Family
Overlooking the Mediterranean, a Belle Époque family home gets a new lease on life
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Audrey and Antoine Colombani, Oscar 16, and Charlie 12 years old
Born and raised in the city, she’s built her life, her family, and a multifaceted career amid the colourful, ever-bustling streets of her beloved hometown. Head of an insurance firm, co-founder of a homeware concept store, and—alongside her husband Antoine—the driving force behind the Dominos rental homes, this tireless Mediterranean spirit takes a moment to open the doors of her latest and dearest project: the family house perched high on one of Marseille’s sun-soaked hills.
As we follow our host through grand reception rooms and across terraces with sweeping sea views, the story unfolds—a tale of love at first sight for a Belle Époque home waiting to be brought back to life. Inside, the spirit of the 1970s makes itself known: all curves, alcoves, and enveloping textures. Outside, it’s the Riviera of the 1950s that sets the tone, especially around the pool and generous terrace. Everywhere, a Mediterranean passion for noble materials sings loud and clear: red travertine, solid wood, bold stretches of polished metal.
This is a house open to the sky, to the sea, and always to friends. And running through it all, beating just beneath the surface, is the one constant the Colombanis never compromise on: family.
Location
Marseille
Author
Elsa Cau
Photos and videos
Clément Vayssières, Gautier Billotte
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TSF
Who are you, Audrey?
Audrey
I’m a fierce entrepreneur, inspired, human, warm, mother and woman! I’ve always been passionate about interiors, and my family is what grounds me deeply in life.
TSF
What’s your background?
Audrey
Antoine works in real estate, so he’s always on the lookout for land and houses! As for me, I started an insurance firm 14 years ago. Seven years later, alongside that, I opened a home decor store called Aussih in Marseille, with a partner, Jessie. And with Antoine, both of us being passionate about decoration, details, and renovation – with everything that entails, the good and the bad – we moved 13 times in Marseille, all leading up to this: the house you’re standing in (laughs)! Our kids joke that they got a new bedroom every year. This house is our main residence, but we rent it out to individuals, along with others, via our platform called “Maisons Dominos.” Over time, it became a real project.
TSF
What is the concept behind Maisons Dominos?
Audrey
At the beginning, these were houses we designed for ourselves. The first one was in Guéthary. But you see, we love to host, to have people around, to entertain. The idea behind Maisons Dominos is to feel at home instantly. That means that, the moment you walk in, you feel like you’re at home.
TSF
Where does the name Dominos come from?
Audrey
Fourteen years ago, Antoine and I bought our first apartment on the port of Marseille. We renovated it to turn it into our first Airbnb. We made a kitchen backsplash in black and white checkerboard. The agency called the place “Domino.” Ever since, I’ve kept the Domino keychain. It’s kind of the symbol of our beginnings, after all. A few years ago, we worked with a creative, Grégoire Boulant, to reposition our identity and make something more professional and fresh. Among his suggestions was… the name Dominos. Funny, right? Now we have several homes available to rent in Guéthary, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Marseille, and Saint-Gervais.
TSF
You do a lot at once! Insurance firm, concept store, houses…
Audrey
One of my real strengths is that I know how to surround myself well. My teams, whatever the project, are amazing.
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n the small living room, a seventies vibe prevails: built-in aluminium sofa designed by architect Margaux Fritz and crafted by L’Atelier des Frères, alongside a sculptural curved fireplace.
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There are some pieces it took us almost a whole year to find. We mix new and old. And I think it’s that combination that truly gives a home its own soul.
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A striking wall light by Emmanuelle Luciani for Southway Studio in Marseille.
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In the spacious dining room, the pendant light was designed by Audrey Colombani in collaboration with Axel Chay, based on an existing wall light model.
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The red travertine staircase leads to the bedrooms, the rooftop terrace, and most importantly, the parents’ walk-in wardrobe (pictured below).
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TSF
What kind of environment did you grow up in, and how do you think it influenced your taste?
Audrey
I come from a real estate family. I’m pure Marseille. My grandfather was born in Marseille. I’ve always lived in the 7th arrondissement. I was born right here – look, in that 1970s apartment building we can see from the roof terrace, facing the sea. It was built by the architect Bernard Laville. I’ve always been drawn to beautiful things, interiors, objects. When I was younger, I wanted to go to art school. Well, I didn’t get to… but I met my husband, who comes from a totally artistic family. Being around them woke everything in me! And when it comes to renovations, houses... we’re really a team.
TSF
Tell us the story of this place.
Audrey
We were really attached to our old house in Marseille. A few years ago, we decided to build a chalet – for our family vacations but also with the idea of renting it out. Then the cost of wood shot up. So we had to think: build smaller, or do it the way we wanted. My husband’s dream was to have a chalet in the mountains. Just then, my childhood friend – our neighbor – called my husband and said, “I’ve got something to show you.” We fell in love. We thought about it, asked ourselves if we were ready to sell. Then someone came to visit our house and made an offer right away… everything lined up. I immediately loved the old 1900s architecture of this house. I was told it had belonged to just two families, no more. They were close-knit, with lots of children. I like to think it was already a house made for entertaining. Our two previous homes, we had built from scratch. So this was a first for us.
