Plush headboards, sofas you can sink into, high ceilings, and light-filled rooms — these are a few of the elements that make a joyful home.
Add into the mix classic wrought-iron balconies and wide oak parquet flooring, and you have a covetable Parisian sanctuary — a bit like this one, on the city’s Left Bank, just steps away from historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés abbey.
Look closer, though, and this modern home comes with a subtle twist; that ubiquitous marble fireplace has become a sculptural travertine surround; the quintessential Parisian galley kitchen features an intensely veined marble floor and an asymmetrical lava stone table, while doors are made of tactile, hand-scraped oak, known as bois gougé.
"We didn’t have space for a full dining table, so we designed a narrow option using lava stone with a metallic finish — beautiful, but also very durable," says the designer Pauline Lorenzi-Boisrond.
"Everything is about contrast and harmony — how each element plays off the next without overpowering it," says its creator, Studio Ett Hem’s Pauline Lorenzi-Boisrond, who reworked the interior space alongside partner Maxence Lesueur.
"We always seek a subtle balance between bold choices and quiet restraint, aesthetics, and functionality."
"A champagne-colored glass chandelier provides a delicate contrast to the wood," says Pauline.
Decorate with circles and curves by introducing this wavy Viva Vase to soften the hard angles and edges in a space.
Little surprise, perhaps, given that seven years ago, Pauline made the transition to interior design from film production, where she honed her visual eye and developed an innate understanding of storytelling.
"Films can take four years to make and involve hundreds of people," she reflects. "In contrast, design feels more intimate, its results more immediate. I like that personal connection with the client."
"Strong, sculptural stone — like the travertine we used for the fireplace, which also continues into the archway from the entry to the living room — ties the space together," says Pauline.
A pair of nesting wood coffee tables act as a grounding force in this scheme.
The homeowners in question are as interesting as their Parisian getaway — she’s a sculptor, and he’s a businessman who travels widely. "They’re epicureans, passionate about art, joyful, with a strong sense of aesthetics," says Pauline.
"Their brief was to create a space that felt contemporary but still paid homage to the classic Haussmannian codes they loved: Point de Hongrie parquet, ornate moldings, a fireplace, but all reinterpreted for their lifestyle."
A curved, wooden extended headboard beautifully embraces the bed, its shape perfectly offsetting the ceramic wall light. "We wanted this room to feel comforting and generous," says Pauline.
Introduce a punchy pattern like this burgundy red cushion to your modern bedroom to cut through a calm scheme.
That meant reappraising an old-fashioned layout that had the original kitchen tucked into the rear corner of the apartment, seeing an overkill of dark wood wall paneling throughout.
"We love the neighborhood for its sense of history, but we wanted a more unusual take for our home," says its sculptor owner.
"The idea was to breathe new life into the space without erasing its soul — creating something contemporary, but with heart, where every room invites you to linger."
A simple stained-oak floating bathroom vanity makes for a contemporary foil to the dramatic marble. "We wanted a scheme that felt effortlessly composed, yet full of depth and intention," says Pauline.
Re-siting the kitchen enabled the rest of the project to flow in sequence. "Notwithstanding the typical Parisian plumbing problems, it was the move that unlocked everything," says Pauline, of its new position.
"We carved the front bedroom in two to make space for it and removed the division between the adjoining sitting and dining room. Now the key living areas form an easy interplay so that the layout feels logical."
The new, modern kitchen has become a favorite spot. "The couple likes to sip morning coffee there while gazing out at the abbey or enjoy an aperitif as the sun sets," says Pauline.
"The apartment building is in a magical street where you can hear the soft chimes of the abbey throughout the day. It’s like a secret corner of Paris." Much like this gently reworked home, which pays homage to tradition while quietly humming to its own distinctive tune.