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The mission was top secret, nearly impossible – and involved a lot of risk-taking. But it was enthusiastically accepted by interior designers Audrey Chuquet and Gabrielle Joinau, who worked in tandem (to say the least) with homeowner Stéphane.
At the outset, this décor enthusiast (or should we say obsessive) had given himself a singular challenge: to surprise his wife Laurence with a big reveal – only once the work was finished. And by “big,” we mean “complete overhaul” of an apartment that was exceptional both in terms of location … and layout. Nestled in the attic of a splendid pre-Haussmann building, it provided an outstanding view of the Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, but was poorly designed, not very functional and clearly dilapidated.
In fact, despite its generous surface, the unit – a string of maid’s quarters – proved rather cramped and lacking in storage space. To move or remodel? That was the question… which Stéphane answered with “to transform.” It was an ambitious project, and one in which he wanted to play a full part. “He pushed us out of our comfort zones,” the architects admit.
“This project was a real collaboration, which allowed us to push the envelope on details, and that’s quite rare. Hence the richness of the textures, colors and finishes. A kind of friendship developed throughout the project. We’d spend hours at the café after site meetings, thumbing through material samples, presenting our respective finds to each other so we could find the right combinations to tell the right story.”
Following a complete gutting of the space, a subtle reinvention of the floor plan structured itself around the structural and technical constraints of the site. The aim was to create a beautiful entrance hall, two comfortable bedrooms, a functional, modern bathroom, a dressing room, and a living area that includes a kitchen and dining room where the whole family can enjoy meals together (Laurence and Stéphane have five children, along with a gaggle of grandchildren). All of which is enhanced by contrasting light effects – from the art gallery-like darkness of the entrance to the light-filled living area – and materials. Mission successful? Well, Stéphane is delighted. And Laurence doesn’t want to move ever again.
