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Houzz Tour: Subtle Elegance Meets Period Features
A designer found on Houzz pairs contemporary furniture with stunning traditional design in Paris
This French family of five called on interior designer Lichelle Silvestry to redesign their home, a 3,057-square-foot apartment in Paris’ Trocadero quarter, to adapt it to their lifestyle and give it a breath of fresh air. “After living at the four corners of the globe, this charming family contacted me on Houzz France. They had seen my profile and liked my renovation projects. We immediately sensed that it was a perfect match, and we really enjoyed working together. Their interests — art, music and travel — inspired the design and decoration of the space,” Silvestry says.
The 1913 apartment benefited from beautiful period features: solid oak flooring, moldings, decorative woodwork and marble fireplaces. These elements were carefully preserved as a reference to the home’s history.
The work on the apartment included a renovation of the bathrooms and the kitchen, the creation of a spacious laundry, the replacement of the electricity and meticulous work on indirect lighting to create an intimate and cozy cocoon.
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The work on the apartment included a renovation of the bathrooms and the kitchen, the creation of a spacious laundry, the replacement of the electricity and meticulous work on indirect lighting to create an intimate and cozy cocoon.
Find an interior designer near you
Most of the rooms stayed in their original places, other than the kitchen, which was inserted into the heart of the apartment. “We also took care to create a lot of storage for this family of fashion lovers,” the interior designer says.
The existing tile at the entrance is matched with a contemporary and radiant decor. The soft tones on the walls underscore the couple’s art collection. This is matched with a black sofa with contemporary lines and several features in light wood, such as this custom-made oak table.
The solid light-oak flooring was restored to wrap the home in a bubble of softness.
Before: The previously outdated apartment.
After: The minimalist design of the dining room marries light wood and white to create a coherent decor that extends the kitchen space.
The interior designer worked in furniture pieces and art pieces that had already belonged to the owners.
“The clients’ interest in design was the reference point for the decoration of the space,” Silvestry says.
“We therefore created a perfect equilibrium between the classic architecture of this apartment and the contemporary furniture pieces that dress each of the spaces,” Silvestry says.
The old kitchen was in the back of the apartment. This space was transformed into an office for working from home.
The new kitchen is in what was once the dining room. This light-filled space is a stylish mixture of light wood, off-white and gilt brass.
The countertop and the backsplash are decorated in a quartz with beige tones, which works well with the wooden facades of the kitchen cupboards.
A large central island and bar chairs are used for day-to-day meals.
Before: The couple took care to preserve the grand lines of sight in this apartment, which is laid out with large reception rooms opening into one another. At the same time, they updated the decor with furniture pieces with pure lines, and black graphic accents.
After: The kitchen, dining room and living room are now clustered in the heart of the apartment for increased comfort and practicality in the day to day.
The fifth-floor apartment has magnificent windows so it was already very bright.
The palette of neutral tones, matched with plush textiles, reinforces the brightness by distilling a soft and pleasing ambiance.
In the main bedroom, the original carpet was replaced with light wood in broad planks.
A pair of vintage sconces and a braided leather armchair (see previous photo) bring a subtle retro touch to the minimalist decor.
Two geometric night tables match the lines of the bed, mixing taupe, pearl-grey and white.
Before: The old bathroom with its basic decor has given way to an ultra-sophisticated space with high-end materials.
After: “We narrowed the adjacent bedroom slightly to expand this bathroom. It now includes a generously proportioned shower, a bidet and a vanity with two sinks,” the designer says.
The bathroom adopts the same decorative codes as the other rooms in the apartment, in mixing light wood and beige, with several brass accents in the fixtures.
Textured tile is matched with a countertop and backsplash in Corian to create a zen ambiance.
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Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with three children
Location: Paris
Size: 3,057 square feet (284 square meters)
Interior designer: Lichelle Silvestry Interiors