Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Fresh, Contemporary Update of a 1990s Family Home
Edited colours and a simple materials palette have cut the visual clutter to create a calm home for a family of five
The owners of this house – a family of five – had recently returned from living in Africa and were looking to buy a home within walking distance of the children’s school. In a suburban area of Villiers-le-Bâcle, south-west of Paris, they found a large house built by a retired couple in the 1990s that needed renovating but was in an idea spot.
After discovering interior designer Véronique Rivière of Chic Home Design Paris in the ‘Find Pros’ section on Houzz, there followed a year of work in two phases – the first floor then the ground floor – to radically transform the home and give it a fresh, contemporary feel. Take a look at the ground floor transformation below.
After discovering interior designer Véronique Rivière of Chic Home Design Paris in the ‘Find Pros’ section on Houzz, there followed a year of work in two phases – the first floor then the ground floor – to radically transform the home and give it a fresh, contemporary feel. Take a look at the ground floor transformation below.
The existing ground-floor plan.
Nothing about the decoration of this house really appealed to the couple, but its quiet location at the end of a cul-de-sac and its proximity to the children’s school made it an excellent base for the family.
The wife, who has a knack for seeing the bigger picture, could immediately imagine that, with the right support, the house could evolve to suit their tastes.
Nothing about the decoration of this house really appealed to the couple, but its quiet location at the end of a cul-de-sac and its proximity to the children’s school made it an excellent base for the family.
The wife, who has a knack for seeing the bigger picture, could immediately imagine that, with the right support, the house could evolve to suit their tastes.
The Houzz Pro plan of the proposed new living room.
After Véronique renovated the bathroom and four bedrooms on the first floor, the couple immediately called her back to transform the living areas.
Ready to renovate? Easily find and hire a reviewed interior designer on Houzz.
After Véronique renovated the bathroom and four bedrooms on the first floor, the couple immediately called her back to transform the living areas.
Ready to renovate? Easily find and hire a reviewed interior designer on Houzz.
Before Photo
The former entrance to the house, which featured this low brick and beam wall, set the tone for the original decor. “The house was in good condition, but the decor, unchanged for 20 years, was so rustic and dark, it was oppressive,” Véronique says.
The owners, who wanted a contemporary style, had no qualms about embarking on major works. So Véronique carried out a complete renovation of the 100 sq m ground floor in partnership with construction company Optimiz Renovation, which she herself met via the Houzz website.
To gain a better understanding of the couple’s needs, she met them on several occasions in their new home, and was able to get a clear idea by using a series of key questions developed through her experience.
The owners were keen to separate the entrance from the living room. “From the front door to the brick fireplace in the living room, there was an unpleasant draught, and they had spent their first winter in the building freezing,” Véronique says.
She also helped her clients to adopt a colour palette. “They liked white, grey and beige,” she says. “Working on the basis of inspiration photos, they trusted me to add touches of green and brown, colours that provide contrast and give an impression of space. It echoed their trip to Africa, and they appreciated being guided towards creating a more personalised interior.”
To gain a better understanding of the couple’s needs, she met them on several occasions in their new home, and was able to get a clear idea by using a series of key questions developed through her experience.
The owners were keen to separate the entrance from the living room. “From the front door to the brick fireplace in the living room, there was an unpleasant draught, and they had spent their first winter in the building freezing,” Véronique says.
She also helped her clients to adopt a colour palette. “They liked white, grey and beige,” she says. “Working on the basis of inspiration photos, they trusted me to add touches of green and brown, colours that provide contrast and give an impression of space. It echoed their trip to Africa, and they appreciated being guided towards creating a more personalised interior.”
Before Photo
The owners didn’t like the original fireplace in the living room because of its rustic appearance and the cold it funnelled into the house.
This 1990s building was energy-efficient and didn’t need a full update. However, the owners were keen to save a few degrees in their living area in winter, especially as the house is heated electrically.
