A Magical Find in West Village
Had Guillaume Coutheillas, the founder and creative director of FrenchCalifornia, not been an eagle-eyed Instagram scroller, he and his husband might be living elsewhere. Two years ago, a mere glimpse of a molding and marble mantle on a friend’s Instagram sparked enough curiosity about an unlisted West Village apartment, which he patiently waited to make theirs.
“It looked like a mix of a little French, a little Victorian, Greek Revival, and Federal elements... I just saw the potential.” - Guillaume Coutheillas
The Historical Charm of Eagle House
Known as Eagle House, Coutheillas’s building holds its original eagle medallion plaque, indicating it once served the 19th-century Eagle Hose No. 2 firehouse. The classic West Village stoop, with its metal railing for shoe mud removal, is a rare find in townhouses, adding to the charm of his “magical building where everybody knows everybody.”
Embracing History and Design Challenges
Growing up in Paris, Coutheillas is no stranger to historical living spaces. He noted, “what’s just so shocking is this apartment is older than the one I grew up in.” The small footprint posed an exciting challenge: “I could have definitely gotten something much larger with less character somewhere else, but I preferred to take this apartment.” After moving in, he undertook a transformation that included repainting, updating hardware, replacing cabinets, and installing new light fixtures, all while preserving the original floors and mantles.
A Year of Thoughtful Furnishing
Furnishing the apartment took a year due to prioritizing clients and the need for every piece to be thoughtful and beautiful. Coutheillas sourced a mix of high and low furniture from various places, including France, the UK, Michigan, and Louisiana. He designed a bespoke bed that accommodates four suitcases and winter coats beneath it, likening the design process to creating for a boat where every inch counts.
“It’s almost like designing for a boat where you don’t have much space and you need storage everywhere.” - Guillaume Coutheillas
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