My Houzz: A Historical French Property Restored Stone by Stone
This couple restored a property in the French countryside with historical sensitivity and a modern touch
Valérie Carreno & Frédéric Sautai
1 May 2020
Surrounded by nature and scrubland as far as the eye can see, we crisscross the narrow roads that lead to this magical place in the Cévennes region in the south of France, where the cicadas have just stopped singing. We are welcomed by the intrepid Jansen family: Arnaud, a pilot who has just come home after a long flight; Béatrice, who takes care of the property and welcomes guests; and their two children, Romain and Manon.
Images by Jours & Nuits
The property, which now includes a set of guest houses as well as the family’s home, was little more than rubble when Arnaud and Béatrice first discovered it. “We bought this ruin in 2005. We immediately started working on ideas we’d had in mind for a long time,” says Béatrice.
The property, which now includes a set of guest houses as well as the family’s home, was little more than rubble when Arnaud and Béatrice first discovered it. “We bought this ruin in 2005. We immediately started working on ideas we’d had in mind for a long time,” says Béatrice.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Béatrice and Arnaud Jansen and their children, Romain, 15, and Manon, 10
Location: Hérault, in the vicinity of Pic Saint-Loup, at the edge of the Cévennes region, France
Size: 950 square metres, 270 square metres of which are for personal use
Duration of work: About 10 years
“We especially fell in love with the view and the vaulted cellars,” says Béatrice. “Since we were starting from ruins, we were full of doubt and uncertainty as to whether we could succeed in rebuilding this cluster of buildings and, at the same time, excited about the idea of creating a unique place that would allow us to accommodate a set of guest rooms that really resemble us, and follow our own wishes.”
Who lives here: Béatrice and Arnaud Jansen and their children, Romain, 15, and Manon, 10
Location: Hérault, in the vicinity of Pic Saint-Loup, at the edge of the Cévennes region, France
Size: 950 square metres, 270 square metres of which are for personal use
Duration of work: About 10 years
“We especially fell in love with the view and the vaulted cellars,” says Béatrice. “Since we were starting from ruins, we were full of doubt and uncertainty as to whether we could succeed in rebuilding this cluster of buildings and, at the same time, excited about the idea of creating a unique place that would allow us to accommodate a set of guest rooms that really resemble us, and follow our own wishes.”
The vast plot and few remaining walls offered the family a lot of freedom. However, looking at this photo it’s easy to imagine how much stress they must have felt about the sheer size of the project. At the bottom of this photo, we can see Béatrice holding their oldest son Romain – now 15 years old – who was barely a few months old at the time.
Unsure how to approach your own renovation? Find an architect near you on Houzz to talk you through the design, approvals and renovation process
Unsure how to approach your own renovation? Find an architect near you on Houzz to talk you through the design, approvals and renovation process
All of the vault structures were rebuilt identically to the originals.
However, while this space was originally a cellar, they opened up the vault and put in a staircase with a landing at the level of the main house. This makes it possible to pass from one level to the next and creates a flow of movement throughout the property.
Pierced into the rock like much of the architecture here, the stones were carefully pressure washed to recover their light original shade. Afterwards, the wall was repointed, which involves filling external mortar joints that have weathered away.
Pierced into the rock like much of the architecture here, the stones were carefully pressure washed to recover their light original shade. Afterwards, the wall was repointed, which involves filling external mortar joints that have weathered away.
From here, various spaces unfold from the original building through low arches – like the one pictured here on the right of the bedroom – that open onto furnished rooms.
The building offers whitewashed guest rooms under newly built traditional framework ceilings. Each is designed to evoke the ambience of far-away places, like the previous image, with its canopy bed from Bali.
If you look at the image of the ruins carefully, you can see how the new part of the building is connected to the staggered roofs to the right.
If you look at the image of the ruins carefully, you can see how the new part of the building is connected to the staggered roofs to the right.
The new buildings provide a home for the family in the spirit of the original compound. The three buildings that make up the family home are connected by glass structures that separate the living and sleeping areas.
The entire front of the house opens onto a raised terrace. Large sliding doors allow for free movement along the living room side of the house. The idea of creating continuity between inside and out was inspired by a trip the couple took to Japan.
The reed ceiling softens the light to smooth the transition from inside. This creates free movement around the outdoor garden, which is between the two walls separating the kitchen from the living room.
The reed ceiling softens the light to smooth the transition from inside. This creates free movement around the outdoor garden, which is between the two walls separating the kitchen from the living room.
In the kitchen, a central island lets the whole family keep whoever is cooking company. An immense benchtop carved out of stone from nearby Pompignan in France forms the cooking space. “The countertop alone weighs around 500 kilograms. It took ten people to install it,” says Arnaud.
