Name: Julie Chamberlain and Jesper Kaalund
Location: Haut Marais, Paris, France
Size: 710 square feet (66 square meters)
Years lived in: 2 years, rented
At 37 weeks pregnant, Julie Chamberlain doesn't do much dancing these days, but that doesn't stop her from listening to her favorite tunes. One morning last month, independent Canadian music streamed from her laptop, providing a restful soundtrack just right for readying her beautiful one-bedroom apartment in Paris for a new baby.
Julie and Jasper met at school in Copenhagen. He manages bands from his native Denmark, like Indians and Sleep Party People, and she's a marketing director at L'Oreal. Their home in Paris' stylish Haut Marais neighborhood is a reflection of their past, their present, and their future, and mixes elements of their native lands: Canada and Scandinavia. Exquisite architectural drawings done by Jesper's father hang on the walls along with strips of wood salvaged from the couple's first apartment in Montreal, which they use to display photographs. Danish mid-century furniture joins pieces from Canada, like the solid dining room table built by Julie's uncle.
And then there's a whole lotta rock and roll. See the dudes with the mustaches and mullets? They're a Danish band from the 1980s (the one on the left is Jesper's uncle). There's Jimi in a purple haze above the TV next to Jesper's electric guitars and amplifiers. And if Jesper feels like playing a little bluegrass, the banjo comes down from the wall in the hallway.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Scandinavian purity and minimalism, Montreal bohemian chic with vintage finds, French romanticism, and as much wood as possible to remind me of Northern Canada.
Inspiration: The cities we've lived in and the countries we are from.
Favorite Element: The kitchen. We always end up in there, whether it's just the two of us or we're with guests. It's bright, cozy and the fridge is close by ;)
Biggest Challenge: The small size, as we're expecting our first child.
What Friends Say: That it reflects "us" well.
Proudest DIY: Dining table + bench: the dining table is made from wood of a tree that my father cut, that a friend of the family dried, and that my uncle built himself. We brought it from New Brunswick to Montreal to Paris. I even love the cracks that are forming with the change of temperature.
Wooden photo display pieces: wooden pieces taken from the inside of a wall in the first apartment we ever bought (in Montreal). We wanted to take a piece of it with us — we really loved that apartment. So we turned it into a way to display photos.
Wine rack: Jesper built it himself in our Parisian living room to hold only a fraction of all the wine we've bought since living in France (and that I look forward to drinking after the baby comes!).
Biggest Indulgence: Bed sheets.
Best Advice: Take your time, have fun doing it!
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- • Lighting: Habitat
• Couch: Rona
• TV Console + Media unit: Ikea
• Artwork: Family drawings + Danish artist (P Munk)
• Dining table + bench: bespoke
• Dining chairs: Philippe Stark
• Bullhead, Other Chairs (green + wood\leather): Vintage stores, Montreal
KITCHEN
- • Lighting: Ikea
• Cabinets/Counters/Appliances: Ikea
BEDROOM
- • Bed frame: Maison du Monde
• Dresser + Nightstand: Ikea
• Lighting: Ikea
• Moses Basket: Leipold purchased from Berceau Magique
• Changing Table: Vertbaudet
BATHROOM
- • Artwork: Yellow Korner + Canadian artist Julie Fader
• Lighting: Habitat
• Stool: Winners
• Soap thing: Bain du Marais
• Soap recharge: Petit Marseille
HALLWAY
- • Carpet: Zara Home
• Artwork: Canadian artist Rupert Bottenberg
• Guitars: own
• Lighting: Ikea
Thanks, Julie and Jesper!
Images: Celeste Sunderland
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.







Shaw's Original Fir...
love your DIYs!
This apartment has great bones and they have made it very warm and welcoming. The bedroom is very serene.
The shelf over the baby's changing table scares me but I'm from earthquake country.
Just an FYI: Walnuts should go in the frig. They can get rancid. ;oD
Loved this little piece of Paris! For anyone who dreams of living in the City of Light, this was a welcome bit of eye candy.
Normally, I cringe when I see a bedroom without any kind of art on the wall, but that bedroom has a feeling of calm. The other details make it interesting (the headboard, the basket etc.). I love the overall apartment because it simply feels like a lovely, warm and wonderful home. Well done.
A very thoughtful, grownup apartment....I like the idea of the wine rack (I live in a small studio and this definitely sparked some ideas), the kitchen layout, etc...I especially LOVE the Jimi Hendrix collage...Nicely done.....
Beautiful! I wish I could find an apartment with chevron floors.
What a gorgeous couple! What a gorgeous flat! Not a single wrong note.
Hi Julie and Jesper,
The huge gilt mirror over the fireplace is quite perfect. Do you have the source for it? Or did it come with the apartment?
