CHÂTEAU EN VEXIN
Giving new life to old stones
Château en Vexin
Reinterpreting the profession of builder, reviving old stones, retaining a unique spirit without damaging the soul of a historic residence: this was the great challenge entrusted to interior designer Olivier Lempereur, who had to totally reinvent the site.
Hélène Guillon Lempereur took on the task of the interior decoration. She carefully chose materials that would give new life to the different spaces.
For the Parisian owner, it was love at first site for this country manor nestled a few kilometres from the capital city, in the Vexinois countryside. He could immediately imagine spending many special moments relaxing there with his family.
But time had done its work, without sparing the old walls. When he first discovered it, the house was in such a state of disrepair that he immediately vowed to renovate it in such a way as to preserve the patina: the mark of time and enduring history.
The renovation pitch in three words: authenticity, family, practicality.
Respect for the historical constraints, precision in the choice of materials, mastery of the imperfections, judicious revisions of what exists, discrete use of modern technologies: this was the recipe for the new identity that Hélène Guillon breathed into this home.
The ‘lord of the castle’ is the magnificent concrete stairway, lined by an aery ironwork railing, which is the fruit of the close bond between the interior designer and interior decorator.
The project required restoring 70 espagnolettes, preserving the magnificent royal blue ceramics by repurposing them into a splashback in the ultra-modern Boffi kitchen, reworking the mouldings, restoring the old panelling, sourcing craftsmen capable of identically reproducing the doors, laying the stones in Opus Romano using traditional techniques, and exposing the floors and walls.
To put it briefly, knowing how to ensure coherence between tradition and the contemporary era, using modern techniques at the service of history. For example, in the magnificent bathrooms, for which Hélène sourced Italian Calacatta marble, patinaed and aged which reflects the antique look, while equipping the rooms with comfortable items and modern technologies.
Materials, decorating and design - Hélène Guillon Lempereur
Interior decorator - Olivier Lempereur
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Light becomes an honoured guest
