Houzz Tour: Old Arches, Beams and Stones Become Au Courant
A renovation brings contemporary flair and original charm to a designer’s apartment on the French Riviera
In search of an interesting renovation project with rustic stones, Thomas Lefèvre came across this apartment in Antibes, on France’s Mediterranean coast. The decorator immediately fell in love with this unusual downtown space and realized its huge potential. “Despite it being clear there would be a lot of work to do, I was seduced by this space framed by old beams and stone. The price was reasonable, and many before me had failed to envisage themselves in this place. So I bought it, determined to turn it into a nice apartment to live in,” Lefèvre says.
One of the main advantages of this apartment is its location on a quiet little street in Antibes’ old town. “It’s a pedestrian area packed with small restaurants and bars, a place where locals gather to have lunch or dinner. Here you can really feel the atmosphere of the port village,” Lefèvre says.
In renovating the property, the designer was careful to respect its soul and history, restoring the charm of the past while adding a modern touch. His budget of about $41,000 (35,000 euros) included taxes, work and furniture.
In renovating the property, the designer was careful to respect its soul and history, restoring the charm of the past while adding a modern touch. His budget of about $41,000 (35,000 euros) included taxes, work and furniture.
You enter the apartment through a large door consisting of four steel-framed sliding glass panels. On sunny days, which are frequent in the area, it’s left open. And when it’s closed, the nature of the glass obscures the people inside. “Even though it’s not a two-way glass, it reflects enough light to mirror the street outside. And, by the way, it’s pretty funny to see the passers-by looking at themselves without knowing that there’s someone on the other side,” Lefèvre says. A curtain provides privacy until shutters get installed and climbing plants grow.
The door leads into the kitchen, which was raised slightly higher than the level of the alley.
The door leads into the kitchen, which was raised slightly higher than the level of the alley.
Once covered with cement, the stone wall was restored and reintegrated into the space to add charm to the whole apartment. Part of the wall made way for the refrigerator, which couldn’t be put anywhere else in the kitchen. “We chose an aesthetically pleasing device, and then we highlighted it with a cement frame and supported it with [a type of I beam],” Lefèvre says.
He and his team also restored the ceiling to its original appearance, and sanded and varnished the old oak beams. “The … ceiling in the kitchen was covered with cement and plaster. We removed everything and used a natural varnish on the beams instead of covering them with paint,” Lefèvre says. The steel plate covers a crack. “Rather than filling the crack in with a different kind of wood, we filled it with sheet metal. It feels antique and gives the impression of having always been there.”
The soffit by the door hid the mechanism for motorized curtains, which were later removed in favor of a row of spotlights.
Refrigerator: Smeg; copper pendant light: Maisons du Monde; wire-mesh pendant light: Meubles et Vous
He and his team also restored the ceiling to its original appearance, and sanded and varnished the old oak beams. “The … ceiling in the kitchen was covered with cement and plaster. We removed everything and used a natural varnish on the beams instead of covering them with paint,” Lefèvre says. The steel plate covers a crack. “Rather than filling the crack in with a different kind of wood, we filled it with sheet metal. It feels antique and gives the impression of having always been there.”
The soffit by the door hid the mechanism for motorized curtains, which were later removed in favor of a row of spotlights.
Refrigerator: Smeg; copper pendant light: Maisons du Monde; wire-mesh pendant light: Meubles et Vous
The entrance door is the apartment’s main source of natural illumination. To let as much light as possible pass through to the living room, at the rear, Lefèvre avoided wall cabinets.
He used several tricks to save on renovation costs. For example, rather than use a custom-made countertop, he covered the cabinetry with imitation Carrara marble tiles. The sheet steel finishing gives the impression of a massive work surface. The clock echoes the countertop material.
The floor is wood-effect tile, which resists wear and tear.
Kitchen cabinetry: Leroy Merlin; table and clock: Habitat
See more wood-effect tile
He used several tricks to save on renovation costs. For example, rather than use a custom-made countertop, he covered the cabinetry with imitation Carrara marble tiles. The sheet steel finishing gives the impression of a massive work surface. The clock echoes the countertop material.
