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France Before & After: 1900s Elegance in a Country Manor House
Traditional decor feels fresh and contemporary in this bright and airy renovated country house in Normandy, France
In Autumn 2019, a Parisian couple with two children fulfilled their dream of buying a second home in the countryside, close to Pont-l’Évêque in Normandy, France. Searching for a charming property, they fell in love with this three-storey, 1900s-style brick manor house on a hill, which nestles into the surrounding landscape.
Ground-floor plan before works.
This beautiful three-storey building had already been renovated and was previously owned by a French-British couple who lived here for ten years. Guenoun-Delessard combined the living and dining areas and replaced all the windows. The new owners found it extremely cosy as it was, but asked for more light in the space and less ornate decor.
To bathe the interior in light, Guenoun-Delessard suggested opening up the kitchen to the living room to create a coherent L-shaped room. “Combining the rooms also gave this area great flow,” she says.
Renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to make the most of your floor plan
This beautiful three-storey building had already been renovated and was previously owned by a French-British couple who lived here for ten years. Guenoun-Delessard combined the living and dining areas and replaced all the windows. The new owners found it extremely cosy as it was, but asked for more light in the space and less ornate decor.
To bathe the interior in light, Guenoun-Delessard suggested opening up the kitchen to the living room to create a coherent L-shaped room. “Combining the rooms also gave this area great flow,” she says.
Renovating? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz to make the most of your floor plan
Ground-floor plan after works.
Interior design was the main focus of the project, but Guenoun-Delessard also came up with an energy budget for the building. Even though the heat pump was relatively new, she recommended insulating the walls on the ground and second floors, where she noticed some colder areas. “We also had the fireplace redone as it was elevated and rather odd, but we put the stove back inside because it was very useful,” she says.
The electricity and plumbing were also replaced, as was the flooring on the first floor. The original tiles were not initially destined to be replaced but were removed as they were too uneven. The floor was lowered by 30 centimetres, covered with thick new insulation and then finished in solid oak. “We used three board sizes with different spacing between each and opted to nail them down to echo the originals,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
Interior design was the main focus of the project, but Guenoun-Delessard also came up with an energy budget for the building. Even though the heat pump was relatively new, she recommended insulating the walls on the ground and second floors, where she noticed some colder areas. “We also had the fireplace redone as it was elevated and rather odd, but we put the stove back inside because it was very useful,” she says.
The electricity and plumbing were also replaced, as was the flooring on the first floor. The original tiles were not initially destined to be replaced but were removed as they were too uneven. The floor was lowered by 30 centimetres, covered with thick new insulation and then finished in solid oak. “We used three board sizes with different spacing between each and opted to nail them down to echo the originals,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The new owners made their preference for sleek designs and furniture suitable for families clear from the beginning. The owner is also an art enthusiast, as evidenced by the large painting pictured here, which he bought at an auction, and the street art piece by Levalet displayed to the right of the fireplace.
Guenoun-Delessard used the large canvas as the starting point for the rest of the decor, which has the appearance that it was put together organically by the family over the years. “The family bought everything for this house. A great part of my job is rummaging for antique pieces and putting them together to suit my clients’ wishes as much as possible,” she explains.
To make interiors stand out and feel both modern and authentic, Guenoun-Delessard carefully selects unique pieces from different eras and styles. “The chandelier came from a flea market in Sarzeau, north-western France, the Louis Philippe mirror is from Selency, the Scandinavian coffee tables from Pamono, and the sofas were new from La Redoute,” she says. Her master stroke? “Surprising the homeowners with a real 1950s cocktail chair that I found for €180 [AU$280],” she says, referring to the cute khaki armchair in the corner.
Guenoun-Delessard used the large canvas as the starting point for the rest of the decor, which has the appearance that it was put together organically by the family over the years. “The family bought everything for this house. A great part of my job is rummaging for antique pieces and putting them together to suit my clients’ wishes as much as possible,” she explains.
