Take a Look Inside Estée Lauder’s Villa in Cannes

It has been 16 years since Estée Lauder, the founder of Estée Lauder Cosmetics, passed away at the age of 97. A daughter of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants, she started her beauty empire helping her uncle John, who was a chemist, cook the creams on a kitchen stove in Brooklyn and promoting them everywhere she went in New York – at hair salons, hotels, on the subway, in elevators and on the streets. “All great things begin with a vision… a dream,” she said, and proved that anything in life was possible – if you simply dare to dream and work hard for it.

In 1963, Estée Lauder and her husband bought this sumptuous 1920s Belle Epoque villa in Cannes. An elegant white estate surrounded by swaying palm trees and panoramic sea views, it is no surprise that Estée decided to purchase this home. The interiors have been recently renovated to high standards with luxurious finishes such as marble and oak floors but, the home still reflects the character of its former owner – strong yet, at the same time, elegant and refined. Breathtaking sea views can be had from every room, on every floor. Select furniture and décor offers a gentle nod to Estée and a painting, in her signature turquoise shade “Estée Lauder blue”, hangs in the main living room. In her biography, “Estée: A Success Story,” she described this villa as her “favorite vacation home”.

Situated on a quiet street in the exclusive Californie neighborhood of Cannes, only minutes by car to the city center and its famous Boulevard de la Croisette, this luxurious holiday villa offers six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a fully fitted gourmet kitchen, a TV lounge, an office, and a heated saline swimming pool. There are five bedrooms in the main house, including the master suite with its two en suite bathrooms and walk-in closet. The remaining bedroom is located in the independent guest studio, complete with an en suite bathroom and kitchenette.

The light and airy interiors open onto various terraces and balconies, allowing guests to truly live both indoors and outdoors. There are high ceilings and large windows throughout, taking advantage of the incredible bay views and the Lérins Islands. We can only imagine how Estée might have spent her time in this home – enjoying breakfast on the terrace with her husband Joseph, relaxing in the garden, dreaming and looking for inspiration. She may have even created some of her well-known fragrances in this home. Some sources state that, at this very villa, Lauder developed one of her most popular perfumes, Beautiful. Indeed, the perfume’s flower, citrus and wood notes can easily be associated to this impressive villa and its gardens.

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Photos by Zoya Stafienko for A.M.A Selections. All property images © A.M.A Selections