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A Tiny (but Glamorous) Seaside Cabin on the Riviera

All-white kitchen in a remodeled cabin on the French Riviera by Humbert & Poyet

Derelict no more: When architects Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet of Humbert & Poyet were tasked with renovating a ramshackle cabin in a prime waterfront setting on the French Riviera, they took inspiration from nautical design. Working within the existing footprint—a mere 48 square meters (approximately 516 square feet)—the two came up with a rustic-luxe reinvention of what they call the Cabanon (translation: Shed).

Formerly lacking not only windows but a viable roof, it’s now an elaborately thought-out, two-bedroom hideaway that’s so oriented to the water it feels like it could float.

Photography by Francis Amiand, courtesy of Humbert & Poyet.

Riviera seaside cabin (that feels like a houseboat) by Humbert & Poyet. Francis Amiand photo.
Above: “The space forced us to focus on what is important in life,” say the architects, who met during their first year of architecture school and are based in Monaco.

Shown here, the dining table with built-in banquette and awning windows that offer prime views of the Mediterranean.

Riviera seaside cabin (that feels like a houseboat) by Humbert & Poyet. Francis Amiand photo.
Above: Without crowding, the designers managed to fit an upright piano, built-in seating, and a hammock chair onto the three-square-meter (32-square-foot) terrace.

Exterior and interior are entirely whitewashed, which, Humbert and Poyet say, keeps the cabin feeling cool in the height of the summer. Note the ship-style under-the-seat storage, a detail incorporated throughout.

All-white kitchen in a remodeled cabin on the French Riviera by Humbert & Poyet
Above: The open-plan main floor features a glamorous kitchen with Carrara marble, brass detailing to warm up the all-white setting, and an ivory enamel Brisach woodstove.

The flooring and wall paneling is marine-grade white larch painted with a brush finish.

Above, L and R: Golden accents extend to the range’s brass backsplash/hood, an enamelware coffee pot, and a cachepot of flatware.

Whitewashed summer kitchen in a remodeled cabin on the French Riviera by Humbert & Poyet
Above: The cabinetry and most of the furnishings were custom-designed for the space.  The stool is a secondhand piece given a new look with white upholstery and paint.

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Whitewashed summer kitchen in a remodeled cabin on the French Riviera by Humbert & Poyet
Above: The marble-topped counter is edged with brass branding and has a custom brass sink with a Leroy & Brooks gooseneck faucet.

The pendant lights are Alvaro Catalán de Ocón’s PET lamps made from recycled soda bottles: See Fantastic Plastic  and At Home with a Master of Recycling. The ship-style brass and copper lighting is the Docklight and Spreaderlight from Belgian company Tekna’s Nautic line. The stairs double as another set of drawers (note the inset drawer pulls under each step).

All-white bedroom with built-in platform bed in a Riviera seaside cabin (that feels like a houseboat) by Humbert & Poyet
Above: The upstairs has two bedrooms with built-in platform beds. As on the stairwell, the low-profile copper sconces are Tekna’s Spreaderlight.
Shield-shaped brass mirror in a Riviera cabin design by Humbert & Poyet.
Above: A shield-shaped antique mirror bought in Paris makes the room feel bigger.
Luxe compact bathroom with brass fitting in a French cabin designed by Humbert & Poyet.
Above: The compact bathroom has a custom patinated brass sink and Lefroy & Brooke taps. The brass-framed train mirror was found in a Nice antiques shop and was made for the SNCF, the French national railway.

Another detail borrowed from ship design (and a Remodelista favorite): the use of flush ring pulls for an economical use of space and a clean look.

Nautical seaside cabin bedroom by Humbert & Poyet
Above: The second bedroom is decorated with a vintage model ship and has a raised bed that incorporates extra storage. The white linens are from Habitat.
Riviera seaside cabin (that feels like a houseboat) by Humbert & Poyet
Above: Every space in the cabin is oriented to the water.

Here are three stylish houseboats:

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