Audrey Hepburn’s storybook Swiss villa lists for £16.7 million – see inside
An 18th-century Swiss villa with Hollywood ties has hit the market. The New York Post reports that the charming dwelling dubbed La Paisible, or “peaceful place,” where Audrey Hepburn lived from 1963 until she died in 1993, has just listed for £16.7 million. Only one family has resided in the 10,764-square-foot house, which is located 30 miles outside of Geneva since Hepburn’s sons sold it in 2001. Though the 12-bedroom and eight-bathroom manse has since been thoroughly renovated, the legendary star’s white rose bushes (a gift from fashion house Givenchy) still grow in the garden.
The home’s dreamy exterior sports curved roof tiles, climbing ivy, and light blue shutters. The picturesque plot includes a 50-foot swimming pool, sprawling lawns, an orchard, and landscaped gardens. Five entrances access the home, which hosts 21 airy rooms warmed by wood-burning fireplaces and lined with terra-cotta tiles, woven carpet, and parquet wood floors. The modern eat-in kitchen features stylish blue cabinets with delightfully chunky silver handles and a big marble-topped island with plentiful counter seating. There’s also a sweet library complete with white built-in bookshelves and a service apartment that boasts two bedrooms and a kitchen.
Hepburn, whose grave is in a nearby cemetery, outfitted the home with cheerful decor during her residency. The library was furnished with a magenta and burnt orange color scheme, while the otherwise all-white living room had sunflower yellow sofas and a pair of dog statues guarding the fireplace. Reportedly, the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star also kept a grand piano, framed photos of herself with famous friends like Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra, and paintings by the French artist Balthus. In the bedroom, cream-wicker side tables flanked her white-and-blue floral canopy bed.
