Hi, I’m Jurgita, founder of SEIJAKU, an interior design studio based in Nice.

I create homes for tranquility, connection, and wellbeing - helping those moving to and settling on the French Riviera. I offer a full-service design experience, taking care of every detail so you can relax and enjoy your design journey.

Here, I’m excited to share the design story of a beautiful villa I recently redesigned to inspire you.

What Designing for Escape truly means?

Designing interiors for escape means more than just visual beauty — it’s about crafting a sensory experience that speaks to our nervous system and invites deep rest. It’s where psychology meets design. Signature elements found in luxury spas — such as layered lighting, scent, silence, tactility, and spatial zoning for privacy — are used to gently shift the body into a state of calm. When interiors are carefully attuned to the surrounding landscape, such as the greens, textures, and natural light of the Mediterranean, they create a sense of rootedness and ease. From circadian rhythm–friendly lighting to materials that feel good under the hand, every choice becomes part of a larger intention: to lower stress levels, support emotional wellbeing, and encourage slower, more conscious living. Designing for escape is about creating rituals of rest — spaces that whisper instead of shout, and that feel timeless, grounded, and quietly luxurious.

This is Seijaku — in Japanese, it means tranquility.

The Mediterranean Villa

Perched among olive trees with breathtaking views spilling toward the sea, this French Riviera holiday villa was thoughtfully transformed into a serene retreat - a luxury villa design where nature sets the tone. Soft, chalky hues, sun-washed greens, and grounding neutrals create a quiet dialogue with the landscape, blurring the line between indoors and out.

This is the design story of a second home reimagined - not just for holidays, but for presence. A place where calm is tangible, materials are chosen for how they feel under hand, and every corner invites you to slow down and connect - to nature, to loved ones, and to yourself.

New Layout for Flow and Connection

We reimagined the living area of this French Riviera villa to create better flow and social connection - key elements in luxury villa renovations. The heart of the villa - the living area - once felt disjointed, with three separate seating zones that didn’t quite speak to one another. Instead of starting from scratch, we worked with what was already there, redesigning the layout to foster greater connection.

Three oversized rugs, hand-sewn on site, now anchor the space. They soften the room and gently guide movement, turning once-scattered corners into a harmonious, flexible setting for conversation, rest, and togetherness. With thoughtful editing, new layers, and tactile materials, the home began to shift - becoming less about decoration and more about feeling.

Interior Décor Inspired by the Villa’s Natural Surroundings

My interior design approach embraces biophilic principles, bringing nature indoors to connect this villa with the stunning French Riviera landscape. I always bring nature indoors - it’s how I view home design: as a whole, connected, grounded, and tactile experience, much like the outdoors itself. The French Riviera’s landscape changes subtly toward Grasse, shifting into soft yellows and musky greens - a palette I fully embrace.

The villa’s horizon is deeply inspiring, rich with deep greens that became a key part of the design story. I brought the olives inside, too: seasonal branch cuttings find their place in simple terracotta pots and vases, connecting indoors to the wild beauty outside - from the mimosas in spring to the surrounding olive groves.

Senses First: Materials That Ground and Comfort

At SEIJAKU Studio, specializing in calming home design on the French Riviera, sensory experiences shape every detail - and this villa was no exception. Texture took center stage - from handcrafted cotton and jute rugs to a bespoke raw wood bench welcoming guests inside. The existing slate coffee table, with its reclaimed wood legs, blends rustic charm and fine craftsmanship seamlessly. Materials were chosen to be felt, used, and truly savored - not merely seen.

Earthy, soft fabrics like linen, cotton, and wool blends offer warmth and coziness. Fine details such as fringes, trims, and subtle embroidery add rich texture. Inspired by the villa’s black metal accents, I introduced cushions with black edging, sleek black light fixtures, and matching bathroom hardware - weaving a subtle yet unified rhythm throughout the home.

Embracing Natural Light and Texture

Every home has a unique natural light story - a play of shadows and sunlight that moves throughout the day. In this villa, light danced gently as the trees swayed, sometimes brightening rooms, sometimes softening them into shadow. This ever-changing light inspired the calming, grounded atmosphere I created.

Curtains, natural light, and carefully layered lighting all work together here to embrace that rhythm - enhancing the home’s sense of calm and flow throughout each moment.

A Serene and Balanced Colour Journey

The colour palette was carefully curated to reflect the calming, coastal environment typical of French Riviera villas, blending Mediterranean hues with earthy tones for a timeless look. The starting point was already there - a pair of beautiful yellow chairs that had long lived in the space, becoming the anchor. I echoed that cheerful mimosa tone upstairs in the bedroom to create continuity and lift. Hints of Mediterranean blue, found in artwork and a playful fish sculpture, were drawn out intentionally - connecting the home directly to its sea views beyond.

Unified off-white walls and ceilings created a soft backdrop, grounding the house and letting colour emerge gently, never loudly. Layers of light and dark beiges, sandy details, and rich khaki greens hint at the surrounding landscape. Touches of warm brown - resembling natural stone tones — add quiet strength and depth.

As you move through the home, these tones speak to each other - creating a palette that feels calm, connected, and reflective of the world just outside its windows.

Designed for peaceful escape. This is SEIJAKU.

Truly yours,

Jurgita

Photography:

Andrius Gudelis

www.andriusgudelis.com