The place needed a lot of work. But Dario is a contractor, so that didn't scare them.
He and Manuela bought the spacious 19th-century apartment near Bastille -- where they live with their teenage daughters Louise, Marion and Jeanne -- eight years ago, having outgrown their rented space in Saint-Germain-des-Prés...
They renovated the apartment from top to bottom with help from Dario's team -- preserving the beautiful wood floors and period mouldings, but modernizing the eat-in kitchen, adding a second bathroom and carving out a fourth bedroom. They have built in storage everywhere -- a wine closet to the left of the fireplace, bookshelves throughout, a computer station in a large hallway that would have otherwise been wasted space.
Manuela is a professional decorative painter who paints trompe l'oeil murals on café ceilings and faux finishes furniture and boiserie. But they have kept the walls neutral to allow the beautiful bones of the apartment to shine through. A cozy low sofa in gray fabric from Caravane in the Marais, a whimsical knotted plastic light fixture and framed artwork by the girls gives the living room a warm family feel with a dose of understated Parisian chic.
- If you have an idea for a European house tour, write to Kristin at kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com
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Love love love.
view Michael's profile
Absolutely beautiful and charming!
view trixie's profile
Beautiful space! Beautiful life! What a warm, inviting home.
view polkadot's profile
Le sigh. So beautiful. How do French flats always look so effortlessly chic? My flat is full of effort... but about a quarter as chic.
view kellylc's profile
One thing the French don't skimp on when it comes to flats is "large windows". That alone makes a very small space seem larger as it brings in natural light. And for those in older buildings like above post, you also get original detail.
view GZgoingMod aka Geraldine's profile
These are the things I generally notice about French apartments in Paris:
1) The French aren't super-into rugs. A bare floor works just fine.
2) There isn't the need to overembellish. These nice French apartments don't have the over-upholstered look of many American households. There are empty walls and table tops, and couches without piles of pillows.
3) I can't imagine cabinets with crown moldings in any of these spaces. There isn't a need to apply a reference to an earlier age to what is essentially a utilitarian object.
view eastlaker's profile
So much to love. The art over the master bed. The lightswitch art on the kitchen wall. The little girl's drapes. Very nice.
view Lady J's profile
Nostalgia...my mother had that kettle for a while when I was growing up.
Quite lovely.
view Mella DP's profile
aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yes!
view godsfool's profile
Living in Paris, I don't really see anything special in the decoration of this apartment.
view clemoni's profile
I don't think the decoration is special either. More like a nice, lived-in family home. Love that pendant in the living room though, great piece.
What makes this apartment special (at least, for Americans) is the windows/light, the floors and the architectural details. I'm assuming they added that curving hall - nice touch.
view greer's profile
The artwork throughout is really fantastic!
view karyn's profile
I went to the caravan website. i loved the bed linens on the site. how can i learn more about them. i want to buy something. its not in english and my french is horrible
view itsthehouseshow's profile
Itsthehouseshow,
I will do a post about them soon and tell you more.
view Kristin Hohenadel's profile
Clemoni,
Feel free to make suggestions for Paris house tours at kristinh@apartmenttherapy.com.
view Kristin Hohenadel's profile
What I particularily loved were the two "offices"--one absolutely piled (yay, real life!) and the other tucked into a corner by the doorway. Did you notice, though, that both desks have two moniters? At the corner desk, it was a lap-top. I just thought that was funny. And there's a piece of molding missing off one of the cabinets in the kitchen. I kept thinking: These folks need the cure!
I love it. It's lived in, yet stylish. Thanks Kristin.
view Alana in Canada's profile
The bathroom looks great. I love the window.
view brittanykate's profile
love this place! Great space and charming decor.
view jess p's profile
I think I was a bit quick to say this space wasn't special...while the architecture is fairly typical, they've let you enjoy it, rather than cramming it with stuff (which tends to happen here).
view clemoni's profile
why doesnt anyone make sofas like those in america?
view savy shopper's profile