inside the small unit, there is not a lot of detail. I'll check out the UK site, and Bulthaup. Thanks also for a reminder of the railings -- it's a clear design element that I'll keep in mind.

Thanks for clarifying. I haven't been anywhere in Europe where people pay much attention anymore to harmonizing with existing architectural detail in apartment interiors, alas, so I think whatever you do will be fine for resale.

I think the curved elements of Stosa Milly would work quite well, especially in the cream with black as shown in some of the pictures.

I'm unfamiliar with the design vernacular so I just went on to AirBNB to look at apartments in Nice to see what people are doing in their apartments. It looks Spartan to me, although that can be a feature of rental apartments, but I think also a feature of hot climates where people don't need a lot of snuggly textiles to stay warm. Mostly modern furnishings with lots of slab door kitchens.

Here were a few apartments that interested me:

Cute traditional kitchen in this one and love the black hex tile floors.

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/5859290?checkin=07-02-2017&checkout=11-02-2017&guests=1&s=2QdXRP9u

A lot of white. A LOT of white.

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/2668758?checkin=07-02-2017&checkout=11-02-2017&guests=1&s=2QdXRP9u

White and modern (and sparse)

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/2725482?checkin=07-02-2017&checkout=11-02-2017&guests=1&s=wRuK7NS7

Here are my thoughts in no particular order:

* It seems the apartments can withstand some natural wood tones. Whether that be flooring or kitchen.

* I would let your intention for the rest of the furnishings dictate the kitchen style, traditional or modern.

* I would be inclined toward a white kitchen and I would only do a more traditional non-slab door if I were sure I wanted less modern apartment fittings.

* Fairly modern/sleek bathrooms seem to be de rigeur in Europe in general and I wouldn't fight that trend.

* One way to incorporate art deco is with a black/white color scheme, another way would be with rounded door arches and sleek light fixtures, perhaps with some circular fittings and mirrors. Art deco is a very attractive era for bathrooms if you don't want to go too modern.Another thought would be metallic accents in the kitchen or perhaps a metallic kitchen counter if you'd like to be so bold. Art deco is also a really attractive period for hardware like drawer pulls.

Some more eye candy...really like this Villa

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/3471540?checkin=31-01-2017&checkout=14-02-2017&guests=1&s=SQWMSGpW

A little eclectic but you could live my concrete tile dream

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/14492939?checkin=31-01-2017&checkout=14-02-2017&guests=1&s=SQWMSGpW

@writersblock -- I've noticed they do tend to install modern into just about anything, and occasionally you'll find faux provencale adapted into a modern space. The former more than the latter.

@beckysharp -- the Milly has caught our eye, especially with the the double bar handle. the Malibu seems also to be a candidate.

@robo -- thanks so much for hunting down the rental listings. You picked a great selection. The floors are going to be natural mid toned antique oak. The original plan was to do herringbone, but that was not possible at this point, sadly. I too love the encaustic tile, and we saw some great examples. Sadly, we have limited options on the floors. I'm leaning towards white or light in the kitchen.

Do you have any inspiration pictures? We* demand eye candy!

*I

@robo --- do you mean pictures of the unit? It's not too "candy-ish" as it's all torn up. Or did you mean inspiration photos?

Here's a picture of the before I found -- the sea is viewable from the balcony. The ceilings are 3m and there are four doors onto the wrap around balcony. :

Quite honestly, there were other finalists (we've seen 40+ in two trips) with gorgeous bourgeois style and more space. This one had the light and the proximity/view to the sea and the main pedestrian areas. The choice ended up being one that was better as a vacation destination vs. one that was better for regular home.

I'm lacking in inspiration, quite seriously. But I'll try to find some photos and post them in a reply

Wow, beautiful place!!

Here's one mood board I just put together: from top left, full length silk drapes in a pale tropical color, art deco chandelier, standard louis xiv dining chairs, sleek gold kitchen fixtures, glossy walnut cabs to go with...vintage art deco end table and coffee table, fun bergere chairs and chesterfield. Not sure if blue is your thing, I was just trying to St Tropez it up a little bit.

Here's another - this one has a matte slab kitchen with stone or quartz, sleeker fixtures, hermes orange sofa.

@Robo Thanks so much for pulling the mood boards together. I'm going to have to pull one together. We are sharing the same thoughts!

I was thinking blue and Louis chairs in white and blue just like you showed.... and a bold deep blue couch (we may have to find a stylish sleeper). I was thinking of a glass topped table to keep things light, and the cabinets will likely be the gloss white Milly with the double bar handles. And perhaps a top of white quartz or faux carrera.

Love the chandy in the second as well. Wanted herringbone but it's going to be too difficult to add. The original was a type of parquet. The drapes in the first look beautiful.... always love silk.