An oak slab tinted with a penetrating stain rests on top and serves as a tall dining table.
The magic of this open-plan room lies in its direct access to the garden and terrace. Dry stone retaining walls allow water to circulate through the Mediterranean vegetation, which includes local sun-resistant species.
A Japanese maple with delicate foliage, chosen by Béatrice, is the only plant separating the two interior spaces.
On the floor, slabs of stone from Tarn in France continue inside. “Though slabs like this are traditionally arranged in a Roman-opus tiling pattern, the ones here have been laid like wood flooring, in keeping with the aim of creating real continuity between the inside and outside,” says Arnaud.
A glassed-in interior garden, with a white pebble floor, stands between the kitchen and the dining room. It makes for a graceful transition and brings nature into this living space.
The furniture is simple and sleek. Paintings on glass by artist Aline Jansen double as light fixtures and take pride of place in this space. A low sofa creates a link between the raised living area and the dining room, and anchors the rest of the decor.
One of the couple’s main aims was to create interconnected spaces: one dedicated to music, dominated by the Pleyel grand piano; one for meals; and a lounge in which to enjoy the warmth of the fireplace.
The family appreciates art, particularly music, and the two dedicated teenagers are enrolled in a conservatorium – Romain is studying to be a professional musician.
The family appreciates art, particularly music, and the two dedicated teenagers are enrolled in a conservatorium – Romain is studying to be a professional musician.
The living room has a beautiful chestnut platform with low sofas in the Japanese style, where Manon can read on the floor in front of the fireplace or the family can have dinner near the hearth.
The bowl of the spectacular Focus fireplace sits on the ground, creating a campfire feel. The handles on the side make it possible to move the column and completely close off the chimney at night.
The bowl of the spectacular Focus fireplace sits on the ground, creating a campfire feel. The handles on the side make it possible to move the column and completely close off the chimney at night.
To access the personal spaces, we walk through a long glass structure that crosses the vegetation and divides the children’s level below from the couple’s space upstairs.
Inside it is a splendid staircase made of steel and wood. The steel was sanded and varnished by a craftsman, adding a rich texture.
The story of how this staircase was built is emblematic of the couple’s tenacity. “During the construction of the staircase, the metalworker did a lot of welding,” says Arnaud. “While I was flying, Béatrice was woken up in the middle of the night by a fire caused by a bit of hot grit that had flown into the plants. Within a few minutes, the fire had devastated the entire floor and we had to rebuild everything.”
Inside it is a splendid staircase made of steel and wood. The steel was sanded and varnished by a craftsman, adding a rich texture.
The story of how this staircase was built is emblematic of the couple’s tenacity. “During the construction of the staircase, the metalworker did a lot of welding,” says Arnaud. “While I was flying, Béatrice was woken up in the middle of the night by a fire caused by a bit of hot grit that had flown into the plants. Within a few minutes, the fire had devastated the entire floor and we had to rebuild everything.”
Upstairs, the master bedroom is sheltered by an authentic framework ceiling made of Douglas pine by an artisan from Cévennes, France, just like the three-sided one in the living room.
Here, a carpeted module separates the bathroom from the sleeping area. “Since the height of the framing did not allow us to partition the space, we opted for a modest and ingenious solution to separate the two areas. The module has openings created to let in natural light and provide a cross view outward,” says Béatrice.
Here, a carpeted module separates the bathroom from the sleeping area. “Since the height of the framing did not allow us to partition the space, we opted for a modest and ingenious solution to separate the two areas. The module has openings created to let in natural light and provide a cross view outward,” says Béatrice.
In the bathroom, an impressive basin carved out of Pompignan stone directs the water down a gentle slope. As the owners wanted, the natural shades give the room a poetic atmosphere.
The flooring in the space is faux wood. In the middle of the room stands a generous bathtub that subtly reflects the wall of bamboo outside.
Needless to say, every single corner of this home is a source of pleasure and happiness, which reflects the spirit of balance and freedom instilled by the couple.
Your turn
What do you respect the most about this mammoth undertaking? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed last week’s My Houzz? Catch up here with this My Houzz: Interior Designer Denise Davies’ Retro-Glam USA Home
Your turn
What do you respect the most about this mammoth undertaking? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed last week’s My Houzz? Catch up here with this My Houzz: Interior Designer Denise Davies’ Retro-Glam USA Home
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Beautiful inside & out !
Stunningly beautiful!
What a BEAUTIFUL lifestyle they have created for their family. Takes lots of courage. BRAVO!!!!!