To make interiors stand out and feel both modern and authentic, Guenoun-Delessard carefully selects unique pieces from different eras and styles. “The chandelier came from a flea market in Sarzeau, north-western France, the Louis Philippe mirror is from Selency, the Scandinavian coffee tables from Pamono, and the sofas were new from La Redoute,” she says. Her master stroke? “Surprising the homeowners with a real 1950s cocktail chair that I found for €180 [AU$280],” she says, referring to the cute khaki armchair in the corner.
Guenoun-Delessard also swapped the direction of the table to arrange it perpendicular to the windows. A mirror brightens the immaculate backdrop, with contrasting dark furniture and new black cast-iron radiator heaters standing out as functional wall features. “In a real deco move, we opted for beautiful rococo-style cast-iron models that give the main room character and authenticity,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The designer found a wooden table and three pairs of vintage bistro chairs with curved silhouettes. “I brought them from a second-hand dealer in eastern France who specialises in vintage bentwood chairs,” she says.
Perhaps predestined by her first name, Flore, the designer loves plants and flowers, both green and dried. She suggested putting some around the living area. “They add a natural touch by contrasting the squareness of other objects with their unstructured, organic shapes,” she says.
The designer found a wooden table and three pairs of vintage bistro chairs with curved silhouettes. “I brought them from a second-hand dealer in eastern France who specialises in vintage bentwood chairs,” she says.
Perhaps predestined by her first name, Flore, the designer loves plants and flowers, both green and dried. She suggested putting some around the living area. “They add a natural touch by contrasting the squareness of other objects with their unstructured, organic shapes,” she says.
The new owners wanted the kitchen to be discreet and sophisticated once it was connected to the living room. So, they opted for a line of light-oak cabinets, and a traditional hutch cabinet, pictured here on the left. They bought the new cabinetry from the English brand Neptune, choosing from two different collections. “The black tones of the china cabinet and gas stove match the charcoal black on the radiators,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The couple opted for a Carrara marble benchtop from Motte Décoration in France for a cosy feel. “The kitchen designer initially warned them against it, because marble is sensitive to contact with acidic substances such as lemon or tomato, but they insisted and have no regrets,” says Guenoun-Delessard. “It turned out to be more resistant than expected, judging by their first feedback after the installation.”
The staircase is an essential feature of a manor house. Located in the centre of the floor plan in this home, it leads to the two upper storeys. The owners had hoped to find a magnificent timber staircase under the red carpet but unfortunately, it turned out that the runner concealed damage to the steps, so the owners decided to cover them with a new navy carpet.
Renovating the pitch pine floor upstairs did not work out as planned either. “The owners wanted to sand it down, but it turned out to have a caramel and reddish colour, and we decided to paint it white instead, which ended up making the centre of the house brighter. That was a really nice surprise,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
Since the owners loved the original toile de Jouy wallpaper, Guenoun-Delessard found a non-woven wallpaper in the same style that brings a fresh take on the look.
First-floor plan before works.
The first floor has two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and an office. The floor plan remained the same, though Guenoun-Delessard blocked off the entrance to one bathroom from the top of the stairs so the sole access was via one of the bedrooms, forming an ensuite.
The first floor has two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and an office. The floor plan remained the same, though Guenoun-Delessard blocked off the entrance to one bathroom from the top of the stairs so the sole access was via one of the bedrooms, forming an ensuite.
To create the soft and luminous ambiance the owners wanted, Guenoun-Delessard put together a cocoon of white highlighted with a few hints of colour to match the living areas. A Persian rug warms the feet while the small desk acts as a nice transition between the two windows. The fireplace is now a newly painted white, and Guenoun-Delessard had the old floor tiles in front of it cleaned.
