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LE MEOU

Le Meou is a quiet country property in a shady grove of trees a few minutes' walk from the village of Lauris in the southern Lubéron. The modern house is in a peaceful setting and has all the comforts for a relaxing family vacation. The grounds are enclosed and private and, unlike with many Provençal houses, shade is plentiful. In warm months meals may be taken on a terrace just outside the expansive kitchen or a few steps down at the pool terrace. While most of the pool is in direct sunlight the rest of the grounds (5000 m2, 50,000 sq.ft.) is shaded by large pine trees with pockets of flower plantings interspersed with grass, gravel and pine needles. Lauris, a good-sized village with all necessary commerce and a a colorful open-air market every Monday morning, is a two-minute drive or a 15-minute walk. Lourmarin, classified as one of France's most beautiful villages, is a 10-minute drive to the north and has its own market every Friday. The city of Aix-en-Provence, birthplace of Paul Cézanne, is a 25-minute drive to the south.

The common area of Le Meou is one enormous open space that comprises a living room, dining room and kitchen. The walls throughout are painted a bright white and exposed beams accentuate the high ceilings. Terra cotta floors with tasteful and well-placed area rugs further the fresh yet traditional feel of the house.

The main entrance to Le Meou is through a wide foyer, where there is a powder room. To the right of the foyer is the living room area, where two leather sofas are grouped around a coffee table in front of a large fireplace with a venerable wooden mantelpiece. Two chairs and a telephone table on one side and, on the other, a low table with a Phillips stereo system (CD and cassette equipped with remote control) complete the furnishings in this section of the room. Large windows overlook the pool and garden.

One step up from the living room is the dining area, which has a long wooden table and brightly painted wood chairs for eight. Another small sitting area with table completes the dining area. One more step from the dining area is the well-equipped and exceptionally spacious kitchen. The cabinets and counters are all in white with chrome accents. The copious counter space, along with a full array of modern appliances, make this a paradise for either the casual cook who is experimenting with Provençal cuisine, or the serious gourmet preparing an elegant dinner for friends and family.

Kitchen equipment includes a large stove with two gas and two electric burners, an electric oven, a two-door refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, coffeemaker, espresso maker and toaster as well as many utensils and plentiful cookware and dishes. At one end of the long kitchen is a round table for four, and on the other end is a washing machine and separate dryer.

Le Meou has two large bedrooms with ensuite baths, each of which can function as a master bedroom. The first is two steps down from the living room and consists of a long room with a queen-sized double bed, a writing table and a large mirror covering one wall. Doors open onto the terrace at swimming pool level on one end of the room and on the other end is the ensuite full bathroom, tiled in bright blue with double vanity and mirror, bathtub with hand-held shower and shower curtain.

The second master bedroom is reached by a wide stairway with solid iron railing from the living room to the upper level. This bedroom has a queen-sized bed with two sets of closets and numerous windows as well as a door opening to its own little terrace. The ensuite bathroom, particularly well-illuminated by several subtle light fixtures, is of attractive rose tile, and has a double vanity and a bathtub with wall shower and half-glass curtain.

Another suite of rooms, especially appropriate for a couple with children, is reached from the entrance foyer on the ground level (one can also enter this area from the garden). The main room, which has a high ceiling and mezzanine, has two single beds in opposite corners. The mezzanine stairs lead from this room to a separate large bedroom with two single beds that share a frame and can be made up separately or together as a queen-sized bed. Several windows, exposed beams and an attractive corner shelving unit make this a pleasant room. The stairway terminates at the mezzanine, where there is a small room with a single bed and a sink and mirror.

The mezzanine is appropriate for older children or a staff person; there is only a decorative grill separating it from the main room below and the stairs require attention because of the exposed beams. A full bathroom with large stall shower (no tub) in white tile is shared by the occupants of this suite of rooms.

A crib and high chair are available for guests' use.

The swimming pool is is bordered by a wide terrace and has plenty of high-quality pool furniture. A removable fence provides extra safety for families with small children.

With its location in the rugged but verdant hills of the southern Lubéron, Le Meou offers many hiking and bicycling opportunities. Its proximity to Lauris and Lourmarin make it convenient for shopping or going to local open-air markets. The house is also ideally situated for reaching further north to the many perched villages of the Lubéron, west to Saint-Rémy and Les-Baux-de-Provence or south to Aix-en-Provence, where a visit to Cézanne's studio and lunch on the Cours Mirabeau is a classic Provençal experience.