All posts tagged: CASA PYLA

Our ipe deck in Casa Pyla

This post has been a long time coming but one thing that made a massive difference to Casa Pyla’s outdoor space was building a large 65 sqm deck in ipé. We bought ours from La Parqueterie Nouvelle which has a large, quality choice of wood for decks. Our decision to go for exotic wood was driven by the fact that it is a dense wood, naturally rot-proof, and durable and we wanted the deck to last. It also has a really nice colour that suited our house perfectly. I don’t have any large plans for the house before we started the renovations. However, here are a few pictures that will allow you to see how the house was. Initially, the East-facing entrance was at the front via these concrete stairs and balcony (see below). As we knocked down all the partition walls to create a large, open-plan living room filled with natural light, we wanted the deck to be an extension of our living spaces in Summertime (see house plans before & Architect plans). The front door …

Minimalist, soft grey bathroom in CASA PYLA

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

So excited to share with you the look of our master bathroom which features an elegant Kaldewei bathtub fitted with a built-in Sound Wave system (the dream!) When we purchased CASA PYLA in March 2019, the house had 5 bedrooms but only one bathroom which was located on the ground floor. The 4 bedrooms on the first floor had only a wash basin each. We asked our Architect from l’Atelier d’Architecture du Bassin d’Arcachon, to re-configure the space and add at least, three new bathrooms on the first floor which he managed to do. Once the layout of the rooms was done, my biggest challenge was to design three new bathrooms that would feel spacious despite their small size. Just to give you an idea, this one is only 1.92 x 2.13 m but has almost 3m high ceilings. To maintain the sense of space, I kept the bathroom open onto the bedroom without a door. If we want privacy, we shut the bedroom door. Our requirements for this bathroom were: to include a bathtub preferably a steel enamel …

Geberit AquaClean in Casa Pyla

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

Each time, Steve and I renovate a house, we aim to use different materials and innovative technology. In CASA PYLA, the two tech installations we did was installing an under ceiling heating and fitting one of the toilets with a Geberit AquaClean shower toilets. What are Geberit AquaClean shower toilets? Essentially, the AquaClean shower toilets take personal hygiene to the next level. It is a convenient way to pay particular attention to intimate areas in the most gentle and natural way at the touch of a button. Each AquaClean shower toilet comes fitted with a water spray nozzle. This feature makes them extremely sanitary, both for the user and for the bathroom itself. Each AquaClean shower toilet also comes with a remote control so you can decide on the best setting appropriate to your needs or the one you are the most comfortable with. There is also a lighting option should you wish to leave it on at night. This video shows you all the different options available and how you can adjust the height of the shower and the water …

Our bathroom makeover with Tikamoon

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

I’m so pleased to share with you another makeover done in CASA PYLA. This bathroom makeover and this kitchen makeover were two of the biggest jobs in phase 1 of CASA PYLA. Luckily, the previous Owners had started renovating the bathroom a bit and it didn’t look as bad as the kitchen. However, it was far from being finished. Bearing in mind that it was only a 3-month project before we take everything apart and move the bathroom somewhere else, I did everything I could to create a modern, bathroom for people staying in CASA PYLA over Summer. The bathroom before Here is how the bathroom looked when we bought the house. The previous Owners had already re-tiled the walls with these dark grey tiles below (which was lucky!), but a strip of tiles was missing all around the room. The walls and ceiling were painted in an old pale green and had a few holes. Last but not least, there was no shower screen, bathroom floor, tap or shower fitted. What did I do? First, I filled …

Kitchen makeover in CASA PYLA – phase 1

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

Following our garden makeover, I’m very excited to share with you today our kitchen makeover in CASA PYLA. For those who haven’t followed this new adventure on Instagram, earlier this year, we bought a very old house in Pyla, 2 minutes walk from the beach on the French Atlantic coast and 5 minutes walk from Le Moulleau (for those who know the area). The house initially named “Bagatelle” (renamed CASA PYLA by yours truly) was in the same family for over 50 years and as we say in French “dans son jus” meaning not much had been done in those 50 years to improve it. The worst room was the kitchen. It had a large hood (the only time I had seen something similar was in my great-grandmother house), a very old, chipped ceramic sink, old tiles on the walls, some Ikea kitchen units from the 80s and was looking pretty awful. While I was planning to freshen up the bedrooms with new paint, we really had to fit in a new kitchen and bathroom to make the …

Our contemporary garden makeover with Fermob

Published by BODIE and FOU Style Blog

What better way to kick off a series of posts on the CASA PYLA renovations with the makeover of our outdoor space with FERMOB. I have been a huge fan of Fermob outdoor furniture for years and I’m hugely grateful to be working with such a beautiful brand and to be in a small way, one of the #fermobpeople For those not familiar with this fabulous French brand, it is THE brand when it comes to high-quality, durable outdoor furniture. You may have spotted their beautiful and very photogenic green metal garden chairs in Les Jardins du Luxembourg in Paris. If you haven’t, make sure you go for a stroll there next time you’re in Paris. In the UK, the Fermob collection is available from Amara. If you have a house near the Bay of Arcachon, the whole collection can be ordered from Zig & Puces in Le Moulleau. 24 colours available Fermob has a fantastic range of bright, cheerful colours but as you know by now, bright colours aren’t exactly my thing. I like muted, …