Name: Suzanne Flenard and Jeremy Schuster
Location: Le Marais, Paris, France
Size: 500 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, rented
Suzanne Flenard has a discerning eye for design. When she couldn't find the perfect pillows to go with her modern décor, she launched her own label, Square Modern. Now pops of turquoise and tangerine offer jazzy, mid-century touches to her clean, serene space in one of Paris' oldest districts.
Looking for an adventure, Suzanne and Jeremy left their home in New York three years ago and hightailed it Paris. It took many months to find the right apartment, and just as they were about to sign a lease on another place, Jeremy's dentist suggested they take a look at an open apartment he knew about. The last thing the apartment-weary couple wanted to do was look at another place, but not wanting to offend the dentist, they gave it a go. Thank goodness for that. High up in a gorgeous 19th century building on a quiet street in one of the city's most sought-after neighborhoods, the bright little apartment is now their home, which they share with their adorable Yorkshire Terrier, Sake.
The apartment is small, but since the couple came from New York, they know a thing or two about small-space living. And with Suzanne's penchant for good design (she used to work at Design Within Reach), it was only a matter of time before the pair had outfitted their exceptionally elegant home with a slim, carefully curated cache of exquisite things. No, there isn't a dining room, and the couple does like to entertain. But there's no problem there. When it's time to host a dinner party chez Suzanne et Jeremy, the dining room table comes out from its hiding spot beneath the couch, leaves and all. Now that's Paris style with a dose of New York creativity at its best.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Modern all the way!!
Inspiration: Beautiful design that's functional.
Favorite Element: The amazing amount of light.
Biggest Challenge: Storage.
What Friends Say: It reminds them of a chic, boutique hotel.
Biggest Embarrassment: The size.
Proudest DIY: Wiring dimmers onto all of my lamps (they're not really into ambiance here).
Biggest Indulgence: My obsession with cool modern accessories — there are so many that they're on a rotation.
Best Advice: Less REALLY is more!
Dream Sources: The basement of BHV — you can find anything there for DIY projects.
Other Inspiration: Le Musée des Art Décoratifs.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Emery & Cie, Paris, color = craie
LIVING ROOM
- • Sofa - Aspen sofa from The Conran Shop
• Orange chairs - from K Design, Montmartre
• Magazine holder - "W" mag stand by Offi
• Coffee Table - from Conforama
• Tall cabinet - from Leroy Merlin, Paris
• TV stand - Muji
• Lamp - from K design, Montmartre
• Rug - naturemadehides.com
• Pillows - Square Modern
• White vases on floor - kennethwingard.com
• White vases on cabinet - from Repérages - store in the Marais
• Candle holders on coffee table - Todd Oldham Home
BEDROOM
- • Bed - Ikea
• Lamp - Miconos lamp by Artimide
• Pillows - Square Modern
• Bedside table - Componibili from Kartell
Thanks, Suzanne and Jeremy!
Images: Celeste Sunderland
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
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Commercial Flour Sa...
That top photo is just gorgeous.
This may be my perfect apartment. Love. That's all. Just. Love.
@Lyonstill -- the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom are all in the tour.
A lovely apartment... very much the transposition of contemporary American style on a Parisian apartment. While looking at the pictures, I was struck by what a different approach to design there is, making this apartment stand out as not French. Not sure I grasp the difference though. An interesting idea to ponder.
@lyonstill, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom are all there. Maybe click "show thumbnails" in the tour view so you can see the rest of the photos.
Love the hardwood floors.
I would agree with their friends about the chic, boutique hotel label.
I love that it combines an overall sense of calm with beautiful bursts of color.
My apologies...I apparently missed some of the pictures during the slide show. DUH!! :o}~
Nice home indeed.
Now I want to live in Paris.
Ah, the 4th arrondissement! J'adore!
Nice apartment, nice cushions, too. But I am missing the Marais appeal. This could be anywhere en banlieu.
where is that beautiful teak (?) stool from...the one in front of the window?
Why has nobody mentioned that adorable pooch!!!
looks great! I'll be right there. you have a fold out bed under the fold out dining table under the sofa right?
The first photo is beautiful. Some of the best photography I've seen on AT.
Love the bathroom, and that dog is cute as hell.
The modern aesthetic is nice. Yes, this is an American take on a French space.
Does Sake have an itty bitty passport?
So beautifully minimal. I love it!
This apartment rocks anywhere!
@Elbe1: It's "banlieue," with an "e" at the end. Remember: the only way to pull off "snob" is to get the details right.
I found it too bland and sterile for my taste, it's too perfect. It lacks a beautiful antique or two, it's just... too clean. Too tidy, too symetrical, it lacks soul but for the adorable tiny dog.
Are those hardwood flooring? The planks are so short. I'm just wondering if I'm wrong about this.
c'mon cow hide rug? what is this, the 80s? and the apartment was like a gift shop: tight, sterile, well-engineered. put a vase here and here and take a picture. sorry not feeling it, especially for a parisian place. maybe find a french family to profile.
