Timeless Elegance in La Nouvelle Athènes

A Parisian Interior Design Story in La Nouvelle Athènes

An interior renovation in one of Paris’s most romantic neighborhoods, blending heritage with contemporary Parisian refinement.

Nestled in the heart of Paris’s 9th arrondissement, La Nouvelle Athènes is the very essence of 19th-century romanticism. With its elegant streets lined with private mansions and artists' studios—once home to the likes of Delacroix and George Sand—the area invites a timeless stroll through art, history, and Parisian charm. We were honored to be entrusted with the complete interior renovation of a 185 sqm apartment located at the very core of this neighborhood, which holds a special place in the heart of Véronique Cotrel and her studio.

The original layout no longer matched the lifestyle of its future residents. Through detailed floor plans and perspectives, we designed an ideal configuration aligned with both spatial flow and budget. The transformation included opening a major partition wall to create an expansive view across the row of elegant windows, integrating the kitchen into the main living space, replacing all the parquet flooring after insulating the subfloor, and designing dedicated spaces for work, guests, children, and a master suite.

One of La Nouvelle Athènes’s defining features is the richness of its interior ornamentation. The buildings in this district were designed with a particular architectural vocabulary, and this apartment was no exception. It was both a privilege—and a delicate responsibility—to restore and preserve these historic elements. Our team’s expertise, combined with the support of highly skilled local artisans and heritage-certified French workshops (Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant), made it possible to treat every decorative detail with care and authenticity.

The master suite underwent a major transformation, merging two bedrooms and a hallway into a generous private space. The material palette is soft and noble, with warm wood veneers and rich textiles echoing the apartment’s original structure. At Véronique Cotrel, when we reimagine spaces, we take great care to remain true to the architectural language of the past. For instance, when we move a wall, we also reproduce the original moldings—crafted using traditional techniques—so the transformation feels as seamless as it is respectful.

This project reflects our core philosophy: evolving a historic space to meet the needs of contemporary life while preserving its unique identity. It’s a subtle balance of comfort, elegance, and timeless interior architecture—à la parisienne.