Our Story
In 2001, Lydia and John Dean moved to Provence with their young family. A year later, they purchased a farmhouse outside Aix-en-Provence and, with limited local knowledge and resources, began the arduous process of renovating their home. When the house was completed, they began renting it to foreign visitors during the summer months.
After returning to the US six years later, John and Lydia established Only Provence in 2007, which is now a luxury villa rental leader representing over 200 distinguished properties across Provence. During John’s years building the villa business, he previewed hundreds of properties, advised property owners on restoring and maintaining their homes, and developed a keen sense of what foreigners seek in luxury properties.
Over the years, demand for property in the region has grown, yet it remains rare to find the full range of services foreigners need to renovate, decorate, and prepare a home for villa rental. In 2018, the Deans returned to the region to launch Provence Life, a boutique firm offering a suite of home-renovation services. While the Deans oversee projects for foreign clients, they are currently focused primarily on buying and renovating luxury homes for resale.
John and Lydia share a deep love for French culture and a passion for building businesses. They are also committed to making the world a more equitable place. While growing Only Provence, Lydia also co-founded GoPhilanthropic, a nonprofit supporting grassroots education, health, and human rights initiatives in eight developing countries.
In 2015, Lydia published Jumping the Picket Fence, an inspirational mix of renovating and raising a family in Provence, soul-searching, and nonprofit building. She later published a second book, Light Through the Cracks, a continuation of their love affair with Provence and philanthropy.
