In Paris’s 14th arrondissement, architect Hélène Guillou is working on a dated apartment that had been divided into two units. With no kitchen and no dedicated electrical meter, the 50-square-meter space entrusted to her requires a complete redesign. The goal: to consolidate the technical systems to preserve a large living space, while making the project stand out through custom design, materials, and color.
At the entrance, the restored original hardwood floor meets the first custom-made walnut fixtures.
Behind a sliding door, the bathroom fits into just a few square meters, laid out with precision down to the centimeter. The deep, nuanced blue of the handcrafted New Terracotta tiles contrasts with the powdery pink of the walls.
The shower is designed on a grand scale, with its curved bench and glass blocks that filter the light.
The layout extends all the way to the kitchen, where the warm wood gradually gives way to brushed stainless steel and a cooler aesthetic.
Little Greene’s Aquamarine Pale, a slightly minty green, softens the look of the metal facades.
A rounded corner of the partition wall creates just enough space to slide in a custom-made walnut bench.
The entryway, with its walnut armoire, serves as the focal point of the floor plan and opens onto the living room.
With its 25 square meters of preserved space, this room features a light-filled interior.
Between the chimney flues, custom-made shelves fit seamlessly into the existing space. Around the restored vintage marble table, the Moulin chairs designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort complement the Flos pendant lights.
Here, the furniture embraces a mix of eras. A brown leather sofa, a red theater-style armchair, and vintage pieces come together to create a deliberately eclectic ensemble, warmed by the original hardwood floors.
In the foreground, the vivid blue of the USM console table echoes the intense blue that adorns the bedroom walls in the distance.
Designed to resemble a colorful box, the room is painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue, which highlights the white trim and door frames in contrast.
In this densely furnished space, the vintage Habitat cabinet made of exotic wood blends seamlessly into a large, custom-built unit.
Nestled beside it, a golden-yellow Mont Blanc wool bench by Nobilis brings the entire space to life, while a mirror extends the perspective.
