PARIS’…
famous Marais district is arguably the city’s most fashionable and vibrant neighborhood. Home to one of Paris’ main Jewish communities after the French revolution and the main hub of Paris’ LGBT community begining in the 1980s, it was once the preserve of France’s wealthy elite. Popular with visitors and locals alike, this pretty patch is still filled with grand 17th century private mansions which provide an elegant backdrop for eclectic eateries and boutiques in a district cherished for its village atmosphere.
THE INTERIOR…
design of this light and airy home captures the sense that you are indeed ensconced within the area’s artsy, bohemian heart. The two-floor 250 m2 residence was entirely refurbished by interior architects and furniture designers, Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet of their eponymous firm, Humbert & Poyet. The pair have blended multiple design styles to create a refined and harmonious family home, with mid-century collectibles matched with modernist art works, in a space where materials play a leading role in evoking strength, elegance and durability.
A FAMILY…
living room utilizes points, lines and planes as an arresting visual tool, most notably with the bold, rectilinear shape of a bespoke marble fireplace and the zig-zagging structure of an oak floor. This strictness of form is softened by the undulating silhouette of a curving Grand Theodore sofa upholstered in luxury blue Christian Fischbacher fabric, and the shapeliness of two Theodore armchairs, covered in plush cream boucle wool. The Theodore collection is a signature style of Humbert & Poyet’s design atelier, along with the Gabrielle coffee table which is shaped like a pink planet connected to a blue crescent moon. The table incorporates brass elements to match the metallic accent of the fireplace and the brass mid-century Gino Sarfatti wall lights. The room’s charming avant-garde ambience is sharpened by vintage treasures, including a Le Corbusier chaise longue in cowhide, 1960s ceramics by Georges Jouve and a modernist canvas by Bertrand Lavier.
WITH ITS…
impressive fenestration and high ceiling embellished with ornamental, carved moldings, the kitchen is infused with strong design features. Using their own industrial-style Asterios chandelier as a focal point, Humbert & Poyet have capitalized on the tall, narrow dimensions of the room to draw the eye down towards an Arasbecato marble topped island which serves as sink and seating area, complete with solid wood/hand-finished Tractor Stools by BassamFellows.
THE DESIGNERS…
have taken a contemporary and minimal approach to the dining area, echoing the striking qualities of core materials used in the living room; namely brass, marble, terrazzo and wood. Their atelier-made Apolline table has a highly polished brass top supported by a tinted oak base, while the angular sculpture by German artist, Katja Strunz, combines wood and metal in a configuration that compliments the sleek reductive elegance of Gio Ponti’s Superleggera chairs, whose design was first created in 1957.
MARBLE…
wood and brass find their boldest expression in the main bathroom. You’ll note that the natural stone has a more striking graphic look than anywhere else in the home. A combination of arabescato and antique French black marble sourced by Zatti Interiors was specifically chosen for its “deep black color, elegant veins and the presence that it brings to the background of a space,” according to the design duo. A glass box-like shower adds an edgy Art Deco feel to this room, highlighting the firm’s ability to create sophisticated interiors informed by the immutable creative allure of this neighborhood, with its many private galleries and proximity to Paris’ famous modern and contemporary art museum, the Pompidou Centre.
THE BEDROOM…
expertly balances a modern aesthetic with classic comfort. The king-size, Italian-made bed by Flexform is overlooked by a large abstract painting by American contemporary artist, Aaron Young, characterized by its dreamy black and white swirls that recall the veined look of the marble. Indeed, the design cohesion that flows from room to room contributes to a sense of structural ‘being’ that feels active and immersed in the identity of the Marais. The perfect combination of fresh and exciting, familiar and comforting.
Design: Humbert & Poyet
Photography: Francis Amiand
