Funtanella

Located just a five-minute drive from the beaches and secluded Lumio and Calvi coves, this house is the perfect starting point for exploring the Balagne region. One of the dreamiest destinations to discover Corsica. It’s a gateway to a plethora of activities: hiking, mountain pool searches, discovering boat-accessible coves, and canyoning, to name a few. And that’s just the beginning. Imagine lounging by the pool, wandering across various terraces, or whipping up the region’s freshest seasonal vegetables in the summer kitchen. As the day ends, you’re in for a treat with one of the longest and most stunning sunsets of the island, best enjoyed from the comfort of this home.

The history of Funtanella dates back to 1750 when it was built. Since then, it has remained in the hands of the same family for generations. Until the day it was up for sale. Unable to bring themselves to see the house go for a pittance, Antoine and Muriel, for whom the house has always been invaluable, decided to embark on what they describe in retrospect as a ‘crazy adventure.’ With their relentless dedication and the skilled guidance of Marc Deloche, their best friend and architect, the house has been rejuvenated and given a new lease on life.

The trio, alongside a select group of craftsmen, embarked on an impressive two-year transformation with a clear goal: to retain the house’s bourgeois essence, steering clear of the typical holiday home cliché while providing an exceptionally high level of comfort. They equipped the house with a semi-professional kitchen, Gervasoni sofas and pendant lights, TRECA beds, Vosges linen, Haomy towels, and Casanera bathroom products. Every detail was meticulously planned and executed.

Windows, roofs, facades—every aspect of the house has been thoughtfully redesigned using sustainable materials tailored to Corsica’s challenging climate, emphasizing environmental friendliness. A puzzle that always seemed to have new (and sometimes beautiful!) surprises in store for them, continually sparking their creativity. Such was the case when the wallpaper was removed, revealing old wall paintings. Inspired by this find, the trio chose to revive these artworks with the help of a restorer, turning them into a focal point of the home’s decor rather than concealing them. These walls now tell the story of centuries of history, just like the cut-outs deliberately left visible, adding a raw cachet to the place. On the ground floor, successive layers of old paint have been scraped off certain parts of the walls, creating a unique and timeless look.