Restoration and decoration of an Art Deco–style apartment

Close to the Bois de Boulogne, this light-filled apartment needed to be entirely rethought. The floor plan, far from functional, was adapted to the lifestyle of its future occupants. Working alongside Mélanie Gonin, Agence Véronique Cotrel reimagined the whole place from floor to ceiling, with a decorative scheme inspired by the Art Deco style. Woodwork plays a leading role: we designed joinery that acts as a true guiding thread, unfolding room after room as you move through the apartment.

Living room opening onto the dining area, oak bookcase with mirrored back – apartment in Paris, by Cotrel Studio, interior designer

The living room

The main living space combines a dining area and a sitting area. A bookcase and a fireplace face one another — two pieces that called for extremely rigorous, meticulous design and craftsmanship, entrusted to the finest artisans. The fireplace, in travertine and blackened steel, recalls those of the 1930s, an era dear to the owners. The bookcase, also in walnut, holds a mirror made using traditional techniques, its grid echoing the fireplace perfectly. The aged patinas, the integration beneath the plaster cornices created during the works, the colour transitions between materials — nothing was left to chance.

Travertine-clad fireplace with black firebox and tan leather folding stools – apartment in Paris

Detail of the gold-lacquered coffee table in front of the heathered gray sofa – apartment in Paris

Dining room with glass table, black leather chairs and beige drapes on greenery – apartment in Paris

Custom oak bookcase with mirrored back and black leather armchair – apartment in Paris

Olive velvet daybed and gold coffee table against beige drapes – apartment in Paris

Oak-paneled passage to the kitchen and its bay-window dining nook – apartment in Paris

Entry hall with white walls, framed etching and velvet curule stool – apartment in Paris

Dining room seen from the dark wood vestibule, black leather chairs – apartment in Paris

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The entrance hall

The entrance hall features full-height walnut panelling, its shadow gaps aligning perfectly with the door frames and the openings towards the other spaces. This hall leads to the living rooms on one side, and to the kitchen and bedrooms on the other. The true core of the apartment, this highly decorative entrance makes the circulation legible at a single glance.

Travertine console against oak paneling, sculptural sconces and framed drawing – apartment in Paris

The kitchen

The kitchen sits on the other side of the entrance hall. A genuine living space, it combines a “working” area and a “dining” area, brought together by a run of perfectly integrated bespoke joinery. The whole was designed by the Paris-based interior architecture studio of Véronique Cotrel and Mélanie Gonin, and built under our joint direction. Niches in white marble (a composite, for easier upkeep) awaken the wood, lending it a timelessness tinged with modernity. A banquette designed by the team wraps around a table and chairs, sourced from antique dealers and restored.

Open walnut kitchen with corner banquette, marble table and olive-green chairs – apartment in Paris

Walnut kitchen with black-and-white checkered floor and wire chair – apartment in Paris

Walnut kitchen with light countertop, framed poster and chrome wire chair – apartment in Paris

Detail of walnut drawers with integrated pulls under a light stone countertop – apartment in Paris

Close-up of paneled walnut cabinet fronts with fine inlaid lines – apartment in Paris

Dining nook with gray banquette, marble table, black pendant and framed print – apartment in Paris

Oak-lined nook with gray seat cushion set into custom gray cabinetry – apartment in Paris

White marble shelf detail with black vase, glass decanter and ceramic pitchers – apartment in Paris

Detail of white crackle-glazed ceramic vanity top with rolled towels – apartment in Paris

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The sleeping quarters

On the other side of the apartment, two large suites complete the layout. Each comprises a bedroom, a dressing room and a shower room, giving everyone their own space of autonomy and comfort.

Bedroom with taupe walls, heathered gray bed, ceiling fan and leather bench – apartment in Paris

White mosaic-tiled bathroom with walk-in shower and mirrored cabinet – apartment in Paris

Home office with dark wood wall shelves, classical bust and black leather chair – apartment in Paris

Bathroom detail with black and silver mosaic, sink and dark stone counter – apartment in Paris

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Bedroom with gray upholstered headboard, taupe drapes and framed drawing – apartment in Paris