Riviera Retreat: Designing a Mediterranean-Inspired Outdoor Oasis

Want to capture the allure of the Côte d'Azur in your own backyard? Read on for the August Design Team’s tips on how to create a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis.

This is the epitome of a Riviera retreat – a sublime outdoor oasis. The August Design team unlocked the perfect formula for creating a coastal Mediterranean ambience in our own southern French home. Read on to discover our tips for transforming your backyard into an enviable Mediterranean retreat.

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The essence of a Mediterranean garden

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Imbued with relaxed elegance, the Mediterranean garden is an exquisite balance between ornate planting, evocative fragrance, natural textures, light, shade and water. An homage to the breathtaking landscape – rugged mountains, sparkling shoreline and lush vegetation – a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis channels the enchantment of this sun-kissed swathe of the Continent. 

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The elements that create an idyllic outdoor Riviera retreat

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A tranquil Riviera retreat echoes the splendour of its Provençal surrounds. Aromatic planting celebrates native olive, pine and sweetly scented garrigue, while gravel, sand, stonework and wood nod to the natural textures of the land. Water imparts a sublimely peaceful mood – mirroring the glittering Mediterranean Sea beyond – with fountains, ponds and pools all softening the senses. Meanwhile, decorative elements, such as tilework and terracotta nod to the region’s rich cultural heritage. 

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An idyllic refuge from the scorching southern French sun, a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor living space should offer areas of shaded sanctuary. Picture pergolas and arbours entwined with bougainvillaea, jasmine or grape. Canopies and awnings provide a flexible shade structure to cover cosy seated areas – finessed with rustic textiles, potted plants and romantic candle lanterns. 

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Choosing the perfect Mediterranean plants

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Aroma and colour are the essence of the classic Mediterranean garden. Here are a handful of the most quintessential plants to include in your outdoor oasis.

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Aromatics to enhance a Mediterranean-style garden‍

• Lavender
  Abundant in the fields surrounding our Signature home in Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the captivating fragrance and vibrant purple blooms of Provençal lavender make it a mainstay of Rivieran outdoor retreats.
  
  

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• Rosemary
  Synonymous with Mediterranean cuisine, rosemary is a drought-hardy herb grown throughout the Riviera and beyond, bringing an intoxicating scent to any outdoor oasis.
• Thyme
  Another deliciously aromatic element of both Mediterranean gardens and kitchens, thyme is a pretty perennial with tiny pink, white or purple flowers.
• Santolina
  Punctuated with vibrant yellow flowers, Santolina – ‘cotton lavender’ – has fragrant silver foliage and grows well in arid climates. 

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Trees and shrubs for a Riviera retreat‍

• Olive trees
  Symbol of the Mediterranean, the olive tree bears silvery evergreen foliage and small white flowers during spring, making it an attractive addition to your outdoor oasis. 
• Cypress trees
  Create vertical accents in your planting with another regionally synonymous tree – the tall, slender cypress, thick with lush green leaves.  
• Garrigue
  An aromatic dwarf shrub and archetypal botanical of the Mediterranean landscape, garrigue adds year-round colour and textural interest to the gardens and hillsides of the Côte d'Azur. 
• Italian stone pine
  The distinctive umbrella-shaped silhouette of the Italian stone pine is an instantly recognisable feature of the Mediterranean vista – imparting an outdoor Riviera retreat with a sculptural nuance.   

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Flowers for a Mediterranean outdoor oasis‍

• Geraniums
  Drought-resistant, long-blooming geraniums are the perfect pot plant to bring a splash of colour to decking and poolsides.   
• Bougainvillaea
  A canopy of colour synonymous with quaint Mediterranean towns and villages, this ornamental vine makes a sublime shady pergola or decorative arch. 
• Provence roses
  Bred in the 16th century, just a stone’s throw from our French Riviera home, the Provence rose is a beautiful, sweetly scented showcase bloom for any southern French garden.
• Oleander
  Pink,white and red blooms define this romantic ornamental shrub, enhanced with evergreen lance-shaped leaves to add permanent textural interest to Mediterranean-inspired oases. 

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Naturalistic planting principles for a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis

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Embrace the natural beauty of the Côte d'Azur by mirroring its organic lines and romantic ruggedness in your own outdoor Riviera retreat.

We reflected the wildness of the hills surrounding our southern French home by softening the borders between our planting beds and blending the silhouette through with evergreen trees and shrubs of different dimensions.

Other naturalistic design tips for transforming your backyard into a Mediterranean retreat include:

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Choose native plant species

The hot, dry climate of Southern France supports plants that favour these conditions. Choose a variety of species that thrive on the Riviera for a verdant retreat through the seasons. 

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Embrace diversity 

Encourage a thriving ecosystem by planting as nature would – growing a rich variety of species together in beautiful, blended beds. Brush up on which botanicals coexist harmoniously for a healthy southern French garden.  

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Think evergreen

Brightly coloured blooms are only half the story of a Riviera garden. Celebrate the regional abundance of evergreen trees and shrubs to enjoy your outdoor oasis all year round. 

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Plant for effortlessness

Consider water management, composting, organic fertiliser and low-maintenance upkeep to create an idyllic outdoor oasis aligned with nature.

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Channelling the colours of the Côte d'Azur

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From rich terracottas, to bleached-out blondes, bronzes, browns and blues, the palette is as important as the plant life when it comes to designing a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor oasis.

Lean into nature and forego harsh hues in favour of subtle, earthy tones when choosing garden accents, such as furnishings and hard landscaping elements. Weave organic materials through your outdoor oasis – framing borders and water features with sandy stone and creating natural walkways from pebbles and shingle. 

Traditional tilework and pottery provide flashes of colour, while pulling focus to the artistic heritage of this enchanting part of the Mediterranean. 

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Defining the functions of your Mediterranean outdoor living space

Outdoor dining and entertaining spaces, snug seating areas and – of course – poolsides, each offer a unique sensory experience. Create subtle separation between the different functional spaces of your outdoor oasis, with raised beds, cascading curtains of climbers, awnings and pergolas. 

For the garden of our French Riviera home, we created shade with rustic open-walled shelters and spotlighted spaces for dining and entertaining with furnishing and design elements that echo the home’s interiors.   

The true essence of an idyllic Riviera retreat is the peace and tranquillity felt when you immerse yourself in its flowered courtyards and gardens. The scented air, the warm Mediterranean breeze and the sublime, soft soundscape are unique to this part of the world.

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Discover the epitome of relaxation when you co-own not only an enviable Provençal abode but a Collection of beautifully authentic homes in Tuscany, Mallorca, the French Alps and the Cotswolds with August.   

Request a brochure, or schedule a call with an August Advisor today and take the first step in your journey towards unlocking the lifestyles of the Côte d'Azur and beyond.