Self discovery

Australian designer Caroline Riddell-Clark knew instantly she’d found the one when she first saw her sun-dappled villa in Menton on the Côte d’Azur. “I have spent more time buying shoes,” she laughs, recalling how she purchased the property in just 20 minutes.

On the eastern-most coastline of the French Riviera, Menton charms with its pastel façades, fragrant gardens and timeless Old Town streets. History whispers from every corner, from baroque churches to cobbled alleys. The town’s unique location means you can indulge in a morning of chic French shopping, then cross the border for a leisurely Italian espresso or lunch, savouring two cultures – and cuisines – in a single, unforgettable day.

Set amid olive groves and sea breezes, her elegant Villa Florente perfectly reflects Riddell-Clark’s effortless aesthetic – where refined Australian sensibility meets timeless Mediterranean charm. It’s a home that tells a story of spontaneity, style and serendipity, much like its owner, who has turned this slice of the Riviera into a living expression of design joie de vivre.

Restoration and hospitality run deep in Caroline’s veins. The eldest daughter of Melbourne hoteliers Jan and Peter Clark, founders of the acclaimed Lancemore Group, Caroline grew up immersed in the world of boutique hotels – from Lindenderry Red Hill to Mansion Hotel Werribee Park and beyond. Her first job while at university was washing dishes, but design soon became her calling.

Today, she brings her signature elegance and creativity to the very properties that shaped her career.

Caroline first fell in love with Menton on her honeymoon in 1996 when her parents had also joined them. Then a little faded but irresistibly authentic, its grey zigzag steps and unpainted church only added to its charm.

“It touched me more than any other town on the Riviera,” she recalls. In just four hours – an ice cream, her father getting lost – Menton captured her heart with its Italian spirit, layered character and living, breathing soul.

Her connection to Menton deepened thanks to her old school friend Edward, half-French and already settled there.

“Oh, my God, I know that town!” she’d exclaimed when he bought his home. From 2010, she returned almost every year, drawn by the Riviera light and that lingering dream of living in Europe.

“I always said I’d come back, even if I had to marry an Englishman,” she laughs. When she did remarry, with seven children between them, she realised she needed something larger than a one-room apartment.

Caroline spent months searching for the perfect Menton home, the sounds of the market often buzzing through her overseas phone calls as she juggled family worries and lockdown at Lindenderry. Then she found it – a six-bedroom Provençal stone house, once a farmhouse, its soul waiting to sing.

Despite being listed online, she insisted on seeing it. Walking in, she could already envision the light flooding the rooms, indoor-outdoor living and lush gardens framing the stone. Jaw-dropping views, timeless charm – it called to her.

The villa had not been permanently lived in for years but was habitable. With sun-drenched rooms, a Provençal feel and Italianate views, Caroline could see its potential with plenty of thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces to balance moments of quiet reflection moments with lively family gatherings.

Restoring the villa to her vision took three painstaking years. With trips back to Australia to be with her husband and three sons, and her French far from perfect, she often had to rely on tradesmen to keep things moving.

Today, Villa Florente stretches across three floors, offering accommodation for up to 12-14 guests with bespoke furnishings that blend comfort and style. The layout is perfect for multigenerational families or groups of friends, offering private retreats while also providing inviting spaces to gather. The top floor is an opulent adult sanctuary, featuring Ligne Roset sofas, a zebra-print B&B armchair, and three rare 1950s Sciolari chandeliers – one a museum-worthy collector’s piece.

Throughout the villa, handpicked treasures tell a story: a Kartell Kabuki lamp, Pietrachiara Studio sculpture and porcelain-marble tables. Bathrooms shimmer with Venini Murano glass chandeliers and custom béton ciré finishes on floors, doors and countertops, combining resilience with beauty.

“This is my home,” she says, guiding you past an internal staircase inspired by Gaudí that she designed to feel timeless, ancient and perfectly imperfect. Creamy, milky tones of the staircase complement the rough stone walls, creating a tactile, organic beauty. From the open-plan living room to the pool house, every detail has been curated with a collector’s eye, creating a home that is both luxurious and inviting.

Though a few finishing touches remain, she has begun welcoming friends and guests on an exclusive basis to the villa. Located high on the prestigious Boulevard de Garavan, it treats visitors to panoramic views over the Old Town’s terracotta rooftops to the yacht-filled marina, with Italy shimmering on the horizon. A charming 10 to 20-minute stroll along a historic bricked donkey path winds through Menton’s charming narrow streets, offering a quintessentially romantic introduction to this Mediterranean gem.

Menton, the sun-drenched Pearl of France, is a feast for the senses and Caroline delights in sharing hidden gems with her guests – from secret gardens to charming trattorias across the border. Guests can wander its fragrant gardens, admire baroque churches and lose themselves in the pastel-hued Old Town streets.

She takes them to the bustling market, Marché des Halles, to savour freshly-shucked oysters, buy local citrus, cheeses and fresh vibrant produce, or stroll to the marina for a waterfront café. Art lovers will relish the Jean Cocteau Museum, while foodies can savour Provençal seafood, delicate pastries and fine local wines such as pigato, fiano and vermentino.

Menton sparkles with year-round festivities – from the vibrant Lemon Festival each February to whimsical Halloween parades, Christmas markets when the town is strewn with decorations and charming local fêtes.

Spring and early autumn offer the perfect balance of sun, scent, and serenity. It famously has 316 days of sunshine a year.

“Some people say it’s the best in the world,” says Caroline. “In the middle of winter, you can sit on the beach in a T-shirt. And when the storms come and the thunder echoes, it feels like the Gods are talking to you. I still can’t work out the magic of this place.”

She says when she first imagined creating a home in Europe, her greatest dream was to build a life and place that she could share with others - to connect, celebrate and experience the wonderful, slow Mediterranean way of living. “Villa Florente and my life in Menton have already exceeded every dream,” she confides. “I am confident in saying that everyone who visits falls in love with Menton, the location and life at Villa Florente.”