Houzz Tour: An Abandoned Home is Beautifully Revived for a Family
Having stood empty for a decade, this house has become a pretty home full of retro furniture, wood and warmth
On the lookout for a larger living space, a family of four decided to settle in this pretty house in the Bagnolet suburb of Paris, France. The building, which features two, 65 sq m storeys in addition to a cellar and an attic, had not been inhabited for about a decade. Interior designer Cécile Humbert gave it a new lease of life with a subtle mix of vintage and contemporary style sprinkled with warm touches of wood.
Before The building’s façade had borne witness to its long abandonment. Its paint was faded, the finish was dirty and the door and windows had been boarded up to deter squatters.
The ground floor layout before work.
Before Only the load-bearing outer walls were preserved. As is often the case in older houses, the interior space had been too partitioned for modern sensibilities and the new owners’ liking.
Before Only the load-bearing outer walls were preserved. As is often the case in older houses, the interior space had been too partitioned for modern sensibilities and the new owners’ liking.
The ground floor layout after work.
After “We opened up the spaces as much as possible to bring in natural light and create a large living room on the ground floor. The idea was also to restore the home’s charm,” Cécile says.
See real projects and reviews from interior designers in your area.
After “We opened up the spaces as much as possible to bring in natural light and create a large living room on the ground floor. The idea was also to restore the home’s charm,” Cécile says.
See real projects and reviews from interior designers in your area.
Before The front door had previously opened into a fully partitioned space, and the garden was not visible from the hallway or entrance.
“We’ve created a dual-aspect space. The decompartmentalisation made it possible to enlarge the spaces while creating the feeling of openness right from the entrance,” Cécile says.
“We’ve created a dual-aspect space. The decompartmentalisation made it possible to enlarge the spaces while creating the feeling of openness right from the entrance,” Cécile says.
After Now, the entrance hall has sightlines into the garden behind the house.
Cécile reworked the connections between spaces to create fluid circulation. There was originally only one entrance to the kitchen, but now the living room and hallway open into it.
More on this topic: Surprising Ways an Interior Designer Could Help You.
Cécile reworked the connections between spaces to create fluid circulation. There was originally only one entrance to the kitchen, but now the living room and hallway open into it.
More on this topic: Surprising Ways an Interior Designer Could Help You.
“We replaced all of the doors and windows. We recreated the old ironwork on the entrance doors on both sides of the house and reproduced the windows, with their metal espagnolettes, perfectly,” Cécile says.
Before The kitchen came fitted with dated furnishings and lacked natural light.
After It has now been turned into an ultra-bright and functional space. “We kept this linear kitchen unit in place to house all of the necessary appliances, equipment and storage,” Cécile says.
The 13 sq m room has a country-chic atmosphere and combines an imitation cement tile floor and a grey-green splashback.
An elegant double glass door separates it from the dining area. “The two large, entirely custom-made doors make it possible to have the benefits of a completely independent kitchen, especially to contain noise and odours, while still letting light in,” Cécile says.
The 13 sq m room has a country-chic atmosphere and combines an imitation cement tile floor and a grey-green splashback.
An elegant double glass door separates it from the dining area. “The two large, entirely custom-made doors make it possible to have the benefits of a completely independent kitchen, especially to contain noise and odours, while still letting light in,” Cécile says.
To create a cosy, welcoming space, the couple went for a worktop made of BauBuche laminated wood veneer panels, and a bamboo pendant light. This is matched with a table surrounded by vintage chairs.
Above the internal windows and doorway that separate the kitchen and hall is an original beam that evokes the history of the building.
Above the internal windows and doorway that separate the kitchen and hall is an original beam that evokes the history of the building.
The gilded brass handles add a luxurious touch to the otherwise restrained matt white cabinetry.
Niches displaying cookbooks, plants and decorative objects animate this monochrome kitchen unit. “Durable and easy to maintain, BauBuche [laminated wood] is the ideal material for furnishing the kitchen in an original way,” Cécile says.
The dining area is just in front of the kitchen. Its design revolves around soft and natural colours, with a beige linen tablecloth paired with taupe tableware and rattan chairs that have an old-fashioned flair.
In order to create a warm atmosphere of timeless charm in the dining room, the couple opted for solid-oak flooring in a herringbone pattern, simply finished with a colourless matt varnish. “In terms of décor, the idea was to work each room differently while maintaining consistency throughout the house,” Cécile says.
In order to create a warm atmosphere of timeless charm in the dining room, the couple opted for solid-oak flooring in a herringbone pattern, simply finished with a colourless matt varnish. “In terms of décor, the idea was to work each room differently while maintaining consistency throughout the house,” Cécile says.
