Renovating a Haussmann Apartment: Preserving Its Period Character

Haussmann apartments are treasures of French architectural heritage. Renovating one calls for a delicate balance between preserving its period character and building in modern comfort.

The Characteristic Features Worth Keeping

The Mouldings

Cornices, skirting boards, door surrounds... These ornaments are the soul of a Haussmann apartment. Restore them rather than replace them.

The Parquet Floor

Chevron or herringbone parquet: these fine floors deserve a careful renovation — sanding, staining where wanted and lacquering.

The Fireplaces

Even when they no longer work, marble or stone fireplaces bring character and charm. Keep them as a decorative feature.

The Ceiling Heights

Do not sacrifice them to suspended ceilings. Run the service ducts discreetly instead.

Restoring the Mouldings

Assessing the Condition

Inspect every moulding to pinpoint the damage: cracks, missing sections, areas coming away from the wall...

Repair

• Fine cracks: filler
• Missing sections: identical reproduction in plaster or polyurethane
• Badly damaged mouldings: replacement with replicas

Finishing

Light sanding, dusting down, a primer coat and matt or satin white paint for an authentic result.

Building In Modern Comfort

Electrics

Hide the wiring inside hollow skirting boards or behind the cornices. Use decorative trunking where necessary.

Heating

Cast iron radiators sit perfectly with the style. Failing that, go for discreet models.

Kitchen and Bathroom

These are the practical rooms, where you can express a more contemporary style in elegant contrast with the rest of the apartment.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Removing the mouldings in order to “modernise”
• Painting the mouldings in bright colours
• Lowering the ceilings
• Replacing the period doors with off-the-shelf ones
• Overlooking the consistency between rooms

Budget and Planning

A full Haussmann renovation represents a significant investment. Set your priorities:

1. Bringing the electrics and safety up to current standards
2. Restoring the period features
3. The wet rooms (kitchen, bathroom)
4. The decorative finishes