Mas du Jujubier, like the venerable jujube tree that inspired its name, is a rare and wonderful kind of property. If we could wave a wand and create ten more such properties, each as luminous, well appointed and characteristically Provençal as this one, we would do so immediately. As a final piece of magic, we would slip these homes into settings similar to that of this lovely mas - a 6,000 m2 (1.4-acre) terrain on a quiet little road surrounded by fields, giving the sensation that it is deep in the countryside, when in fact it is within an easy walk or bike ride of a charming town or village with good shops and a sprinkling of restaurants - in this case Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Our purpose in replicating Mas du Jujubier would be to help satisfy the ever-growing demand among our clientele for the kind of property that offers the three prongs of the ultimate Provençal experience: (1) a country farmhouse or mas à l'ancienne that has been renovated to create a home that is functionally modern, exceptionally comfortable and pleasingly decorated; (2) a style of renovation that has preserved the historical ambiance of the original structure; and (3) a location that is tranquil and private, yet near a quiet and picturesque town or village with basic commerce.
Mas du Jujubier has all three of these qualities. Moreover, it is in the much sought-after location of Saint-Rémy, in the heart of the Alpilles region, whose cachet seems to grow with each passing year. Among our faithful South of France clients there are many who seek to return often to the Alpilles to renew their experiences in a region that with its air and sun and its very chemistry seems to change the interior rhythms of the soul, inviting one to slow down, relax, shed cares and reshuffle one's priorities in life.
This is perhaps the signature feature of Mas du Jujubier- the invitation to slow down, to enjoy simple pleasures like sleeping late, swimming, sunning, strolling into town, swimming and sunning again before enjoying long meals with friends and family. Clearly the owners designed their house not as a showpiece headed for a four-page spread in Elle Décor, but as a haven of peace and quiet.
With this goal in mind, the guiding principle at Mas du Jujubier has been to create an environment where a few tastefully chosen furnishings complement the country ambiance of each room. Clean lines and a degree of minimalist austerity are in; showiness is out.
This aesthetic is reflected, for example, in the master bedroom, which is furnished with a larger than queen-sized bed, two bedside tables with lamps, an antique wrought-iron chair, and a writing desk. The room is flooded with sunshine pouring in through an enormous window facing south. From a second window facing east one sees a stand of tall cypress trees, and above them the intense blue sky that enthralled Van Gogh when he resided in the former mental hospital that still stands less than a kilometer away. The floors are of hexagonal-shaped terra cotta tiles. Small lights carved into the wall illuminate the stairway to the ground floor. In the huge master bathroom there are wide closets and a shower worthy of an essay in itself - almost wide enough to lie down in, with a stone bench and a sunflower-like showerhead - where one can bathe with views of the countryside north and south. There is the occasional objet d'art, and on the walls are a few pictures. When in this suite of rooms on a bright Provençal day, one cannot imagine changing anything, adding another piece of furniture, or wanting to be any other place in the world.
The emphasis at Mas du Jujubier on comfort, convenience and simplicity is likewise reflected in the top-quality firm bedding, a dedicated fax line, wireless broadband internet connection available throughout the entire house as well as at the pool, radiant underfloor heating for winter guests, screens on all the windows as well as key entry and bedroom doors, and a ground-floor laundry room with American-style washer and separate dryer. Opposite the mas, framed by Provencal Olivier trees is the long 4 m X 13 m (13' X 42.5') chlorine-free pool, excellent for swimming laps. For guests who like to be by the pool but prefer shade, the recent addition of a bache will be a most welcome addition. The bache consists of five large wooden beams which have been placed in the ground on the far side of the pool, from which are suspended three sail-like pieces of fabric. And for warm-weather dining there is the covered terrace with its built-in stone barbecue where up to 10 guests can enjoy a midday meal or dinner in the cool shadows.
