Houzz Tour: A Cosy Pied-à-Terre Reworked for a Small Family
Small-space solutions turned this one-bed flat into a comfortable Monday-to-Friday home for a father and his daughters
If you haven’t been to the old town of La Rochelle, France, you’re missing out on the joy of strolling through its cobbled lanes and vaulted arches. Just in front of the city’s New World Museum is designer Coralie Bizot’s latest renovation, a small, bright family apartment.
The owner lives outside the city, but works in town, so he wanted a cosy pied-à-terre to share with his two teenage children during the week. Having previously worked with Coralie on a professional project, he entrusted her with his own apartment, which he’d bought in 2017.
The owner lives outside the city, but works in town, so he wanted a cosy pied-à-terre to share with his two teenage children during the week. Having previously worked with Coralie on a professional project, he entrusted her with his own apartment, which he’d bought in 2017.
“As soon as I visited the apartment, I felt the serenity of this place in the old town,” Coralie says. “Bright and with large windows in two directions, the property was already very pleasant to live in, and we had to make sure it would stay that way.”
Coralie worked on everything, from the renovation of the space to the furniture selection and décor. She made sketches, one of which is pictured here, to help the owner visualise the final design.
Coralie worked on everything, from the renovation of the space to the furniture selection and décor. She made sketches, one of which is pictured here, to help the owner visualise the final design.
Before “The apartment was really old and hadn’t been renovated for a good 20 years,” Coralie says.
These photos of the entrance show something of its previous state. Moreover, the entrance had been dark and closed-in, and separated from the kitchen by a plain door.
Find an interior designer to bring your project to life on Houzz.
These photos of the entrance show something of its previous state. Moreover, the entrance had been dark and closed-in, and separated from the kitchen by a plain door.
Find an interior designer to bring your project to life on Houzz.
After The feel of the space has changed completely. Just past a small room housing the toilet – the door on the right here – a sliding door with inset windows now leads to the the kitchen. A separate entrance to the living-dining room is around the corner to the right.
“To hide the boxing and make the hallway functional, I thought it would be more interesting to install a mirror or something the owners could use to get ready before going out,” Coralie says.
Cork pouffe; pendant light, both La Redoute.
“To hide the boxing and make the hallway functional, I thought it would be more interesting to install a mirror or something the owners could use to get ready before going out,” Coralie says.
Cork pouffe; pendant light, both La Redoute.
“The concept was to keep the idea of a dark hallway that would contrast with the diaphanous light of the living space. The dark transition zone recedes to better introduce the main area,” Coralie says. “The dark grey that covers all the surfaces has a uniform shine under the orange, coppery glow of the matt black pendant light.”
The sliding door that partitions the kitchen from the entrance is stylish and saves space. Its glass panel separates the hall without completely obscuring it.
Before Although the kitchen was dated and not very functional, it had a beautiful floor that’s typical of old La Rochelle apartments. It also has a 3m-high ceiling.
However, it had been separated from the living room with an unsightly arch.
After The owner wanted a Scandinavian-style kitchen, so Coralie used pale oak throughout. On the left is a small breakfast bar. The bottom sections of the arch were kept in place to support both the oak top and the matching openwork panel, which visually separates the two zones without obstructing the flow of the space.
Coralie managed to work in lots of storage without it feeling oppressive, thanks to the plain white surfaces. “The original kitchen was not functional at all,” she says. “The whole interior structure was replaced with a bespoke solution made by a carpenter who specialises in kitchens. The main objective was to provide maximum storage by taking advantage of the entire height of the room.”
Townshend pendant light, Eglo at Leroy Merlin.
Townshend pendant light, Eglo at Leroy Merlin.
Coralie handled all of the technical and aesthetic choices in the kitchen, working with trusted craftsmen. “To start a project, I draw and propose the layout for cabinets and household appliances, and I discuss the choice of materials with the owner. Here, it was oak worktops and white lacquered cabinetry doors with stainless steel handles.”
The splashback is faux-marble laminate, which is both more economical than other alternatives and easy to clean.
The splashback is faux-marble laminate, which is both more economical than other alternatives and easy to clean.
In the living room, Coralie took advantage of the apartment’s historic features, preserving the mouldings on the walls and ceiling.
