Case Study
The renovation of Grand Hôtel Français in Bordeaux gets a romantic, modern style using noble materials
Crème studio
Locatie
Bordeaux (France)
Steenverwerker
Didier Carbonel, Ceramic transformation
Kleur
Patagonia | Negro Tebas
Einddatum
2023
Architect
Crème studio
Materiaal
Scalea | Silestone
Aplication
Reception, bathrooms, beauty treatment rooms, flooring
Crème Studio's renovation of the Grand Hôtel Français in Bordeaux was a collaborative effort involving several local trades under the guidance of the firm's two expert architects. The result is a building with old-world charm that has been given a new lease of life in a romantic, modern style, using noble materials such as our natural Patagonian stone.
Crème Studio was founded in Bordeaux in 2020 after 10 years of friendship. Co-founders Marguerite Queinnec and Céline Herve have similar and complementary approaches: a timeless aesthetic, rich in detail and materials. Their creations combine the industrial and the handmade, striking a balance between economy of means and made-to-measure precision. They work on projects for both private individuals and professionals, adopting an inclusive approach and co-designing with their customers in order to question uses in depth.
That's why they were asked to work on the renovation of the Grand Hôtel Français in Bordeaux, a local project that brought together many of the region's craftsmen and women. Crème Studio worked exclusively with the prestigious furnishing fabrics brand Elitis for all their wallpaper, wall coverings and fabric needs, including curtains, armchairs and footstools. The only element made from a factory fabric is the sofa.
The entire bar and fittings, including the monumental arch, reception desk and other features, were created by their favourite carpenter, Elias Perez. They say that working with craftsmen like Elias Perez gives the interior design profession its full meaning. The bar's worktop is made from our natural Patagonian quartzite stone by Didier Carbonel, a local family business. The rounded-edge finish in three levels accentuates the craftsmanship that gives the place its soul and makes it a unique piece. Offcuts from the Patagonian quartzite slab were used to create the bar handles, radiator shelves and reception desk cladding, creating total harmony and optimising the use of materials.
Our Negro Tebas Silestone is also used for the worktop in the back bar. This is a discreet and practical choice, not least because it's easy to clean.
The coffee tables and large tilted mirrors were designed by Crème Studio and manufactured by joiner Thomas Trabuc. The upholsterer, Florence Elizalde de Feliz Tapisserie, also played a key role in the 'fabric sky' project. In addition to her dressmaking skills, she made a significant contribution to enriching the project with her expertise. Textiles play a key role in the lounge's enveloping atmosphere.
The lighting project was directed by Alexandre Bernard of Objectif Lumière, who accompanied Crème throughout the lighting of the hotel's various spaces. With an approach that is both technical and sensory, decorative lighting plays an important role, such as the original chandeliers, which have been dressed up in fabrics, and the Pistillino wall lights by Studio Tetrarch, which create a real tableau in the background of the room. For the Grège paint used throughout the Casa bar, the architects chose the Falaise colour from Ressource for a raw mineral effect".