Based on fieldwork conducted in a small suburban garden city, built at the beginning of the 20^th century in the Paris area, this study focuses on differentiation processes in suburban areas and most notably on one of its determinants, i.e. the way residents make existing buildings their own. The paper shows how quaint qualities of an old built-up area become attractive to middle-class households who wish to distinguish themselves from the suburban way of life. The ensuing residential choices thus trigger a renewal process in the area, a process whose stake is the preservation of the neighbourhood’s quaint character.