France Exclusive: Bold Patterns and Bright Colours in a Parisian Flat
Statement walls and bold accents mix with pared-back metal and timber finishes to create an eclectic family home
This duplex is the result of the owners first buying one apartment on the fourth floor, then two additional units on the fifth floor of an old building in Paris’s 10th district. “The first level was initially an apartment in very poor condition,” explains interior designer Alexandra Magne. “Then, before the birth of their first child, the couple had the opportunity to buy two more flats on the floor above. They were able to create a large home by merging the three apartments.”
To create a sense of unity between the three flats, everything needed to be pulled down and re-designed. “The first level on the fourth floor (of the building) was opened up as much as possible, to create a big living area with a dining room, open-plan kitchen and sitting area. There’s also the lobby and master suite on this floor. Upstairs are two further bedrooms for the children, a study, a bathroom and another toilet,” explains Alexandra. It was a very big project, and the designer’s work was characterised by a mixture of styles, materials, colours and patterns, to ultimately create a harmonious home.
To create a sense of unity between the three flats, everything needed to be pulled down and re-designed. “The first level on the fourth floor (of the building) was opened up as much as possible, to create a big living area with a dining room, open-plan kitchen and sitting area. There’s also the lobby and master suite on this floor. Upstairs are two further bedrooms for the children, a study, a bathroom and another toilet,” explains Alexandra. It was a very big project, and the designer’s work was characterised by a mixture of styles, materials, colours and patterns, to ultimately create a harmonious home.
The most eye-catching feature of the dining area is, without doubt, the ultra-graphic wallpaper on the feature wall. “It’s always very difficult to get great wall coverings on a budget,” the designer explains. “That’s why I decided to go for this wallpaper with a very contemporary pattern.”
The rest of the room is mostly white and very bright, which allows such a statement wallpaper to work. The table, with its red frame and edges, was custom-made. Magne found the chairs in a market, and designed the tailor-made hardwood storage unit set behind it herself.
Wallpaper: Bamboo, Farrow & Ball; custom-made table: Atelier 154
Wallpapers that will keep you guessing
The rest of the room is mostly white and very bright, which allows such a statement wallpaper to work. The table, with its red frame and edges, was custom-made. Magne found the chairs in a market, and designed the tailor-made hardwood storage unit set behind it herself.
Wallpaper: Bamboo, Farrow & Ball; custom-made table: Atelier 154
Wallpapers that will keep you guessing
The kitchen is U-shaped, and links the dining room to the living area. Two symmetrical benchtops run either side of the kitchen. “We simply used white Ikea elements to come up with a customised layout,” says Magne. The result is proof that one can achieve great results on a budget.
For the kitchen, the designer chose white, “to maintain coherence with the rest of the living room,” she says, “and also to keep as much light as possible and maximise the feeling of space.” A suspended ceiling was also added to make it stand out visually.
For the kitchen, the designer chose white, “to maintain coherence with the rest of the living room,” she says, “and also to keep as much light as possible and maximise the feeling of space.” A suspended ceiling was also added to make it stand out visually.
The stairs have a sculptural aesthetic. As well as enabling access to the upper floor of the apartment, they are the visual backbone of the home. “They’re made of a thin metal sheet, which runs from one level to the other,” says Magne. The railings are fashioned from steel and glass. The glass stops the stairs from overwhelming the room.
An aged oak floor runs across the lower level, and provides a smart and elegant contrast to the coldness of the metal.
An aged oak floor runs across the lower level, and provides a smart and elegant contrast to the coldness of the metal.
In the same room, a large wall painted anthracite grey echoes the industrial feel of the stairs. “I wanted a strong but neutral colour, to allow for bolder decorating choices,” says Magne.
Budget style tips for your living room
Budget style tips for your living room
Duplex République
Two mustard armchairs, which the designer found at a market, bring colour to the space. They’re accented with a selection of graphic cushions.
Cushions: Rouge du Rhin
Cushions: Rouge du Rhin
In the centre of the living area, a Berber rug softens the industrial feeling and brings warmth to the room. “My goal was to mix different styles and materials, that’s what I like in my job,” Magne says. “That’s also why I went for creased linen on the couches, it’s my go-to material for a welcoming family feeling.’
Coffee table: Jardin d’Ulysse
Luxurious living and lounging ideas
Coffee table: Jardin d’Ulysse
Luxurious living and lounging ideas
“The desk is from an old post office building and was discovered at a sale organised by the charity Emmaüs,” she continues. Magne added a metal desk lamp, which highlights the industrial look of the space, as do the metal lockers. “It’s important to me to mix different styles and origins, to breathe life into an apartment,” she adds. When visitors look up, they can enjoy the original wooden beams, which were restored to enhance the welcoming spirit of the flat.
There’s also a wall sticker of a Fiat 500 in his room, to add a sense of fun. “I found it at Alinéa, and the little white (cabinet) at Ikea,” the designer adds. “There’s a definite industrial style running throughout the storage choices in the bedroom, and this metal piece was painted white to give it a lighter touch.”
The second bedroom is shared by the two youngest children. “The challenge was to find the right balance to allow a little girl and a baby boy to live together,” says Magne. For the little girl, the decorator went for a metal bed, painted white for a feminine touch, and a lovely vintage cooking set. For the baby boy, his bed is made of forged iron, with playful lights overhead.
Metal bed: Ikea
Metal bed: Ikea
“I went for a pigeon blue wall on one side, and for a very light grey in the remainder of the room,” explains the designer. The blue recess above the girl’s bed was decorated with little golden stars and an antique mirror, to highlight the feminine side of the room. The fluffy polar bear trophy shares the space with a cute little white rabbit-shaped lamp, a true childhood classic.
Polar bear trophy: Bibib & Co; Rabbit lamp: Egmont Toys
Polar bear trophy: Bibib & Co; Rabbit lamp: Egmont Toys
A selection of cushions complement the boy’s bed.
Cushions: Numéro 74
Cushions: Numéro 74
Who lives here: A couple with their three children
Location: Paris, France
Size: 1,200 square feet (111.48 square metres) over two levels
Interior designer: Alexandra Magne
The hallway on the ground floor of the apartment is painted a combination of matt black and light blue. “As it was small and light, I decided to start it off with a dark tone to make a strong statement,” explains Magne. Beyond the hallway is the dining area.