There is yet another modern amenity, astounding in itself: Mas du Jujubier has air-conditioning, which is about as rare in Provence as a palm tree in Vermont. Even more incredible: it is not just the master bedroom that is air-conditioned, but all three bedrooms. We draw this fact to the special attention of our dear and respected clients who still refuse to believe us when we point out that the number of days or nights annually in the South of France where air-conditioning is necessary can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Mas du Jujubier, whose precise date of origin is unknown but is thought to be at least two centuries old, is actually part of a long, two-story stone mas that was divided many years ago into two properties. A high stone wall was constructed between the two, and on the other side a middle-aged couple, relatives of the family that occupied Mas du Jujubier for generations, live quietly and completely out of view and out of earshot. While JUST FRANCE is keenly aware of how important privacy is to our clients, we emphasize that the neighbors interfere in no way with the privacy or enjoyment of guests occupying Mas du Jujubier, and are neither seen nor heard except perhaps to offer neighborly assistance when the burglar alarm is accidentally tripped.
The floor plan of Mas du Jujubier, a long rectangle, is a model of simplicity. At the east end of the main house is a well-equipped country-style kitchen with a dishwasher, two-door stainless-steel refrigerator and a Smeg five-burner gas stove and oven. There is generous counter and cabinet space, and a marble-top breakfast table for six. As in all rooms on the ground floor except the living room, the floors are of white terra cotta tiles set in large blocks, and the walls a pure white with beamed ceilings.
At the west end of the mas is the living room, where there are two sofas and two armchairs arranged in front of a fireplace that dominates one wall. The lovely tile floors in this room, in a classic red and white pattern, have been retained. Concealed in a closet is a full stereo system that connects to speakers in all of the ground-floor rooms.
Between the living room and kitchen are a small foyer with a guest lavatory, and the dining room, where there is a wood table and upholstered chairs with cushions for up to eight guests. Outside the living room, and accessible by way of french doors in the living room as well as one of the entry doors to the house, is a long spacious Provencal tonnelle. Under an arbor which holds the beginnings of interwined jasmine, rose and wisteria vines, one can sit in a selection of comfortable lounges and read, or at a table for a drink and a snack, in a shaded area that could easily be considered one other room in the house. Stairs lead from the dining room to the master bedroom suite, which comprises the entire upper level.
On the east end, the covered terrace connects the main house to a newly constructed two-bedroom guesthouse, built of stone with a terra cotta tile roof.
One bedroom in the guesthouse has twin beds that can be pushed together to form a king-sized bed, a fine 19th-century armoire, a chest of drawers and an ensuite bath with tub, hand-held shower and separate WC. The windows have both northern and southern exposure. The second bedroom, which has a southerly view and double doors opening toward the mas, has a queen-sized bed, large in-wall closet and an ensuite bath with a wide stone shower and WC. There is a telephone in each bedroom. The floors are terra cotta tile. Both are bright, of good size and charmingly but unpretentiously decorated.
Clearly, the distribution of rooms at Mas du Jujubier makes it especially suitable for couples or a family with children who are teenage or older.
The swimming pool is situated some 30 meters from the house. A wide, sweeping lawn that begins near the south terrace extends around the pool deck, which is well supplied with deck chairs and loungers. The nicely landscaped grounds include stands of bamboo, climbing roses and rosemary, a tall plane tree that provides abundant shade, and a flowering Spanish lilac tree. Near the kitchen and living room are jasmine and other fragrant plants.
A signature feature of the landscape is the proud jujube tree, which stands near other shade trees and the wrought-iron gate that form the entrance to Mas du Jujubier. The jujubier is much-admired by the French, who view it as a symbol of age and solidity. The same can be said of this mas, now in its third century.
During our visit the owners showed us a fascinating picture of a wedding of one of the members of the family that formerly owned the mas. The period is the 1920s. In the foreground are family members, the ladies and gentlemen in the formal dress of the times, the little girls in pretty white frocks. In the background is the mas itself. Looking at that sepia photograph one sees that the appearance of the mas is unchanged, save for the addition of the covered terrace and separate guesthouse.
Virtually all of the people in this sepia photograph are long gone. But Mas du Jujubier - having taken on new life thanks to the tasteful renovations by its caring owners - continues on to bring pleasure and a sense of well-being to its occupants, as it did to generations before.
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