Thanks,
Jasmine
Typical apartment from le Marais, but this one is beautifully decorated... love that you don't have too many things.
Could you share the source for the paint on the wall ? I'm having the hardest time finding that precise off-white shade here in France. Thanks !
I love this apartment, it's so beautiful, mature and calm. And we live in 60 square feet in Barcelona and are also expecting our first baby too! I think you'll have plenty of space, don't worry! :) Wonderful job and best wishes to your family!
Nice, neat, but a little too bland with the white, cream & black predominence. The only bits of color are the little green chair, the baby's changing table & the spaghetti (of all things).
What luck to find such a well equipped rental in Paris!! That kitchen is nicer than any I have seen over the past 6 years living here. I second Loora's question about the paint reference, any idea?
Your table and bench are beautiful! Having filled through the pictures before reading the article, I took note of it and checked your furniture sources only to find that it is New Brunswick wood : only a hop and a skip away for my native PEI!!
Such an inviting home! Baby will love it.
Absolutely gorgeous. I'm jealous that they live in Paris, I'm jealous of the amazing apartment, and I'm jealous that Julie gets to look so great when she's pregnant! (I looked like a semi truck.) Best of luck to both of you!
Seeing this makes me want to move to Paris! This is an incredibly lovely home! Best wishes to you and your growing family!
Julie, what Canadian music do you listen to? Would love some suggestions!
@rose123 Woops! I meant 60 square meters!
Lusting.
Lovely but sadly the boho wins over minimal scandi which I'd normally prefer... Congrats on the baby - Julia you look amazing!
I love your home and think it has just the right amount of color. It's used in a way that is calming and not overwhelming~ exactly as it should be.
Congratulations on your soon to be addition! It looks as if your baby will grow up in a beautiful home full of love.
I used to rent a similar flat but the owner painted it peach!!!!!!!! It had the same radiators too and floor to ceiling windows. This is what I really wanted the space to look like.. *she sighs*
My goodness, we should all look so good when 37 weeks pregnant! Congratulations!
Very warm, beautiful, and calm home. It looks like you have all you need right there. Sweet.
The wall color is just perfect.
Thank you to everyone for your lovely feedback and warm congratulations. Counting down the days to the big arrival...!
Jasmine, the gilt mirror came with the apartment, sorry I don't have a source for that. If you live in Paris I could suggest trying the Porte de Clignancourt market.
Loora, sorry I can't be of help on the paint either. It was freshly painted by the owner when we moved in. I was worried about it at first, thought it had too much of a peachy hue, but turns out to be nice and warm once everything was moved in. If I ever catch the owner, I'll ask her for the color.
Qzie, answer above about the paint, sorry. My uncle built the dining table based on a Crate and Barrel table I liked (typical practical Maritimer, he knew it could be made for a fraction of the price, he he): the Big Sur http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/dining-tables/big-sur-natural-90.5%22-dining-table/s181269. The kitchen was actually completely empty when we moved in. I didn't realize 'unfurnished' was so literal in France. So we took a trip to Ikea and bought absolutely everything there - counters, appliances, shelves, cabinets etc - except the small fridge and washer.
Sandyw, I stream CBC Radio3 from Paris. Currently I'm listening to Brian Borcherdt, Julie Fader, Wintersleep and, Grimes.
So MUCH to love about this home!!
First off, not sure which I love more, the home itself or the amazing entrance off the street... Like a scene from a movie! And come on... Jimi on the wall? Fender guitars? Amazing natural light throughout? Perfecto!
Love this place!
(though the wine holder appears to be backwards, as the bottles tilted down means wine away from the cork and risk of the cork drying - you want the opposite!)
your home is beautiful! we had a moses basket with my daughter and I loved it. congrats!
Okay what is that (soap thing?) in the bathroom? :) I'm dying to know! I've been all over the world and I have never seen anything like that. I do need a soap solution for a wall mounted vessel sink though (no counter top on which to set a soap thingie).
Hi Nicolette, it's a wall mounted soap holder, so practical! The brand I have is 'Le Comptoir', I think you can find it in the US (if that's where you are) at this site:
http://www.comptoir-de-famille.com/very-clean-442-3.html
Recharges can also be purchased from brands like Savon de Marseille.
Julie
This couple and the apartment are beautiful. Julia, you make me want to be pregnant again! It looks good on you!
However, as the mother of a newly mobile 10 mo old boy, the first thing I spotted in the living room were all the things the baby will be trying to climb/eat/pull down on themselves. It makes the newborn stage seem easy! Good luck!
I love the natural surfaces with the original apartments. The gold mirror and the wall colors. Good luck to a pretty family.
It's alright, if you like that sort of thing.
You know - groovy pads in Paris.