When Parisians Celia and Rodolphe bought a 1910 townhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the plan was to do a light remodel: new flooring in the basement and parlor, a kitchen on the main floor, and a refurbished upstairs bath. It’d be four to five months, tops. They got the permit and started work right away. Then their contractor called them with the news: The supporting beams had been eaten by termites and about 80 percent of the foundation needed replacing. “The small renovation we had planned turned into a gut renovation, and we had to rethink the scope of our project,” Celia says. They hired a structural engineer to shore up the foundation and an architect to draw up the plans. The “light remodel” turned into a 16-month-long project, during which time Celia and Rodolphe lived out of Airbnbs or on the unfinished third floor.
Celia, who is originally from Toulouse, was first drawn to the townhouse for its historic quality. “We’re used to old buildings, and we found the house to have the charm of a French country house,” she says. An ultramodern renovation was never the plan, so instead, they designed an interior to “create an alliance between modern and industrial Brooklyn and the style of old French houses,” as she says. In the end, we think, the termites were a blessing in disguise.
Photography by Brian Ferry for Remodelista; styling by Alexa Hotz.
![when black mold was discovered in the street facing facade, setting in motion a 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-2-733x489.jpg)
![on the mc & co. daybed is a collection of corinne gilbert’s patchwor 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-8-1.jpg)
![the floors are european oak from lv wood in a chevron pattern typical of p 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-10-733x1026.jpg)
![“rodolphe is a huge music lover—he has an extensive vinyl collect 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-12-733x1026.jpg)
![the couple designed the kitchen themselves, spec\2\17;ing custom white c 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-4-733x489.jpg)
![rodolphe and celia in the kitchen. the pendant lights are aura lights by l 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-3-733x1026.jpg)
![the unlacquered brass faucet is the easton vintage bridge faucet from waterwork 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-5-733x489.jpg)
![a view of the open kitchen/dining area with a constance guisset vertigo pendant 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-16-733x489.jpg)
![the walls throughout are painted benjamin moore decorator\2\17;s white a 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-18-733x1026.jpg)
![the downstairs powder room is papered in cole & son palm jungle wallpaper.& 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-13-733x1100.jpg)
![switches and outlets throughout the house are forbes & lomax, with the exce 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-14-733x1026.jpg)
![the former staircase connected all three floors, but celia and rodolphe opted t 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-28-733x1026.jpg)
![the floors upstairs are original to the house—one of the few elements th 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-20-733x489.jpg)
![a nils strinning string shelf holds a collection of french paperbacks; the radi 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-21-733x1026.jpg)
![on the bed is the hay plus 9 throw. on the wall is artwork from corinne gilbert 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-22-733x489.jpg)
![the two chairs in the bedroom are vintage rattan chairs that the couple brought 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-24-733x1026.jpg)
![the cement tile (harlequin i from the cement tile shop) in the upstairs bath is 33](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-19-733x1026.jpg)
![the bathroom has a kraus ceramic sink, a california faucets chrome tiburon lava 34](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-26-733x1026.jpg)
![a small guest bedroom is outfitted with the pari rattan daybed from anthro 35](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-25-733x1026.jpg)
![an upstairs guest room/office has an old muji table that functions as a desk an 36](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-27-733x489.jpg)
![the façade is clad in modern black aluminum siding, configured vertically. 37](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-30-733x1026.jpg)
Before
![an archival photograph of the townhouse in its original state. 38](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-renovation-brian-ferry-15-733x1026.jpg)
During
![the basement level, mid renovation, before a three foot deep concrete wall was 39](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/celia-williamsburg-mid-renovation.jpg)
For more French-inflected style, see our posts:
- Expert Advice: How to Decorate Like a Frenchwoman
- A Colonial House in Bellport with Uncommon Style from French Designer C. S. Valentin
- Steal This Look: Modern Bohemian Living Room in Brooklyn
Frequently asked questions
What is the location of the renovated townhouse?
The renovated townhouse is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
What style was the townhouse renovated in?
The townhouse was renovated in a French style.
What was the condition of the townhouse before the renovation?
The townhouse was in a dilapidated condition before the renovation.
What changes were made to the interior of the townhouse?
The interior of the townhouse was completely gutted and redesigned.
What kind of flooring was used in the townhouse?
Wide plank white oak flooring was installed throughout the townhouse.
What changes were made to the facade of the townhouse?
The facade of the townhouse was restored to its original brickwork.
What kind of lighting was used in the townhouse?
A combination of vintage and contemporary lighting fixtures were used in the townhouse.
What elements of the original townhouse were preserved?
The original staircase and mantle pieces were preserved and restored.
What was the inspiration for the design of the townhouse?
The design was inspired by 19th century Parisian architecture.
What kind of kitchen appliances were installed in the townhouse?
The kitchen appliances include a Viking range and refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, and a wine fridge.
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