Before & After
Before & After: Parisian Elegance in a Revamped 1800s Apartment
This 19th-century apartment hadn't been renovated in 70 years before this makeover, inspired by nature and the ocean
This stunning, 173-square-metre apartment in Paris, France, had the perfect division of space for this family of five, with a double living room, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large separate kitchen. But there was a catch: it hadn’t been renovated in 70 years.
The family fell for the blue ombré effect in a studio apartment they saw in a story on Houzz, the work of Parisian interior designer Miriam Gassmann. They loved it so much they asked Gassmann to take on their own mammoth renovation project. Blue, the sea, and nature became the motifs of their home’s new decor.
The family fell for the blue ombré effect in a studio apartment they saw in a story on Houzz, the work of Parisian interior designer Miriam Gassmann. They loved it so much they asked Gassmann to take on their own mammoth renovation project. Blue, the sea, and nature became the motifs of their home’s new decor.
Original layout: The apartment’s layout was perfect for the owners and their three children: it had a large entrance (pictured here on the right of the image), a 20-square-metre kitchen (on the left), and a 50-square-metre double living room (on the right). A hallway led to two bathrooms and four large bedrooms, ranging from 14 to 17 square metres each.
Gassmann tore down the walls in the areas marked in red and repartitioned the space. This allowed the team to enlarge the bathrooms and organise the wiring and plumbing.
Gassmann tore down the walls in the areas marked in red and repartitioned the space. This allowed the team to enlarge the bathrooms and organise the wiring and plumbing.
New layout: The demolition gave the owners a chance to rethink part of the flooring. “The very first time we met, they asked me for a blue waxed-concrete floor,” says Gassmann. This now covers part of the entrance then turns and flows into the hallway, kitchen and bathrooms, creating the look of an ocean current running through the whole apartment, reflecting the owners’ love of nature.
After: The yellowed wallpaper was swapped out for white paint for a contemporary look. The owners also asked Gassmann to recreate the apartment’s original mouldings.
“For budgetary reasons, we often go for resin or polystyrene modules that are glued and painted, but here the mouldings were remade by a professional who knows the traditional techniques. The clients wanted a sustainable restoration, and the result is incomparable, even though the mouldings cost close to 10,000 Euros [approximately AUD$16,000] for the entire apartment,” says Gassmann.
The living room overlooks the Place de la République, an often-crowded Parisian hotspot. In response, Gassmann replaced the old windows with new timber ones featuring better acoustic insulation.
“For budgetary reasons, we often go for resin or polystyrene modules that are glued and painted, but here the mouldings were remade by a professional who knows the traditional techniques. The clients wanted a sustainable restoration, and the result is incomparable, even though the mouldings cost close to 10,000 Euros [approximately AUD$16,000] for the entire apartment,” says Gassmann.
The living room overlooks the Place de la République, an often-crowded Parisian hotspot. In response, Gassmann replaced the old windows with new timber ones featuring better acoustic insulation.
Half of the original double doorway was preserved and a second one was created on the other side of the TV for a symmetrical look. There are no doors, but the door frames or architraves are finished in solid oak.
“For this project, we agreed on a unifying element: whenever one moves to an area with a different function, one crosses a wooden opening,” says Gassmann. “This gave the apartment verticality and warmth to compensate for the waxed concrete floor, which is cold in appearance though soft and cosy to the touch.”
“For this project, we agreed on a unifying element: whenever one moves to an area with a different function, one crosses a wooden opening,” says Gassmann. “This gave the apartment verticality and warmth to compensate for the waxed concrete floor, which is cold in appearance though soft and cosy to the touch.”
After: As the owners have all their meals in the kitchen, the dining area is used as an office and a place to entertain guests.
The library at the back of the space doubles as the family’s music room. It’s separated by an industrial-style glass-and-metal doors and a partition.
“Two of the three children and their mother play the piano for several hours a day. The semi-partition was used to back the upright piano [not visible from this angle], while a grand piano stands to the left. That’s why it was absolutely necessary to be able to close off this area,” says Gassmann.
