Kitchen of the Week: North Meets South in a Remodeled Normandy Home

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When Sophia Goigoux-Becker’s clients approached her to transform their newly acquired Normandy property La Pie (The Magpie) into a large family home, one of the main concerns was where to create their ideal kitchen and living room. Light was a definite priority, along with the desire for space and conviviality, as the couple enjoys cooking and entertaining friends. Dividing their time between Paris and Normandy, the family of four had been living in the same village for over ten years, and one of the parents had been holidaying there since childhood. Studio Becker‘s ground-floor renovation needed to respect the owners’ attachment to the region and their love of the landscape and local materials, all while brightening up some of the northern grayness with a warm palette from the south.

Originally La Pie had been a home for senior citizens, then partially converted into a holiday cottage destined to accommodate two occupancies in separate wings. By joining these together, Becker was able to convert the property for single-family use. The first step was to demolish two concrete outbuildings in order to create a generous reception area, complete with new facade, opening onto a larger garden. This enabled a rejig of the ground floor layout with the creation of a spacious kitchen, scullery, lounge, laundry room, bathroom, and office.

Let’s have a closer look at the newly completed kitchen and reception/lounge area:

Photos courtesy of Studio Becker.

formerly a small reading room separated from the main house by a partition, thi 17 — Above: Formerly a small reading room separated from the main house by a partition, this space was opened up to accommodate a larger, brighter walk-through kitchen adjacent to the reception/lounge. It enjoys a view of the front garden and a field and offers easy access to the outside dining area through a glass door.

To warm up the atmosphere, the existing sandstone floor was painted with Slaked Lime by Little Greene, and the custom-made cupboards were painted with Argile’s Sienne Calcinee, recalling the Sienne river nearby.

the new kitchen had to be created from scratch. the general idea was to keep it 18 — Above: The new kitchen had to be created from scratch. The general idea was to keep it light and airy with the look and feel of a small dining room. The round-ended cabinets were custom made to leave some breathing space between the kitchen and the window. A few handpicked works by local creatives are given pride of place on a long shelf above the worktop. In particular, photographs by Marie-Pierre Morel sit alongside contemporary ceramics by Cecile Vazeille.

Becker opted for a long line of worktops along the widest wall to leave more room to circulate, and also to hide as many appliances as possible. Coffee machines, toasters, kettles, and the like are tucked away in kitchen cabinets under a bespoke niche; the fridge is hidden under the staircase, the access to which is concealed by a secret door; and the oven has been placed in the least visible part of the room.

under the staircase, a bespoke niche with a worktop made from viscont grey gran 19 — Above: Under the staircase, a bespoke niche with a worktop made from Viscont Grey granite from Spadaccini is decorated with personal objects, while the cupboards below keep everyday kitchen appliances out of sight but within reach. The old gold cupboard handles were sourced at Quincaillerie.

thanks to the creation of a zenithal skylight, the new living space, made from 20 — Above: Thanks to the creation of a zenithal skylight, the new living space, made from two smaller rooms, is bright and welcoming. Comprising a bar area for entertaining with a scullery and a lounge area with a generous-sized masonry bench close to the window, it was designed to make the most of the view of the garden. A small niche with ceramics and light wood bar stools and wicker chairs add to the relaxed vibe.

the bar was custom designed with an oak worktop from a local sawmill and a bar 21 — Above: The bar was custom designed with an oak worktop from a local sawmill and a bar surround covered in rectangular ceramic tiles from local company Normandy Ceramics. (See Trend Alert: Tiled Kitchen Islands for more.) An arch was created to catch the light, give relief to the room, and accommodate a back bar. The arch wall lamp is by ENOstudio.

becker came up with the idea of a long line of storage units of varying depths 22 — Above: Becker came up with the idea of a long line of storage units of varying depths as a solution to the slanted wall in the bar area. This allowed her to recreate a square room and optimize the space with additional storage. An eco-friendly woven covering from Belgian brand Omexco’s Tribu collection was used on the doors.

a closeup of the bar area’s storage cupboard covered with the weave. the 23 — Above: A closeup of the bar area’s storage cupboard covered with the weave. The old gold cupboard handle was sourced at Quincaillerie.

the homeowners love lanzarote in the canary islands, and the new lounge area wa 24 — Above: The homeowners love Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, and the new lounge area was inspired in part by the work of its leading architect, César Manrique. The cement floor was painted with Terre de Lanzarote from Argile, and the masonry bench was handcrafted in plaster. In keeping with Studio Becker’s commitment to the environment, Kirkbydesign Magma rust fabric was used for the made-to-measure seat cushions. It’s made from 100 percent recycled PET polyester yarns derived from plastic bottles, with a percentage of the sale going to the Marine Conservation Society.

above the masonry bench is the owners’ personal statement mirror and col 25 — Above: Above the masonry bench is the owners’ personal statement mirror and collection of carved statues.

the walls are painted in finca limewash paint by ressource. from the outset, th 26 — Above: The walls are painted in Finca limewash paint by Ressource. From the outset, the couple wanted to benefit from the view of the garden and their proximity to nature in general. Studio Becker created a bright, convivial space to relax and entertain using a warm, earthy color scheme reminiscent of the south, simple furniture, metallic accents (the brass and ceramic wall light are from The Socialite Family), and a small collection of decorative objects found at a sales depot.

The family have been living in their remodeled Normandy home for a year now and are very happy with the result. They are proud to entertain guests and hear how relaxed they feel, as though they were in Lanzarote.

For more information about La Pie, the architect’s first solo renovation and interior design project, visit Studio Becker.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the kitchen studio located?

The kitchen studio is located in Normandy, France.

What is the name of the kitchen studio?

The kitchen studio is called Studio Becker Remodel.

What does the kitchen studio specialize in?

The kitchen studio specializes in designing and remodeling kitchens.

What can I expect to find at the kitchen studio?

At the kitchen studio, you can expect to find a wide range of kitchen designs, cabinetry, and appliances.

Do they offer custom kitchen designs?

Yes, the kitchen studio offers custom kitchen designs tailored to individual preferences and needs.

Can I visit the kitchen studio in person?

Yes, you can visit the kitchen studio in person to explore their showroom and discuss your kitchen remodeling project.

Do they provide installation services?

Yes, the kitchen studio provides installation services for their products and designs.

Are there any design consultations available?

Yes, the kitchen studio offers design consultations to help customers plan and conceptualize their ideal kitchen space.

Can they assist with kitchen remodeling projects?

Yes, Studio Becker Remodel can assist with kitchen remodeling projects from start to finish, providing design expertise, product selection, and installation services.