Renovation of an old house in Brittany

A fully restored stone exterior

The house has retained its exposed stone façade, with light-coloured pointing that highlights the natural stone masonry.

The slate roof features two distinct gables: one belonging to the original building and the other to the new roof extension. Both were designed in continuity with the existing architecture to preserve the architectural coherence of the property. A dormer window and roof windows were added to provide natural light to the converted attic.

The new openings created in the load-bearing and external walls are expressed on the façade through large anthracite aluminium sliding glass doors, whose contemporary lines contrast elegantly with the stone while flooding the living spaces overlooking the garden with natural light. The original stone lintels above the windows and front door have been carefully preserved.

Around the house, the grounds were redesigned with a gravel courtyard serving all the buildings and a new terrace.

An open and light-filled living space

On the ground floor, most of the internal partitions were removed to create a spacious open-plan living area combining the kitchen, dining area and lounge around a central island. Much of the furniture comes from Maison Archibald.

The living room, open to the kitchen, features a wood-burning stove and large sliding glass doors opening onto the garden. A contemporary white steel staircase with floating timber treads leads to the upper floor and becomes a defining architectural feature within the space.

The kitchen combines white cabinetry with brass handles and a light timber island incorporating an induction hob beneath a suspended black designer extractor hood. A light composite worktop, built-in oven and microwave column, together with a timber coffee station, complete the design.

A section of the original exposed stone wall has intentionally been preserved within the kitchen, creating a visual connection between the historic fabric of the building and the contemporary interior.

The flooring combines light oak parquet throughout the living areas with beige hexagonal tiles in the entrance hall, where cane-front storage cupboards and a small bench provide a practical welcome area.

Converted attic rooms

The attic conversion created a new bedroom and bathroom beneath the roof. An original timber beam has been left exposed beneath the new roof structure, celebrating the building's historic framework, while a roof window brings generous natural light into the space.

The adjoining bathroom, also located within the attic, features a double timber vanity unit with cane-front doors, a pink hexagonal tile splashback, a mirror, and is naturally illuminated by a Velux roof window.

A project completed in two phases

One of the major challenges was the rapid structural restoration of the outbuilding during the first phase, allowing the owners to store their belongings immediately after moving. The second phase is dedicated to the extensive renovation of the main house.

This rapid intervention illustrates the project's phasing strategy: first securing and restoring a functional secondary building before undertaking the more substantial renovation works on the main residence.