Maison C, designed by Oliver Chabaud, combines the ascetic look of the interior of barns from the eighteenth century to the clean, smooth surfaces of modern architecture. The startling combination of these two extremely different time periods nonetheless works well to create a unique feel.
Consider the master bedroom and bath. Looking into the bath, one can see the exposed wood beams over the sink; these also run in the master bedroom as well. These are not uniform pieces of wood, either; instead, each beam appears to have its own idiosyncracies in terms of knotholes, cracks and natural features. The wood floor stands in stark contrast, smooth and uniform as it run from the sliding door into the room. The ultramodern light switch, the smooth surfaces on the sliding door and cabinetry and the sleek plumbing fixtures extend this contrast even further. The paint on the walls is a stark white, completing the minimalist look that the beams began.
Perhaps the most intriguing piece in this suite is the bathtub. If this were really an old barn, one would expect to see a clawfooted bathtub sitting on the floor. Instead, the tub is a white curvillinear basin that sits beneath a sleek spigot which extends out from the wall at a right angle. The fact that there are no curtains or screens around the tub also hearkens back to a time when privacy was much less important than it is today, as the focus is on the practical.
Leaving the master bedroom behind means leaving behind the rustic, though. The same light wood floor continues without, as do the starkly white walls. Natural light spills through both large and small windows, and the rest of the house features brushed metal railings and fixtures. The white walls and light wood floors make a palette for the furniture, which in this case features blues and greens. All in all, this is a brilliantly designed modern home with an unexpected surprise that comes from the retreat in the master suite. 