The library at the back of the space doubles as the family’s music room. It’s separated by an industrial-style glass-and-metal doors and a partition.
“Two of the three children and their mother play the piano for several hours a day. The semi-partition was used to back the upright piano [not visible from this angle], while a grand piano stands to the left. That’s why it was absolutely necessary to be able to close off this area,” says Gassmann.
Facing the piano is a custom-made storage bench. This space had originally been filled with old timber furniture. “The idea was to create a cosy corner where one could come and listen to the music and enjoy the fireplace,” says Gassmann.
The original bookcase had concealed radiator heaters. Gassmann relocated these to beneath the street-facing windows.
“We used recent cast-iron models that have an old-fashioned feel. But in the hallway, kitchen and bathrooms, we installed underfloor heating under the blue waxed concrete, so people can enjoy the feeling of this extremely pleasant material with their bare feet,” says Gassmann.
The original bookcase had concealed radiator heaters. Gassmann relocated these to beneath the street-facing windows.
“We used recent cast-iron models that have an old-fashioned feel. But in the hallway, kitchen and bathrooms, we installed underfloor heating under the blue waxed concrete, so people can enjoy the feeling of this extremely pleasant material with their bare feet,” says Gassmann.
From the entrance, a small hallway leads to the detached kitchen. The waxed-concrete flooring extends into this space, giving it a more contemporary look. “It’s one of the owners’ favourite rooms. They cook a lot and have all their meals here,” says Gassmann.
After: The owners cook a lot, so they needed generous bench space. Gassmann addressed this with a U-shaped layout in the new kitchen.
“The idea was to create a large benchtop on two sides of the room, and gather the elements that could be placed higher up against the last section of wall,” says Gassmann.
“To make the kitchen feel light, we did not want any hanging cabinets above the benches. However, as the clients wanted a high-quality range hood, we integrated it into discreet white formwork.”
The couple chose a light-coloured oak table and cabinets, juxtaposed against the waxed-concrete floor and Carrara marble benchtops.
“To make the kitchen feel light, we did not want any hanging cabinets above the benches. However, as the clients wanted a high-quality range hood, we integrated it into discreet white formwork.”
The couple chose a light-coloured oak table and cabinets, juxtaposed against the waxed-concrete floor and Carrara marble benchtops.
“They really wanted a natural element in their kitchen, and their first thought was to put in a big aquarium. However, they eventually decided on a green wall to compensate for the rather cold design, and made the best use of this wall, which is illuminated by the windows opposite,” says Gassmann.
The green wall needed water and electrical wiring for its drip-irrigation system and built-in lighting. It also required a drain at its foot. So, Gassmann invovled Neogarden, a company specialising in interior plant walls, right from the beginning of the project, so the best place for these connections could be determined early on.
The wall was completed over a period of two days at the end of the renovation. Panels measuring 60 x 90 centimetres – pre-decorated with plants – were adapted to an irrigation structure that Neogarden had installed beforehand. The total cost was approximately AUD$9,000.
The green wall needed water and electrical wiring for its drip-irrigation system and built-in lighting. It also required a drain at its foot. So, Gassmann invovled Neogarden, a company specialising in interior plant walls, right from the beginning of the project, so the best place for these connections could be determined early on.
The wall was completed over a period of two days at the end of the renovation. Panels measuring 60 x 90 centimetres – pre-decorated with plants – were adapted to an irrigation structure that Neogarden had installed beforehand. The total cost was approximately AUD$9,000.
The owners chose a high, 90-centimetre-tall dining table instead of a kitchen island in the centre of the room – it’s more comfortable and means the owners had more seating options. For the best of both worlds, the table was fitted with electrical outlets.
Like much of the rest of the kitchen, it’s made from light-coloured oak. “The base was covered with mirrored laminate so the table seems to float over this blue sea,” says Gassmann.
Like much of the rest of the kitchen, it’s made from light-coloured oak. “The base was covered with mirrored laminate so the table seems to float over this blue sea,” says Gassmann.
