Walnut Millwork and Rich Velvets Give This Paris Duplex a Cozy Update

Morgan Goldberg
·3 min read
The creamy white flecks in the graphic terrazzo peninsula complement the durable Dekton countertops in the newly remodeled kitchen.
The creamy white flecks in the graphic terrazzo peninsula complement the durable Dekton countertops in the newly remodeled kitchen.

Though Pauline Lorenzi-Boisrond had only just left her decade-long career in the film industry to become an interior designer, one of her former movie business colleagues approached her to gut remodel his Paris apartment. He had been impressed by the Studio Ett Hem founder’s creative work in her old profession and trusted that she would use the same artistic eye to transform his dark, segmented duplex into a cozy modern home.

Located in the luxurious 16th arrondissement, the client’s building was originally constructed in 1945. Yet instead of charming historical details, an inconvenient collection of small, cramped rooms was the only remaining relic of the space’s bygone era. Pauline remedied this by demolishing the dividing walls and opening up the lower level, which fused the kitchen with the living area and provided her client with his ideal entertaining setup.

BEFORE: "I like to be able to keep some things from the previous life of the apartment, but here it was very complicated to keep anything from the last kitchen," Pauline admits. "It was closed-off and impractical."
BEFORE: "I like to be able to keep some things from the previous life of the apartment, but here it was very complicated to keep anything from the last kitchen," Pauline admits. "It was closed-off and impractical."
BEFORE: Parquet flooring felt antiquated before the renovation.
BEFORE: Parquet flooring felt antiquated before the renovation.

The aesthetic is inspired by Soho House’s signature homey vibe, which Pauline replicated with emerald velvet seating, a welcoming piano nook, and warm walnut millwork that extends from the entry wall to the built-in storage unit to the cabinetry. An Eames lounge chair, a Ptolomeo-style bookshelf, and sculptural Norman Cherner counter stools complete the comfy-chic look. “When you arrive, you immediately want to go to the sofa, take a book, and read,” Pauline envisions.

The decor also displays her talent for problem solving. A structural column discovered during demolition became the tinted mirror–covered anchor of the Italian terrazzo peninsula, while a set of exposed pipes were incorporated into a ledge that doubles as a side table. “We didn’t want them to be problems; we wanted them to be solutions for something else,” Pauline explains.

The client’s piano and tufted leather bench are nestled into a corner.
The client’s piano and tufted leather bench are nestled into a corner.
“The mirror theatricalizes the stairs,” Pauline declares.
“The mirror theatricalizes the stairs,” Pauline declares.
BEFORE: The old bedroom was overwhelmed with upper cupboards.
BEFORE: The old bedroom was overwhelmed with upper cupboards.

Up the rust-colored staircase, innovative fixes continue in the bedroom, which the client requested be peaceful and snug yet still accommodating for gardening on the connected terrace. To reconcile these conflicting asks, Pauline installed a split floor that offers the ultimate compromise. On one side, sage green carpeting and wall paint envelop the sanctuary-like sleeping quarters. On the other, a white oak pathway allows for easy, cleanable access to the patio for tending to flora.

The dramatic en suite is much more than a place to water plants, though. Pauline strove to create the essence of a cave with symmetrical shower and toilet chambers made of textured gray stone. The material’s cool tones are balanced with matte brass hardware, a juxtaposition that embodies the contemporary social-club feel throughout the entire home. It’s the sophisticated bachelor pad of dreams.

“He faces the terrace when he’s in his bed. It’s like he’s in his box,” describes Pauline.
“He faces the terrace when he’s in his bed. It’s like he’s in his box,” describes Pauline.

Do It Yourself

Embrace wonky original features. Pauline couldn’t remove the load-bearing column in the middle of the kitchen, so she wove it into the design by building the peninsula around it for support.

Select a few key materials. Walnut wood, velvet fabric, and tinted mirrors are repeated throughout the project to promote continuity from room to room. The cohesion is satisfying without being too matchy-matchy.

Utilize lighting to set the mood. In the daytime, ample natural light flows in through expansive windows for a bright, cheerful atmosphere. At night, dimmable, canister-shaped fixtures generate evening ambiance.

“The bathroom was very, very little, so I decided to play with it,” Pauline says.
“The bathroom was very, very little, so I decided to play with it,” Pauline says.
Burnt orange carpeting makes for plush steps.
Burnt orange carpeting makes for plush steps.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest