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Houzz Tour: A Gorgeous Parquet Floor is Reinstated in a City Flat
Deciding to replace this flat’s beautiful but damaged chevon flooring was tough, but it led to an unexpected bonus…
Looking to trade up in the Paris neighbourhood where their two daughters go to school, Sandrine Azou and Koffi Miessan bought a new apartment two streets from where they’d previously lived. They chose a 60 sq m flat with two bedrooms on the fourth floor of a timber-framed building. The home was attractive for its bright, beautiful spaces and period details, such as mouldings and parquet flooring. However, the floors were all very damaged.
The owners contacted Carina Nahmani, who they found on Houzz, to take charge of their renovation. Director of design and build company Qualirenovatiion, Carina has proven expertise in restoring wood flooring.
The owners contacted Carina Nahmani, who they found on Houzz, to take charge of their renovation. Director of design and build company Qualirenovatiion, Carina has proven expertise in restoring wood flooring.
Before The flat hadn’t been renovated for a long time. The floor was in bad shape, as this photo of the entrance before the renovation reveals. “We bought it from charming people who’d been here for 30 years and who had moreover laid the floor in the entrance themselves,” Sandrine says.
Spanning from the street to the inner courtyard of the building, the flat spreads out around its large entrance hall. The bathroom and kitchen unfurl to each side, while the living room opens opposite. The two bedrooms are off the latter, one facing the street, the other getting its natural light through an internal window.
Spanning from the street to the inner courtyard of the building, the flat spreads out around its large entrance hall. The bathroom and kitchen unfurl to each side, while the living room opens opposite. The two bedrooms are off the latter, one facing the street, the other getting its natural light through an internal window.
After Reassured by her renovation expertise and the 30 or so five-star reviews she had on Houzz, the owners approached Carina for a complete renovation of the floors and walls and for some custom improvements, especially putting in new storage units.
The main task was nonetheless to renovate the damaged flooring, with one added challenge that is unique to this family. “Koffi walks dogs, and often brings the pack back home.” Carina says. “Durable and hygienic floor finishes were therefore essential.”
The main task was nonetheless to renovate the damaged flooring, with one added challenge that is unique to this family. “Koffi walks dogs, and often brings the pack back home.” Carina says. “Durable and hygienic floor finishes were therefore essential.”
Before Double pocket doors separate the bathroom from the entrance hall. Both spaces originally had oak flooring, but Carina recommended switching to tiles, which is much more durable than wood and very easy to clean.
“[It was] an excellent idea that makes our lives easier, since the dogs stay in the entrance,” Sandrine says.
“[It was] an excellent idea that makes our lives easier, since the dogs stay in the entrance,” Sandrine says.
After The hallway was tiled with ceramic tiles that look like encaustic (pictured here in the bottom left corner; see the third photo from the top for a better view). However, they went for plain tiles around the edge of the room and in the bathroom.
“We disposed of the wood flooring, then put down a light screed,” Carina says. “We opted for an insulating covering from Edilteco, a lightweight concrete mortar that’s 80% less heavy than a traditional screed, in order to avoid adding too much weight onto the timber-framed structure.
“We glued the tiles on top, with a rug-like tile inset in order to [visually] reduce the overly large entrance and make the bathroom look bigger,” she says.
“We disposed of the wood flooring, then put down a light screed,” Carina says. “We opted for an insulating covering from Edilteco, a lightweight concrete mortar that’s 80% less heavy than a traditional screed, in order to avoid adding too much weight onto the timber-framed structure.
“We glued the tiles on top, with a rug-like tile inset in order to [visually] reduce the overly large entrance and make the bathroom look bigger,” she says.
Before Opposite the entrance, the double living room leads onto the two bedrooms. The old chevron flooring in this large room was also very tired.
After “We had hoped to preserve the wood floor in the living room and the bedrooms, because it contributes to the charm of this flat,” Sandrine says.
As it’s usually possible in old Parisian housing stock, the owners had wanted to sand and varnish it, but Carina dissuaded them.
As it’s usually possible in old Parisian housing stock, the owners had wanted to sand and varnish it, but Carina dissuaded them.
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Before “Many of its points were broken; this is a sign that the floor is at the end of its life,” Carina says. Sanding a wood floor in this condition risks all of the points breaking very quickly. Moreover, there were large marks here and there that had stained deep into the wood. We would have had to replace many boards, which would have been very expensive.”
