Historic Villa Apartment Renovation & Interior Restoration in Dinan

Three-Storey Apartment Renovation in a Protected Historic Villa

Maison Bretagne was appointed to renovate a three-storey apartment within a historic villa in the heart of the medieval city of Dinan, Brittany.

The property had been unoccupied for two years and had not been renovated since the 1950s. The clients required a complete renovation, including new electrics, a replacement heating system, insulation, wall finishes, bathrooms, a fitted kitchen and basement improvements to reduce humidity and accommodate the new gas boiler system.

This was a substantial renovation of a protected character property, requiring careful coordination, respect for original features and close attention to the requirements of the Bâtiments de France.

The Brief

The clients wanted to bring the apartment back to life as a comfortable, elegant and practical home, while preserving the character and historic details of the villa.

The scope included:

• full three-storey apartment renovation;
• complete electrical rewire;
• new plumbing installation;
• replacement heating system;
• installation of a new gas boiler;
• basement renovation and humidity reduction;
• insulation to walls and ceilings;
• sound insulation and fire-rated ceiling works;
• bathroom renovations;
• new fitted kitchen;
• new VMC ventilation system;
• replacement windows and doors;
• restoration of original elm wood flooring;
• protection and preservation of original fireplaces, wall panelling and decorative features;
• liaison with Bâtiments de France for protected building approvals.

The Renovation

The works began in December 2021 with the complete stripping back of the property to its bare bones. This allowed the team to fully assess the condition of the apartment and begin the process of upgrading the building for modern living.

Throughout the demolition and preparation phase, all original features were preserved in situ, including the fireplaces, character wall panelling and decorative architectural details.

Once the old carpets were removed, the team discovered stunning elm wood flooring dating back to the original construction of the villa in the early 19th century. These floors were carefully protected during the major renovation works and later painstakingly sanded and treated to restore their original warmth, depth and character.

Insulation, Services & Technical Works

Following the initial strip-out, the walls and ceilings were insulated to improve the comfort and performance of the apartment.

As the first-floor ceilings sat below a third-floor apartment owned by another occupant, Maison Bretagne installed sound insulation and fire-retardant PlacoFlamme boarding in accordance with the required regulations.

New electrics and plumbing were installed across all three floors. A VMC ventilation system was also fitted to serve the bathrooms and kitchen areas between the first and second floors, helping to improve air circulation and manage humidity within the property.

The basement was renovated to reduce humidity and provide a suitable space for the new gas boiler system, supporting the wider heating upgrade throughout the apartment.

Windows, Doors & Bâtiments de France Approval

The original windows and doors were single glazed and in poor condition. After reviewing the most effective long-term solution, the clients decided to replace them.

Because the villa formed part of the protected historic fabric of Dinan, Maison Bretagne prepared and submitted the necessary déclaration préalable application to the Bâtiments de France for approval of the external changes.

Great care was taken to ensure the replacement windows and doors respected the original format and style of the villa, maintaining the character of the exterior as well as the restored interior.

Before works could begin, Maison Bretagne also submitted a detailed 30-page dossier to the Bâtiments de France regarding the interior features of the property. As the villa was considered to have historic importance within the medieval city, it was essential to demonstrate that original features would be preserved wherever possible.

Interior Restoration & Finish

The interior design and finishing works focused on balancing historic character with modern comfort.

The restored elm floors became one of the defining features of the apartment, bringing warmth and authenticity to the finished interiors. The fireplaces, wall panelling, cornicing and decorative details were retained and enhanced, while the new kitchen, bathrooms, lighting, services and finishes brought the property up to the standard required for contemporary living.

The result is a refined and respectful renovation that protects the atmosphere of the historic villa while giving the apartment a new lease of life.

Collaborations

This project required collaboration with trusted specialist trades and suppliers, including:

Plaster works, cornicing and ceiling roses: Eric Staff, Dinan
Windows and doors: Menuiserie Service, Saint-Père
Bespoke carpentry and joinery: Menuiserie Cole, Normandy
Kitchen: Schmidt, Dinan

Materials & Sourcing

Paint: Little Greene paints, supplied through Malouin Peinture, Saint-Malo
Tiles: Torchio, Saint-Jouan-des-Guérets

The Result

The completed project transformed a long-unoccupied 1950s interior into a beautifully restored three-storey apartment within one of Dinan’s historic villas.

By combining technical renovation, heritage sensitivity, careful project coordination and interior restoration, Maison Bretagne helped preserve the character of the building while creating a comfortable and elegant home for modern use.

This project is a strong example of Maison Bretagne’s experience in historic property renovation, apartment refurbishment, interior restoration and protected building renovation in Brittany.

Project Details

Location: Dinan, Brittany
Property Type: Three-storey apartment in a historic villa
Project Type: Full renovation, interior restoration and heritage refurbishment
Scope: Electrics, plumbing, heating, insulation, bathrooms, kitchen, basement works, windows and doors, flooring restoration, decorative feature preservation
Planning / Heritage: Bâtiments de France approval and protected building documentation
Started: December 2021