This bourgeois house in downtown Sèvres is a favorite for this family with two children. Its classic charm, good location, and garden have seduced these Parisians searching for a bit of nature. The only black spot on the board: the house has a stability problem. This gives rise to many cracks, both on the facade and inside. Heavy work is, therefore, necessary to make it habitable. The owners are embarking on this adventure, alongside Dominique de Joux, who has already helped them renovate their previous apartment in Boulogne. The first stage of the renovation? Consolidate the residence before giving it back its charm, with a summer-style decor inspired by holiday homes and the seaside.
Before embarking on the decoration of the house, it is necessary to give resistance and solidify the structure of the house. To do this, about fifty micro-piles are installed in the basement by a specialized company. But this is not enough. The internal renovation is stopped to fill new cracks and start on a sound basis. Once these heavy works have been completed, Dominique de Joux concentrates on the house’s interior. The decor is dated — notably in the kitchen- and does not highlight the beautiful volumes of the reception rooms. The latter is installed on the ground floor, while the bedrooms and bathrooms occupy the two floors. The distribution of space suits the owners, and they do not want to change it. Alone in the entrance, a wall is removed to open the stairwell and free access to the kitchen. The goal? Improve circulation on the ground floor. The owners trust the interior designer they collaborated with five years ago when buying their apartment in Boulogne. Therefore, the professional knows their tastes and composes an interior that dares to use strong bases, such as dark paint. The parents want to escape living in the city for a long time. Therefore, the decoration is inspired by holiday homes located by the sea, with soft colors and natural materials.
1- The entrance to the townhouse opens and modernizes
Although spacious, the entrance to the house lacked brightness. It was already open to the living room, but a wall separated it from the stairs leading to the bedrooms. Dominique de Joux makes it fall to ventilate the space. To bring light into the hallway leading to the kitchen, she adds a mottled bull’s eye. This contemporary interpretation of a classic element can modernize the space, just like the suspension.
2- A contemporary kitchen for an old house
In the kitchen behind the entrance, the interior designer and the owners opted for a more contemporary inspiration, and the lines are straight and graphic. The furniture is available in wood, in a white cocoon. This natural touch reinforces the holiday home spirit desired by the owners. A bohemian decor completes the style of the space. Small nostalgic reminder: the suspensions come from the former apartment of the owners. They were located in their dining room and had already been chosen by Dominique de Joux.
3- A touch of color enlivens the kitchen
With a natural feel optimized by plenty of storage, a section of the wall adopts the color in this kitchen. The dark green color with blue undertones stands out in the white and wood universe of the room. This touch of color highlights the layout, making it more of a decorative element than just storage. The shelves remain white to stand out against the dark wall. A graphic detail further modernizes the space, despite the presence of old cornices on the ceiling.
4- A dining area thought of as a terrace in this townhouse with a summer spirit
Even if it is located in the kitchen, the dining area gives the impression of being outside. The vegetal wallpaper is installed like a window in a seaside garden. A table and wooden chairs join a bench with cushions. Finally, a raffia suspension completes the look of the space, reinforcing its bohemian and summery inspiration.
5- A rustic yet contemporary dining room
In addition to the dining area in the kitchen, the house benefits from a generous dining room, typical of bourgeois dwellings. Dominique de Joux and the owners play the color card there, both on the walls and in the decoration. Floral wallpaper is thus installed on a section of the wall, echoing that of the dining area. Windows gain a dark blue frame, reminiscent of kitchen storage, while chairs bring color to the center of the room. In short: a dining room that responds to the kitchen for the sake of consistency.
6- In this bourgeois house in Sèvres, a friendly and elegant lounge
The reception lounge is elegant and straightforward. Located in the entrance extension, it is available in white for more brightness and consistency. This neutral shade is joined by black decoration, which echoes the floor of the adjoining TV lounge: more natural touches, especially wood balance this graphic and contemporary spirit. The interior designer places an XXL suspension above the coffee table to highlight the high ceilings. It occupies the space and creates a more intimate atmosphere.
7- A TV lounge that incorporates classic codes
Adjoining the classic lounge and opening onto the garden, this space has been transformed into a TV lounge. The original floor – linoleum in poor condition – has been replaced by checkered tiles, typical of bourgeois residences. Since the room is an entry point outside, tiling is a less messy choice than parquet. The owners have several children, so they have to think about this family life when designing their new interior. Dominique de Joux unearths a wooden bench and decorates it with a multitude of cushions to make the relaxation area cozy.
8- The painting highlights the hallway
Upstairs, where the two bathrooms and the primary bedroom are located, the parquet floor is damaged, and re-varnishing it did not allow it to be highlighted. Therefore, Dominique de Joux and the owners opted for a new style, all in white. This new look evokes a summery vacation home aesthetic. A seagrass rug reinforces this inspiration. On the other hand, the ceiling and the doors of the corridor adopt black paint. This graphic touch highlights the proportions of the space and modernizes it. The rest of the walls, including the original cupboards, are painted white.
9- A primary bedroom inspired by nature
In the master bedroom, the parquet is also repainted in white. This change brings light into the room and gives it a pure atmosphere. It also enlarges the space, which already has beautiful proportions. This new floor is accompanied by a vegetal wallpaper at the head of the bed, in a classic spirit, toile de Jouy effect. The other walls are tinted with a soft gray, almost white, luminous, and elegant. The materials also echo nature, between wood and seagrass. Colorful cushions stand out on the bed and make it welcoming.
10- Holiday atmosphere in the master bedroom
The wallpaper pattern evokes the dunes bordering the ocean and holidays by the sea. This image is reinforced by the materials chosen, light and natural, recalling the ideal period. Wooden stools are thus diverted to become bohemian bedside tables. The sconces come from the family’s old apartment and find a place in this decoration. The set creates a luminous cocoon that inspires owners to travel.
11- A bathroom with a bohemian spirit
In the master bathroom, Dominique de Joux is not afraid to use color. The ground thus gains a green tint that settles into a pattern. The wooden washbasin cabinet adds a bohemian touch to the decoration, all in simplicity to not overload the room. The tiling is already very present, and it is necessary to balance the decoration. The interior designer, therefore, uses neutral and natural shades. The washbasin cabinet is a console that the pro transforms by adding two sinks and the necessary fittings. An excellent way to design a unique decoration!
12- Open the bathroom to nature
The green-tiled floor of the room echoes the garden, visible from an old window. The bathtub is placed so that the owners can enjoy the view while relaxing. This piece of furniture is minimalist and organic, forgetting the glass wall to open onto the room. On the other hand, the wall is protected by a raised credenza that runs the length of the space, providing consistency to the decoration. The bathroom also has a shower for everyday use.
13- A soft children’s bathroom
The children’s bathroom is also located on the first floor, although the bedrooms are located on the second. There is no ability to move the piece, so it remains in its original location. It comes in softness with light shades, like a soft yellow on the ground. The latter also adopts the patterns, as in the parents’ bathroom. Unlike the latter, the space reserved for children does not have a shower, only a bathtub, more suited to their age. This arrangement is replaced by numerous storage spaces, more useful for family life.
14- School atmosphere for the children’s bathroom
The sink in the children’s bathroom is inspired by collective models, which evoke schools or summer camps. This fits with the summer atmosphere of the house. It comes with a faucet and a black mirror, in a more graphic spirit. The mirror is installed on a ledge created by Dominique de Joux. The latter allows children to put their toiletries or their toothbrushes on.
