Chateau de la Croix des Gardes
by Katharine Pooley

Katharine Pooley has unveiled her transformative vision for the Château de la Croix des Gardes, a landmark Belle Époque estate on the Côte d’Azur. As the largest private estate in the region, the Château has been reimagined under Pooley’s meticulous direction into a neoclassical masterpiece that seamlessly fuses historical grandeur with contemporary luxury.

The brief called for a design that would honour the Château’s iconic cinematic legacy while ensuring it functioned as a practical modern residence. After nearly sixty years of private ownership, the property underwent an extensive restoration involving façade modifications, internal reconfigurations, and a total overhaul of finishes and furnishings. Katharine Pooley worked with an elite network of artisans, artists, and specialists across Europe to bring the project to life.

Each room showcases extraordinary craftsmanship, including hand painted frescos, silk wallpapers, and bespoke joinery. The Château now features 42 hand embroidered textiles and 13 unique artworks from elite ateliers and artists. A highlight is the Italian Pavilion, where a commissioned mural captures the estate in exquisite detail. The result is a refined yet comfortable home, balancing timeless elegance with curated modernity, an unmistakable mark of Katharine Pooley’s design philosophy.