“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” — Pablo Picasso It was here, at Villa Notre-Dame-de-Vie in Mougins, in the hills above Cannes, where Picasso lived out the last days of his life, with his passing in 1973. Prior to his ownership of the 15-bedroom, three-hectare estate, which he purchased in 1961, it had for decades belonged to the Anglo-Irish Guinness brewing family. Fast forward to 2008, a Dutch real estate tycoon purchased the villa and invested twice the purchase price in renovations and decoration, in the hands of antiquarian Axel Vervoordt. Sadly, the house went to auction (divorce is such fun) and the villa is now owned by a New Zealand real estate businessman. The elegant curving staircase, evocative of a nautilus shell, ascends toward the light, casting ever-changing shadows along walls and onto the floors. In the foreground a 19th-century French bowl sets atop a French wooden table. “One senses Axel’s philosophy of creating fullness from emptiness with these sparse, reflective rooms.” — From “Living With Light” #notredamedevie #villanotredamedevie #pablopicasso @axelvervoordt #axelvervoordt #cannes #mougins #belgiandesign #thebenelux #shadows #light #nuance #atmosphere #jacquescouelle #simplicity #clarity #purity #monastic #ascetic #restraint #soulfulspaces #southoffrance #riviera #frenchcountryhouse #interiordesign #interiordecorating #theartoftheroom https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn08BKUgGG9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=173ajh6idky6i
