Simona is an interior design and décor writer for Homedit. Since 2011, she has been writing about interior design, DIY solutions, and the latest trends in home architecture.
This beautiful maison à colombages dates back to the late 19th century and is located in Paris, France. In 2015 its interior has been renovated by 05AM Arquitectura. The project’s main objective was to improve the functionality of the house and this was done in the most graceful way. The architects were careful to preserve as much of the original charm of the building as they could. They made a few changes to the floor plan and took some time to identify the characteristic elements in each space before making any modifications which might alter the character of the structure.
The exterior of the house was left pretty much intact, reflecting the original 19th century designInside the house, a section of a partition from the ground floor was removed in order to connect the living areasNow the kitchen, dining room and living area form a single large space
The term maison à colombages describes a type of house with timber framing, a style typical to buildings from the 19th century and earlier. In this case, there were many elements worth preserving such as the alcoves on the first floor and, obviously, that unique exterior design. The changes made were primarily meant to increase functionality without visually transforming the house too much. Have a look at the images and see for yourself.
Marble was used strategically in some parts of the house, being chosen for its simple eleganceThe first floor features a series of alcoves which were preserved and more than that highlighted by the new designThe bedroom alcoves give the rooms a very cozy look and they’re integrated into the new design in a very natural wayTo put an emphasis on these cozy alcove nooks, the designers painted them in eye-catching colorsDark marble was used to create this stylish fireplace nook which is great for storing firewoodWhite marble was used in the bathroom to create an elegant shower and bathtub nookThe new interior design focuses on simplicity and functionality and aims to highlight the remarkable architecture of the houseThe kitchen island doubles as a space divider and has a marble topThe staircase and the ornate railings keep the original character of the house aliveThe kitchen is long and narrow and has large windows which let in lots of natural lightThe marble kitchen is detached from the rest of the furniture and serves as a focal pointA corner fireplace adds charm to this room, maintaining a symmetrical lookThe dining area is open to the kitchen and the living roomIn the living room, a pair of comfortable two-seater sofas form a cozy sitting areaThe sofas frame the fireplace, once again emphasizing the symmetry of the layout and decorThe ground floor is mostly monochromatic and, by comparison, the upper floor is quite colorful