I really don't understand why in old apartments some owners take off beautiful charming wooden floors to put this kind of floors. A friend of mine lives in a 17th century building near the Saint-Sulpice church in the St-Germain des près area and one of her neighboor is "renovating" the apartment she has just bought. She is destroying the old patined tommettes and the Versailles style floor to have this kind of clean boring look. It's really a pity. :((
I with those who don't understand why people want to live in old buildings and then go through hell to make them look modern. This flat looks like a shop, not a real house. I suspect the only reason for this post is to advertise the owner's label.
I found this really disappointing. it just seemed like an advert for cushions. Agree with those who comment on the lack of character. It could be a new-build. The only interesting picture for me was of the street outside.
I'm sorry to say I would find this apartment boring anywhere---but in Paris? A crime. And the cushions? They don't even go with each other, much less the hapless pieces of furniture they're on. Forgive my comments if I'm just missing something great, but to me, beyond blah.
Good one EricAuerbach!
Meh.
Hi! I'm based in Paris too and was curious where you got your curtains and hardware...?
PS-You are so lucky to find such a great place in such a wonderful area! Cheers!
I'm with those who are thinking, "Paris? Looks like a catalogue for West Elm" or some such. American and chilly. Why no richness and color and texture and interesting vintage stuff? Furnish from the flea markets for godssakes... make it look like Paris!!
I really like the minimalist style and the use of texture to add visual interest. The vases are so organic while still modern and the fabrics on the pillows; well you can just feel the fabric depth and weight through the photos. nice!
Nice picture of Jeremy, Suzanne and their pooch. I think more personal items are needed through out this Apartment. Lucky family to be living in Paris!
Um - I like your pillows and vases?!
**Sigh** ahhhh to live in Paris! The most beautiful city in the world! The apartment is nice but doesn't say "Paris" to me.
I like the simplicity of your beautiful apartment. Thank you for sharing it with us. I vow to declutter this evening!
I like the framed artwork. Do you know the origin of the white frames--the three that are right in a row?
YES, I agree with other posters, it's criminal to remove beautiful old floorboards with lovely patina. Considering the tiny apartments in France so tastefully done why weren't there any French entrants in the Small Cool competition.
Like the poster above said if you want moderne, why live in an old apartment. When I was a child in the 1970s in Melbourne, Australia it was all the rage to do this to all the beautiful old Victorian era buildings, and then in the 90s everybody had to spend a fortune to remove ugly 70s orange plastic kitchens, horrible wallpaper and tiles.
It;s like giving your lovely old Grandma Botox and a facelift, doesn't look right.
Come on AT, have a look at the following links and you will see some superb Parisian apartments, many have modern style but tastefully done. When it comes to Small Cool nobody can beat the Parisians.
www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/garden/a-toehold-in-paris.html
www.vrbo.com/10459
www.nyhabitat.com/paris-apartment.html
www.parisaddress.com/paris-apartment-rental/home.html
www.parisperfect.com
I, too, am not a fan of this. But if your aesthetic is modern minimalist, not French eclectic, I suppose this fits the bill exactly.
7 photos of the brown cabinet with the 2 white vases? really? this apartment is boring and clinical, it looks like a shop, not like a home.
I think it still looks like a home and I'm sure this home reflects the owners' personalities.
My husband would be completely at home here since he likes thoughtful minimalism. If he were living alone, he would want only the bare minimum in his space. In fact, this home might even have too many accessories for his taste.
I think the owners did a wonderful job for the look they are going for. Not everyone likes quirky or eclectic design.
Why bring Paris to a Paris interior? It's right outside. Let the inside be a visual separation from the outside, and a mental resting place. Many strive for this kind of ability to pair down their possessions and edit their spaces. They can take inspiration from Suzanne and Jeremy's discipline. Comments about modernizing an older building seem best directed not to the apartment renters, but to the building owner(s). I'm pretty sure they're not reading this blog.
@EricAuerbach You come off as way more of a snob than Elbe1.
Not a fan of the close-up shots of pillows, I agree the tour does seem like advertising for Suzanne's company.
I love the windows and their curtains.
While I love 99% of this amazing space, (and of course location!), I for one will be more than happy when the whole "deer head on the wall' fad finally runs its course. Much like the "Stay Calm, Carry On' poster fad a year or two ago, this has (in my opinion) WAY over-stayed its welcome.
Straight out of a catalog. Where's the personality? The individuality? Getting to live in Paris and doing it like this. Sad.
Nice Maharams!
I want that window and hardwood floor!
I feel like I went on a very tiny miniature vacation by looking as this blog.
The cow hide rug bothers me, it should be on a cow.
I like this apartment. It is a little bit too modern for my tastes, but it is beautiful. I really love the tile in the bathroom. It is absolutely gorgeous.
I like this apartment. It is a little bit too modern for my tastes, but it is beautiful. I really love the tile in the bathroom. It is absolutely gorgeous.