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Houzz Tour: An Abandoned Barn Becomes a Bright and Beautiful Home
Before and after shots show how upcycling, local craftsmanship and a little help from Houzz reinvented this disused barn
Tired of his work in logistics and seven years living in Paris, 34-year-old Frédéric Brillet felt that it was time to return to his birthplace in the French countryside. Interior design and décor have been his passions since childhood, so Frédéric decided to take on the challenge of one of his lifelong dreams: completely renovating an old French heritage building in a way that would respect both the place and the natural environment.
Almost three years ago, he bought an old barn in the south of Gironde – a department, or administrative unit, in the south-west of France, centred on Bordeaux and next to his native Charente – and then designed and coordinated its renovation.
“I took great pleasure in managing the project, which concluded last February,” he says. “Of course, I took the opportunity to get my hands dirty, from the demolition to doing the décor, which made the experience even more rewarding. Houzz inspired me a lot in the design, so I want to share my achievement with you today.”
Almost three years ago, he bought an old barn in the south of Gironde – a department, or administrative unit, in the south-west of France, centred on Bordeaux and next to his native Charente – and then designed and coordinated its renovation.
“I took great pleasure in managing the project, which concluded last February,” he says. “Of course, I took the opportunity to get my hands dirty, from the demolition to doing the décor, which made the experience even more rewarding. Houzz inspired me a lot in the design, so I want to share my achievement with you today.”
Before When Frédéric discovered this old barn in April 2017, he fell in love with it and immediately made an offer.
After Dating from around 1900, the building has a 120 sq m floor area and is made of wood and local stone. Towering 6m at its highest point, its south-eastern side consists of oak beams and studs resting on a stone foundation and covered in lime cladding.
The summer after he purchased the property, Frédéric obtained the permit to rezone the barn from an agricultural building to a residential one. He then took the time to refine his project and find craftsmen.
“I selected those who were enthusiastic about the same things as me: keeping as much of the old look as possible and using materials that respect the environment, like the lime we used to cover the facade, walls and half-walls [on one side of the building the walls are wood from part of the way up],” he says.
The summer after he purchased the property, Frédéric obtained the permit to rezone the barn from an agricultural building to a residential one. He then took the time to refine his project and find craftsmen.
“I selected those who were enthusiastic about the same things as me: keeping as much of the old look as possible and using materials that respect the environment, like the lime we used to cover the facade, walls and half-walls [on one side of the building the walls are wood from part of the way up],” he says.
Before In winter, the structural work finally began with demolition, which Frédéric handled himself. “The grandfather of the farmer who sold it to me had used the barn as a stable and hayloft, but it had not been used in a long time. The exterior cladding was in very poor condition and rotting in some places, so I stripped it completely,” he says.
Frédéric then moved on to the site preparation phase, during which the water and electricity were hooked up.
None of the wastewater from this home ends up in the public sewer. Frédéric went for a completely natural solution: phyto-purification. “I had a 3m x 3m basin dug and filled it with aggregates of various sizes, from gravel to sand, with a bed of reeds growing on top. A pump collects grey water from the shower and dishwasher as well as black water from the toilet. Everything is filtered by the basin and the water comes out completely clean. It’s a very efficient, odourless system,” he says.
Frédéric then moved on to the site preparation phase, during which the water and electricity were hooked up.
None of the wastewater from this home ends up in the public sewer. Frédéric went for a completely natural solution: phyto-purification. “I had a 3m x 3m basin dug and filled it with aggregates of various sizes, from gravel to sand, with a bed of reeds growing on top. A pump collects grey water from the shower and dishwasher as well as black water from the toilet. Everything is filtered by the basin and the water comes out completely clean. It’s a very efficient, odourless system,” he says.
After Frédéric then had a local carpenter and a roofer reproduce the original building with natural materials, such as local wood, lime finish, and wood wool insulation.
A maritime pine cladding and a new roof were fitted onto the original wood structure, which was sanded completely.
A maritime pine cladding and a new roof were fitted onto the original wood structure, which was sanded completely.
Before On the east side, the building had an inset patio. “People here call it an estandate in the local dialect. This part of a barn is always on the east,” Brilllet says.
After Of course, Frédéric kept this regional feature, but made it a bit smaller in order to allocate more space to the inside of the house.
“I had a wooden frame installed at the rear of the patio. It secures a sliding glass door and a long fixed window strip to light up the interior,” he says.
“I had a wooden frame installed at the rear of the patio. It secures a sliding glass door and a long fixed window strip to light up the interior,” he says.
The barn had few openings originally: there was the front door, a small window under the patio roof, and two other windows on the north side. Frédéric therefore opened it up on all sides, for example with these three tall windows with sliding louvres on the south side.
“These were inspired by the tobacco dryers in the region. The windows are double-glazed aluminium with thermal breaks [which prevent the formation of thermal bridges],” he says.