Long raw-linen curtains adorn the sash windows. “We did not want to change the windows, which were new and double-glazed. The previous owners had brought them from England, and I always try to keep as many historical or high-quality elements as possible,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The main bedroom’s ensuite was originally accessed from the landing and was in great condition, but the owners were not so pleased with it. “We hadn’t necessarily planned to redo it from the start, but once the rooms were decorated to their tastes, it really didn’t fit with the rest of the house, and we ended up renovating everything,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
All its features, from the subway tiles to the linen curtains, dark wood arched chairs and marble-topped vanity, were hand-picked to evoke an old-fashioned charm. “The homeowner took the opportunity to treat herself to floor tiles that are a replica of the ones that were in her grandmother’s house – a real memory trigger,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The bathroom vanity resembles a design from the 1900s, when people bathed from a jug. It is, however, brand new and made by a carpenter based on the designer’s drawings. “I love period furniture, but I regularly use tailor-made cabinets and bathroom furniture. It allows me to optimise the available space down to the last centimetre and get the design just right,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The vanity was made of walnut-stained light oak, with a Carrara marble top added along with a new tap in an antique style.
The homeowners took special care not to completely duplicate the decor and mood between rooms, while preserving the overall coherence on each storey. They were therefore keen to use the same palette here in the guest room as in the main bedroom.
“They wanted a simple interior with few objects, lots of floor space and white tones to foreground the dark colours of the antique furniture with its beautiful curved shapes, which they especially love,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
Be inspired by stunning white bedrooms in Australia with a traditional touch
Be inspired by stunning white bedrooms in Australia with a traditional touch
Its interior is softened by a very light pink on the wall with contrasting white beams. The young girl already has impeccable taste. “The Jieldé lamp was in her parents’ flat in Paris. They wanted to get rid of it and put it up for sale, but she asked to keep it since she liked it a lot,” says Guenoun-Delessard.
The interior designer found a vintage 1940s Danish wardrobe second-hand. Its painted flowers add a feminine touch. As the room was very big, she also suggested adding a living room corner, an idea that was gratefully received.
For the three-year-old girl, the designer incorporated a very soft and delightfully vintage ambiance with a metal, antique-style bed and a toy chest from a second-hand market.
She hit the nail on the head with this Betsy print on the Liberty bed linen. The owners were even able to match it with two recycled braided bed bumpers.
Like the other rooms, it also features a lot of white, with touches of grey and ecru highlighted with golden tones.
Used primarily by the couple’s daughters, it now has the same feel as the young girls’ bedrooms, with pale pink and shades of white. A bathtub replaced the shower, another vanity unit was built to match the model on the lower floor, and the old walls were preserved as a charming element.
“I coordinated with several different professionals, which was no small feat since the project began two weeks before the first lockdown. With craftspeople backing out and products that had sold out, the project was significantly delayed. Not to mention that the homeowners couldn’t travel from Paris to attend meetings on-site,” says Guenoun-Delessard. “But everything turned out very well, and the building contractors were delighted with the results.”
Her current wish? “Quite simply, to restore charm in another family home. There are so many beautiful French houses that [could] use a new lease on life!”
Her current wish? “Quite simply, to restore charm in another family home. There are so many beautiful French houses that [could] use a new lease on life!”
Your turn
Which design elements do you love in this home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last French before and after? Catch up on another amazing transformation here with this Paris Before & After: How a Rooftop Apartment Doubled its Size
Which design elements do you love in this home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our last French before and after? Catch up on another amazing transformation here with this Paris Before & After: How a Rooftop Apartment Doubled its Size
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A Parisian couple with two daughters, aged 11 and three
Location: Near Pont-l’Évêque, France
Size: 210 square metres over three floors
Project dates: March 2020 to March 2021
Interior designer: Flore Guenoun-Delessard, MaisonFlore
Builder: Philippe le Guevel
Carpenter: William Layné
Electrician: Denis Lemonnier
Kitchen designer: Neptune
To support them and supervise the renovation, the couple called on interior designer and stylist Flore Guenoun-Delessard, whose passion for reinventing family homes with a delicate and contemporary approach met their aspirations in every way.
“It is always important to me to link function to a simple and unpretentious decor, with light, purity and charm,” says Guenoun-Delessard. “With this in mind, I mix contemporary and period furniture, pieces of art and crafts, and touches of nature until the sensibility of the place is revealed.”