Please, tell us briefly about yourself.
I’m British but have been living on the Côte d’Azur for over 20 years, the first half in a big Art Deco villa in Nice centre which I completely renovated and then when I had my two sons I moved up into the hills in Chateauneuf de Grasse. I was one of the owners of The Clever Kitchen business promoting healthy living, working in Monaco, then I became known for my (mostly unhealthy) cakes. More recently since my sons have now left home I have taken the opportunity to start travelling again and doing some more renovations for friends. I enjoy many sports and can be found sea swimming or running or cycling on most days, especially around Mandelieu.
Tell us something curious or funny about yourself, an anecdote or a hobby?
I took up piano playing in the first lockdown. It was something I had always wanted to try but never had the time for. I’m still persevering but it’s slow progress!
How did you get started with Native Spaces? Why did you decide to host events in your property?
I was actually approached by one of the event organisers after she came to my house by chance. I already rented it out for the odd week over summer and as I was going travelling more it seemed like a good fit.
What does being a host mean to you?
It means welcoming people to a clean, bright, spacious, easy living home where they can relax and enjoy themselves for their celebrations with friends or family.
Your property is very popular on Native Spaces, why do you think that is?
Well my villa isn’t deluxe but it is well designed and comfortable- having two teenage sons made me furnish it simply. One of the big pluses is that it has 4 bath/shower rooms for 5 bedrooms if guests wish to stay overnight. Another plus is the huge flat grassed garden with pool and pétanque and large terraces for al fresco dining. I also have an amazing sound system by the pool which I think is pretty unique. Word of mouth is proving to be a way in which my villa is getting more and more requests.
What kinds of events have you already hosted?
Weekend rentals are very popular usually for celebrating a birthday or maybe just chilling with a group of friends. I have also rented my garden space out for a day for birthdays or christening celebrations.
Please, give us some feedback. Why Native Spaces? What differentiates us from the other websites? What has your experience been with our team?
I love the Native Spaces team! You can chat to them directly and they are friendly and helpful. I also like that I can exchange freely with guests which I can’t do on many other sites. Final point is that I have full control of individual pricing for each event.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to be a Native Spaces host?
I would chat it through with a couple of seasoned hosts like myself and the Native Spaces team to understand what is involved but then I would say ‘go for it’!
Take a look at Mélanie space here.
