August Collection’s Evolving Portfolio: What’s New for Luxury Co-Owners

Why settle for one vacation home when you can own five? August is a co-ownership platform where members buy equity in a portfolio of European holiday homes. As co-owners, members may stay at any of the homes in their portfolio.

Buying a holiday home in another country can be a challenging experience. Cultural differences and language barriers add an extra layer of complexity, and so do local laws and regulations.

“Purchasing homes in Europe can be complex, as laws, processes, and documentation vary from country to country and even between local administrations,” said Co-founder and CEO Mélie Dunod.

Even after buying the property, renovating, maintaining, and managing a home that is vacant most of the time is time-consuming and often expensive.

Mélie explained, “August makes owning really beautiful homes a lot easier and removes the hassle from owning, but also the decision of having to lock yourself into one property and one location.”

History of The August Collection

August’s founders Mélie Dunod and Nico (Nicolai) Watzenig share professional and personal interests in travel, design, and entrepreneurship. They ran an interior design firm together before founding August in 2019. The company remains a founder-led business headquartered in London.

Through their other work, Mélie and Nico witnessed the hassle people go through when buying and managing a European vacation home. All that for a property that they may only spend around 10% of their time visiting. They recognized a need they were well-positioned to address.

August started building its first collection in 2019. Since then, August has expanded to include five collection themes, managing 70 homes, a total of 19 collection portfolios, and serving over 570 co-owners.

With experience in buying real estate in several European countries, managing upscale properties, and interior design, the team at August Collection handles all the details from finding the home to decorating and remodeling it.

“Homeowners don’t have to lift a finger or deal with the stress of a renovation,” she added.

August’s professional team handles all aspects of buying, renovating, decorating, and managing the home.

How August Curates Homes That Capture a Sense of Place

When August forms a new collection, they start with criteria surrounding the concept, size, location, and value of the homes. They begin recruiting co-owners and searching for homes that accurately represent the region. For example, in Tuscany, they may look for a traditional farmhouse with vaulted ceilings and views of the rolling hills.

Depending on the collection, August’s team focuses on acquiring homes in France, Spain, Italy, and sometimes the UK. Once they acquire a home, their in-house design team takes over.

Mélie explained this team, “excels at uncovering the potential in every home, transforming it into a truly special space that feels both timeless and welcoming.”

The design reflects the local culture. August collaborates with local craftsmen who employ traditional techniques to maintain authenticity.

“Our approach is centered around regionality, drawing inspiration from the homes we acquire and their historical or original features. Each property is crafted to reflect its surroundings while maintaining a contemporary and sophisticated feel.”

Owners Choose Among Five Collections for Different Lifestyles

Prospective co-owners have five themed collections to choose from based on their lifestyle, family size, budget, and how they want to spend their holidays. Each collection has its own theme and includes homes of a similar size.

“Whether you're drawn to sun, beach, city, or ski destinations; expansive villas, luxurious fincas, cosy cottages, or chic apartments - there’s a collection that aligns with your family and ideal holiday lifestyle,” said Mélie.

Current Collections (July 2025)

Pied À Terre Collection: Boutique-style, 2-bedroom apartments in London, Paris, Rome, Cannes, and Barcelona. Share price from €405,000, annual fee €12,500.

Grand Pied À Terre Collection: Similar to Pied À Terre but with larger apartments (2–3 bedrooms) located in London, Paris, Rome, Cannes, and Barcelona. Share price from €665,000, annual fee €18,500.

Signature Collection: Family-sized 3 to 4-bedroom homes in European countryside and resort regions - South of France, French Alps, Tuscany, Mallorca, and the Cotswolds. Share price from €435,000, annual fee €15,600.

Premium Collection: Luxurious 4 to 5-bedroom homes with amenities, such as private gyms and saunas, located in the South of France, Tuscany, French Alps, Mallorca, and the Cotswolds. Share price from €700,000, annual fee €19,800.

Prime Collection: Featuring spectacular properties priced at around €5.5 million located in the French Riviera, Mallorca, Tuscany, and the French Alps. Share price from €1,800,000, contact August for the annual fee.

The August Owner Experience

Ownership in each collection is limited. A co-owner has 1/21 equity in the Pied À Terre, Grand Pied À Terre, Signature, and Premium collections. Prime Collection co-owners receive a larger 1/16 share.

This works out so that, on average, each co-owner spends around 8-12 weeks staying in any of the homes within their collection. Co-owner bookings are based on a points system. High-demand seasons cost more points, while lower-demand seasons cost fewer points. Last-minute bookings of vacant properties are points-free.

August facilitates community among co-owners, offering a more premium experience than a common timeshare. Each collection has its own board of directors composed of co-owners who represent the community and address any concerns about the homes and their upkeep.

According to Mélie: “With August, there’s no need to worry about maintenance or logistics—our dedicated in-house teams handle all the details, from booking support to on-the-ground assistance during stays. This allows owners to fully relax, focus on enjoying their time with loved ones, and experience these regions more authentically.”