Taking to heart her job to explain problems and solutions, Carina created two budgets, one for the sanding and varnishing the clients had wanted, and the other for replacing the wood flooring completely. “There was a difference of €10,000 (around £8,642),” she says.
The owners were understandably hesitant before deciding to go for the second, more expensive, solution. “It was an investment, it’s true, but our goal was to stay in this apartment for a long time,” Sandrine says.
The owners were understandably hesitant before deciding to go for the second, more expensive, solution. “It was an investment, it’s true, but our goal was to stay in this apartment for a long time,” Sandrine says.
After One additional factor convinced the owners. “Carina explained that by changing the flooring, we would be able to put in complete soundproofing,” Sandrine says. “We have two young daughters aged 4 and 6, and it was reassuring to know they’d be able to prance around freely without annoying the neighbours.”
You might also enjoy What Do I Need to Know About Laying a Wood Floor?
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Before Pictured is the living room before the renovation. The entrance is in the background, and the doors to the two bedrooms are on the right.
Taking out all of the flooring was not a pleasant experience. “The old flooring was comprised of 23mm solid wood slats nailed onto the furring [strips of wood], filled with plaster pugging, resting on the joists,” Carina says. “We cleared hundreds of kilos of rubble with an external goods lift we brought in so we wouldn’t damage the stairwell.”
Taking out all of the flooring was not a pleasant experience. “The old flooring was comprised of 23mm solid wood slats nailed onto the furring [strips of wood], filled with plaster pugging, resting on the joists,” Carina says. “We cleared hundreds of kilos of rubble with an external goods lift we brought in so we wouldn’t damage the stairwell.”
remplacer vos parquets pour mieux vous isoler
After She also took advantage of the lift to make it easier to bring in the renovation materials. Then the new floor installation could begin in earnest.
“We followed the installation recommendations of the Premibel D840 system. We inserted vermiculite, a thermal and acoustic insulating material … between the furring,” Carina explains. “On top of this, as well as on the periphery of the walls, we placed insulating strips in order to dissociate the structure of the building from the new finish and to improve the acoustic comfort. We placed an OSB [oriented strand board] floor above it. Finally, we glued on a 14mm solid oak floor in a matt varnish.”
This also solved related problems, such as the unevenness of the floor, which had dipped down towards the windows, as often happens in older buildings.
The process also revealed another unexpected problem. “We knew that we really made the right choice in disposing of the floor, because the furring was crumbling. Certain planks were rotten and we had to replace quite a few. If we hadn’t done it, the floor would have caved in in places over time,” Carina says.
“We followed the installation recommendations of the Premibel D840 system. We inserted vermiculite, a thermal and acoustic insulating material … between the furring,” Carina explains. “On top of this, as well as on the periphery of the walls, we placed insulating strips in order to dissociate the structure of the building from the new finish and to improve the acoustic comfort. We placed an OSB [oriented strand board] floor above it. Finally, we glued on a 14mm solid oak floor in a matt varnish.”
This also solved related problems, such as the unevenness of the floor, which had dipped down towards the windows, as often happens in older buildings.
The process also revealed another unexpected problem. “We knew that we really made the right choice in disposing of the floor, because the furring was crumbling. Certain planks were rotten and we had to replace quite a few. If we hadn’t done it, the floor would have caved in in places over time,” Carina says.
There were other difficulties along the way. “Between concern about the joists, the worker who injured his thumb, and our move, which happened in the middle of the build, the delays kept growing. We planned for eight weeks of construction; in the end, it took three months,” Sandrine says. On top of that, it’s not easy to repaint after the boxes arrive.
“It was also necessary to manage other unforeseen circumstances,” Carina says. “We had to remake the electric panel, overhaul all the wiring to bring it up to code, and create a bookcase in the living room, which was not foreseen in the initial estimate. In cases like this, it’s wiser to plan on putting furniture in storage.”
“It was also necessary to manage other unforeseen circumstances,” Carina says. “We had to remake the electric panel, overhaul all the wiring to bring it up to code, and create a bookcase in the living room, which was not foreseen in the initial estimate. In cases like this, it’s wiser to plan on putting furniture in storage.”
Qualirenovation were also in charge of creating new furniture units. In the living room, this comprised a large TV stand and bookcase. The pro’s credo? Work quickly and well, and save on budget by adapting mass-market furniture. “The TV unit is an Ikea hack based on Metod cabinets and a solid oak panel from [French DIY store] Leroy Merlin,” Carina says.
