To The Manor Born

A historical French mansion is reborn as a sophisticated home that melds classical elegance with a masculine edge

- Kissa Castañeda

Building a home from scratch is a worthy challenge. But giving an old abode a second life is, in many ways, an even greater undertaking. While most designers prefer the freedom that comes with a blank canvas, French interior architect Stéphanie Coutas relishes spaces that come with a backstory. And that’s exactly what she got with Villa 1912, a glorious traditional mansion located just outside Paris.

Coutas, the founder of eponymous firm Stéphanie Coutas Design Agency, learned about the project from a satisfied former client who introduced her to the owner. The brief she received was straightforward and offered enough room for her to make an imprint. “The owner was very specific about what he didn’t want, but didn’t know what he really wanted. He didn’t want to have a lot of traditional wood and bright colours in the space. Instead, he favoured a clean and monochromatic interior,” she shares.

Be it a pied-à-terre or a penthouse, Coutas is known for creating tasteful spaces that speak to a global audience—not surprising given her international upbringing and experience, which clearly influence her designs. Her firm also has an impressive track record in handling projects that require bridging the past with the present, hence they are well equipped to handle the intricacies that come with working on historical homes.