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Marie-Amélie had had enough of white. Visit after visit, the immaculate minimalism of the Lyonnais apartments she’d been checking out had worn on her: “I was desperate to get away from this standardization. I wanted a shot of color, some crackle, some pop,” the 36-year-old says with a smile.
These intentions have been put into practice in this large 63 m2 two-bedroom apartment “in quite good condition, but marred by old-fashioned decoration,” acquired in early 2022 with her husband Alexis, 40, in Lyon’s vibrant Croix-Rousse district. “We love the village vibe around here,” she says, “the quiet squares and urban amenities make it the ideal spot for parents who don’t want to give up their old lives. You can have an apéro while watching your children play!”
Like the seasoned art director she is, the young woman set out to find influences for the design of her new nest, meticulously preparing moodboards and scouring Instagram accounts. One day, she came across local architecture studio CRAIE CRAIE’s profile: “there was an incredible harmony of colors, a very judicious use of geometric shapes,” she says.
For her part, CRAIE CRAIE founder Célia Reubrecht had never before worked on a residential project, but was quick to imprint her architectural philosophy on the space: “as we usually do, we set out here to create an experience, a happy place that’s a delight to come home to,” she explains. “Color made this possible, while unveiling shadows, light, and therefore volumes.”
As a result, the eye revels in the interplay of hues and the simple geometrical shapes, all fiercely reminiscent of the Memphis style, whose maximalism, multicolored whimsy and bold lines turned the design world upside down in the 1980s. “We’ve also made a point of revealing what already exists, as we often do with parquet flooring, stone, French ceilings. We try to match these elements with the materials we bring into the mix. This accumulation of elements brings a certain life to the room.” All this is complemented by seventies inspirations, which break with the Scandinavian trope and give this colorful apartment its distinctive character.
