A project by interior design studio Véronique Cotrel, Paris & New York.

Parisian Heritage

A historic apartment in the heart of Paris, fully renovated and reimagined with elegance by the New York based interior design team at Véronique Cotrel.

At Véronique Cotrel, we don’t often share “Before & After” photos. We usually prefer to let the finished result speak for itself — the space as we envisioned and designed it.

But here, we made an exception.

It was impossible not to share the emotion we felt when stepping into this majestic Paris apartment for the very first time. To see what it looked like before, we invite you to visit the blog article dedicated to this transformation.

A journey through time

The legacy left by the former occupants was truly moving. The apartment had been inhabited by the same person since the early 20th century. Wall decorations, carpets, woodwork… where to begin? What to preserve? What to compromise on? What kind of new energy did we want to bring into the space?

These were the very first questions — and naturally, we explored them with the future owners. We already knew them, having renovated their previous apartment. Every architecture project is an adventure, and working with clients you know and trust makes everything more meaningful.

Together, we made some key decisions:

To recover the original parquet flooring, hidden for decades beneath carpets.

To restore the exquisite moldings, columns and ceiling details — classic symbols of Parisian elegance.

To remove the wall decorations, which were damaged and concealing serious structural issues.

Only after making these foundational choices could we begin designing the interior layout — our favorite part.

Designing for light, flow and beauty

As interior architects, our focus is always on ergonomics, natural light, and aesthetics. With that in mind, we designed a generous open living space — framed by existing moldings, ceiling heights and passageways — that offers a panoramic view of the Paris rooftops.

The space brings together a kitchen, dining area, living room, and home office. Given its generous scale, we added secondary layouts to offer depth and a variety of perspectives — each like a “tableau”.

We love working with white, but never pure white. It’s all about nuance. Subtle differences in tone between walls, ceilings, and moldings must be planned so that each element enhances the others. Then come lighting and décor — essential in defining the final atmosphere.

A respect for craftsmanship and history

Haussmann-era buildings were built with ambition and budgets to match. Facades, staircases, roofs, and interior finishes were crafted with real luxury by the best artisans of the time. This level of quality still exists — and it’s a joy to work with it today.

In this apartment, we salvaged and restored everything we could: handles, doors, parquet, cornices, window hardware… Every beautiful detail was preserved and reinstalled. A rare privilege.

The kitchen, now located in the former dining room, tells its own story. Beyond the technical challenges — plumbing, waterproofing, utilities — our attention was drawn to a beautiful mirrored niche. Slightly cracked but perfectly patterned, we knew it had to stay. We chose to enhance it with a deep, character-rich backdrop, creating contrast with the surrounding room. The cabinetry blends in seamlessly, and the generous central island offers real everyday comfort.

The adjacent dining area features a monolithic wooden table that pairs beautifully with the space. Just beyond, a home office in darker tones offers calm and privacy at the rear of the apartment.

A night space full of clever ideas

Optimizing flow and circulation is at the core of interior architecture — especially in Paris. Here, we converted the former kitchen into two functional zones:

A pantry adjacent to the main kitchen, ideal for storing appliances, food and equipment.

And a home gym, complete with a hammam. Yes, really.

A hallway leads to the primary suite, starting with a refined bathroom lit by preserved stained-glass windows. To allow light into the corridor while keeping privacy, we used fluted glass for the dividing wall. A subtle blend of brightness and discretion.

The suite features noble materials and a style that’s both classic and contemporary. From the hallway, you glimpse the headboard — with a minimal desk attached to the back, seamlessly connected to the custom closets behind. A quiet, integrated second workspace.

The apartment also includes three children’s bedrooms, each designed with the same care and attention to detail.

Whether we’re working on a Haussmann apartment like this one, or renovating a townhouse through our interior design studio in New York, we believe in creating spaces that honor their past — while crafting a new story for the present.

A night space full of clever ideas

Optimizing flow and circulation is at the core of interior architecture — especially in Paris. Here, we converted the former kitchen into two functional zones:

A pantry adjacent to the main kitchen, ideal for storing appliances, food and equipment.

And a home gym, complete with a hammam. Yes, really.

A hallway leads to the primary suite, starting with a refined bathroom lit by preserved stained-glass windows. To allow light into the corridor while keeping privacy, we used fluted glass for the dividing wall. A subtle blend of brightness and discretion.

The suite features noble materials and a style that’s both classic and contemporary. From the hallway, you glimpse the headboard — with a minimal desk attached to the back, seamlessly connected to the custom closets behind. A quiet, integrated second workspace.

The apartment also includes three children’s bedrooms, each designed with the same care and attention to detail.

Whether we’re working on a Haussmann apartment like this one, or renovating a townhouse through our interior design studio in New York, we believe in creating spaces that honor their past — while crafting a new story for the present.