The French Country House

Nestled alongside a canyon in Beverly Hills, this home was built in the early 90s and in classic LA fashion as homage to another style of architecture, this home in particular was a supposed to look like a French country house.  While the exterior evoked rustic European charm, the interior told a different story: clunky brick fireplaces, knotty pine cabinetry, and an awkward layout that lacked the romance of a true château.

Our clients, a creative young couple, wanted to infuse the home with a sense of magic, something fairytalesque yet sophisticated. To achieve this, we reimagined the entire interior, stripping it down to the studs and rebuilding it with authentic architectural details that aligned with its French country spirit. Rather than chasing the contemporary open floor plan, we honored traditional proportions by creating distinct, intimate rooms: the laundry became a powder room, the former maid’s quarters transformed into a mudroom, and an awkward hallway evolved into a butler’s pantry and secondary kitchen entrance. Throughout, warm white plaster walls lend a textured, timeworn patina.

LOCATION

Beverly Hills, CA

COMPLETED

2024

AREA

7,600 SQFT

Entry with plaster walls and black console table. Above the table is a large mirror by Sawkille with a dark wooden carved floral frame. Flanking the mirror are two ceramic wall sconces with woman’s faces by artist Soshiro Matsubara.

Bespoke craftsmanship and artistry define this home. In the entry, artist Neomi Kozikowska created a custom églomisé mirror framed by a hand-carved Sawkille surround, its antique quality lending an almost haunting beauty. Figurative ceramic sconces by sculptor Soshiro Matsubara flank the mirror, while a plaster console by LA artist Jason Koharick anchors the space. A custom serpent runner by Christopher Farr slithers playfully up the stairwell, setting the tone for the home’s whimsical narrative.

Interior staircase with a mustard yellow runner with a snake motif by Christoper Farr, wooden steps, and ornate black metal railing. A antique wooden door is at the base of the stairs. The walls are a warm white plaster, floors are beige limestone.
A rustic wooden sabaudia Daybed by Mike Diaz with two throw pillows in front of a window, accompanied by large ceramic pots, on a wooden floor with sunlight casting shadows.

The Living room, her sanctuary, was envisioned as granny chic with grandeur.

An antique limestone mantel imported from France serves as the focal point, complemented by stone-clad walls and exposed wood beams. We designed a custom sofa with Casamento, embroidered with the client’s favorite flowers and created twin niches to perfectly cradle a pair of antique garden statues.

Living room with plaster walls and wood beams. A burnt orange mohair sofa with embroidered floral designs, two classical statues in wall niches, and a window seat upholstered in a Dimore studio fabric in the background.
Living room with large antique stone fireplace, walls are clad with stone and ceiling is plaster with wood beams. Books, candles, and decorative items are styled on rosso levanto marble coffee table.

Opposite the living room, the library—once an open, undefined space—was enclosed to create intimacy.

A moody maroon lacquered library in a Beverly hills home. An antique wood desk styled with a Paavo Tynell brass desk lamp books and a rattan desk chair. In the background is a large classical painting of a woman draped in white fabric.

Custom lacquered bookshelves now hold an extensive art book collection, while a floral Dimore Studio fabric graces both the window seat cushions and vintage Otto Schulz chairs. A circa-1780 antique table found at Obsolete serves as a desk—a tactile link to another time and place.

A cozy interior corner with a window seat, patterned cushions with dimore studio fabric, a Paavo Tynell brass desk lamp, an antique wooden table, a candle, and a bookshelf filled with books in a library with maroon lacquered walls and wood floors.
Interior view of a room in a French country style house with stone walls and a stone fireplace, wooden beams, bespoke orange velvet mohair sofa with floral embroidery, and a book on a wooden desk in the foreground.
A powder room with green cipollino marble sink, striped sink curtain, vintage brass mirror hung over antique mirror, and Plantasia wallpaper by House of Hackney. There are brass wall sconces by Soane on either side of the mirror.

The powder room is a jewel-box retreat, enveloped in “Plantasia” wallpaper by House of Hackney, with a custom skirted cipollino marble vanity.  A vintage Italian mirror, is layered over an antique mirror wall flanked by two hammered brass “Aten Light” sconces from Soane.

