Cover The living room features a curved sofa from Eichholtz, a custom sofa by
Stéphanie Coutas Design Agency, Gallotti&Radice coffee tables, and a pair of Alexander Lamont table lamps
The living room features a curved sofa from Eichholtz, a custom sofa by Stéphanie Coutas Design Agency, Gallotti&Radice coffee tables, and a pair of Alexander Lamont table lamps
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A historical French mansion is reborn as a sophisticated home that melds classical elegance with a masculine edge
Building a home from scratch is a worthy challenge. But giving an old abode a second life is, in many ways, an even greater undertaking. While most designers prefer the freedom that comes with a blank canvas, French interior architect Stéphanie Coutas relishes spaces that come with a backstory. And that’s exactly what she got with Villa 1912, a glorious traditional mansion located just outside Paris.
Coutas, the founder of eponymous firm Stéphanie Coutas Design Agency, learned about the project from a satisfied former client who introduced her to the owner. The brief she received was straightforward and offered enough room for her to make an imprint. “The owner was very specific about what he didn’t want, but didn’t know what he really wanted. He didn’t want to have a lot of traditional wood and bright colours in the space. Instead, he favoured a clean and monochromatic interior,” she shares.
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Above The games room is furnished with custom pieces, as well as a pair of Gallotti&Radice bar stools
Above The see-through fireplace offers a peek at the living area from the games room
The games room is furnished with custom pieces, as well as a pair of Gallotti&Radice bar stools
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Above A mirrror from Porada picks up the curvy details on the marble flooring and the custom console
Above The stately French-style mansion was given a grand yet modern makeover by the design team from Stéphanie Coutas Design Agency
A mirrror from Porada picks up the curvy details on the marble flooring and the custom console
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Be it a pied-à-terre or a penthouse, Coutas is known for creating tasteful spaces that speak to a global audience—not surprising given her international upbringing and experience, which clearly influence her designs. Her firm also has an impressive track record in handling projects that require bridging the past with the present, hence they are well equipped to handle the intricacies that come with working on historical homes.
Built in 1872 for Alphonse Pallu, a famous French industrialist , this particular mansion is nothing but grand. Although Coutas and her team had encountered many stately houses over the course of almost 20 years in the design business, they were impressed by the home’s lovely bones, and were determined to retain that. “The property is a French-style mansion with a strong soul located in a refined area, and we only wanted to subtly enhance it through our design. We were particularly struck by the windows and the large spaces inherent in the original architecture.”
A view of the living area from the entrance
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One of the first things they addressed was the home’s layout, which needed a better flow, especially important as the owner frequently hosts friends and family. This left them no choice but to completely restructure the interior; it is now anchored by a striking, all-white marble staircase that serves as the home’s central axis. The ground floor was also transformed into an open-plan space spanning over 3,229 sq ft, which houses a stylish bar, handsome billiards lounge and a stunning indoor swimming pool surrounded by intricately designed windows that frame the property’s greenery. “We wanted to enhance the effect of the magnificent original windows, so we carefully renovated the pool area, then spruced it up by adding indoor plants and cosy outdoor furniture,” she shares.
In terms of decoration, Coutas proceeded with a light-handed approach defined by the use of a limited colour and material palette employed in a creative, dynamic manner. “The materials are a link that runs throughout the house; the shapes, patterns and textures were very important to create a visually interesting design.”
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The indoor pool is a realm of calm, and is furnished with outdoor pieces from Expormim and cushions from Larsen
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The success of this strategy is noticeable as soon as you enter the home, where one is greeted by a medley of neutral tones and sumptuous materials. “In the entrance hall, we used a variety of geometric marble panels for the floor, gypsum mouldings for the ceiling, and glossed varnish wood to create an elegant and unique impression,” she shares. The main living spaces, on the other hand, feature solid oak parquet flooring and bronze door frames, which are soothing to the eye and wonderful to the touch.
The seamless interplay of old and new is seen in the choice of furniture and furnishings. “We were looking for pieces that aligned with the idea of balancing historical architectural elements with contemporary aspects of modern life. For example, the outstanding alabaster cascade by Alain Ellouz for the marble staircase evoked a sense of classicism in its material yet was modernised through the embedded lighting and curved edges,” notes Coutas.
Faceted coffee tables from Ginger Brown create visual interest in the serene master bedroom
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Some aspects of the transformation presented more challenges than others, but Coutas ensured the mansion was suited to contemporary living. “It was quite hard to bring elements of our modern lifestyle, such as climate control, into a historical mansion,” she says. These hurdles, however, did not deter her from crafting a graceful abode that celebrates its heritage, yet is filled with modern-day creature comforts. A dream 21st-century home would have multiple spaces for self-care, and this house has everything one could wish for, and more.
Above A view of the marble -finished bath tub made for unwinding
Above A sculpture by Philippe Pasqua catches the eye in the garden
A view of the marble -finished bath tub made for unwinding
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Credits
Photography: Francis Amiand
Kissa is part of Tatler Asia's regional team, responsible for overseeing the design and travel content across Asia and on all platforms spanning print, digital, social, and video. She was formerly editor-in-chief of Tatler Singapore and Home Journal and her work has appeared in Wallpaper*, Travel + Leisure, ELLE Decoration and more. Based in Singapore, Kissa has lived and worked in Tokyo, Manila, and Hong Kong, as well as travelled to over 50 countries. She documents her latest lifestyle discoveries on Twitter and Instagram at @kissacastaneda, plus her design finds on @tatlerhomes.
