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Inspiration
Les Bords du Lac, the Ocean Surf-style Landes Holiday Home Dreamed Up By Iconic House
After investing in the Alpilles region with Étoile des Baux, Iconic House, the group that owns exclusive private holiday homes, set its sights on the Atlantic coast. The popular seaside resort of Soorts-Hossegor to be precise. A new seaside adventure for entrepreneur brothers Thibaud Elzière and Robin Michel, christened Les Bords du Lac, where interior designer Dorothée Delaye was given carte blanche to design the Ocean House of her dreams. It’s a choice that couldn’t be more appropriate, given that the interior designer spent a lot of time there as a child. Steeped in summer memories, she has brought this traditional white and red Basque-Landes building dating from the 1930s up to date, while respecting its original character. “Sheltered under pine trees, facing the marine lake”, the villa offers the style of hospitality that embodies the entrepreneurial duo. A “demanding but relaxed” approach that takes shape in spaces featuring vintage decor – punctuated by our The Socialite Family creations provided by our Pro Service– where you can walk barefoot, while admiring the protected outdoor areas. Dorothée chose to open up the kitchen to the living room so guests can enjoy all their time together. Guests can gather around an iconic ‘surf’ table or beside a library of ground-breaking books on the art of surfing. This architectural jewel pays homage to local crafts and materials such as zellige and rose quartz, for an all-encompassing experience. Right down to the range of tailor-made services on offer to guests! Driving along the coast in the Landaise style or catching a wave with surfing star Marc Lacomare: the ocean is always at the core of activities.
Les Bords du Lac, 40150, Soorts-Hossegor. Bookings on +33 6 08 35 87 06 or www.iconic.house/les-bords-du-lac. Are you an architect, decorator, hotelier, restaurateur or a company looking for pieces of furniture to bring your project to life? Contact our Pro Service at pro@thesocialitefamily.com for tailor-made assistance and discounts on pieces from our collection.
Author
Juliette Bruneau
Photos and videos
Constance Gennari
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After our native region of Alpilles, we wanted to find a property on the Atlantic coast... and we quickly fell for Hossegor's charm.
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TSF
After L’Étoile-des-Baux, we’re now at Les Bords du Lac in Hossegor another house that’s part of your Iconic House collection. Why did you choose Landes after Provence?
Robin
After our native region of Alpilles, we wanted to find a property on the Atlantic coast… and we quickly fell for Hossegor’s charm. We love the easy-going lifestyle, the “je-ne-sais-quoi” that makes us feel good here. It’s no doubt because it’s by the sea. We then discovered this property and were immediately smitten. For us, it’s one of the most beautiful houses in Hossegar, nestled among the pines and opposite the marine lake. It’s a red and white Basque-Landes construction, built in the 1930s by the French architect Louis Lagrange, who is famous for having built the most stunning villas that line the lake.
TSF
This time it was you, Dorothée, who oversaw the decoration. How did this partnership come about?
Dorothée
We were introduced by a mutual architect friend who was part of the follow-up for one of my projects, the Mimosa restaurant in the Hotel de la Marine. We really enjoyed working as a team and were looking for new sites that we could tackle together… and that’s how we linked up with the founders of Iconic House. It was a great encounter! After a winter trip to Hossegor with Thibaud and Robin, we launched the Les Bords du Lac project. In addition to my experience in the hospitality industry and the challenges this property presented, the guys also appreciated my knowledge of the region, which is where I spent my summers as a child.
Robin
For our part, we asked Dorothée to bring a fresh visual approach and add some flair to this traditional construction – notably for the interior, as the exterior has protected status. Obviously, we wanted to keep the spirit of the place so we could create a dream seaside house (without going for a stereotypical full-on surfer vibe), for the perfect getaway situated beside the best waves on the Atlantic coast.
TSF
What did you enjoy most about this project?
Dorothée
It was all-encompassing and this project was an incredible “playground”! We immediately clicked with the teams. I loved their vision, enthusiasm, their team working approach plus the idea of tackling a project in Hossegor with all its links to my youth. The deadline was very tight, and it was during a time of global shortages. We needed to trust each other and make quick decisions, all the while sticking to bold decorative choices, in order to finish in time. I was lucky to have free rein regarding design decisions and could choose the teams who joined me in this adventure – a dream for any interior designer!
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We love the easy-going lifestyle, the “je-ne-sais-quoi” that makes us feel good here. It’s no doubt because it’s by the sea.
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TSF
In a previous interview, you mentioned the importance of “plunging yourself into a place’s history and environment”. What made Les Bords du Lac fit the bill?
Robin
We quickly realised that this more than just “our villa” but rather a symbol and villa that represented all Hossegorians. That gave us all the motivation we needed to put our all into renovating this architectural wonder. Most of all, we wanted a house that is hospitable, welcoming and lively. One of our main aims was to make the decor a whole experience in line with the story we wanted to tell.
