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Before & After: A Mediterranean Dream Home in Marseilles, France
The secret to this stunning design? Incorporating the home's breezy surroundings and extraordinary sightlines
With its white villas, bougainvillea and pine-planted valleys overlooking the Mediterranean sea, the La Corniche Boulevard in Marseilles, France, is a dream location. It is on one of the slopes of the Bompard neighbourhood that, in 2018, this family of four – a couple in their forties with their two teenagers – stumbled on a great find on a classifieds site. Already residing in the neighbourhood and on the lookout for a larger space, they jumped at the chance to buy this two-storey, 1930s building, which the previous owners had recently renovated. They knew right away that its location near Valmer Park was their dream spot, but the renovation was not to their taste and they planned a complete revamp. They knew the perfect professional to take it on: interior designer Chrystel Laport, who had just bought their previous home.
Before
As you can see in this photo from before the renovation, the house was disconnected from its garden. Built on a steep slope, the outside space could be accessed through a little terrace perched atop a dozen travertine steps. The stairs seemed out of proportion, and the terrace was too small to have breakfast on. The owners were keenly aware of the paradox of a home with a garden they couldn’t enjoy.
As you can see in this photo from before the renovation, the house was disconnected from its garden. Built on a steep slope, the outside space could be accessed through a little terrace perched atop a dozen travertine steps. The stairs seemed out of proportion, and the terrace was too small to have breakfast on. The owners were keenly aware of the paradox of a home with a garden they couldn’t enjoy.
After
Interior designer Chrystel Laporte agreed. She says the running theme of her work was “opening this home to the outside and recreating the living areas to make the best use of them”.
Since the terrace was the only place where you could easily eat outdoors, she reimagined it to make it more than just a dreary passageway. She put in a comfortable pergola, which echoes the graphic lines of the staircase. She also inserted a wide window with a low ledge, which looks out from the office. The black railings foreshadow the plan for the window frames, most of which were left as they are for budgetary reasons, but will be replaced at some point in the future.
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Interior designer Chrystel Laporte agreed. She says the running theme of her work was “opening this home to the outside and recreating the living areas to make the best use of them”.
Since the terrace was the only place where you could easily eat outdoors, she reimagined it to make it more than just a dreary passageway. She put in a comfortable pergola, which echoes the graphic lines of the staircase. She also inserted a wide window with a low ledge, which looks out from the office. The black railings foreshadow the plan for the window frames, most of which were left as they are for budgetary reasons, but will be replaced at some point in the future.
Love this transformation? Find a local interior designer who can help make your home its best self
Before
Inside the home, the air conditioning, electricity, plumbing, heating and windows had already been renovated, which worked out well for the new owners, who hoped to limit the cost of their renovation. But they did not like the layout of the home at all: they were not fans of its cordoned-off entrance hall, or the long living room, and were unimpressed that the door of the toilet opened into the dining room. As for the decor, which had been put together with a large dose of plasterboard and tile, they thought it lost the home’s soul.
Inside the home, the air conditioning, electricity, plumbing, heating and windows had already been renovated, which worked out well for the new owners, who hoped to limit the cost of their renovation. But they did not like the layout of the home at all: they were not fans of its cordoned-off entrance hall, or the long living room, and were unimpressed that the door of the toilet opened into the dining room. As for the decor, which had been put together with a large dose of plasterboard and tile, they thought it lost the home’s soul.
After
Laporte was very attentive to the the owners’ desires right from the first visit, and collected inspirational photos that reflected their wishes. “These moodboards help me tailor the feel of the rooms throughout the project,” she says.
“I also paid attention to the home and looked at its plan in 2D. I always worked from the existing space and examined its lines of sight to create a surprise,” says Laporte. As a former graphic artist, she is always attuned to the best framing. So, for example, the staircase was modified so that it would not open out facing the entrance.
Laporte was very attentive to the the owners’ desires right from the first visit, and collected inspirational photos that reflected their wishes. “These moodboards help me tailor the feel of the rooms throughout the project,” she says.
“I also paid attention to the home and looked at its plan in 2D. I always worked from the existing space and examined its lines of sight to create a surprise,” says Laporte. As a former graphic artist, she is always attuned to the best framing. So, for example, the staircase was modified so that it would not open out facing the entrance.
The office space to the left of the entrance retained its function, but Laporte redecorated it for a warmer feel. The tiles, which had covered a heated floor, was replaced with wide boards of a light-coloured engineered-oak. A custom-made desk, painted in a blue from the Caparol colour chart, matches a wall covered in a black-and-white panoramic wallpaper with a tropical print. The latter conceals an invisible door that leads to the powder room in its new location.
Before
The very long living room had a surprising layout. The sofa had been placed with its back to the window, facing the kitchen. “It was as though the home had been turned in on itself,” says Laporte. To make up for the cramped entrance, she sought to capture the gaze of anyone entering and draw it towards the back of the room.
The very long living room had a surprising layout. The sofa had been placed with its back to the window, facing the kitchen. “It was as though the home had been turned in on itself,” says Laporte. To make up for the cramped entrance, she sought to capture the gaze of anyone entering and draw it towards the back of the room.
After
Laporte had no doubt that she had to re-orient the room towards the home’s extraordinary views. “One could say that this home has crazy views,” she says. “Just imagine: from the window, you can see all the way to the Sainte-Baume mountain range, and a bit to the right, the sea and the beginning of the Calanques!”
Laporte had no doubt that she had to re-orient the room towards the home’s extraordinary views. “One could say that this home has crazy views,” she says. “Just imagine: from the window, you can see all the way to the Sainte-Baume mountain range, and a bit to the right, the sea and the beginning of the Calanques!”
