diamond in the rough

who lives here?

Louise Jourdan-Gassin, an art historian and the founder of textile company Série Limitée Louise, her partner Florent Sarrot, and Ralph the Cocker Spaniel. @jourdangassinlouise

WHEN LOUISE JOURDAN-GASSIN first set foot in her home, it had seen better days. The warehouse studio had fallen into disrepair, and all of its 48 square metres were filled with The front façade was stripped and rebuilt and the interior layout was gutted. A new bathroom was installed and Louise reconfigured the shared kitchen, living and bedroom space to make the most of the natural light. “Horrible” plaster walls were removed, revealing the raw brick and stone beneath – its rustic warmth was too glorious to cover up. The parquet floors were another fortuitous find. The hardwood timber was being thrown out on a building site, so Louise had it laid throughout. “All of the materials are recycled – these details give the place charm,” she says. “I wanted it to feel as if everything had always been here.” It’s obvious that Louise, who founded a textile company, has a gift for sourcing rare, pre-owned pieces from markets and auction houses. “I’m into 1950s design and vintage,” she says. “Buying old furniture and photos is one of my favourite things to do.” But she adds, “everything has to work on a practical level.” Storage was integrated in the form of timber open shelves, a kitchen was fashioned from separate Ikea units and the moody tonal scheme was inspired by the original concrete. Industrial-style furnishings and finishes, such as wood, steel and brick, are contrasted with ornate mirrors, art and feminine fabrics. The result feels so ingrained, Louise says she’s been asked to decorate other people’s homes, too. “My work and personal life are really linked!”