[New] Capelongue

Bonnieux

Interiors agency Jaune presents a modern riff on tradition at Beaumier’s new French outpost, where escapism and elegance are offered in equal measure.

Words: Sarah Leigh Bannerman Photography: © Charlotte Lindet

Provence is famed for its rolling hills, quaint villages and abundant vineyards, but now there’s a new reason to visit. Capelongue, the latest addition to Beaumier’s French portfolio, opened its doors last summer on a hilltop spot in the picturesque commune of Bonnieux. Void of neighbours closer than a 15-minute walk away, its position alone omits an alluring sense of escapism and encourages complete departure from everyday life. For those in search of calm, Capelongue offers a retreat in the most literal sense of the word.

The vast estate is currently home to 37 rooms and suites, and further expansion is on track for the coming years. Guests who wake early enough for sunrise will be privy to a cloud of mist ascending from the depths of the valley. Night owls can stargaze as darkness cloaks the sky, spotlighting nature’s constellations against the soft soundtrack of crickets. Both are worth being outside for.

The oldest of Capelongue’s buildings dates back to the 18th century. Its sandy coloured stone architecture, imperfect shape and timber shutters provided the blueprint for Studio Arch, the architecture firm behind the newer buildings in the cluster. All mimic the original and respect the region’s longstanding aesthetic in a way that’s unnoticeable to the untrained eye. This is what gives Provence and Capelongue their charm. There’s nothing glossy here. Everything about the space is reflective of its surroundings and feels evocative of an ancient French farmhouse.

Interiors present a modern riff on tradition that’s in keeping with Beaumier’s sister properties; considered luxury and impeccable taste are rooted in the brand DNA. Paula Alvarez de Toledo and Marine Delaloy – the creative duo of interiors agency Jaune – are the masterminds behind the look, which brings the outside in using exposed stone, ochre and terracotta. “Provence is very familiar to us,” says Alvarez de Toledo. “We’re native so we have a strong attachment to its crafts. The furnishings are inspired by memories from our childhoods.”

Bringing elements of the outdoors in, the hotel’s rustic design scheme fuses exposed stone with earthy tones like ochre and terracotta

Curvaceous design elements mimic the shapes of the surrounding landscape and infiltrate every room. Thonet chairs, tables and barstools in the café are rounded, as are mirror edges, lampshades and ceramics used to serve hot drinks and daily bakes. By contrast, slim rectangular wall tiles and decorative strips of timber at the doors of each storage cabinet run in horizontal lines. Juxtaposing shapes are at play. “Much of the furniture has been bought from Éditions Midi,” Alvarez de Toledo explains. “The founder Jérémie du Chaffautis is also a Provence native. We wanted to work with local artisans and materials to restore the original spirit of the estate.”

The most Instagram-worthy room meanwhile can be found through an archway in the wall. Purely decorative save for a winding spiral staircase that leads to a corridor of guestrooms, it is home to a cavernous white wall of cubby holes in varying sizes. Each is filled with a different ceramic, some of which are locally sourced or antique.

Expansive photography books and dried flowers decorate the smooth marble centre table, not just in vases but tied in clusters and attached to walls. It adds an element of texture and brings to mind the region’s famous lavender fields. In the grounds, wisteria, olive trees, rosemary bushes and bursts of pistachio green continue the theme, lining the stone path to one of two pools. Potted citrus trees pepper the courtyard and vines wind their way up the garden walls.

Every room boasts a similar aesthetic and consistency throughout the property is clear. Subtle commonalities surpass aesthetic. The lampshades used in several common areas, for example, were sourced from the same basketmaker in Salernes who provided the mirrors in the bathrooms. Each vanity unit is handmade by Jaune and pendant lamps have been selected from La Vannerie Pascal Lafon’s collection.

Artwork chosen by architecture and branding studio Saint-Lazare adds an element of differentiation and some bedrooms feature unique design touches, but this isn’t the kind of place where each space has been designed differently to the next.

There’s confidence in the aesthetic choices, and duly so. Bright and airy, spacious and considered with hero furniture pieces in a mix of materials – every area feels calming without being sterile. The warmth of terracotta and oak offsets concrete bathtubs and lime plaster walls, while handmade tiles bring individuality among the uniform.

It’s a look that’s planned to continue as phase two of the property development commences in 2023. 16 new rooms will replace the current restaurant and spill across the gardens, the restaurant will be moved to where the spa and gym has been located until now, and the latter will be repositioned accordingly. Naturally, Jaune will be pivotal to the design plans. “The new spa will be more streamlined and minimal in its look than the current one,” says Alvarez de Toledo. “We will use much of the same materials as we have elsewhere.”

The restaurant plans are inspired by an old sheepfold – another nod to local traditions and the fruit of Provence’s land. Cooking will take place on an open fire, the goal being to create a homely atmosphere befitting to the French countryside. The on-site herb garden and vineyard will undoubtedly be put to optimum use too.

Beaumier’s plans for Capelongue don’t stop there. In 2024, the hotel will welcome the addition of a further 57 rooms. The two outdoor swimming pools will remain, as will the communal areas and courtyard.

Not just a picture-postcard example of considered hotel design but also a showcase of how aesthetics can enhance, as well as play into their surroundings, Capelongue is the kind of place that guests leave feeling a whole lot calmer than when they arrived. Jaune’s clever combination of colour and natural materials, coupled with the property’s rural surroundings, invoke a feeling of escapism while staying true to Beaumier’s established take on luxury.

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Operator: Beaumier

Architecture: Studio Arch Interior Design: Jaune Art Consultant: Saint-Lazare www.beaumier.com