Behind the gates of a quiet hillside in Paris's Auteuil district, an early 20th-century family home has been transformed into a stunning showcase of Art Nouveau design through a meticulous restoration that celebrates both nature and architectural heritage. The project, led by interior architect Véronique Cotrel and her agency, has breathed new life into a residence that had remained largely unchanged for over half a century.
Located in a secluded area of the 16th arrondissement, the house sits within a peaceful enclave that feels worlds away from the bustling streets of Paris. "There's poetry here, a sense of calm and serenity – you're in a completely different universe," explains Véronique Cotrel, the interior architect and founder of the eponymous agency responsible for the renovation. The previous owners had lived in the house for more than fifty years, leaving many original period elements intact but requiring careful restoration to reveal their full potential.
The challenge facing Cotrel and her team, including architect Emmanuelle Beaumont, was to honor the home's strong character while updating it for modern living. "There was a very strong soul here, but also a certain dust of time," Cotrel notes. "Our role was to awaken this house without betraying its essence." The restoration process became an archaeological journey, uncovering hidden treasures that would guide the entire design direction.
The house is organized across multiple levels, each serving distinct functions while maintaining visual and spatial continuity. The ground floor features a large living area organized around a galley kitchen that opens onto the garden. The first floor houses a master suite and office space, while the top level is dedicated to the children's rooms. Crown jewel of the property is a green rooftop terrace that offers panoramic views across Paris.
One of the most significant aspects of the renovation was the integration of nature throughout the home. "We really brought vegetation to every level of the house," describes Cotrel. Where a garage door once stood next to the entrance gate – a relic from an era when car storage was prioritized – the architects have created a lush garden entrance. "Today in Paris, cars are no longer really the trend. We've replaced yesterday's luxury symbols with today's: gardens, outdoor spaces, and carefully crafted views."
The interior circulation was completely reimagined to enhance the connection with nature. A new access route extending all the way to the roof allows residents to fully enjoy the luxuriant rooftop terrace. The architects also redesigned the rear of the house, where the garden-facing living room now opens through floor-to-ceiling windows onto a suspended terrace housing an outdoor dining area arranged in cascading levels. A lateral staircase continues this flowing movement down to the garden level, creating a gentle transition between indoor and outdoor spaces while multiplying perspectives and creating distinct atmospheric zones.
As renovation work progressed, the house revealed superb Art Nouveau attributes that had been hidden for decades. Most notably, green mosaic ornaments on the facade were uncovered, inspiring the entire color palette for the project. These discoveries became the foundation for all design decisions, creating authenticity and historical continuity throughout the restoration.
A major architectural achievement was the creation of natural light circulation throughout the previously dark interior. The architects installed a skylight at the top of the central staircase to access the rooftop terrace, bathing the entire house in natural light. "We had a beautiful staircase that was completely dark. Today, we enjoy incredible plays of light throughout the day," explains Cotrel. "The light that passes through the house naturally draws you upward."
Working within the strict requirements of France's Buildings of France preservation authority, the team had to preserve the silhouette of Parisian rooftops while remaining invisible from street level. They solved this challenge by creating a lifting hatch that provides access to the rooftop terrace. The rooftop garden, designed in collaboration with landscape architect Fabien Caumont, serves as an intimate, vegetated retreat complete with outdoor seating from Bolia and everything needed for extended enjoyment without having to return indoors.
The restoration was guided by careful archaeological work that revealed the home's hidden treasures. "Everything started with a bit of archaeology," recalls Cotrel. While scraping the facade, the interior architects discovered small bluish ceramics that inspired the entire interior palette of luminous greens and blues. The entrance door regained its poetic character through three antique stained glass windows that had been "hidden behind a wall molding" and were subsequently enclosed in double glazing to allow light passage while preserving the delicate glass.
These stained glass panels, with their bluish reflections and floral motifs, dictated both the door's color scheme and the design of its moldings, which were redrawn to echo the Art Nouveau spirit. The original staircase's scrolled ironwork served as a model for new railings on the upper floor and terrace. Even the hardware – handles and locks – was carefully cleaned and reinstalled to restore the quality of period finishes. "It's by searching for traces of the old that we found our inspiration," concludes Cotrel.
The kitchen serves as the true heart of the home, designed to be welcoming, bright, and open. Expanded to create a comprehensive living space, it centers around an island illuminated by an I Model Cordless suspension light from Anour. A pass-through connects the kitchen to the living room, while the original bow window now houses a custom banquette creating a warm alcove where color and light complement each other. A small table invites family meals or homework sessions, surrounded by Series 430 chairs from Verpan and illuminated by Bolle Linear Chandelier 14 Bubbles from Giopato & Coombes.
The original living area was reimagined as two distinct spaces – dining room and living room. In the dining room, artworks including "Nocturne 5" by Bruno Dufourmantelle and "Blue Diptych" by Ludovic Philippon, presented by Amélie Maison d'Art, inspired the color palette. The space features a Gullwing table by Gabriele and Oscar Buratti for Lema, Endiris chairs from Maison Saman, 14.1 suspension lights from Bocci, and sculpture by Chantal Lacout.
The living room incorporates Art Nouveau touches through rounded forms, an antique mirror above the fireplace, and chairs with soft lines. This luminous space includes Coffee Tables from KBH Københavns Møbelsnedkeri, Alba armchairs from Porada, a Lilas Mosaïque Canapé meridienne from Gallotti & Radice, and Tanto wall sconces from Bert Frank. The living room opens directly onto the terrace and garden, creating natural continuity between interior and exterior spaces.
On the first floor, an independent office maintains the house's contemporary codes while being warmed by wood accents. Adjacent is a spacious, luminous bathroom in matching tones. The master bedroom displays strong personality with its blue-green hue, enhanced by wallpaper from Le Chemin des Demoiselles des Dominotiers and Jefferson suspension lights from Lodes. The ensuite bathroom continues the same tonal palette for gentle continuity.
The second floor is entirely dedicated to the children, with playful wallpaper that invites travel and brings a lively, fun touch to the bathroom that can be easily updated as the children grow. From the rooftop terrace, sweeping views over the garden and across Paris complete this remarkable transformation of a historic Parisian home that successfully bridges past and present while celebrating the enduring appeal of Art Nouveau design.
