From the outside, it’s an old winegrower's house, such as you’ll find in the Moselle. But on the inside, it’s a completely different story. The Luxembourg architect living in New York, Pol Theis, has completely redesigned the building, opening up its interior volumes and introducing a strong, contemporary character: most of the floor slabs have been removed to create high ceilings, particularly in the living room, which opens right up to the roof. New volumes have been inserted, including the kitchen and stairwell. Concrete, metal and wood are the common threads running through the industrial chic interior.

The architecture is complemented by the interior design by Sophie and Philippe Gruber. “I like very warm homes, with lots of fabrics and old paintings,” says Sophie Gruber. “For my part, I prefer contemporary, raw concrete and abstract works of art. And the two go well together,” adds Philippe Gruber. For the contemporary part, Philippe Gruber was seduced by works from Galerie Sept led by Florian Araïb who opened a space in Brussels and Knokke. He has purchased a work by the artist Lee Hyun-jong who works with paper in a very personal way. 

Comfortable sofas and armchairs can be found throughout the space. Family life is also very much in evidence, with photos of children growing up adorning a pedestal table. On the upper floors, comfort is the order of the day, with the bedrooms complemented by a bathroom and dressing room for each.

An old barn has also been converted into an adjoining reception room, combining exposed stonework and old industrial elements. In the garden, a pond serves as a swimming pool and the hens roam freely. This house has become a haven of peace for their family, combining tradition and innovation.

The main living room is a huge open space that reaches right up to the roof. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

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The kitchen has been added in a cube placed in the large volume of the living room. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

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The family spirit reigns supreme in this living room. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

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This work by Lee Hyun-Jong, purchased from Galerie Sept in Brussels, is one of Philippe Gruber’s latest favourites. Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne

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This work by Lee Hyun-Jong, purchased at the Galerie Sept in Brussels, is one of Philippe Gruber’s last favorites. (Photo: Guy Wolff/Maison Moderne)

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This article was written in for the  magazine, published on 20 November. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the website as a contribution to the complete Paperjam archive. .

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