apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is stunning. Smart and uncomplicated. It's definitely sparse, but doesn't feel cold or sterile, which is very often hard to achieve. Bravo!

aneta said it all! I love this.

BEAUTIFUL space! I only wish there were a photo of the bathroom rather than the detail shot of the credenza...

I'd love to know what that is hanging (?) above the stairs. Is it a mobile?

Also, I've never seen a Knoll credenza with that grain pattern before. Gorgeous.

Does Nicolas want to house-swap?

I want.

Though it wouldn't stay that perfectly clean and uncluttered if I actually lived there.

I definitely voted Super Cool, but in the next round of photos I would be interested to see who can fit in the kitchen, it seems awfully short to me.

oh i am all about this! so pretty. well edited. fine as wine. mmmhmmm.

love love love.

This is perfect.

It's a beautiful use of whites and woods, very calming. However, not having a railing either in the loft or down the stairs would freak me right out, and would definitely flunk a building code or insurance/liability test. Surely with all that design talent, a railing could be cleverly incorporated.

i've always wanted a natural wood floor like this. And the credenza is uber-stylish.

beautiful!! i love that credenza and the layout of the space is just perfect-- so bright and airy!

Stunning. This is what I've been looking for - small and very Cool.

mini loft?

is that really only 630 square feet? it looks much more spacious than that to me.

i was also confused by the kitchen. is there no ventilation above the burners? wouldn't you stain the ceiling?

This makes me want to immediately rip the carpet out of my bedroom and put down some wood.

Very cool. It's all in the architecture.

This isn't my personal style, but I really admire what he's done here.

wow!!

"However, not having a railing either in the loft or down the stairs would freak me right out, and would definitely flunk a building code or insurance/liability test. Surely with all that design talent, a railing could be cleverly incorporated."

This home is in France - where if you fall off of something, it's your own da**ed fault...

it looks like wire hangers over the stairs.

Fabulous lighting. Beautifully photographed.

What is in the basement? How much space does that add on to your available storage?

tres chic! I especially like the drafting task lamps being used in the kitchen!

I want to see every last bit of this place.

There have been some really stunning entries in the contest, this being one of them.

I dream of mini lofts that look just like this. Love the crisp lines and perfectly balanced, minimal style.

Love what you have done. This looks light and airy and even though it's sparse, it still feels warm and inviting. Excellent!

W I N N E R. Nothing else needs to be said.

BB said it.

Tres magnifique Nicolas!
J'habite pres de vous, dans charleroi (unfortunately, it's temporary!) je voudrais visiter Lille bientot. Pardon ma francais, je parle anglais et nerlandais, francais et tres dificil pour moi!

Voila, I'm going to have to give my opinion in English...
Your place is fab! Tres blanc which is not my style normally but you really make it work. It looks professionally done.

love it

Overly sparse for my taste... also, it just feels i've seen this too often.

This isn't my personal style but I wish it were! The natural plank floor warms it up beautifully.

sensitive and charming

Impressive use of restraint.

This one is great!

I could not live with only 2 burners.

Once again, the Europeans show us how to do it right.

absolutely perfect!

That credenza is beautiful!

I agree with aneta. Small and very cool. What's that above the credenza?

juliaonhamilton -- I'd give up 2 burners to try living in Paris. I am confident one could still eat quite well!

stunningly beautiful in all its simplicity.

I am really digging this!

This is the embodiment of small cool.

Superbe!

perfect

It's not cosy or particularly personal but I love this, just looking at it makes me feel calm and serene.

Marvelous.....

But alors, You are French ?

I know that a lot of the AT readers and contributors will argue that this place is "cold" (that seems to be one of the favorite waords, and I hate it!) But I love this place. The architecture is great. Although I would love to see a coffee table (big or small) and a chair in the living area and at least one big piece of art on the bare walls up stairs, I love this place. Nice job!

P.S. I've always loved that chair that's upstairs, maybe you should get another for downstairs.

This is THE winner! Hands down!!!
I'm always curious about gorgeous spaces like this:
Umm.. do you watch TV?

but Mid-C Frank, this of course is Lille, not Paris:
http://www.europeanrailguide.com/destinationguides/lille/lille_map_g.html

le crap! Paris was there a minute ago - you have to work the arrows to see Lille in relation to Paris on that link.

Love it! Great balance (I think) of minimal form and warm materials (floor, wood furniture) with little punches of color in the accessories. Super Cool.

I'm no minimalist, but this place is gorgeous. The discipline and refinement displayed here is awesome. Extra points for making white laminate (my personal bete noir) look cool!

Zanotta Alfa Sofa. I covet this piece and recognized it immediately. The color is perfect. Well done..