Véronique put the couple in touch with a local fireplace installer, TIPLO, from whom they chose this pellet stove.
Véronique put the couple in touch with a local fireplace installer, TIPLO, from whom they chose this pellet stove.
The adjacent TV unit was selected in a contemporary style from manufacturer Gautier. “I created Selections furniture lists (seen here) and mood boards using Houzz’s Clipper tool. My customers were able to directly approve the furniture on this list, which I exported to them in one click and which they could then send back to me. It’s very practical,” Véronique says.
She adds that she’s used almost the entire suite of Houzz Pro tools since they were launched, both to help to communicate with her customers and to manage her business.
“Houzz Pro is a real Swiss army knife that saves me an enormous amount of time and makes me more efficient,” she says. “I use it a lot for prospect management and customer follow-up, planning, mood boards and shopping lists, quotation and invoicing tools, plans and measurements… I appreciate the fact that everything is condensed and archived in one place. Even if you have to invest some time in training at the outset, you gain a lot afterwards.”
She adds that she’s used almost the entire suite of Houzz Pro tools since they were launched, both to help to communicate with her customers and to manage her business.
“Houzz Pro is a real Swiss army knife that saves me an enormous amount of time and makes me more efficient,” she says. “I use it a lot for prospect management and customer follow-up, planning, mood boards and shopping lists, quotation and invoicing tools, plans and measurements… I appreciate the fact that everything is condensed and archived in one place. Even if you have to invest some time in training at the outset, you gain a lot afterwards.”
The living room and dining room were furnished in a rustic style, which the family weren’t keen on.
To create a warm atmosphere in this living room with its minimalist, contemporary furnishings, Véronique recommended laying a wood-effect laminate floor in place of the original tiles. The glazed oak is similar in tone to the stone-effect tiles in the entrance hall and the kitchen-diner.
She also used a palette of natural colours and textures to give the space a sense of depth. The celadon-coloured wall runs right through to the dining room, linking the spaces, while the sofa area is highlighted by a beige patterned wallpaper.
Casadeco Jardin des pierres wallpaper in Hazelnut, Etoffe.com. Green wall painted in 029-3A, Unikalo.
She also used a palette of natural colours and textures to give the space a sense of depth. The celadon-coloured wall runs right through to the dining room, linking the spaces, while the sofa area is highlighted by a beige patterned wallpaper.
Casadeco Jardin des pierres wallpaper in Hazelnut, Etoffe.com. Green wall painted in 029-3A, Unikalo.
The original living room.
The feel of the new living room has been enhanced by a mix of materials, such as the metal pendant, wool rug and smooth, faux-stone coffee table.
Coffee table, Gautier. Rug, Kave Home. Pendant, Forestier.
Coffee table, Gautier. Rug, Kave Home. Pendant, Forestier.
Before Photo
The kitchen and dining room were originally divided by a rustic breakfast bar area, framed by beams.
It was immediately decided to remove this semi-division to leave the space open between the kitchen and dining room.
The floor has been tiled for ease of use and maintenance, especially as there’s a door into the garden from the dining area.
The floor has been tiled for ease of use and maintenance, especially as there’s a door into the garden from the dining area.
Need a pro for your home renovation project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
In the dining room, the choice of dark wooden furniture creates a visual connection with the wallpaper in the living room while at the same time adding warmth.
Wooden furniture, Kave Home.
Wooden furniture, Kave Home.
Before Photo
Originally, a smoked-glass door led from the hallway into the kitchen, which was fitted with vintage cabinets.
The redesigned kitchen has a user-friendly layout with a central island. “It’s as practical for cooking as it is for family meals,” Véronique says. “I suggested they include the hob for cooking in the centre of the space. It’s a room where they spend a lot of time at weekends with the children.”
At the back, the vintage door to the entrance was removed and the cupboards in the entrance hall were painted white to increase the flow of light.
The owners didn’t want wooden cabinet fronts, as initially proposed by Véronique. Instead, they opted for a white kitchen and grey quartz worktops.
