Multidisciplinary French and Portuguese firm Martins | Afonso Atelier de Design renovated this home in a charming French town known for its unique location surrounded by forests, salt marshes, and the ocean. The residence, at around 3500 square feet, is surrounded by a garden and located next to the sea, so opening the home up to the outdoors and creating strong visual and physical connections was paramount.

The home's layout is organized around two living areas and an open kitchen/dining room. This central space connects to other parts of the home with solid oak pocket doors.

The design team renovated about 1000 square feet of the home, and sought to maintain a sense of warmth through material selections. Red terra-cotta tile floors can be found throughout most of the home, with the exception of certain areas (like the living room) that feature original wood flooring.

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Most other spaces incorporated wood as "a common denominator within each room of the house," says the firm. In the kitchen, wood cabinetry echoes the open shelving in the adjacent dining area. The same wood is also used to frame window openings in the kitchen and other areas.

Complementing the wood cabinetry is a black countertop with an integrated drainboard and a black backsplash. Black downlights with brassy interiors tie in to the brown tones of the wood. The use of wood throughout the project creates a consistent, warm design language.

Based in both Bordeaux, France and Covilhã, Portugal, Martins | Afonso Atelier de Design was established in 2016 by Mickaël Martins Afonso. The office specializes in interior design projects, art, furniture design, and photography.

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