Domaine du Bien-Etre

FANS OF CHIC Domaine de la Baronnie, in Ile de Ré's capital Saint-Martin, will be glad to hear that this pleasing property now has a younger sister just yards away.

Owners Pierre and Florence Pallardy have put their distinctive design flair to work in a neighbouring villa, and the result – Domaine du Bien-Etre – makes an enviable addition to the town's sought-after addresses.

Rustic white shutters, ivy and wisteria clad walls and traditional arched doorways lend their new domain plenty of eye-appeal. And keep walking: a real highlight of this property is the delightful flowered and sun-warmed courtyard, where tables and chairs nudged by shady palms beckon for breakfast, tea and late-evening trysts. A garden stretches away behind.

Inside Domaine du Bien-Etre, it's all restrained colours and classic French elegance with a dash of rustique. Five spacious rooms have rugged wooden floors, creamy furniture and cool ivory walls accented with soft floral fabrics.

Four-postered Pavillon

Each room has its own colour leitmotif. Buckingham is all cool blues, Richelieu has splashes of vibrant reds, while Rose de Parme blushes in cerise and lilac. We especially liked the spacious Loft room with its light wood panelling and piles of cushions, and the white-on-white simplicity of Pavillon Princesse, with its winsome wrought-iron four poster. Decisions, decisions.

© Room for Romance