Tucked into the hillside above Tuscany’s Monte Argentario coast, Villa La Cacciarella is a vacation home designed to seduce the senses - with sea views, vintage elegance, and the easy rhythm of Italian living. Originally built in 1968 by architect Michele Boris, the villa has been reimagined as a high-style retreat by renowned design studio Charles & Co., led by Vicky Charles.
Overlooking the sandy beach it’s named after and just a short walk from the fishing town of Porto Santo Stefano, the villa feels both exquisitely Italian and effortlessly modern. “We really wanted this to be a home where you felt on holiday as soon as you arrive and to position everything towards the view,” says Charles. “The open-plan living, the chic bar and the wide view of the sunset should make you want to slip into a kaftan and not leave.”
A Design-Driven Transformation
Charles discovered the villa while house-hunting for a client. The views - stretching across the Mediterranean to Corsica and Sardinia - were irresistible, as was the peaceful vibe of this quieter coastal region. What followed was a three-year gut renovation, completed in collaboration with architect Matteo Michielin, Squared Architect, and landscape architect Enzo Margheriti.
One of the first priorities? Revealing the view, whcih was originally hidden, so the first design decision was to change that. Charles notes, “So you step in and admire the sea immediately.”
The interiors channel a contemporary interpretation of 1970s Italian Riviera living. Sourcing vintage pieces from the Mercanteinfiera antiques fair in Parma and mid-century gems across Europe, the design feels collected rather than curated. The living room’s reupholstered 70s sofa (from Morentz) sits alongside custom beds by Chelsea Upholstery and wardrobes by Laboratorio Italiano.
All wallpapers and fabrics come from ZAK+FOX - founded by Charles’s friend Zak Profera - whose patterns evoke the mystical spirit of Italy. Bedrooms feature wallpaper inspired by the 16th-century park Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo, layering history with fantasy.
The Marble Moment
Marble plays a starring role throughout the home. Personally selected by Charles and custom-cut by FMG Marble, the stones range from soft pink Fior di Pesco in the bedrooms to deep Ombra di Caravaggio in the kitchen. Each bathroom is clad in a unique marble - from Brazil’s Onice Multicolor to Sicily’s rare Diaspro, used dramatically in the bar’s flooring and walls.
The effect is both opulent and grounded - each space offering tactile richness, seasonal warmth, and visual delight.
Modern Comfort Meets Riviera Cool
Beyond beauty, the villa offers the practical comforts of a modern home: two fully equipped kitchens (the second, hidden behind a coral-hued secret door), a gym, and high-speed internet. Outdoors, a heated pool, garden terraces, and a shaded pergola invite lazy afternoons and alfresco dinners.
The re-terraced garden creates two distinct outdoor areas, both angled for maximum enjoyment of the seascape. The expanded kitchen terrace, ideal for entertaining, includes a dining table, BBQ, and a ping-pong table, all overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean.
A Villa with Vintage Soul
With a nod to its 1970s architectural roots and a celebration of Italy’s artisanal traditions, Villa La Cacciarella is not just a holiday home - it’s a living love letter to the Italian coast. And while it’s available to rent, it carries the intimacy of a private family home.
As Charles sums it up: “There was no client, so I could finally combine my years of hospitality design with my love for residential interiors. It’s a home meant to be lived in - joyfully.”
Credits
Photography by Camilla Glorioso, Instagram: @camillaglorioso
Interior design by Charles and Co, Instagram: @charlesandcostudio
Architecture by Architect Matteo Michielin with the collaboration of Squared Architect
Landscape architecture by Enzo Margheriti
