Paris Pied-à-Terre

After searching for the perfect Paris apartment that could double as an atelier for five years, Laure Nell Interiors founder and principal Laetitia Laurent fell in love with this 415-square-foot pied-à-terre that packs a punch. Situated in the coveted Golden Triangle area in the 8th arrondissement—between avenue Montaigne, avenue des Champs-Elysées and avenue George V—the apartment was destined to be fashionable. The building’s Haussmannian architecture and a charming interior courtyard make way for modern interior architectural detailing that had been done during a previous renovation. Hardwood floors with deep black knotting, slatted wood paneling, and blue lacquer in the built-ins gave the apartment an interesting contemporary twist against the otherwise classic backdrop, including the original fireplace from the Haussmann era.

Laure Nell Interiors played up this dichotomy with playfully curated furnishings and lighting found during Paris Design Week: a mid-century Tulip table in the dining room, a coffee table from the NV Gallery x J’aime tout chez toi capsule collection, and a fireside chair from Popus Editions, a Paris-London furniture line with a restrained French take on British-inspired hues. In the bedroom, black and white details nod to Coco Chanel and ochre-colored bedding keeps the aesthetic current. A pendant from Oi Soi Oi lends the room a minimalist Asian element reminiscent of Laurent’s time in Kyoto.

Thanks to tall ceilings and the mezzanine loft space that had been added above the kitchen, the apartment exudes a feeling of grandeur despite its small footprint.