Dorothée
It goes without saying that “Les Bords du Lac” was the fruit of a story we created together. Its location, its architecture, its lakeside setting. We were all on the same page when it came to creating a house that was exceptional, unique… An ode to people who loves Landes, good waves and surfing! I wanted the decor to have a wide appeal, that it would be useable without compromising on detail. When I work on a space, I like to think about how it will be used on a daily basis. A very well-thought-out open kitchen, perfect for “surfer” gatherings around a table that’s great for working and enjoying a meal… a library with unusual works on art, architecture, surfing… I wanted to highlight local, durable materials. For example, I used quartz instead of marble which I consider too fragile for rental properties where guests will ‘live’ and frequently entertain. I also made sure the bedrooms had their own identity, a little detail that guests will like and make them want to return. We’ve all experienced the “who gets the biggest bedroom” scenario. In this case, everyone can be happy. All the bedrooms have been treated equally and I love getting feedback from Nina, the lovely House Manager who tells me some guests like to swap rooms and their children don’t want to leave the dedicated kids’ room. For me, it’s the sign of a successful project where nothing was left to chance! A decorative bias inspired by the 70s, with surfing-inspired colours combined with vintage elements. Even though this was a total renovation, I wanted guests to feel that this house had always been like this from the moment they stepped through the door. Starting from scratch meant I could achieve this balance and vary the colours, materials and furniture!
TSF
Made-to-measure and bargain-hunted furniture, bold colours, great attention to materials and finishing touches: how did you go about creating the decor for this “neo-surf” house?
Dorothée
I wanted sunny, vintage decor, just like an old and beautifully-worn 1980s longboard. As I explained to him, the weather in Landes can be unpredictable, and I was interested in creating an ocean surf vibe, with bold colours for the interior that correspond with the traditional facade. To do so, I created “spaces” and also used a common theme with reworked panelling that you’ll find on the ground floor and in some dressing rooms, as well as the marquetry patterns on the console tables, larder and kitchen island. A recurrent theme that flatters the shell. A hotchpotch of materials, colours and bespoke patterns for a balanced structure. Lacquered ceilings, a massive, impressive marquetry piece in one of the bedrooms and lots of 70s-style finds. Material-wise, there’s a mix of natural stone, such as travertine and white stone in the entrance hall and on numerous worktops, colourful zellige tiles and blue quartz that recalls sea foam. Each bedside rug reflects the bedroom’s colourways and each headboard is unique. I love receiving emails from guests bent on buying the “rare” pieces in the house, even if some of them are actually available to order at our agency, such as the fibre glass coffee table and the living room rug.
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TSF
You say that this project is “above all collective”. Can you tell us why?
Dorothée
It was a renovation that saw the light of day thanks to amazing teamwork. Valentin Caro, who oversaw the works, was on site every day and worked tirelessly throughout the entire renovation. I’ve worked with the Rosatelier studio for around a decade, and they did all the patina and paintwork. Not to mention the team of local artisans: upholsterers, artists, the sawmill, carpenters, stone quarry… Projects like this which have a very tight deadline are like running a marathon. The teams need to seamlessly work together, so no time is lost. Sometimes there’d be 30 of us on-site at the same time… we’d have to improvise or deal with delivery delays or supply problems, but the teams managed to work closely together thanks to impeccable organisation and a fun work ambience, which are vital in our lines of work.
TSF
Iconic House properties are associated with the luxury services offered to guests. What services are on offer at Les Bords du Lac?
Robin
The Iconic House experience is firstly about enjoying the comfort and privacy of a home-from-home, but with services that match those offered in luxury hotels. A particular approach to hospitality, the highest level of service but also easy-going. For example, here in Hossegor, guests can enjoy a hearty breakfast featuring local produce. If they like, our guests can hop on the Kate e-bikes and, like the locals, peddle around the area. We provide exclusive activities that our guests can enjoy: spending a day learning to surf with Marc Lacomare, a Landes native and champion pro surfer, or relaxing with our exclusive signature in-house spa treatment surrounded by Landes pine trees and the sound of lapping waves.
TSF
Apart from last winter’s inauguration of Chalet 1550 just off the slopes in Courchevel, can you tell us more about your forthcoming openings?
Robin
We are continuing to expand in France for the time being, although we are actively prospecting in other European countries such as Spain and Italy. Our next opening is in the Luberon. It’s a bastide nestling in the hills, offering a splendid view in an exceptional natural setting.
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Obviously, we wanted to keep the spirit of the place so we could create a dream seaside house (without going for a stereotypical full-on surfer vibe), for the perfect getaway situated beside the best waves on the Atlantic coast.
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