TSF
You told me the renovation took a year…
Audrey
We moved in on December 1st. And I think the result is the culmination of all our research – aesthetically, technically, and in terms of quality – through those 13 moves and years of work! Over time, Antoine and I have learned a lot about detail, function, and need. And eventually, you end up knowing what you want, what you like. This house is a bit of a manifesto for the Maisons Dominos project. When we arrived, it was divided into two apartments. The kids lived upstairs, the grandmother downstairs. We didn’t change the structure, but we redid everything inside. We invested in materials: real stone, red travertine, beautiful wood, metal often joined over large surfaces in one single sheet. We also cleaned up the façade! The neighbors were delighted. Outside, we wanted something that felt like the Riviera: the Italian terracotta flooring – it reminds me of Marseille rooftops, with all those red tiles you see from the airplane, it’s magical. We designed and created the pool – it didn’t exist before.
TSF
What kind of atmosphere did you want to create here, at home?
Audrey
My husband is Corsican and I’m Italian. We tried to blend both. What really mattered to us was the family vibe, this warm atmosphere of entertaining. Antoine has five siblings, our kids are always inviting friends over, we host a lot. We really designed and built the house for parties and big meals. Here, the kitchen is the center of the world. My taste leans towards the 1970s. I find that era chic, luxurious, timeless – think Saint Laurent. Even in fashion, I love that period. The materials too: carpet, glossy lacquer, metal, and those round but structured shapes. I think things from that time age beautifully.
TSF
What was the biggest challenge during the renovation?
Audrey
The upstairs parquet floor – it caused a few arguments with my husband. It’s not a classic herringbone floor, but a pattern called “Arenberg,” much more original! Except… the tiles didn’t fit. We had to think long and hard with the carpenter about how to lay it, it was always a puzzle figuring out how it would fall. Just the hallway alone took fifteen days! It was the only big fight of the whole renovation. Not bad for a year’s work, right?
TSF
Tell us about what you love in your interior.
Audrey
There are some objects we spent nearly a year hunting down. We mix old and new. And I think the blend gives a house a real soul. First, in the little living room and the dining room, I love these two pairs of wall lights by the artist Emmanuelle Luciani. I hesitated for a long time before buying them, but finally gave in – it was love at first sight. For me, they combine past references while being made today. That’s also how I see our house: an old home that lives in the present, fully restored and even transformed in many ways. Life continues… I feel like I’m only showing you light fixtures… I discovered another pair of sconces at Axel Chay’s studio in Marseille. With his help and approval, we repurposed them into a ceiling light. Technically, that piece isn’t sold commercially. We made several versions of it – the ones you see above the stainless steel island and on the dining table.
TSF
Where do you go antiquing? Platforms like leboncoin, flea markets, auctions?
Audrey
I browse leboncoin a lot. Strangely, not so much for objects – I especially love buying old paintings. Like the two little watercolors in the dining room, views of Marseille. Otherwise, I work a lot with local dealers, from Marseille. And I never say no to a good flea market!
TSF
What are your favorite rooms in the house?
Audrey
That’s hard… The kitchen, of course, but I also really love our winter living room: we curl up there by the fireplace and watch movies as a family. It fits a lot of people, thanks to the bench designed by our architect Margaux Fritz and built by L’Atelier des Frères. I particularly love the detail where the curve of the stainless steel mirrors the shape of the cushion… Naturally, the 1970s influence is everywhere. And the bathroom, we imagined it like a little Italian palace. It’s all in red travertine. I placed a sculpture there that I inherited from my Italian great-grandmother – I’m very attached to it. I paired it with a cluster of small antique-style medallions that I found at Marie Veidig’s shop in Marseille.
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We really designed and built this house with parties and dinners in mind. Here, the kitchen is the center of the world.
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In the bathroom, the small antique-style profile medallions were sourced from Marie Veidig in Marseille.
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A family heirloom, the 1900s sculpture once belonging to Audrey Colombani’s grandmother stands proudly amidst the red travertine.
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TSF
What do you think of The Socialite Family?
Audrey
It’s a media brand that really speaks to me. The focus on the family side of interiors is exactly what I love. And I think interviewing people within their family is completely fresh. We design our homes for families, so I’m really happy to be interviewed by you! We really feel a sense of belonging to The Socialite Family. And, well, as someone passionate about design, I’m totally in love with your furniture!
TSF
Do you have a favorite piece from our collection?
Audrey
Yes, your ,
which I’m always trying to fit into one of my interiors, and your ,
for its beautiful light and transparency effects.
TSF
What are your go-to spots in Marseille?
Audrey
We explored them together… First, a dip at Plage des Prophètes in Marseille, then a stop at Aussih to treat yourself to something nice. Then lunch at La Relève, a visit to Pavillon Southway, and to finish, a delicious ice cream from Emkipop!
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Next to the rooftop terrace, a secondary kitchen ready for sun-drenched moments.
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In the master suite, a pendant light by François Bazin and a full-wall headboard with built-in niches, designed by Margaux Fritz and crafted by L’Atelier des Frères.
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In the kitchen, our
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