After
The kitchen had initially been set up so that one cooked facing the green wall, but Laprote turned it back around towards the windows. She turned the work surface and sink towards the sea through the south-facing window. The cooking area on the island is equipped with a large induction oven with a hood, and overlooks the living room and its east-facing window through a glass divider.
The professional designed the kitchen around cupboards from Leicht, a renowned German manufacturer, distributed in Marseilles by kitchen specialists Dôme Vanadia. The counter is a compact laminate that matches the cupboards.
The kitchen had initially been set up so that one cooked facing the green wall, but Laprote turned it back around towards the windows. She turned the work surface and sink towards the sea through the south-facing window. The cooking area on the island is equipped with a large induction oven with a hood, and overlooks the living room and its east-facing window through a glass divider.
The professional designed the kitchen around cupboards from Leicht, a renowned German manufacturer, distributed in Marseilles by kitchen specialists Dôme Vanadia. The counter is a compact laminate that matches the cupboards.
“This house is on a hill and very bright, but it did not take on the very particular light of Marseilles. We rethought it to be a white box facing the sea, which would integrate it into its neighbourhood,” the pro says.
The feel in the kitchen is soft and minimal, contrasted by the high black-metal stools and some of the appliances. This contemporary decor might have felt clinical, but it is warmed by touches of wood and zellige tiles in the splashback. The hand-made Moroccan zelliges are also a reference to the Mediterranean culture that inundates the city.
The feel in the kitchen is soft and minimal, contrasted by the high black-metal stools and some of the appliances. This contemporary decor might have felt clinical, but it is warmed by touches of wood and zellige tiles in the splashback. The hand-made Moroccan zelliges are also a reference to the Mediterranean culture that inundates the city.
A glass and black steel divider hides the kitchen so it cannot be seen from the living room as before. Just in front, the dining table – surrounded by its comfortable dusty pink chairs – creates a transition to the living room.
Note that the door to what had previously been the washroom is now located opposite the glass divider. The little room was converted into a laundry and storeroom.
Note that the door to what had previously been the washroom is now located opposite the glass divider. The little room was converted into a laundry and storeroom.
After
Laporte proposed turning the living room around to face the outside and to take advantage of the home’s elevated vantage point by widening this window. The existing opening was enlarged and its sill lowered to a comfortable sitting height, so that it doubles as a bench. Framed in oak, the picture window frames this magnificent view like a painting. It has become the focal point of this room and has not failed to attract attention on social media.
“Since I published a photo of this spot for contemplation, people have asked me to reproduce it in many projects, but this has never succeeded as well as here, except in places where the view is, like here, extraordinary,” she says.
Laporte proposed turning the living room around to face the outside and to take advantage of the home’s elevated vantage point by widening this window. The existing opening was enlarged and its sill lowered to a comfortable sitting height, so that it doubles as a bench. Framed in oak, the picture window frames this magnificent view like a painting. It has become the focal point of this room and has not failed to attract attention on social media.
“Since I published a photo of this spot for contemplation, people have asked me to reproduce it in many projects, but this has never succeeded as well as here, except in places where the view is, like here, extraordinary,” she says.
Two sofas and the iconic LC4 lounge chair, designed by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, offer comfortable perches to contemplate the dreamy view from this living area. As for the coffee table, this had once been a dining table. The owner simply sawed off its legs.
The owners’ son moved into the room above the office, which had been equipped with an ensuite. The daughter took the central bedroom, where the ensuite was modernised.
The large bathroom was reattached to the last room. To shorten the hallway that had crossed the width of this storey, the locations of the room and the bathroom were swapped.
The large bathroom was reattached to the last room. To shorten the hallway that had crossed the width of this storey, the locations of the room and the bathroom were swapped.
After
Swapping the main bedroom and the bathroom required major changes to plumbing, which explains the platform seen here: it makes it possible to run the piping along the floor.
Swapping the main bedroom and the bathroom required major changes to plumbing, which explains the platform seen here: it makes it possible to run the piping along the floor.
In terms of decor, the room is completely white, with natural touches for a restful atmosphere. “As on the ground floor, we chose a bright, holiday feel and used simple, almost raw materials,” says Laprote.
After
It’s no surprise that the main bathroom was reimagined in the bright and restrained style that characterises the rest of this renovation. Black flowers scattered throughout the white mosaic floor create contrast. Even the fixtures, the frame of the shower divider and the hollow join of the vanity were decorated in black to elegantly underscore these boxes on a blank page.
It’s no surprise that the main bathroom was reimagined in the bright and restrained style that characterises the rest of this renovation. Black flowers scattered throughout the white mosaic floor create contrast. Even the fixtures, the frame of the shower divider and the hollow join of the vanity were decorated in black to elegantly underscore these boxes on a blank page.
In this room, Laporte likewise determined the layout of the fixtures based on the outside views. The freestanding bathtub takes up prime place by the window, the perfect setup for contemplating the view in a relaxing bubble bath.
Rénovation extérieur villa // 7ème Marseille
A year after renovating the interior of this home, the owners called Laporte back to decorate the garden to fit with the interior. To perfect the rendering, the pro collaborated with a landscape architect.
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Not quite had your fill of great global design? Check out this USA Houzz Tour: A Landscape Designer’s Cabin in the Mountains
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Not quite had your fill of great global design? Check out this USA Houzz Tour: A Landscape Designer’s Cabin in the Mountains
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two teenagers
Location: Marseilles, France
Size: 200 square metres
Date completed: December 2018
Interior designer: Chrystel Laporte of Un jour d’Avril
Landscape architect: Élodie Wehrlen of Côté Outdoor
Budget: 200,000 euros ($315,000AUD)