Houzz Tour: Family Home in a French Castle
Once at the heart of a 15th-century civil war, this castle is now a surprisingly contemporary family home
Situated in what’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, the family castle of Apremont-sur-Allier was left untended over many years. Its heirs called on architect Olivier Chabaud to revive this jewel of French history. The goal: to transform part of the castle into a family home for a couple in their 40s and their three children.
The castle was at the heart of the Armagnac–Burgundian civil war in the 15th century, and the fortress was destroyed before being rebuilt between 1450 and 1500 in its current form. The oldest part of the building dates to the 8th century, while the most recent extensions were added in the 19th.
“In this approximately [107,640-square-foot] castle, we arranged about [4,300 square feet] in one of the wings into a functional and cozy living space for this family, who were hoping to turn it into their main residence,” Chabaud says. “We found different kinds of walls and materials due to the extensions that had been added over time. The goal was to transform these spaces into a comfortable living area adapted to this family’s lifestyle. We notably simplified the layout in order to benefit from more fluid circulation and as much light as possible, while preserving the spirit of this place steeped in history.”
The castle was at the heart of the Armagnac–Burgundian civil war in the 15th century, and the fortress was destroyed before being rebuilt between 1450 and 1500 in its current form. The oldest part of the building dates to the 8th century, while the most recent extensions were added in the 19th.
“In this approximately [107,640-square-foot] castle, we arranged about [4,300 square feet] in one of the wings into a functional and cozy living space for this family, who were hoping to turn it into their main residence,” Chabaud says. “We found different kinds of walls and materials due to the extensions that had been added over time. The goal was to transform these spaces into a comfortable living area adapted to this family’s lifestyle. We notably simplified the layout in order to benefit from more fluid circulation and as much light as possible, while preserving the spirit of this place steeped in history.”
After: “We created a cement staircase to the garden. Here we outlined a wrought-iron railing in an ultra contemporary design,” Chabaud says.
After: In the multiuse space, wood-effect melamine gives a contemporary yet warm feel. It’s paired with a custom vanity in rose tones.
After: Several rooms were combined to create the light-filled kitchen. This space was completely revamped from floor to ceiling.
At the far end, the passage leading to the dining room was expanded to create better circulation. “Expanding the passage between the kitchen and the dining room, but also between the dining room and the living room, made it possible to create an interplay of perspectives and volumes,” Olivier says.
At the far end, the passage leading to the dining room was expanded to create better circulation. “Expanding the passage between the kitchen and the dining room, but also between the dining room and the living room, made it possible to create an interplay of perspectives and volumes,” Olivier says.
After: The kitchen cabinets are made of MDF in two intense shades of blue. The white floor tiles feature black inserts.
The backsplash of beige zellige tiles creates contrast to the oak countertop. “Here the idea was to create a brilliant ambiance by simplifying the geometry of this space with its trapezoidal lines,” Chabaud says.
Upper cabinets and a floor-to-ceiling cupboard of steel and wired glass offer the most possible storage space. The door leading to the hallway, made of the same materials, blends subtly into the space while bringing light into the corridor.
The backsplash of beige zellige tiles creates contrast to the oak countertop. “Here the idea was to create a brilliant ambiance by simplifying the geometry of this space with its trapezoidal lines,” Chabaud says.
Upper cabinets and a floor-to-ceiling cupboard of steel and wired glass offer the most possible storage space. The door leading to the hallway, made of the same materials, blends subtly into the space while bringing light into the corridor.
After: The large flagstones and ceilings were preserved. The large oak-and-chestnut table was custom-designed to integrate perfectly into the dining room, paired with exceptional paneling.
“We had carte blanche to design the spaces, but we reintegrated many of the existing pieces of furniture, like the wooden chairs, which match this table perfectly,” Chabaud says. A “crumpled paper” chandelier completes the decor of the vast room, along with a black metal console and a contemporary painting that break with the antique feel.
“We had carte blanche to design the spaces, but we reintegrated many of the existing pieces of furniture, like the wooden chairs, which match this table perfectly,” Chabaud says. A “crumpled paper” chandelier completes the decor of the vast room, along with a black metal console and a contemporary painting that break with the antique feel.
After: He matched a light-colored, Nordic-style wood floor with a display unit in shades of green. Together with the beams on the ceiling, it creates depth and vibrancy in the space.
After: Chabaud created a narrow opening between the living and dining rooms for visual interplay between the two spaces.
In the living room, he juxtaposed a large, minimalist bookshelf against the original features of the room to create a dialogue between historic and contemporary. The bookshelf was custom-designed in MDF and oak. The vertical panels curve at the top to echo the intersecting ribs in the ceiling.
After: The space now serves as a TV room. The beams were whitened and painted gray for a more contemporary touch. A pair of wicker chairs flank two retro side tables.
The owners opted for a seagrass carpet to bring a warm and comfortable feel to the space.
After: The newly brightened corridor now has a soft and cozy feel. “Having softened the complex shapes of each space, notably under the roof, we opted for pure white walls and natural materials,” Chabaud says.
In the guest room, a spectacular, dreamlike wallpaper adds vintage charm, and its sky blue background creates a relaxing vibe. Adding to the coziness is a lush, off-white carpet on the floor.
This attic bathroom on the kids’ floor, in one of the castle’s towers, is decorated in blues and yellows for a contemporary feel. The custom vanity fits the odd geometry of the space.
In the nursery, a wallpaper in an animal pattern contrasts with the beige carpet and pure white walls. Custom built-ins hold clothes and toys, while a storage bench in painted MDF serves as a reading nook.
This storage-room-turned-bathroom features a vanity in an intense blue and a green wallpaper in a botanical print, two contemporary elements tucked behind the ornate original wood door.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three children
Location: Apremont-sur-Allier, in the Berry region of central France
Living area: 4,305 square feet (400 square meters)
Architect: Olivier Chabaud
Chabaud faced the huge challenge of modernizing a castle while respecting its history. “In this wing, which encompasses four levels, certain rooms were particularly dark and tiny while others were gigantic,” he says. “Therefore, we worked on comfort and safety above all when adapting the spaces to the life of a 21st-century family.
“Certain spaces were in very bad shape, while other parts had been renovated in the ’70s,” Chabaud says. “The roof had been remade and numerous partitions were added in order to rethink the configuration of the rooms. Painting, electricity and plumbing were also completely redone.”
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