Cradled by chivalrous limestone cliffs and a forest of pine trees, this sea-facing abode appears to have been painted en plein air into the Amalfi Coast. “It took our breath away,” says owner Uschi Schwartz recalling the first time she and husband Danny laid eyes on the property while having lunch at a restaurant below. The Melbourne-based couple had been looking for a summer holiday home in the northern hemisphere and the sight of this stone villa with private access to the sea and paradisal views of the famous Faraglioni rock formations rising from the water was serendipitous to say the least.
A desk custom-built by local joiners makes the most of a window in one of the three bedrooms. This nook is decorated with a woven raffia vase and lobster from Eco Capri. Hans Wegner ‘CH36’ chair.
Outside the guest suite on the lower level, the table and chairs from Fermob provide a front-row view of the Faraglioni rock formation. The villa’s south-facing orientation welcomes all-day sunshine and protection from the Mediterranean wind.
However, on closer inspection, Uschi says, “we saw a villa in steep decline. It was tired and needed an entire refit, and the garden was a total mess.” The land had once belonged to a palazzo that was subdivided and sold off, and the villa itself had been a stone cistern until 1974 when it was turned into a private residence. The layout was typically Italian in that “it was carved up into many small rooms and the kitchen was cut off from the main dining area”, says Uschi. But although it couldn’t have been further from their vision of informal, inviting living spaces, she says, “this was exactly what we were looking for, something we could renovate in our style”.
Tactile, handcrafted furnishings warmly embrace the living room’s pared-back architectural details. The white sofas and round African wall baskets are from The Conran Shop and the handwoven ceiling pendant and floor lamp are from Mona Market. The Jøtul cast-iron stove provides respite from the cold winters.
Naturally, the brief was inspired by the sun-kissed landscape and involved “opening up the small internal spaces and giving it a fresh Mediterranean feel“, Uschi says. The couple, who have a toddler son, also wanted to introduce design elements synonymous with their Australian lifestyle – lots of windows, open-plan interiors and alfresco entertaining areas. The renovations were quite a cross-cultural experience. They engaged a builder from Australia to collaborate with a local tradesman and hired a team of craftsmen who “still bring local produce when they come to visit”.
In keeping with the owner’s wishes, the living space now flows into the kitchen. A De La Espada bench marks the threshold.
Tableware by Amalfi Coast artisans takes pride of place along the wooden shelves and limestone counters installed by local joiners. While meals are typically an alfresco affair, there is a Stix dining table with oak legs and Carrara marble top in the kitchen. The chairs are by Hans Wegner and the artwork above is from a series by Australian artist Mark Schaller.
Now, two years later, you’d swear this holiday home had been plucked from a Slim Aarons photo. While the centuries-old external walls remain, inside is a breezy three-bedroom, three-bathroom family getaway with a basement converted into a separate suite for guests. The uncontrived interiors personify their environment: the purity of the air, the warmth of the sun and the simplicity of daily life on the Amalfi Coast. “The mood reflects a Mediterranean summer,” says Uschi. “The colour scheme was intended to be natural and calm and not deflect from the intensely beautiful outdoor surroundings. We wanted to keep the furniture clean, fresh and natural to blend in.”
A private staircase on the property winds down the escarpment from the house to the beach. In summer, which is peak tourist season, the sea swells with boats.
With an abundance of local creative talent at her doorstep, Uschi incorporated regional art and ceramics into her preferred repertoire of homewares from European retailers. In the living room, Tunisian handwoven lamps from Mona Market in Paris, round wall baskets from The Conran Shop and a Gan rug designed by Patricia Urquiola harmonise with raffia sea creatures from Eco Capri, a store helmed by the grandson of legendary Capri artist Letizia Cerio. In the adjoining kitchen, handpainted dinnerware by Capri artisans Eureka di Pollicino creates an authentic sense of place displayed upon the locally-sourced limestone benchtops and richly-grained Austrian oak shelves.
A woven pendant and linen sheets from Merci in Paris add tactile sensuality to the minimally decorated bedroom.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are enjoyed on this terrace where the family can watch the activity on the water.
Underfoot, Italian terracotta tiles by Patricia Urquiola and Austrian oak floorboards impart an earthiness throughout the whitewashed scheme. These textural materials also create a natural, almost seamless physical transition as the family step off the beach and into their villa. Newly installed windows dissolve the boundary between the indoors and outdoors even further. “We opened up the views so we could see the Faraglioni,” says Uschi, “even from the shower!”
Umbrellas from a local store provide shade to the sun-drenched entertaining area with an outdoor lounge set and ‘Balad’ lamps from Fermob and rugs designed by Patricia Urquiola. It’s the perfect set-up for serving aperitivo at sunset.
A bamboo pergola with a dining table and chairs from Fermob and a hammock brought back from Florence maximise the property’s close proximity to the water. This sandy spot is ideal for picnics and the little blue cabin is used to store the family’s beach gear.
Ironically, she says it’s the picturesque topography that demands the most work. “We did major landscaping and in doing so brought in many plant species that are local to the area.” Among them, hibiscus, oleander, bird of paradise, banana and citrus trees, yucca, and an assortment of ferns and succulents which trail down the terraced garden, from the tiled balconies to the outdoor lounge area and stone swimming pool.
Looking up at the rugged coastline from the sea, the villa’s stone facade and red umbrellas can be seen on the right. In summer, which is peak tourist season, the sea swells with boats
And there’s still more to do – the couple have plans to add flat grassed areas, playground equipment, a bocce court and fruit trees. While the property requires year-round upkeep, it’s well worth the effort. After all, Uschi says, “we spend most of our day in the garden. We make spaghetti vongole, throw on our bathers and stuff a basket with wine, bread and watermelon. We have lunch literally next to the sea, where we rinse off after our meal. We love the natural simplicity of the local life.”
The owners had the saltwater pool put in one year ago. Surrounded by flourishing native flora and facing the open sea, it’s a luxurious spot to cool off. However, having an in-ground pool was not permitted on the property, so they had to build the concrete and stone structure into a terrace wall.
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