The floor is wood-effect tile, which resists wear and tear.
Kitchen cabinetry: Leroy Merlin; table and clock: Habitat
See more wood-effect tile
Lefèvre and his team also finished the side of the cabinetry facing the living room in steel to provide character.
The floor of the living room is lower than that of the kitchen. They dug down to remove the backfills added over the years and to increase ceiling height in the room.
They extended the kitchen floor over the living room floor to increase the area without creating an obstruction that would’ve reduced the space perceived in the living area. “In this way, we managed to gain a few additional square [yards] in the kitchen for all the necessary appliances and furnishings: a spice rack, an oven, a four-burner stove, a dishwasher under the sink and pot drawers,” Lefèvre says. This floor overhang also accommodates storage for the living room (in wooden boxes) and provides additional seating.
Three cement steps lead down to the living room. Their texture hints at the mortar between the stones on the wall. A spotlight illuminates the steps and contributes to the overall lighting effects desired by the decorator.
The floor of the living room is lower than that of the kitchen. They dug down to remove the backfills added over the years and to increase ceiling height in the room.
They extended the kitchen floor over the living room floor to increase the area without creating an obstruction that would’ve reduced the space perceived in the living area. “In this way, we managed to gain a few additional square [yards] in the kitchen for all the necessary appliances and furnishings: a spice rack, an oven, a four-burner stove, a dishwasher under the sink and pot drawers,” Lefèvre says. This floor overhang also accommodates storage for the living room (in wooden boxes) and provides additional seating.
Three cement steps lead down to the living room. Their texture hints at the mortar between the stones on the wall. A spotlight illuminates the steps and contributes to the overall lighting effects desired by the decorator.
Originally, the living area (formerly a bedroom) was dark and constricted under the arches. Lowering the floor made it possible to gain 31½ inches of ceiling height and to increase the volume of the room. The arches also were cleared to highlight their curves.
The arch above the couch is covered with gypsum and smoothed to give a more modern look to the room, serving as a contrast to the exposed stones. The wall now holds storage niches, and the dropped ceiling accommodates spotlights. “I wanted to achieve a harmonious balance between the old and the contemporary by highlighting all the original elements that I could find,” Lefèvre says.
The brick arch over the glass wall was partly covered with cement and partly concealed in the ground. It was restored and is now highlighted by a light at the bottom.
The arch above the couch is covered with gypsum and smoothed to give a more modern look to the room, serving as a contrast to the exposed stones. The wall now holds storage niches, and the dropped ceiling accommodates spotlights. “I wanted to achieve a harmonious balance between the old and the contemporary by highlighting all the original elements that I could find,” Lefèvre says.
The brick arch over the glass wall was partly covered with cement and partly concealed in the ground. It was restored and is now highlighted by a light at the bottom.
On the opposite side of the room, the sleek bioethanol fireplace reinforces the modern vibe of the space. To its left is a closet, the door of which is made of inch-thick cross sections from a small log.
To accentuate the contrast between the antique and the contemporary, Lefèvre placed relatively inexpensive vintage objects you would find at a flea market all around.
To accentuate the contrast between the antique and the contemporary, Lefèvre placed relatively inexpensive vintage objects you would find at a flea market all around.
To the left of the couch, a vintage telephone stands on an old wooden implement that back in the day was used to grind wheat or flour.
On the other side of the couch, a shelf holds the work of an artist that Lefèvre particularly likes. “It’s the face of Picasso by Guillaume Bonaud. He does a lot of graphic paintings like that. This one is composed of pen using the pointillist technique.”
Painting: Atalante
On the other side of the couch, a shelf holds the work of an artist that Lefèvre particularly likes. “It’s the face of Picasso by Guillaume Bonaud. He does a lot of graphic paintings like that. This one is composed of pen using the pointillist technique.”
Painting: Atalante
The furniture is a mix of new and vintage. “The Scoubidou and Diamond de Bertoia armchairs were found at a bargain with the help of a neighbor living on this alley, who is an expert,” Lefèvre says. The canvases hanging on the walls are works by the artist Hélène Mignot.
