Sotheby’s International Realty and Assouline celebrate 50 years of refined living

To mark its 50th anniversary, Sotheby’s International Realty has partnered with luxury publisher Assouline to present The Art of Refined Living. Featuring a selection of remarkable homes from around the world, the book explores the relationship between architecture, heritage, and the art of living. Among the residences featured is La Pitchoune, Julia Child’s former retreat on the French Riviera, sold by Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty.

A story of architecture, culture, and remarkable places

Since its founding in 1976, Sotheby’s International Realty has approached luxury real estate with an appreciation for the character and history of individual properties. Beyond their setting or architectural distinction, certain homes hold a particular place in cultural history, shaped by the people who lived in them and the stories they left behind.

To celebrate five decades, the global network has joined forces with Assouline, the publishing house known for its beautifully produced volumes on art, architecture, design, and the world's most celebrated destinations.

The result is The Art of Refined Living, a book that brings together remarkable residences from the past fifty years, reflecting a shared appreciation for places whose significance extends beyond real estate.

Written by American author Gay Gassmann, with forewords by Philip A. White Jr. and Charles F. Stewart, the volume takes readers on a journey through architectural styles, eras, and ways of living that have shaped the Sotheby’s International Realty story.

The Art of Refined Living: homes that tell the stories of their time

What gives a home its place in history?

Sometimes it is the vision of an architect. Elsewhere, it may be the personality of a former resident, a distinctive way of life, or a particular cultural moment.

The properties featured in The Art of Refined Living reflect this diversity. Among them is the Kaufmann Desert House, designed by Richard Neutra in Palm Springs. With its striking horizontal lines and seamless relationship with the desert landscape, it remains one of the defining achievements of American modernist architecture.

Thousands of miles away, in the hills above the French Riviera, La Pitchoune tells a very different story.

The blue-shuttered Provençal cottage was a cherished retreat for Julia Child and her husband, Paul. Closely connected to the celebrated American chef's love of French cuisine, it became part of her culinary legacy, a place where the intimacy of a holiday home meets a cultural story that continues to resonate internationally.

Its inclusion in the book holds particular meaning for Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty, which handled the property's sale.

Although vastly different in character and setting, these two residences share an enduring quality: each captures something distinctive about its time and the people who inhabited it.

The French Riviera: a legacy of architecture and cultural heritage

The French Riviera has long occupied a special place in the history of international residential life. From the late nineteenth century onwards, its landscapes, climate, and cultural vitality attracted artists, writers, and prominent European and American families.

Their influence remains visible in the region's architectural diversity. Belle Époque villas, traditional Provençal bastides, modernist residences, and contemporary homes reflect generations of architectural and cultural exchange.

Some of these properties carry histories that call for particular care when they change hands.

Alongside La Pitchoune, Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty also facilitated the sale of Château Lérins, a historic estate associated with the Kennedy family, through its Private Desk.

These two transactions reveal different dimensions of the Riviera's residential heritage: one property closely connected to the history of gastronomy, the other to the lives of an internationally prominent family.

Representing such residences requires an understanding of their individual character, an appreciation of their heritage, and an approach suited to both French and international buyers.

For Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty, this work brings together local market knowledge, discretion, and the international reach of the Sotheby’s International Realty network.

Fifty years of a distinctive perspective on real estate

Established in 1976 and drawing on the cultural heritage of Sotheby’s, the auction house founded in London in 1744, Sotheby’s International Realty has built its identity around an appreciation for distinctive homes and the stories behind them.

Its international expansion, including the development of its franchise model from 2004, brought together locally established real estate professionals under a shared global identity.

The Art of Refined Living offers an editorial expression of this history.

Bound in deep-blue fabric and featuring carefully curated photography, the book reflects Assouline's tradition of beautifully crafted publications. Its pages invite readers to consider residences through their architecture, surroundings, and the human experiences that give them meaning.

More than a retrospective, it offers a perspective on what endures over time: an architectural vision, a particular atmosphere, a cultural legacy, or the memory of those who once called a place home.

In celebrating its first fifty years, Sotheby’s International Realty also acknowledges a timeless idea: the most memorable homes are often those whose stories continue long after ownership has changed.

Discover the book: The Art of Refined Living, published by Assouline