Homeowners rarely confront with the characteristics of their home for a long period of time before starting a renovation project. In the case of the redesign of a villa in the countryside north of Lausanne, the owners decided to live in the newly acquired building for a year before having the interior redesigned: an opportunity not only to focus on their wishes, but also to understand the spirit of the place and think of the way to shape its new personality.

Based on the input received from the owners, architectural firm Bureau Brisson rethinks a small three-level villa through an intervention focused on the ground floor. Thanks to the insertion of two girders, the space is opened up by imposing a circular flow that revolves around the new location of the fireplace. Enlarged, the living room space is communicating with the dining area, which is in turn close to the kitchen.

But it is certainly the daring combination of finishes to mark the stamp of the project, which chooses the path of coexistence between different materials and colors while leading them to a rigorous palette. As a guarantee of sobriety, the neutral resin floor extends over the entrance and the kitchen to dialogue with the Versailles parquet laid in the living room. In the middle, the block that integrates a closet and the fireplace chooses a blue laminate and tile coating. Next to it, a soft wall is clad in plywood, creating a contemporary contrast between the elaborate pattern of the parquet and the texture of the wall. The only element of claimed exuberance is the large cloakroom, which lights up - like a small theater - with a distinct note of color with a flashy fuchsia curtain.