Renovation of a farmhouse in the heart of the forest
- Location: Rambouillet (78)
- Style: Reinterpreted rustic with contemporary touches
- Materials: Stone, travertine, oak, brass, zellige, quartzite
Restored stone and travertine floors
The stone walls were restored and left exposed. The floors were entirely redone in travertine in natural tones. In the entrance hall, old beams, exposed stone, raw wood furniture and vintage finds set the tone: a mix of rustic character and contemporary touches.
A living room covered by a glass roof in the former barn
The main living room occupies the adjoining former barn. The old roof, in poor condition, was removed and replaced by a sculptural glass roof that floods the room with light. A monumental limestone fireplace stands against the gable wall, framed by two arched solid wood doors set into the stone walls.
The interior designer chose contemporary furniture: low seating in earthy tones, a graphic rug and, around the fireplace, several round walnut coffee tables holding handmade ceramics, wooden trays and books.
A second sitting room, smaller, is also arranged around a stone fireplace. The original structure has been kept: exposed stone wall, raw beams and joists on the ceiling. A large bouclé sofa, a natural fibre rug and two light oak coffee tables make it a space for family time.
A contemporary kitchen with a quartzite island
In the kitchen, storage and appliances are built into the volumes without hiding the existing architecture. The wooden cabinets are combined with brushed brass upper fronts, and a green zellige splashback faces the large island in light veined quartzite.
The kitchen extends into an oak table surrounded by green velvet seating, and opens onto the stone wall of the living room.
Under the eaves, bedrooms and bathrooms
The upper floor is reached by a staircase set in a rounded stone tower. Stone steps follow the curve of the wall, along a finely crafted brass handrail. Two small windows set deep in the walls light the stairwell, where a contemporary bubble pendant light hangs.
Upstairs, attic bedrooms keep the irregular volumes of the old house: sloping roof sections, exposed beams and sections of stone wall left visible. Solid oak parquet, a palette of greys and browns and simple furniture create calm bedrooms.
In the bathrooms, a large walk-in shower clad in natural stone with a relief frieze fits under the slope of the roof, crossed by an old beam.
A swimming pool in line with the house
Outside, the swimming pool is surrounded by a light-coloured stone matching the tones of the façade. It extends into a wooden deck leading to a large outdoor lounge, between lawn and hedges.
The pool's technical room backs onto the main building. Its façade is clad with light wood slats that hide the equipment without breaking the unity of the old building, where stone and timber framing remain dominant.