There's just something about full length solid color drapes that feels French.

I like the idea of the glass table and the gloss Milly cabs. Feels glam. What finishes are the handles available in?

How about semicircle or fully round pulls on the French doors?

This is the handle that we really like -- it helps spice up the flat panel. The end panels are also curved.

There are a lot of windows to cover, which is one concern. The rooms may not be large enough to handle a puddled window treatment of 2X+ fullness. We'll have to see. I love the look, though.

I would consider simple curtain panels that don't puddle and have 1.5 times the width. To me it actually looks more livable. The inspiration boards shown are really nice. Don't hesitate to incorporate modern or abstract art into this kind of interior. It helps to keep my fairly traditional interiors from looking old-fashioned and fusty, and the colors it adds to a room can be glorious. Oriental area rugs can add richness and color also, and soften some of the modern pieces you might have to use. They don't have to be wool, they can be polypropylene which cleans easily and comes in many style, including Orientals. I tend to favor Kazaks which have more of an open, tribal pattern and will go well with modern art and furniture.

I like the chrome! I see a lot of just "breaking" window treatments or just above the floor would be nice too.

Here's some ideas thrown together, anchored by a few choices already made. This one is tending perhaps a little to formal and glam, and less seaside.

I am not much help. I love all three moodboards, and just the not-sea view is gorgeous! Best of luck to you!

//There are a lot of windows to cover, which is one concern.//

If it's cost that's the concern, Ikea's 100 percent linen Aina curtains, $59/pair, are quite nice. They are 98" long and come in white, natural, and dark gray; you could dye the white ones.

At Ikea in France, they're available in blue, and 69€/pair

I was going to say, are the curtains in your moodboard linen? They look great!

How about a round mirror? That's art deco-y isn't it?

When choosing a sleeper sofa...please make comfort a primary concern. I think my back is permanently injured from my inlaws' sofa which is supposedly fairly nice but has that bar running across the middle. We drag the mattress out onto the floor.

@mtnrdredux -- thanks, it's quite an adventure and an exercise in spending discipline

@beckysharp -- thanks so much, those blue linen ones are quite nice. I hadn't even though of the cost yet (shame on me), I was actually concerned with the amount of wall space the drapes might take up. The other rooms are like the photos, with large french doors and fixed panels.

@robo -- Yes, those are linen sheers. I'll look for a round mirror, and some abstract art... I think I'll try a another mood board with a more casual bent. I agree about the sleeper -- memory foam mattresses help a lot. We had to get one for our other place. The real estate management people say we should have the third sleeping option for renters that want to have the kids out in the living room.

Lovely place. This is one of my favorite picture books.

Sharon Santoni has a blog and another great book. I found a cheap copy on eBay.

https://www.amazon.com/French-Flair-Modern-Vintage-Interiors/dp/2080200941

@1929Spanish. Those book suggestions are wonderful. They make me pine for the country home we decided to wait (we saw some beautiful village homes in the hills of Provence). I went ahead and ordered one of the books.

Here's another cut at a slightly more casual and French mood board. I've found a couple of online French furniture stores that I'm sorting through as well....

Oh, Gooster, it's beautiful and will be gorgeous. Best of luck to you. Sending you virtual salt and bread for your new home.

Well I thought I would follow up with a few pics of the final result. Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. As you may recall, this was the second of the properties we put an offer on, and the final result ended up looking a bit less French and Provencal than our first property choice, and maybe more urban and Cote d'Azur than the descriptions above (and smaller!).

I still have to tweak. Due to challenges in sourcing overseas and the limitations of budgets and sources, some stuff (art, accessories) are not what I'd like it to be eventually. Think we could use a bench in the master, as well, and I'd like to play around with the furniture layout. Oh, and we had a larger table on order for the balcony, this one will move to the side if we go ahead with the replacement.

Please excuse the staging. The photos below are from our listing but are better than the iphone pics that I have from our local contacts.

Main space

Open kitchen

Master

Likely going to put a larger table and move the bistro set to the side balcony.

Beautiful, Gooster! Nice and bright and airy looking.

Fabulous!

Gorgeous. Wishing you many happy, sunny days there!

Perfect! Congratulations! Also wishing you wonderfully happy days!

It's beautiful.

Love the sophisticated color scheme! Your window treatments turned out beautifully as well. I'd love such a beautiful place to stay!

Thanks, all! It's been quite a journey and some lessons learned.

@robo -- I matched your first mood board pretty well, didn't I? The window treatments were an adventure, some local custom, one set off the shelf modified with a lining, and the MB silk I imported from Village Drapes.

Here's a couple of more pics

2nd Bedroom, set up for two singles or can be pushed together.

Foyer

Wow, gorgeous. I love the mix of modern and classical, and, of course, the colors.

Gooster that's very nice of you to say :)