The art of family living

Paris

lieu :: paris
date :: 2026
type :: apartment

Grand family duplex at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

A stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower, this duplex was conceived as a gathering place for a family living mostly abroad. It had to offer comfort, functionality and conviviality all at once, while allowing everyone their own independence. The brief was to create three bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms and dressing rooms, along with a separate study, in a warm setting made for entertaining and family life.

Haussmann-style living room, mirrored fireplace, red lips-shaped sofa – apartment in Paris, by Cotrel Studio, interior designer

Living room with custom white built-in shelving, fireplace and Persian rug – apartment in Paris

A ground floor designed for entertaining and sharing

The ground floor is organised around a vast double living room, conceived as a generous, adaptable living space. A double-sided sofa structures two atmospheres: a reception corner around a reinterpreted existing fireplace, and a more intimate television area, featuring a contemporary fireplace set within a bespoke bookcase. The use of antiqued mirrors heightens the depth and luminosity of the whole.

A sequence of three arches gives rhythm to the volumes and marks the transitions between the entrance, the circulation area encompassing dining room and bar, and the living room. This architectural work eases movement while giving each space a strong identity.

Living room with white crown molding, marble fireplace and red lips sofa – apartment in Paris

White marble fireplace filled with candles, orange and leopard poufs – apartment in Paris

Close-up of ornate plaster details on an antique fireplace mirror – apartment in Paris

Living room with blue ceramic sculpture, red sofa and tulips – apartment in Paris

Close-up of a red armchair and glass side tables on herringbone parquet – apartment in Paris

Living room corner with white shelving, blue armchair and chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

Living room with white built-in shelving, fireplace and arched window – apartment in Paris

Living room detail with colorful painting, white doors and wall sculptures – apartment in Paris

Reading nook with bookshelves, blue armchair and colorful abstract painting – apartment in Paris

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View into the living room from the entry hall over herringbone parquet – apartment in Paris

The semi-open kitchen extends the living room through visual openings. Crafted from noble materials (metallic lacquer, dark wood and quartzite), it conceals all the appliances for an uncluttered look. An antiqued mirror, treated in trompe-l'œil, enlarges the space while masking an awkward load-bearing wall.

Dark kitchen with marble counter looking through to the living room – apartment in Paris

Bronze metal kitchen with black marble island and white bar stools – apartment in Paris

Kitchen with bronze cabinets, veined black marble backsplash and island – apartment in Paris

Kitchen detail with patinated bronze cabinets, black marble, chevron floor – apartment in Paris

Black marble kitchen island beneath a blown-glass pendant light – apartment in Paris

Dining nook with antiqued mirror wall, framed sheet music, black marble top – apartment in Paris

Kitchen with dark bronze cabinets, white door and herringbone parquet – apartment in Paris

Close-up of veined black marble backsplash and bronze metal cabinets – apartment in Paris

Close-up of a black marble countertop with bold white veining – apartment in Paris

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Open kitchen with bronze cabinets, black marble island and French doors – apartment in Paris

Kitchen with antiqued mirror wall, black marble island and white curtains – apartment in Paris

At the heart of the plan, a multifunctional circulation area brings together storage, a banquette, a large dining table and a bar concealed within the joinery. Designed as a hidden element, the bar reveals itself when opened, staging materials and objects in a play of reflections and light.

Living room opening onto the dining area and stairs, chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

Dining area with corner banquette, round wood table and textile wall art – apartment in Paris

Dining nook with beige banquette, wood chairs and yellow roses – apartment in Paris

Dining area seen past a curved partition, banquette and round table – apartment in Paris

Black spiral staircase on a white marble base with chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

Staircase with black treads, white marble base and display niche – apartment in Paris

Entry hall with arched antiqued mirror, white closets and chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

White closet with arched mirrored doors reflecting the staircase – apartment in Paris

Backlit dark wood bar cabinet, dining nook and spiral staircase – apartment in Paris

Bar cabinet detail with dark wood shelves, brass, hanging glassware and bottles – apartment in Paris

Closed white cabinet with arched antiqued mirror doors on chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

Hidden bar cabinet revealed behind an arched mirrored door – apartment in Paris

Custom bar cabinet fully open, backlit dark wood interior with bottles – apartment in Paris

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The main suite, reached from the dining room, was designed as an intimate, flowing space. It includes bespoke dressing rooms and an en-suite shower room, where every detail was considered for everyday comfort: natural light enhanced, discreet nighttime lighting, materials consistent with the rest of the project.

Upstairs hallway beneath the spiral staircase, looking into the bedroom – apartment in Paris

Beige bedroom with upholstered headboard, brass sconces and mirror – apartment in Paris

Cream-toned bedroom with mirrored door, wood nightstand and chevron parquet – apartment in Paris

Cream bedroom with paneled closets, fabric headboard and ceiling medallion – apartment in Paris

Bedroom detail with beige drapes, sheer curtain and balcony window – apartment in Paris

Close-up of cornice and plaster ornament above a beige curtain – apartment in Paris

Bathroom with light marble vanity, curved walls and paneled closets – apartment in Paris

Light marble bathroom with oval mirror and frosted-glass window – apartment in Paris

Close-up of veined marble sink, brass faucet and oval mirror – apartment in Paris

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A bright, optimised upper floor beneath the rooftops of Paris

Under the eaves, the upper floor was entirely rethought to reveal its potential and maximise natural light. The space, once partitioned, now opens around a central star-shaped circulation, bathed in light thanks to large skylights offering a view of the Eiffel Tower.

A glass landing was created to serve an additional room, formed by joining a former maid's room, now transformed into a television room and study. This device also lets light travel down to the floor below.

Spiral staircase with black treads and metal railing, banquette beyond – apartment in Paris

Staircase detail with curved black metal railing and glass guardrail – apartment in Paris

Looking up the curved stair railing toward the skylights – apartment in Paris

Skylight detail with the Eiffel Tower visible through the glass – apartment in Paris

Spiral staircase seen from above, black treads and framed artwork – apartment in Paris

Looking down the spiral staircase, black metal rail and glass guardrail – apartment in Paris

Landing beneath skylights with cognac leather sofa and glass-walled office – apartment in Paris

Attic home office enclosed by dark wood-framed glass partition – apartment in Paris

Dark wood-framed glass door opening onto the office, leopard-print rug – apartment in Paris

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A stained-glass window was designed to screen an unappealing view, turning a constraint into a decorative feature.

An enclosed study, treated with transparency through a glazed partition, allows for quiet work without losing the ambient light.

The children's bedrooms, despite the constraints of the attic, each include bespoke storage, work areas and en-suite shower rooms. Mirrors and fitted joinery under the sloping ceilings optimise the volumes while heightening the sense of space.

Dark wood and black marble bar cabinet beneath an Art Deco stained-glass window – apartment in Paris

Dark wood desk beneath a corner glass partition, bouclé swivel chair – apartment in Paris

Walnut desk against an angled glass partition, beige drapes and balcony – apartment in Paris

Reading nook with window seat, leopard-print cushions and small wood desk – apartment in Paris

White bedroom with brass reading lamp opening onto a wood-accented bathroom – apartment in Paris

Window seat detail beneath mullioned French windows and beige drapes – apartment in Paris

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White attic bedroom with window seat and walnut desk – apartment in Paris

White bedroom with leopard-print pillows, brass sconces and geometric art – apartment in Paris

The whole duplex rests on a palette of natural materials and neutral tones, ready to welcome a collection of colourful artworks. Dark-stained oak, the guiding thread of the project, converses with pale stone and recurring rounded forms. In this project, everything was designed to reconcile aesthetics, functionality and quality of life.