A wet bar in a Beverly hills home with a calacatta monet marble countertop, oak cabinetry, an antique mirror backsplash and a Apparatus Lariat sconce. Glass shelves are styled with barware and a small vintage landscape painting.

In the hallway, a vintage mistletoe chandelier hangs gracefully above an Italian travertine center table. A painting by artist Nana Funo graces the background, adding an artistic focal point to the space.

A foyer with warm white plaster walls and dark chevron pattern wood floors. A travertine center table sits below a vintage mistletoe chandelier with a painting by Nana Funo in the background.

The kitchen underwent a complete transformation. We lined the walls in stone and carved a grand hood from a block of antique limestone.

Rustic French country style kitchen with stone walls, wooden ceiling and double islands. A black la cornue range is topped with a giant antique stone hood, copper pots and a small antique painting hang above.

To maximize the space we designed Two islands flank a La Cornue range and a custom carved stone hood from Ancient Surfaces makes a grand statement.

Rustic kitchen with stone and tiled walls, copper pots hanging, and a stovetop with black cabinetry. Wooden cutting boards, a ceramic cup, and an orange cloth on the marble countertop.
A rustic French country style kitchen with stone walls, wooden beams, blackend brass memtel cabinets, a white marble countertop, a large vase with branches, a bowl of artichokes, and a steel pantry door with amber seeded glass.

Custom cabinetry in stained oak and blackened brass pairs with a steel door inset with amber seeded glass, leading to a spacious pantry. A custom banquette upholstered Dedar’s Tiger Mountain fabric in creates a cozy breakfast nook.

A breakfast nook with a round marble table, surrounded by upholstered banquette seating with dedar’s tiger mountain fabric. Two iron ogun dining chairs by cox London sit in front. The table is styled with a vase of purple flowers and candlesticks.
A powder room with white plaster walls, an antique stone trough sink and terracotta tile floors. A small wood tramp art wall mirror hangs above the sink flanked by two vintage brass tulip sconces. Styled with an antique stool and rosemary in a vase

Perhaps the most enchanting space in the home, the dining room shimmers with layered reflections. The white peacock was the first piece we acquired for the home, long before any furnishings or finishes. We knew immediately it belonged here.

Elegant dining room with an oval marble table, brass dining chairs and a floral chandelier by cox London above. A limestone fireplace with fresco mural above, grey blue treillage walls and a white peacock perched on the fireplace mantel.
Moody dining room with an oval marble and rattan table, brass and green mohair dining chairs. A limestone fireplace mantel with a sun moon and stars fresco mural above, grey blue treillage walls and a white peacock perched on the fireplace mantel.

Walls are wrapped in antique mirror and custom treillage by Accents of France. A new limestone mantel features a fresco by artist Ilia Fresco, we worked with Cox London to design a custom chandelier adorned with leaves and berries of forged iron and brass. Bespoke dining chairs with an ombre patinaed brass covered in a green mohair.

A dining chair with antique brass legs and frame, upholstered seat and backrest in green mohair in a room dining room with a fireplace with a vintage metal leaf fireplace screen.

This parlor serves as his private refuge, a moody, masculine sanctuary where rich textures and dramatic lighting create the perfect atmosphere for slowly savoring a fine whisky.

Wet bar in a moody man cave, dark blue grey plaster walls, dark grey cabinetry and antique mirror tile backsplash. Glass shelves are styled with glasses and barware. A velvet sofa and blue felted pool table are in the foreground.

The space is enveloped in deep blue plaster walls that contrast beautifully with the rustic, weathered wood beams spanning the ceiling. A custom burgundy velvet sofa anchors the room, in front sits a custom coffee table featuring an inlaid marble top cleverly designed as an oversized chessboard.   To the side, a striking cobalt glass side table by Soft Witness adds a bold pop of color and modern artistry. Tucked discreetly behind plastered doors with a shimmering tiled backsplash, the hidden wet bar stands ready to serve.

A moody man cave with dark blue grey plaster walls, a rust-colored velvet sofa sits and a blue glass side table on top of an antique rug. A pool table with blue felt and a mirrored wetbar are in the background.

COLLABORATORS

General Contractor, Rattigan Construction

Photographer, Michael Clifford Photography

Florals, Formed 

Completed while at House of Honey

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