Parisian style decor – interior designers share the secrets of this coveted cosmopolitan aestheticParisian style decor – interior designers share the secrets of this coveted cosmopolitan aesthetic
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Loading... - Elise Blanchet
- 02 Jun 2022
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Parisian style decor is synonymous with elegance and cosmopolitanism. Though Parisian design represents a wide spectrum of styles, there's a certain look that comes to mind when thinking about properties in Paris. The city’s arrondissements are home to opulent apartments characterized by tall ceilings patterned with ornate ceiling roses, marble fireplaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows that are flung open to reveal panoramic views.
It’s a coveted look that is made possible by the architecture of the city, the wide boulevards designed by urban architect, Haussmann, who came to the city and redesigned its narrow medieval streets into something grand, a playground for the flaneur and a brand new landscape to be painted by the newly formed Impressionist artists of the late 19th century.
Parisian style is hard to define, evoking that certain sense of je ne sais quoi. So who better than French interior designers to give us a rundown of what this modern interior design style is.
WHAT IS PARISIAN STYLE DECOR?
Haussmann's typical apartment buildings are dotted around the French capital, from the Latin Quarter all the way up to the 18th arrondissement in the north.
‘Parisian homes are marked by a certain elegance which originates from the Haussmannian architecture, the prominent architectural style of Paris, so maintaining the DNA of the buildings is very important to us,’ says interior designer Stéphanie Coutas.
But Parisian style is more than just address, it evokes a timeless quality. It is beyond trends – instead a mood, a feeling.
'When you design a living room you’re living with it for 15 years,' says Pierre Frey of the eponymous French design house. 'It should last, it’s about timeless elegance.'
For those of us who don’t live on the fifth floor of a Haussmann building in the heart of the cosmopolitan capital, there' style a way to capture this mood. We speak to the interior designers in Paris, who fill us in on what the pillars of the aesthetic are that define Parisian homes today.
1. JUXTAPOSITION OF OLD AND NEW
Key to Parisian decor is the celebration of the old and new in the same setting - embracing the ornate ceiling roses, the look and feel of an older apartment, but mixing it with the new and the contemporary. This juxtaposition is an art form, says Kathryn Ivey(opens in new tab) of the American design firm based in Paris, France, who uses her knowledge of the capital in designs for clients in Virginia as well as Paris.
'Parisian style has a confident and free way of decorating that isn’t restrained by the past but rather celebrates the past by bringing it into the future,' she says.
‘It’s celebrating and maintaining the beautiful, historical bones of a building and then juxtaposing the ornate architectural details with furnishings and finishes that are more contemporary and rooted in early 20th and mid-century furniture. It’s the tension of old meets new that results in an interesting and personal interior.’
‘I like to keep a sense of tradition combined with the comforts of 21st century living in a Bohemian couture and artistic spirit. When working with Haussmannian buildings we like to preserve the crown mouldings to maintain a French look while adding contemporary touches through textures and colour palettes,' explains Stéphanie Coutas(opens in new tab).
2. ELEGANCE MEETS FUNCTION
Another key interior aesthetic that is distinctly Parisian is the way interior designers merge practicality with aesthetic appeal. It’s about carving out a space in your apartment that serves its purpose while it works for your overall interior. ‘For the last two years, there has been a trend for elegant yet functional workspaces within our clients’ Parisian pied-à-terres,’ explains Betsy Kasha of Kasha Paris(opens in new tab), which renovates and restores historic apartments and updating them for modern living. ‘The ideal Paris apartment melds iconic character and elegance with practical luxury, making one feel transported, yet completely at home.’
The purple chair in this Parisian apartment, designed by Kasha Paris is from Cassina(opens in new tab), designed with ergonomics at the fore, and with a stool to match, it serves its purpose for laptops, resting - it becomes a diverse and flexible space.
'The reality of home offices today - certainly in Paris - is that people are not looking to replicate their corporate offices. Instead, they want a quiet place in their apartment with a comfortable chair like this to sit with their laptop, iPad or phone to work,' adds Betsy.
'The designated work place does not need to be large and complicated. On the contrary, a quiet nook is sufficient and does not interfere with the flow of the interior living space. People want workspaces that are in harmony with the rest of the apartment.'
3. STATEMENT LIGHTING
With floor-to-ceiling windows letting light in, the way Parisian interior designers use and play with the light is of crucial importance. From the way it filters through curtains, casts a golden glow on the walls and throws shadows off the cornice details and crown moldings, lighting is of critical importance in a Parisian apartment.
‘We always pay particular attention to the lighting in apartments as a home must be beautiful every moment of the day,’ explains Stéphanie. ‘So the consideration of natural and artificial light is an important part of our job.’
As for statement lighting fixtures, designers go for the extravagant and ornate chandelier, or something modern, as seen in this example from Le Berre Vevaud(opens in new tab), an interior architect and design firm made up of Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud—whose firm is located in the 16th arrondissement. Here, Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen’s paper lantern hangs above the table for an interesting dining room lighting idea. The table sits on a Le Berre Vevaud wool-and-viscose rug. The light fixture makes a statement and inspires with its cloud-like presence.
4. ART DECO INSPIRATION
The Art Deco design movement was one of the most stylish design oeuvres in the 20th century and Parisian interiors takes their cue from this style, known for glimmers of gold, rich colors and bold geometry.
'Our designs are strongly influenced by the vivid colours and curved shapes of the Memphis movement with a reminiscence of Art Deco flair, paying particular attention to the interplay of precious textures and materials,' say Raphaël Le Berre and Thomas Vevaud of Le Berre Vevaud.'
'We tend to furnish our apartments with vintage pieces by French designers of the 1950s and 60s alongside designs from our own collection.' Read More...