The dining room, which overlooks the building’s private garden, is a tranquil haven and a place for the family to come together after a long day. At the back of the room, an existing niche was repainted dark grey to display a painting and decorative objects. The artwork was painted by the owner himself: it’s a copy of American painter Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks.
The white table is extendable. Its rounded edges and white-and-wood frame pick up on the kitchen’s Scandinavian style. The black metal chair is the odd one out. This was deliberate, to make the space feel less uniform.
Chairs and pendant light, Maisons du Monde.
The white table is extendable. Its rounded edges and white-and-wood frame pick up on the kitchen’s Scandinavian style. The black metal chair is the odd one out. This was deliberate, to make the space feel less uniform.
Chairs and pendant light, Maisons du Monde.
The walls are all painted in a smoky white that preserves natural light and visually unifies the spaces.
Tripod floor lamps, La Redoute.
Tripod floor lamps, La Redoute.
Before The original living room was very impersonal. A small door led to the bedroom and bathroom.
After The part of the room that houses the living area is a bit larger than the dining area; the change in size helps highlight the separation of the two zones.
This is where the owner sleeps from Monday to Friday, so Coralie chose a very comfortable sofa-bed. It can be unfolded without changing the room’s layout.
Sofa, La Redoute.
This is where the owner sleeps from Monday to Friday, so Coralie chose a very comfortable sofa-bed. It can be unfolded without changing the room’s layout.
Sofa, La Redoute.
The height of the ceiling in this space allowed Coralie to go for a gallery effect on two walls of the living room, with a running blue section framed by white.
Wooden boxes display a number of objects that change constantly as the family find new things they like, or with the changing seasons.
Set of three oak cube shelves, Leroy Merlin. Rug, La Redoute.
Wooden boxes display a number of objects that change constantly as the family find new things they like, or with the changing seasons.
Set of three oak cube shelves, Leroy Merlin. Rug, La Redoute.
Coralie had to reconfigure the apartment’s single bedroom to fit in two beds and private space for each of the teenagers. She also had to include an office area and simple, space-saving storage.
For the sake of space and to preserve a fluid path from the bedroom to the bathroom, Coralie went for beds with minimalist frames.
A large, custom-made, floor-to-ceiling wardrobe provides storage. Coralie proposed this trendy design but, on the carpenter’s advice, decided to make it out of softwood in order to save money. A strip of bright yellow paint running across the top of the room gently catches the eye and keeps the space from feeling cramped because of the large wardrobe.
Beds, La Redoute.
A large, custom-made, floor-to-ceiling wardrobe provides storage. Coralie proposed this trendy design but, on the carpenter’s advice, decided to make it out of softwood in order to save money. A strip of bright yellow paint running across the top of the room gently catches the eye and keeps the space from feeling cramped because of the large wardrobe.
Beds, La Redoute.
A large bookcase made of wooden boxes sets apart two private areas and creates an asymmetrical arrangement of positive and negative space.
The two zones are set off with different wall colours: pale green and dark grey.
Before The window dressing made the room dark
After Now, roller blinds make it easier to adjust the light. This small corner was made into an office.
Solid birch Mauricette chair; lamp, both Maisons du Monde.
Solid birch Mauricette chair; lamp, both Maisons du Monde.
Before In the back corner of the apartment, the original bathroom needed an update.
After Coralie immediately spotted the value of having a window overlooking the shower. “The enclosure was replaced with a walk-in shower that extends the whole width of the bathroom. I chose large-format tiles with a textured matt finish for the shower floor,” she says.
“Everything has been made to measure. We placed a large mirror on the wall between the two sources of natural light,” she says, “while a vanity unit floating over a faux-cement-tile vinyl floor lends the bathroom some character.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this reworked apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“Everything has been made to measure. We placed a large mirror on the wall between the two sources of natural light,” she says, “while a vanity unit floating over a faux-cement-tile vinyl floor lends the bathroom some character.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this reworked apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A father and his two teenagers
Location La Rochelle, France
Size About 540 square feet (50 square meters)
Duration of renovation February to May 2018
Interior designer Coralie Bizot of Décoralie Concept
Budget About €45,000 (£40,138)
Photos by Jours & Nuits © 2019 Houzz