Houzz Tour: A New Layout Makes Sense of a Penthouse Flat
A flowing layout, fresh colours and textured details have transformed this two-floor flat into a comfortable family home
The couple with a young daughter who own this home originally bought a flat opposite Ile Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, just outside Paris, in a new building that was still under construction. When they realised a few years later that their neighbours were moving out of a top-floor duplex, they jumped at the opportunity for more floor space and bought this 115 sq m penthouse with a view of the Seine. The flat is moreover blessed with a large terrace that looks out over the jewels of modern Parisian culture, including the Pinault Collection and La Seine Musicale, the concert hall that replaced the Renault factories.
However, the style of the new apartment didn’t suit them, so they decided to redecorate. They turned to Houzz, where they discovered the work of interior architect Marie le Magueresse of Murs et Merveilles. After two-and-a-half months of intense work, the flat is unrecognisable.
However, the style of the new apartment didn’t suit them, so they decided to redecorate. They turned to Houzz, where they discovered the work of interior architect Marie le Magueresse of Murs et Merveilles. After two-and-a-half months of intense work, the flat is unrecognisable.
Downstairs layout before renovation.
The owners called Marie Le Magueresse to update the duplex’s décor. However, some concerns about the layout also came out during the in-depth interview that Marie always conducts when she embarks on a new project.
“The entrance wasn’t laid out well; two out of three rooms upstairs were too small, and the three bathrooms were more than they needed,” she says.
The owners called Marie Le Magueresse to update the duplex’s décor. However, some concerns about the layout also came out during the in-depth interview that Marie always conducts when she embarks on a new project.
“The entrance wasn’t laid out well; two out of three rooms upstairs were too small, and the three bathrooms were more than they needed,” she says.
Downstairs layout after renovation.
As an interior designer, Marie recommends systematically rethinking spaces and traffic flow to bring out the essence of the property, before coming up with the best décor. She suggested a radical change to the layout of the downstairs entrance, and got rid of one of the upstairs bathrooms to expand two of the bedrooms.
“Having rethought the layout, we worked on giving the duplex real character with high-end materials and finishes and custom built-in furniture that optimises the space,” she says.
Once the drafting phase was completed between February and May 2020, construction began in July. The owners had to move back in September for the start of the school year, so the work was intense.
As an interior designer, Marie recommends systematically rethinking spaces and traffic flow to bring out the essence of the property, before coming up with the best décor. She suggested a radical change to the layout of the downstairs entrance, and got rid of one of the upstairs bathrooms to expand two of the bedrooms.
“Having rethought the layout, we worked on giving the duplex real character with high-end materials and finishes and custom built-in furniture that optimises the space,” she says.
Once the drafting phase was completed between February and May 2020, construction began in July. The owners had to move back in September for the start of the school year, so the work was intense.
Now, a sliding glass door with a graphic design leads to the living space. Marie opened it up on the kitchen side in order to embrace the magnificent view of the Seine through the window.
The island next to the kitchen was deliberately created with no sink or hob, in order to “resemble an elegant sideboard” from the entrance. It’s used for food prep and family breakfasts. “The owners had an island in their previous kitchen, and got used to living with it, including for working. This feature was indispensable for them,” Marie says.
Like all of the bespoke furniture in this flat, the kitchen was created by craftspeople in Portugal in painted MDF and oak veneer. The worktop is in lightly marbled Silestone quartz (Calacatta gold version).
The island next to the kitchen was deliberately created with no sink or hob, in order to “resemble an elegant sideboard” from the entrance. It’s used for food prep and family breakfasts. “The owners had an island in their previous kitchen, and got used to living with it, including for working. This feature was indispensable for them,” Marie says.
Like all of the bespoke furniture in this flat, the kitchen was created by craftspeople in Portugal in painted MDF and oak veneer. The worktop is in lightly marbled Silestone quartz (Calacatta gold version).
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Marie encouraged them to share all of their décor inspiration, so they shared a Houzz ideabook containing 362 photos. This certainly gave the pro a precise idea of their style and expectations.
“We went for elegant coherence, with shades of white and grey. The touches of light oak warm up the whole composition,” she says.
Another request from the owners – not as common but well justified here – was to exchange the wood flooring for tiles. “These clients have a large golden retriever who’d completely ruined the same floor a few storeys down, and they didn’t want to encounter the same problem,” she says. They went for a textured, wood-look ceramic floor from Porcelanosa, which looks impressively natural.