After: To brighten it and make it more functional, Gassmann reclaimed space from the bedrooms, and fitted the extra width with built-in bookshelves.
Natural light now flows in through transom windows above the bedroom doors and the living-room door frames.
Natural light now flows in through transom windows above the bedroom doors and the living-room door frames.
After: This 15-square-metre room is now one of the children’s bedrooms. “The parents felt that their children are at ages when their tastes would still change a lot, so they decided on a white base that could evolve over time. They will wait until the kids develop their tastes before choosing decor,” says Gassmann.
Before: The master bathroom had been connected to the bedroom pictured in the last image. Like the kitchen, it was characterised by a vintage cocktail of blue, green and pink, mixed with mosaic tiles from the ’50s.
After: It now serves as the parents’ ensuite. Gassmann reclaimed space from one of the children’s bedrooms to enlarge it.
In the shower and bathtub, the couple opted for Dornbracht faucets and a stainless-steel towel rack, which the owner – who loves beautiful technology – fell in love with immediately.
In the shower and bathtub, the couple opted for Dornbracht faucets and a stainless-steel towel rack, which the owner – who loves beautiful technology – fell in love with immediately.
Here is a peek into the ensuite from the master bedroom. Two solid-oak pocket doors allow the two areas to be separated when necessary. In the centre, a raised, blue waxed-concrete floor highlights the freestanding bathtub.
After: Gassmann kept the general layout, but went for more contemporary wardrobe doors. The leaf-patterned wallpaper has given way to the apartment’s decorative jewel: a blue wall fresco. “This effect is the reason the owners hired me,” says Gassmann.
“As its application requires great technical skill, the paint job was done by painter and decorator Anma Jouan. She started with a blue that matches the waxed-concrete floor, making it lighter and lighter as she moved upwards, using the same traditional technique that had been applied to the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes. A base of hydraulic lime is tinted with pigments while still wet. It hardens through carbonation when it comes into contact with the air, just like cement tiles. This makes it solid and durable.”
“As its application requires great technical skill, the paint job was done by painter and decorator Anma Jouan. She started with a blue that matches the waxed-concrete floor, making it lighter and lighter as she moved upwards, using the same traditional technique that had been applied to the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes. A base of hydraulic lime is tinted with pigments while still wet. It hardens through carbonation when it comes into contact with the air, just like cement tiles. This makes it solid and durable.”
After: Above the built-in wardrobe is one of the windows that Gassmann added to pull light into the hallway.
After: These two small spaces were combined to create this beautiful children’s bathroom. It boasts the blue waxed floor that flows through much of the house. Gassmann matched it with trendy elongated hexagonal tiles from a Spanish manufacturer.
“Some of my clients focus primarily on decor, but this family was more focused on function and durability. It was a project in which the choice of materials proved to be crucial,” says Gassmann.
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more home transformations? Read about 6 of the Best Before and After Open-Plan Transformations
“Some of my clients focus primarily on decor, but this family was more focused on function and durability. It was a project in which the choice of materials proved to be crucial,” says Gassmann.
Your turn
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see more home transformations? Read about 6 of the Best Before and After Open-Plan Transformations
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Paris, France
Size: 173 square metres
Date and duration of renovation: Finished in 2018 after six months of planning and seven months of work
Interior designer: Miriam Gassmann
Located on the third floor of a nineteenth-century stone building, this apartment is a relic from Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s era, an early French town planner. It still had all of its original charm: high moulded ceilings, a chevron-patterned parquet floor, and marble fireplaces. The layout was simple and its view of Paris’ Place de la République unobstructed.
On the other hand, the interior was stuck firmly in the past with dated features including shiny curtains, faded leaf-patterned wallpaper, and garishly colourful bathrooms, not to mention completely outdated wiring and plumbing. It was in for a head-to-toe makeover.
“For the family, beautiful materials were more important than decor items,” says interior designer Miriam Gassmann, who gave us a tour of the property. “They wanted the place to be completely renovated while respecting its period features. It took six months of planning to rethink the spaces so as to preserve as much of the historical base as possible while modernising it at the same time.”