Coffee table: Habitat; sofa bed: Maisons du Monde
Coffee table: Habitat; sofa bed: Maisons du Monde
A glass wall separates the living room from the bedroom. A metalworker made it to be perfectly in sync with the arch of the apartment. “A cement base has been added to the post of the arch for aesthetic reasons and to give the impression that the pillar is old. This element highlights the character of the apartment,” Lefèvre says.
The bricks of the new column on the other side of the glass wall match those of the original arch to integrate it well with the rest of the room.
The bricks of the new column on the other side of the glass wall match those of the original arch to integrate it well with the rest of the room.
The bedroom took the place of the old kitchen, and since it had been separated from the original entrance by an independent office, it happened to be very dark. The glass wall allows light in through the living room, while an opaque curtain ensures privacy when desired. The curtain can be hidden behind the brick column created especially for this purpose.
The mezzanine is another source of light for the room. “Initially, we mounted a partition that went directly to the ceiling to separate the apartment from the office, and then we made a window at the railing level to let light in. But in the end, we sadly realized that the room didn’t get much light from that window.”
The designer therefore decided to build a mezzanine to connect the window to the room and maximize the brightness. The mezzanine isn’t really intended to be usable, though it does accommodate an extra bed.
The mezzanine also allows a break in the volume of the room. The unfinished wood frame protrudes slightly from the wall to create depth, and the railing’s steel bars give a graphic look to the whole composition.
The designer therefore decided to build a mezzanine to connect the window to the room and maximize the brightness. The mezzanine isn’t really intended to be usable, though it does accommodate an extra bed.
The mezzanine also allows a break in the volume of the room. The unfinished wood frame protrudes slightly from the wall to create depth, and the railing’s steel bars give a graphic look to the whole composition.
“The arch above the bed was not pleasant to look at. We modernized it while maintaining its irregular appearance so as not to lose space in the room,” Lefèvre says. The bed under the arch is highlighted and flanked by two wall lamps that serve as bedside lamps.
On each side of the bed are niches that house storage shelves on one side and a closet on the other.
Two hooks adorn the wall below the mezzanine. “I came across them at a furniture supplier and thought they were nice,” he says.
Bed: Ikea; lamps: Habitat
On each side of the bed are niches that house storage shelves on one side and a closet on the other.
Two hooks adorn the wall below the mezzanine. “I came across them at a furniture supplier and thought they were nice,” he says.
Bed: Ikea; lamps: Habitat
Opening to the bedroom, the bathroom has a shower of about 3 by 4 feet, the frame of which was made by the same metalworker who made the glass wall. Visually, its boundaries are marked by a niche in waxed concrete, which includes storage space for the towels.
The tile resembles natural stone. On the wall, there is only one large tile, which enhances the illusion and gives a feeling of seamlessness.
The tile resembles natural stone. On the wall, there is only one large tile, which enhances the illusion and gives a feeling of seamlessness.
Across from the shower, the sink stands on a custom-made counter of wood and waxed concrete. The curve follows the shape of the wall and optimizes space so that the toilet room door can open. The mirror was custom-made for the space.
Sink: Leroy Merlin
Sink: Leroy Merlin
The toilet room has an industrial feel, with an exposed double-flow ventilation duct and the unfinished wooden structure of the ceiling. The wall on the right includes a space for the washing machine and a utility closet.
All the rooms in the apartment were redesigned to restore the original elements as the main feature of the space and to encourage the use of natural materials. The design blends the comfort of a modern apartment with the character of the old days.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Lofts | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
All the rooms in the apartment were redesigned to restore the original elements as the main feature of the space and to encourage the use of natural materials. The design blends the comfort of a modern apartment with the character of the old days.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Lofts | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Thomas Lefèvre, pictured, of Lefèvre Design
Location: Antibes, France
Size: 484 square feet (45 square meters), with a mezzanine of 53¾ square feet (5 square meters)
The space — which had been used as a garage, a hair salon and living quarters — was split into two areas to create a cozy apartment on one side and an independent office on the other.