“We went for elegant coherence, with shades of white and grey. The touches of light oak warm up the whole composition,” she says.
Another request from the owners – not as common but well justified here – was to exchange the wood flooring for tiles. “These clients have a large golden retriever who’d completely ruined the same floor a few storeys down, and they didn’t want to encounter the same problem,” she says. They went for a textured, wood-look ceramic floor from Porcelanosa, which looks impressively natural.
Two glass features now cordon off the entrance, one alongside the kitchen (pictured), the other by the living room. Designed by the interior designer herself, these geometric pieces were made to measure.
“It’s a metal and glass creation from iron manufacturer Pascal Godreau. He’s an aesthete of glass who’s passionate and exacting, and a wonderful person, too,” Marie says.
“It’s a metal and glass creation from iron manufacturer Pascal Godreau. He’s an aesthete of glass who’s passionate and exacting, and a wonderful person, too,” Marie says.
In the completely revamped entrance hall, a fixed window has replaced the door that had opened into the living room. A built-in bench seat upholstered in linen offers a place to sit to put on shoes.
Opposite the bench, the cloakroom is laid out in a different direction. Just as the unexploited nooks of the entrance were levelled, this reconfiguration made it possible to make room for a large hallway cupboard, installed along the side of the room.
The owners wanted beautiful décor, and Marie, who loves original wallpaper and gorgeous textures, had fun with the research. This black-and-white Jungle Tropical botanical paper from Ohmywall caught her eye.
The owners wanted beautiful décor, and Marie, who loves original wallpaper and gorgeous textures, had fun with the research. This black-and-white Jungle Tropical botanical paper from Ohmywall caught her eye.
Closing off the original hall door made it possible to put the dining table under the cathedral ceiling, which culminates in a height of 5.5m here. This prime spot was previously lost to circulation. To emphasise this vertical volume, Marie recommended a trio of bubble-shaped lights by Tom Dixon.
At the back, the existing staircase, redecorated in a wallpaper from Isidore Leroy, also enhances the space under the ceiling. The openwork pattern of the balustrade was extended below.
“We accentuated the interplay of lines under the staircase in order to liven up the storage units and extended them to the right to create the bookcase,” Marie says. “The design of the glass was also inspired by this, like the rest of the built-in furniture. The rhythm of the balustrade is the connecting thread of the décor.”
At the back, the existing staircase, redecorated in a wallpaper from Isidore Leroy, also enhances the space under the ceiling. The openwork pattern of the balustrade was extended below.
“We accentuated the interplay of lines under the staircase in order to liven up the storage units and extended them to the right to create the bookcase,” Marie says. “The design of the glass was also inspired by this, like the rest of the built-in furniture. The rhythm of the balustrade is the connecting thread of the décor.”
The owners imagined a practical and warm living room, which was realised through bespoke cupboards and several pieces of furniture they chose with Marie’s advice.
The family’s ultimate dream – an ethanol fireplace – is in the living room. The TV above it doubles as a work of art. “We opted for the Frame from Samsung, a TV that transforms into a painting when it’s turned off,” Marie says. This placement, where the TV is on top of the fireplace, is fairly rare in France, but makes it possible to maximise the space.
On the left, a floor-to-ceiling storage unit holds the family’s papers and documents. “We paid close attention to the interiors of the cupboards in order to arrange the owners things in the best way possible,” Marie says. “Here, we incorporated a space for storing the two large extension leaves for the dinner table,” she says.
Likewise, the height of the shelves in the open niches was calculated based on the height of the owners’ pair of speakers. The complete piece of joinery was made to measure in painted MDF and oak veneer, which references the pattern of the balustrades.
The family’s ultimate dream – an ethanol fireplace – is in the living room. The TV above it doubles as a work of art. “We opted for the Frame from Samsung, a TV that transforms into a painting when it’s turned off,” Marie says. This placement, where the TV is on top of the fireplace, is fairly rare in France, but makes it possible to maximise the space.
On the left, a floor-to-ceiling storage unit holds the family’s papers and documents. “We paid close attention to the interiors of the cupboards in order to arrange the owners things in the best way possible,” Marie says. “Here, we incorporated a space for storing the two large extension leaves for the dinner table,” she says.
Likewise, the height of the shelves in the open niches was calculated based on the height of the owners’ pair of speakers. The complete piece of joinery was made to measure in painted MDF and oak veneer, which references the pattern of the balustrades.