“These were inspired by the tobacco dryers in the region. The windows are double-glazed aluminium with thermal breaks [which prevent the formation of thermal bridges],” he says.
Before Inside, the barn had been split in half lengthways. One side housed the cattle stalls and the troughs where their meals were served. A raised floor made it possible to store feed underneath.
After Frédéric started by removing everything and then wanted to make the most of the about 120 sq m floor area. He imagined a large living room that would take advantage of the space under the roof frame, flanked by two bedrooms, a bathroom and a pantry.
Inspired? Find a local architect on Houzz today to get your own renovation project underway.
Inspired? Find a local architect on Houzz today to get your own renovation project underway.
Before The barn originally had a dirt floor and patchy walls. Frédéric insulated the building with 35cm-thick wood on the ceiling, the same at 25cm thick in the walls and 10cm of insulation under the floor.
“To go further, I worked with a local heating engineer, who installed a water-based underfloor heating system powered by a pellet boiler, which also supplies the hot water in the house.”
“To go further, I worked with a local heating engineer, who installed a water-based underfloor heating system powered by a pellet boiler, which also supplies the hot water in the house.”
After Frédéric initially planned to install a solid-wood floor, but he eventually opted for waxed concrete, because it’s tricky to find the right wood flooring for underfloor heating.
His kitchen is made up of Ikea carcasses with custom-made beech worktops. The table was custom-made by a metalworker, and Frédéric made the lamps himself from an old wooden crate and a zinc tub.
His kitchen is made up of Ikea carcasses with custom-made beech worktops. The table was custom-made by a metalworker, and Frédéric made the lamps himself from an old wooden crate and a zinc tub.
Before The interior of the west side of the barn before work began.
After Frédéric made sure to include items that speak to him in the modern scheme. For example, the wooden coffee table had belonged to his parents.
Frédéric likes to use Houzz to find décor inspiration. “I got to know Houzz when I was still in Paris, and seeing the images of certain completed projects motivated and reassured me a lot,” he says. “Subsequently, during the work, I found a lot of inspiration in the achievements presented on Houzz. For me, it is a gold mine for interior design and décor.”
The large living area draws light from the east and south. Opposite the windows are the enclosed pantry and cloakroom, the guest bedroom, the three-piece bathroom with a walk-in shower, and the master bedroom.
Frédéric took advantage of the full height of the building for a magnificent cathedral ceiling in the master bedroom. On the other hand, he topped the other rooms with a mezzanine that leads to an extra storage room under the roof. Where is this space, you ask? “The bookcase slides to give me access to my secret room,” he says.
Frédéric took advantage of the full height of the building for a magnificent cathedral ceiling in the master bedroom. On the other hand, he topped the other rooms with a mezzanine that leads to an extra storage room under the roof. Where is this space, you ask? “The bookcase slides to give me access to my secret room,” he says.
Underneath is a distinctive collection of furniture and decor: a metallic chest of drawers, an old cinema projector Frédéric got as a gift and a bird cage that he transformed into a lamp.
A bunch of keys hang from a post riddled with holes from the joists it once supported. “My grandfather’s master keys, which I’m very attached to,” he says.
A bunch of keys hang from a post riddled with holes from the joists it once supported. “My grandfather’s master keys, which I’m very attached to,” he says.
Frédéric’s room is very ‘him’ – simple and bright. The painted yellow square on the wall that serves as a headboard was another idea he got on Houzz.
And just as Frédéric upcycled his grandmother’s good linen sheets into duvet covers, he used the fabric from an old mattress to hide his wardrobe.
The bathroom can only be accessed through the two bedrooms. It includes a vanity unit, a toilet and a large walk-in shower. The partition was made by a metalworker.
A darker waxed concrete creates contrast on the shower wall and basin splashback.
A darker waxed concrete creates contrast on the shower wall and basin splashback.
Frédéric made the vanity unit himself out of a sideboard he found at an online flea market. The mirror had belonged to his mum, and he designed the pendant lights himself from two old mason jars that had belonged to his grandmother.
Frédéric originally planned to put a wooden deck on the patio, but eventually came to appreciate the raw concrete, which extends the interior flooring.
The furniture here is also a continuation of that in the interior, all found at flea markets or handmade, as Frédéric likes it.
Frédéric made the pendant light out of a bottle dryer, which reminds him of his roots and his vintner father and brother.
Frédéric left us with touching parting words: “I thank Houzz and your whole team for your work and the visibility you give to all these magnificent places around the world.”
Tell us…
What do you love about this barn conversion? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you love about this barn conversion? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Frédéric Brillet
Location Southern Gironde, France
Property A disused barn
Size Two bedrooms and one bathroom; 120 sq m
Duration of work 13 months
Date completed February 2019
Budget €320,000 (approx £270,000) for both the purchase of the property and the renovation
Designer Frédéric Brillet
‘After’ photos by Stanislas Ledoux