Before Just off of the living room is the girls’ bedroom, which looks out onto the street. A window separates it from the main bedroom, which has no windows of its own.
After Carina made this wardrobe out of flat-pack modules, too. “This fully equipped solution cost €1,200 (around £1,000), as opposed to €2,500 (around £2,160) had we gone custom-made,” she says.
They put in two 100cm x 236cm Pax wardrobes in addition to a 50cm-wide unit that’s as shallow as possible on the left to leave room for the window to open. “We adapt them to measure if necessary. The advantage of kit wardrobes from Ikea is that they are well accessorised (with rods, drawers, separators…),” she says.
They put in two 100cm x 236cm Pax wardrobes in addition to a 50cm-wide unit that’s as shallow as possible on the left to leave room for the window to open. “We adapt them to measure if necessary. The advantage of kit wardrobes from Ikea is that they are well accessorised (with rods, drawers, separators…),” she says.
Before The couple liked the look of the old window, but were worried about safety. “It was made out of old single glazing. We were really afraid that one day it would meet an unlucky ball,” Sandrine says.
After Carina replaced it with a custom-made Crittall-style window with Securit double glazing. The window can be opened to air the main bedroom and makes it possible to talk to the girls from the other room.
The girls’ bedroom was also completely repainted with VOC-free, environmentally friendly paints. “I only work with the brand Unikalo, based on colour charts from Farrow & Ball,” Carina says.
Before The main bedroom was already kitted out with a large, mirrored wardrobe. A load-bearing column had framed the headboard.
After Repainted in pink and white to brighten the space, the wall behind the bed was enhanced with solid oak shelves. New sconces also make for better lighting.
Before The kitchen opens out onto the terrace. The family found it very convenient as it is. “It’s big enough to eat in, and this is a change for us from our previous 43 sq m flat,” Sandrine says.
However, here, too, the original tiled floor was in disastrous condition.
However, here, too, the original tiled floor was in disastrous condition.
The floor had moved over the years, which had caused the tiles to crack. “Timber frame buildings move a lot. Gluing down the flooring makes it possible to limit these micro-movements and preserve its stability over time,” Carina says.
After Patterned tiles were a winner with the couple, who went for the same encaustic-look tile they used in the hallway. “Sometimes it’s possible to place new tiles over the old, but it was imperative to dispose of it here as it was no longer sound. After lightly patching over the existing screed, we replaced it with the new finish,” Carina says.
She also used the opportunity to tile the splashback, an indispensable precaution for a durable and hygienic kitchen wall.
“Do you know what happens when you change the floors and add an acoustic treatment?” Carina asks. “No doors fit anymore!”
In this apartment, all that work on the flooring made it 5cm thicker, so they had to raise all of the door frames. “But no, we didn’t plane the doors. There’s a 2.04m standard in France,” Carina says.
Happy and proud of the result, Sandrine and Koffi left a glowing review of Carina’s work on Houzz. They also insisted on highlighting her “character, her receptiveness, her good-natured daily updates.”
Tell us…
Have you had to make a large decision about period details like the ones Sandrine and Koffi made? Share your experiences in the Comments.
She also used the opportunity to tile the splashback, an indispensable precaution for a durable and hygienic kitchen wall.
“Do you know what happens when you change the floors and add an acoustic treatment?” Carina asks. “No doors fit anymore!”
In this apartment, all that work on the flooring made it 5cm thicker, so they had to raise all of the door frames. “But no, we didn’t plane the doors. There’s a 2.04m standard in France,” Carina says.
Happy and proud of the result, Sandrine and Koffi left a glowing review of Carina’s work on Houzz. They also insisted on highlighting her “character, her receptiveness, her good-natured daily updates.”
Tell us…
Have you had to make a large decision about period details like the ones Sandrine and Koffi made? Share your experiences in the Comments.
Who lives here? Lawyer Sandrine Azou, dog walker Koffi Miessan, and their two daughters, aged 6 and 4
Location Paris, France
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom; 60 sq m
Duration of work 3 months, completed July 2019
Budget €35,000 (around £30,000)
Wood floor budget €13,000 (around £11,200) to replace 41 sq m of wood flooring, including €4,400 (around £3,800) for soundproofing
Tile budget €3,700 (around £3,200) for 17 sq m of tile and screed
Project manager Carina Nahmani of Qualirenovation
Photos by Stephane Vasco