How to successfully restore a house if it has been occupied for a long timehave not done any repairs, and it was built several centuries ago? Is it possible to preserve the old architecture, but make the home modern? This question was asked by the most famous decorator in the world. The house we want to tell you about today was built in the 18th century in France, in the Loire Valley. Since its construction, it has not been renovated. It was necessary to rehabilitate the building and preserve its originality. How did you manage to turn an old farm into a real French cottage? Jean-Louis Deniot, decorator, designer He is on the list of the 100 best designers in the world. He is inspired by the images of French classics of different periods.
Unfit for habitation
When Virginia Deniot and herhusband bought a farmhouse, it was a rectangular building with rooms that needed repair. Some of them were used as a stable. The living space was about 10% of the total area of the buildings. It is clear that the building needed serious reconstruction. But this did not frighten the newly minted residents of the house, since Virginia is the head of the design studio and business partner of the famous interior designer and decorator . In addition, he is her beloved brother and co-owner of the house. Jean-Louis began to implement a difficult project with inspiration. The restoration of the house lasted more than a year. But the end result is impressive.
Transformation of a farm from the 18th to the 21st century
The main task was to create a Frencha country house, preserving the old atmosphere of the 18th century. But at the same time, it was necessary to make it comfortable and suitable for the 21st century. A careful approach to the selection of fabrics and materials helped to preserve this fine line, which can be seen in the example of furniture: items from the 50s and 60s coexist perfectly with French neoclassical works. First, a passage was built between the house and the neighboring stable. The living room and open kitchen were located on the ground floor. The bedroom was converted into a library. The former kitchen with a brick fireplace became Jean-Louis's room. The designer created a Louis XIV-style bed for the bedroom. The canopy over the bed is made of burlap and decorated with fringe, the edges of which were carefully aligned by hand to achieve the desired result. The pantry was converted into a bathroom. In the upper part of the building there are three more bedrooms, a media center and two bathrooms. Windows were installed in the attic to fill the second floor with light. The bathrooms recreated the atmosphere of the 18th century. Here they installed antique cabinets, sinks, and floors were laid with classic terracotta tiles. The fireplaces in the house are made in antique style and create a cozy, relaxing, old-fashioned atmosphere.
Hidden Modern Tricks
It was important to the farm owners that the floorsrooms became warm, because they have a little daughter growing up. Therefore, a modern radiant heating system is installed under the floor. Nowadays, this type of heating is more often used in country houses. Ceramic tiles on the floor enhance the feeling of an old atmosphere and go well with wooden beams, which adds warmth to the interior. The doors are custom-made from simple oak boards. The owners of the house thus wanted to preserve the simplicity of a French farmhouse.
Home Collections from Travels
The house is filled with amazing antiques. They were brought from travels, and many of them were bought at flea markets in Denmark, Italy, and the USA:
- Textiles and fabrics were chosen in the shops of Paris and New Delhi,
- Handmade carpets are brought from Tangier (Morroco),
- a mirror in the form of the sun, which hangs on the wall by the fireplace, originally from the 40s.
Scottish Library
As children, the brother and sister often went to visitto his grandmother, who lived in Scotland. These trips left a warm mark in the hearts of Virginia and Jean-Louis, so they could not ignore the theme of Scotland in their own interior. And they played with this theme in the design of the library. By the way, here too, they could not do without elements brought from travels. For example, Jean-Louis brought a cashmere blanket, curtains and dark wool from Delhi. Our opinion: - If you want to get a calming atmosphere in the library, use a cage in the interior design. This pattern creates a sense of order and harmony.
Play of textures and colors
The designer chose a dark color scheme forwall decoration to make the space look cozier. Then he used light shades in the fabrics to add a little air to the space. The color scheme was perfectly complemented by sheepskin, raw wood, rusty metal and leather, collected under one roof. They equally emphasized each other's advantages. The interior of the house turned out to be warm, relaxing, atmospheric and original.
deniot.com
