French Houzz: Tour a Bright and Beautiful Converted Rectory Retreat
A Parisian designer couple have transformed their Normandy barn and gardener's cottage into a spacious, modern sanctuary
It was the barn that sealed the deal for Alon and Betsy Kasha. When the Parisian couple was searching for a family retreat in Normandy, France, they fell in love with a home that was part of an old village rectory – the gardener’s house and the attached barn. Although the barn was in poor shape, they were drawn to its high ceilings and exposed rafters. As the owners of a + b kasha designs, they had plenty of experience renovating turnkey apartments in Paris and couldn’t wait to try their hand at a country home of their own.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Alon and Betsy Kasha
Location: Eure, Normandy, France
Size: 762 square metres
That’s interesting: When the Kashas first purchased this house, the barn still had its original dirt floors and mud walls.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Alon and Betsy Kasha
Location: Eure, Normandy, France
Size: 762 square metres
That’s interesting: When the Kashas first purchased this house, the barn still had its original dirt floors and mud walls.
Most of the exterior of the house was preserved in its original style, with the gardener's house and the barn still connected. The barn now holds a family room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The living room is on the ground floor of what was once the gardener’s residence. Two antique Le Corbusier leather chairs and a 1930s leather and metal club chair create a casual seating arrangement around a zinc-topped coffee table. A French artist made the floor lamp with recycled materials.
View more beautiful living rooms
View more beautiful living rooms
The exposed ceiling beams in the gardener’s house and the barn are some of the Kashas’ favourite features. Although some original details were maintained, the couple changed both structures’ layouts to reflect a more modern lifestyle. They removed several walls to open up and connect the kitchen, dining and living room into a single great room.
Light fixture: made of silicon chip boards by a French designer
Light fixture: made of silicon chip boards by a French designer
The family wanted a practical and organised kitchen that would reflect their casual lifestyle. Simple white lacquered cabinetry is easy to wipe clean and a butcher’s block benchtop adds a rustic counterpoint. Open shelving houses serving ware and dishes, and the upper cabinetry stores food.
Dining chairs: 1960s Italian leather and chrome; table: Mario Bellini for Cassina
Dining chairs: 1960s Italian leather and chrome; table: Mario Bellini for Cassina
The couple chose their light palette for the walls and trim from Farrow & Ball. The different white shades draw attention to the home’s clean lines and play with the natural light that floods the south-facing home.
Wall paint: Wimborne White, Skimming Stone and Elephant’s Breath, Farrow & Ball
Wall paint: Wimborne White, Skimming Stone and Elephant’s Breath, Farrow & Ball
The all-white walls create a relaxing and serene atmosphere, much like the surrounding village. There aren't many windows in the upstairs portions of the house, but the white hallways pull the light from one side of the home to the other.
A guest bedroom on the ground floor of the barn looks onto one of the home's many gardens. Embroidered bedding from Paris mimics the engravings on an antique light fixture.
Alon and Betsy chose their master bedroom based on its unique architectural details. “Its pitched ceiling with beautiful old beams creates a tranquil and calming space,” Betsy says. The table holding a portion of their book collection is an antique Chinese day bed. The couple cut the legs down and used it as a coffee table in their first house.
The house’s gardens and yard were a huge draw for the Kashas. Although much of the property was wild and overgrown when they first purchased it, they tamed it into a large outdoor space they can enjoy nearly year-round.
Discover more garden ideas
Discover more garden ideas