Kitchen, Howdens.
At the back, the vintage door to the entrance was removed and the cupboards in the entrance hall were painted white to increase the flow of light.
The owners didn’t want wooden cabinet fronts, as initially proposed by Véronique. Instead, they opted for a white kitchen and grey quartz worktops.
Kitchen, Howdens.
The same bright green that was used in the hallway has been added to one of the kitchen walls for a touch of pep and depth. “I really like the variations in colour and materials, which add contrast and structure to the space,” Véronique says.
The Houzz Pro plan of the proposed new kitchen layout.
Before Photo
While the first floor has four bedrooms (three for the children and a study) and a bathroom, the ground floor has the main suite. Originally, it was finished in a grey with a hint of mauve, which made the room look dark, and it was lacking in storage space.
Véronique convinced the owners to replace the imitation vinyl flooring with the same oak laminate as in the living room. “If you’re going to redo the whole room, it’s not a good idea to [not refresh] the floor, which will then be very difficult to change,” she advises. In addition, the customers found that it felt nicer underfoot than vinyl.
Véronique, who is sensitive to ecological issues and the quality of the materials used, only suggested products from France or Europe (in this case, Italy) with VOC-free compositions, such as Unikalo paint.
The Houzz Pro plan of the proposed new bedroom layout. The angle of the cupboard was changed at the last minute.
The main bathroom had already been renovated over time by its previous owners, which is why it looks different from the original plan, which dates back to when the house was first built. However, the new owners felt the scheme was a little dated.
In the couple’s new shower room, they’ve chosen to continue the theme of the ground floor with shades of green and beige, accented with black. While the design remains simple and functional, blue-green tiles have been chosen for the backdrop, stretching from the shower to the basin.
The Houzz Pro plan of the bathroom after the renovation.
Before Photo
The original staircase.
To echo the industrial glass doors opposite, Véronique suggested painting the banister black for a more contemporary look and greater contrast. She steered her clients towards a natural material for the stairs.
“We had them covered in sisal, a fibre extracted from the leaves of an agave plant, which is resistant and robust. They weren’t familiar with it, but they really appreciated the natural look and feel, as well as the safety aspect of this material, which prevents slipping,” Véronique says.
“We had them covered in sisal, a fibre extracted from the leaves of an agave plant, which is resistant and robust. They weren’t familiar with it, but they really appreciated the natural look and feel, as well as the safety aspect of this material, which prevents slipping,” Véronique says.
Véronique looks back with satisfaction on the six months she spent supporting the family and managing all aspects of the project. “My job is to meet the client’s needs by advising and guiding them in terms of overall harmony and texture. It’s very important to me that the final atmosphere is what they’re looking for and that it suits them – that they can recharge their batteries and feel at home. I think I’ve achieved that here,” she says.
This is confirmed by the owners, who left this glowing review on Véronique’s Houzz profile: “We renovated the house with Véronique in two phases. Her assistance is very professional and personal. She helped us a lot with our various choices – materials, colours, furniture – and gave us sound and relevant advice. We’re very happy with the final result, which meets our expectations. She was very available and attentive, and gave us good advice throughout the project.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
This is confirmed by the owners, who left this glowing review on Véronique’s Houzz profile: “We renovated the house with Véronique in two phases. Her assistance is very professional and personal. She helped us a lot with our various choices – materials, colours, furniture – and gave us sound and relevant advice. We’re very happy with the final result, which meets our expectations. She was very available and attentive, and gave us good advice throughout the project.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
Who lives here? A family with three children
Location Villiers-le-Bâcle, south-west of Paris, France
Property A large detached house built in the 1990s
Size 160 sq m
Project duration Following five months of work on the first floor, the renovation of the ground floor ran from December 2023 to May 2024
Interior designer Véronique Rivière from Chic Home Design Paris
Budget €120,000 (around £100,700)
Photos by Paulo Da Silva