Teacher Julia Fiat lives in a small historical city named Dole, in the Franche-Comté region of France, with her husband Gaspard and their daughter Jeanne and son Arthur. Their home is a typical two-floored French city house built at the end of the 19th-century. Fully renovated since they moved in back in 2008, the property retains a characterful blend of old and new.
A character-filled transformation
“We fell in love with the house and knew straight away that it was the place where we wanted to grow our family,” says Julia. “The renovation was carried out while retaining the characteristic ‘old’ elements: the porch and the glass marquee entrance, the wooden floor and the marble fireplace.”
There were minor cosmetic touch-ups like painting the walls, and the couple replaced the tiling in the living room with Moroccan bejmat tiles and laid antique floor tiles in the bathroom. But the past two years have seen more significant changes and fortunately, few hurdles as they worked with the expertise of skilled craftspeople. The couple’s next interior project involves collaborating with a blacksmith and a carpenter to craft a railing for their staircase using reclaimed materials from historic buildings.
A French sense of style
“Attention to detail was paramount in how we approached renovating, such as choosing porcelain door handles and antique brass switches and outlets,” says Julia. “We’ve diligently maintained the woodwork elements, like the pine flooring and oak staircase, sanding them down to retain a matte, natural appearance. The house, as it stands today, reflects our vision perfectly.”
Julia’s goal design-wise was to create a cosy family home atmosphere with an authentic French aesthetic, combining natural materials like wood, linen and terracotta. Green is a prominent colour in decor, whether on the walls or through objects, fabrics, and the numerous bouquets presented throughout the seasons.
A meaningful interior
“As a child, I loved spending hours in my grandparents’ attic, imagining the stories behind the objects,” says Julia. “I cherished the scent of wood, the feel of antique materials, and the traces of time left on them. I wanted to recreate that atmosphere in my own home, which also aligns with a desire to repurpose existing items to create a space where one feels truly comfortable.”
Nearly all of Julia’s furniture, including the farmhouse table, dining chairs, work furniture and mirrors, were thrifted from flea markets, Emmaus, online or Le Bon Coin, a French classified ads website. “The style of the house has evolved gradually as I collect thrifted furniture and objects,” she says. “It’s not set in stone, as my passion for flea markets knows no bounds.”
“My most prized find has been the set of six vintage Marcel Breuer Cesca B32 chairs. I adore their distinctive design, which perfectly complements my ‘brocante’ interior. Recently, I acquired an 18th-century pediment mirror that I had been hoping to find for a long time. Patience is key when seeking out such pieces.”
Follow Julia at @_ju_et_cie