Perfect.

so clean! I love this space. I'd be tempted to use more color, but really this is perfect as is.

amazing! i'm particularly impressed with how the spareness of your home is part of it's captivating charm! congrats

No one does white and wood like the Europeans. Gorgeous. And that credenza!!

Wait, where's all the STUFF? Where are the photos and kleenex and shoes? This looks like a photo from an architectural digest, not a "lived-in" abode. I'm not an advocate for clutter, but I'm an advocate for life! To me this is the slightest step up from an empty apartment...

Although it looks great for roller skating...mmm...

Wow.. who knew that the easiest solution to (relatively) small living was simply to have no stuff? Amazing!

sigh, makes me miss living in europe. love all the angles and planes and the simple but not sterile style. excellent.

One of the best if not the best so far.
The Morrison chair for Capellini is one of my all-time favorites.

Oh I wish this apartment were mine.

Fabuleux, Nicolas! J'adore! WINNER! It's sparse and uncomplicated yet inviting. GReat job!

I guess I am one of the few who feels like this apartment is completely cold. Little colors, not much texture or anything personal. I dont feel like anyone lives here. This looks staged for sale... its soulless.

Do you have any 'stuff'?

I'm actually drooling . . .

Awesome. I like.

Gorgeous home. Could be the winner here. Love it!

Good luck!

Love it!

Small... Cool... Simply Stunning!!!!

I love that there are only two burners... I hate giving up counter space to four burners, when I never need more than two.

everytime I saw this posting I'm just so admired! I voted 3 times "super cool" with my 3 different computer (work, home, laptop) today, yay!

This is another place that looks like a real estate agent's catalog. It looks great, but it also looks like no one actually lives in it. I'm not surprised everyone loves it. People rate apartments like they do romantic partners - the colder and harder to actually obtain the appearance of said entity in real life makes it all the more appealing.

how many times have i told you? NO WIRE HANGERS!!!!

I think this guy does have stuff, just not more than he can store. And this apartment has a LOT of storage.

I'm in love

Gorgeous. Perfect editing. I would prefer a dining table in that space (e.g., Saarinen) instead of the desk.

Hello, Nicolas here,

Thank you all for your comments!
And to answer a few questions...

- What you see above the stairs is a wire hangers mobile, gift from a friend, I LOVE it, and it's so easy to do...

- The apartment is a little less than 630 square feet actually but there's a 17th century vaulted cellar where I store wine...

- Above the credenza is a 'luminous panel' by two french artists, made of black perspex discs and little bulbs.

- I'm indeed looking for a coffee table

- I do have stuff, but not too much, and I tidy up the place before taking the pictures ;-)

And for those who wonder...
Lille is about 125 miles north of Paris, 150 miles south of London, and 60 miles west of Brussels

Thanks again, Nicolas.

Love it!

Serene, beautiful and chic. I love it.

nicolas, thanks for the info.

absolutely beautiful, i love it!

but is the toilet really downstairs and the sink upstairs? so you pee downstairs and have to walk up the stairs to wash your hands?!?! sounds a bit inconvenient... but gorgeous anyway.

WIN.

My favorite post by a long distance in a year of somewhat average entries.

@ ali lee -- I think it's half bath (powder room, whatever you want to call it) on the first floor.

Is that a light bulb on a super-long cord hanging to the right of the sofa? Super-cool.

Definitely up there for the top prize. The most amazing thing to me is that even many of those who are apt to say "needs color!" or "doesn't look like anyone lives here!" like it. That's quite a feat. Bravo.

LOVE it! Congratulations!

oh la la, tres chic!
minimalist but warm :)

I also have credenza envy! I personally like having more stuff around, but, dammit, this place is just beautiful!

Je trouve votre espace interressant, jaimerais voir des photos de toutes les pièces.....Alors, j'ai clické "supercool"...

Bon Chance!

P E R F E C T
Number 1 of ALL the entries.

there's such an amazing juxtaposition of the rough hewn flooring with the precision modernism of the furniture - exquisite.

You're my hero. This is perfect.

Definately the best.
Nothing says calm and serene more than this loft and the excellent choices of furniture and lighting.

nice flooring, nice colours but isnt it a bit cold?

Awesome space..definitely one of the best so far, even though I wouldn't be able to fit in your kitchen.

Love the natural palette.

I have the same desk & lamp setup at my loft. Do you love your filing cabinet drawers? I haven't found anything I love and I am wondering what yours is?

Your loft has inspired me to try to clean ours up. We have a great space, but little time!
Nicole

I LOOOVE EVERYTHING about your space!
i have been looking for the PERFECT white paint. Yours seems to be that one, what paint colour and brand did you use?