Paris Interior Designer’s Small Bright Contemporary Apartment, 42sqm/452sqft
For the past two years, I have lived within the walls of a dream I built for myself in the heart of Le Marais, one of Paris’s oldest and most vibrant souls. When I first stepped into this 42-square-meter space, it was far from a sanctuary; the 17th-century structure was weeping from water damage, and the floors were at risk of collapsing. Yet, as an interior designer, I didn’t see ruin—I saw the potential for a “contemporary minimalist white box” that could breathe alongside the history of the city.
My creative process was driven by a desire for clarity and comfort. I wanted to create a home where I would never feel confined, a place that possessed all the features of a traditional apartment without the weight of clutter. To achieve this, I chose to strip everything back, painting the exposed wooden structural pillars and ceiling beams in a uniform white to highlight their historical texture. There is a profound emotional peace in a room that feels like it is made of light; by painting my wooden floor planks with a white resin, I captured the natural ripple of the material, making the ground beneath my feet feel alive.
Every corner of this home is a reflection of my personal history and my professional leanings. In the kitchen, I finally installed a discrete wine rack, a small detail I had always wanted. My living space is anchored by a modular Vitra sofa, which offers the flexibility I need for my social life—it transitions from a place of rest to a daybed for friends who stay over. I find beauty in objects that serve multiple purposes; the stools scattered throughout are not just seats, but coffee tables or stands for my plants.
If the living area is the heart of the home, the bedroom is my “sunny retreat”. Because I often design for hotels, I brought that sense of serenity and sophistication into my own private quarters. I used leftover floor planks to create a custom headboard that hides my office supplies, keeping the mess of work away from my place of rest. I even replaced traditional closet doors with soft velvet curtains in pale blue-green, adding a tactile, sensory layer to the room that feels like a quiet exhale at the end of the day.
The bathroom follows this same philosophy of “hotelization,” wrapped in mirrors to expand the space and featuring an LED cove in the shower that provides a smooth, intriguing glow against the textured white tiles. Even the smallest details, like the leopard-patterned wallpaper reflected in a wall-to-wall mirror, are chosen to make the daily ritual of getting ready feel like a moment of luxury.
Building this home was about more than just aesthetics; it was an act of restoration. By refurbishing this old structure, I felt I was keeping the history of Paris alive while carving out a space where I could truly belong. It is a functional, everyday living space that proves that even in the smallest footprint, one can find a life of immense comfort and beauty.