So the space wouldn’t all be arranged in one direction, this seat was built in a perpendicular recess, opposite the living room’s glazed patio doors. It was planned as a reading nook, with bookshelves nearby. To set this alcove apart from the other spaces, it was painted in a mouse grey. This darker shade reinforces its cocooning feel.
Upstairs layout before the renovation.
Upstairs, the largest bedroom had opened onto a terrace with a view of the Seine. The other two were narrower. “In the large bedroom with the best view, The owners hoped to make a second living room for entertaining guests and creating a home cinema,” Marie says. It was therefore necessary to find tricks to create a more comfortable main bedroom and nursery.
Upstairs, the largest bedroom had opened onto a terrace with a view of the Seine. The other two were narrower. “In the large bedroom with the best view, The owners hoped to make a second living room for entertaining guests and creating a home cinema,” Marie says. It was therefore necessary to find tricks to create a more comfortable main bedroom and nursery.
Upstairs layout after renovation.
One of the three bathrooms has now disappeared in order to expand the daughter’s bedroom. A bit of hallway and a shower room was reattached to the main bedroom and transformed into a walk-in-wardrobe and en suite bathroom, respectively. The third bedroom was still being set up, and was not photographed.
One of the three bathrooms has now disappeared in order to expand the daughter’s bedroom. A bit of hallway and a shower room was reattached to the main bedroom and transformed into a walk-in-wardrobe and en suite bathroom, respectively. The third bedroom was still being set up, and was not photographed.
This main bedroom no longer looks as if it’s in a classic new build. To create a ‘wow’ effect, Marie used a wallpaper the couple had fallen in love with as a starting point, and framed it with joinery at the head of the bed, painted to match the furniture.
As the dog doesn’t come up here, they left the oak flooring in place, simply sanding it to provide a more contemporary base for the décor. “I like raw oak – it’s always brighter than after varnishing,” Marie says. “We mix a bleaching product into the varnish in order to preserve its raw wood effect.”
As the dog doesn’t come up here, they left the oak flooring in place, simply sanding it to provide a more contemporary base for the décor. “I like raw oak – it’s always brighter than after varnishing,” Marie says. “We mix a bleaching product into the varnish in order to preserve its raw wood effect.”
On the other side of the bed, numerous storage units are tucked behind handleless doors to make up a storage unit that covers the entire wall. A rounded unit serves as a console table.
The en suite bathroom was decorated based on details the owners had scouted on Houzz. They wanted marble, plus blue and gold touches.
Marie chose 120cm sq tiles from Rex Ceramica for the 120cm-long shower to reduce the number of grout lines.
Marie chose 120cm sq tiles from Rex Ceramica for the 120cm-long shower to reduce the number of grout lines.
The double vanity unit was chosen at Ikea and spruced up with midnight-blue doors from Superfront in order to visually connect them to the bedroom.
To make sure the brass plumbing doesn’t oxidise over time, the architect advised “material treated with PVD, which is resistant to oxidation, corrosion and scratches”.
To make sure the brass plumbing doesn’t oxidise over time, the architect advised “material treated with PVD, which is resistant to oxidation, corrosion and scratches”.
Next to the main bedroom is the daughter’s room. It incorporates nature motifs, starting with a house bed the parents already owned. “Because of the boxing around technical elements, there was a niche with a low ceiling,” Marie says. “We transformed this constraint into a bonus by treating the alcove like a cabin in the woods.”
The daughter’s bathroom was originally blue, but Marie revamped it in powder pink. A vibrant mix of tiles in different shades were laid in a chevron pattern. “In this kind of masterful detail, you can really see the [value of] entrusting the work to a pro, rather than doing it yourself,” she says.
For this family, who had a very tight schedule for moving because of the sale of their previous home, the interior designer had to work twice as hard to fit all the work into two-and-a-half months, when it should have taken more because of delays to the manufacture of the windows and bespoke furniture.
As for the owners, they say they love living and entertaining in their new home. “Since then, they’ve whispered the name of our agency to many of their friends,” Marie says gratefully.
Tell us…
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
As for the owners, they say they love living and entertaining in their new home. “Since then, they’ve whispered the name of our agency to many of their friends,” Marie says gratefully.
Tell us…
What do you love about this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A couple and their seven-year-old daughter
Location A new building next to the Ile Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris, France
Size 115 sq m
Project duration July to September 2020
Interior designer Marie Le Magueresse of Murs et Merveilles
Budget €175,000 (around £146,347) excluding fees; including €50,000 (around £41,813) for bespoke furniture
Photos by Sophie Lloyd
Styling by Céline Hassen