COUNTRY CHIC

Sophie and Pierre’s innovative barn conversion blends contemporary, industrial and rustic styles, adding up to a cool yet cosy look for Christmas

sophie and Pierre turned an old barn into a characterful abode just in time to host relatives at christmas

When Sophie Mao and Pierre Derville bought a derelict barn in the French countryside, it was a no-frills version of rustic living. ‘It consisted of just bare-brick walls and a dirt floor scattered with straw,’ remembers Sophie. But the couple were unfazed. ‘Just four bare walls was perfect. It meant less demolition work and less rubble to remove – it saved us time,’ she says with a smile. They gave themselves a strict six-month deadline for the work in order to be able to host Christmas for their families. ‘Our new home sits equidistant between both sets of in-laws and it will be a first for us because we usually go to my parents. We’ll be cooking for 23 adults, plus children. No pressure, then…’ Not surprisingly, those six allotted months were quite intense. ‘We headed out here in the evenings, at weekends and through the holidays, because we were determined to finish on time,’ says Sophie.

Today, their renovated barn home is anything but basic. The airy ground floor is largely devoted to an open-plan living space, sleekly divided by a contemporary double-sided fireplace, its matt black surface acting as a dramatic backdrop to both the seating area and the kitchen-diner. The kitchen and bathroom are also peons to the power of black, interspersed with shiny marble or touches of stainless steel, while floating wooden steps are bolted into a roughly plastered wall, like a modern-day version of a ladder to a barn hayloft.

The end result is rustic modernity, with plenty of character where it matters. It is woven through the spaces, from the stripped-back original barn doors to the rough-and-ready coffee table that Pierre, whose day job is as a management controller, made from a pallet. Sophie ingeniously fashioned some pendants out of chicken wire, total cost around three euros, she reveals with a smile. ‘I preferred to put money into longer-term structural elements, such as the staircase and the kitchen,’ she says.

The couple were determined not to narrow down their vision for the home to a single style. ‘Instead, it is a blend of our favourite looks: rustic, ethnic and modern,’ explains Sophie. Even with its contemporary rework, the barn’s interior retains the lofty, spacious feel of the original building. ‘We sketched the floorplan out ourselves on the computer and nothing much changed from our first, simple drawings,’ she says.

The couple were closely involved in the build from the beginning, when the structure was enhanced with a poured concrete floor, plasterboard walls and new electrics and plumbing. They were on the same wavelength when it came to the design and finishes. ‘We’re both into interior design,’ says Sophie. ‘Luckily, we have similar tastes and it’s pretty rare that we diverge.’ In the finished spaces, the vivid contrasts of slick black against soft timber brings out the beauty of the building. In the master bedroom, deepest black walls are softened by macramé, feathers and peacock shades of green and blue.

Furniture is a mix of old and new, including a dented old workbench that serves as a sideboard. ‘I’m not a fan of houses where all the furniture is instantly recognisable as being from a particular shop,’ says Sophie. ‘I prefer to look for vintage pieces or handcrafted items that feel unique.’

After Christmas, Sophie and Pierre have promised themselves they will take things easy for a bit. ‘We did three big life events – wedding, baby, new home – in quick succession. So we’re looking forward to slowing things down,’ says Sophie. ‘And now we have just the right place.’ Find Sophie at @sosoomao on Instagram