Before In the living room, the old fireplace was replaced with a marble one that looks as if it’s always been there.
After A white linen sofa has found its natural place in front of the new fireplace. As in every room of this house, vintage objects and pieces of furniture hold the spotlight: a small bedside table coexists with a wooden crate from a flea market, an old mirror and a demijohn holding a bouquet of dried flowers.
“The owners planned the project in two stages. They wanted to move in before deciding on the final developments. So I might have to redo some work in certain spaces,” Cécile says.
“The owners planned the project in two stages. They wanted to move in before deciding on the final developments. So I might have to redo some work in certain spaces,” Cécile says.
The original staircase has been renovated, but Cécile kept the distressed look to add character. “We decided to keep this old staircase with its patina. This way, it evokes the history of the building,” she says.
The first floor layout before work.
Before The first floor originally had four bedrooms and a small bathroom. Since the couple have two children, the family only needed three bedrooms.
Before The first floor originally had four bedrooms and a small bathroom. Since the couple have two children, the family only needed three bedrooms.
The first floor layout after work.
After This made it possible to combine two of the bedrooms into a suite with a private bathroom and dressing area, and to enlarge the family bathroom. The other two bedrooms have stayed the same size.
After This made it possible to combine two of the bedrooms into a suite with a private bathroom and dressing area, and to enlarge the family bathroom. The other two bedrooms have stayed the same size.
Before Humidity had eaten away at this dilapidated room.
After Now, it’s the daughter’s bedroom.
To inject some energy into the space and bring in a touch of colour, the owners went for a strip of wallpaper with a floral motif at the head of the bed. A small vintage chair serves as a bedside table, while a yellow and blue quilted blanket defines the reading corner (see previous image).
Before This other rundown room was transformed into a bedroom for the couple’s younger child.
After The room now features a restrained, refined design. The walls were painted white to keep the room as bright as possible. Touches of blue add vibrance, matched with retro furniture, including a red metal chair and an old world map that had belonged to the boy’s grandparents (not seen).
Before This is now used as the kids’ bathroom. It’s been expanded by borrowing from the fourth bedroom, the rest of which was turned into a dressing room and en suite for the main bedroom.
After The couple wanted a dynamic and vibrant atmosphere. Blue hexagonal cement tiles decorate the floor and the bath panel.
“We took advantage of the space between the wall and the end of the bath to create niches for storing towels and linens,” Cécile says.
A black metal mirror decorated with a grid and a shelf brings an industrial touch to this now contemporary space.
“We took advantage of the space between the wall and the end of the bath to create niches for storing towels and linens,” Cécile says.
A black metal mirror decorated with a grid and a shelf brings an industrial touch to this now contemporary space.
Before This space, which originally had lino flooring, has now been turned into the main bedroom.
After The parents’ room is now crisp and modern.
There is nothing superfluous in this restful and soothing space. The dressing area, on the left of the photo, is separated from the bedroom area by a simple white curtain.
There is nothing superfluous in this restful and soothing space. The dressing area, on the left of the photo, is separated from the bedroom area by a simple white curtain.
The en suite bathroom plays up the contrast with a black-and-white scheme. A barber’s mirror with a golden frame, a Scandinavian-style vanity unit and a dark wooden stool from a flea market bring a lot of character to this space. Striking graphic tiles give it a modern feel.
The couple wanted to integrate an extra-large shower into the space. The custom-made glass divider makes the room look bigger. The walls are adorned with pure white zellige-look tiles that reflect the light.
Before The terrace and the stairs to the cellar were preserved. “We renovated the rear façade and paved the terrace with blue stone from Vietnam to create a coherent whole,” Cécile says.
After This little corner of greenery was brought back to life by a landscaper, who also placed a series of planters against the street-side façade.
Tell us…
What do you think of this fresh, modern revival? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you think of this fresh, modern revival? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A family with two children, aged 5 and 12
Location Bagnolet, near Paris, France
Size Three bedrooms and two bathrooms; about 130 sq m
Duration of work Ten months
Budget About €200,000 (around £178,000)
Interior designer Cécile Humbert
Photos by Cécile Humbert
The front steps, terrace and façade were completely renovated, and a cornice was added along the top to bring some depth and character to the house.
The paving stones in front of the building were replaced with blueish-grey stone from Vietnam that matches the new shutters perfectly. “We worked to create a colour scheme by adding, in particular, an awning and painted shutters that evoke the shades of the stone,” Cécile says.