Home tour: An 18th-century Hôtel Particulier apartment in Paris gets a contemporary makeover

“During our summer vacation in 2018, my husband and I stayed in an Airbnb in The Marais,” recalls the homeowner. “One evening, I looked out the window and saw a beautiful apartment across the courtyard. It was lit up with candles, wine glasses were on the table, the fireplace was on, and music was playing. It was a magical sight.”

She adds: “While on vacation in France in 2022, we visited a property that happened to be the same magical apartment we spotted four years before, and we bought it.”

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The serendipitous purchase is approximately 1,600 sq ft, with an open-concept layout comprising a sizable kitchen dînatoire, an expansive living area, a primary bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and a guest bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

There is also a versatile home office/laundry room, a service room converted into the children’s bedroom, a powder room, and a petite terrace that takes in the hustle of the hip boutiques, cafés, bars, and galleries in the neighbourhood.

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For commissioned interior designer Lichelle Silvestry, the chance to restore this historic property to its new chapter was an irresistible opportunity.

“It was challenging: harmonising heritage with modern comfort, striving to create a home that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally efficient, while also maintaining authenticity as a top priority,” remembers the founder of Lichelle Silvestry Interiors. 

“However, the prospect of restoring it to its former glory, and delivering a residence that exudes both timeless charm and contemporary sophistication was immensely fascinating,” she continues.

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Throughout the eight-month project, Silvestry and her team focused on paying homage to the property’s rich heritage, taking cues from the building’s delightful environment, and ensuring every addition to the home honoured its historical significance and unique character.

“We removed any unsuitable alterations and crude additions made in previous renovations, and methodically orchestrated the removal and replacement process with meticulous attention to detail,” elaborates the American-born, Paris-based interior designer.

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While the stone flooring in the living room was retained, Silvestry used large planks of solid oak wood flooring to replace the terracotta tiles in the kitchen, situated in the former main entrance of the apartment.

This highlights the stunning old beams discovered during the renovation process, as well as the pièce de résistance: a charming stone fireplace typical in any Parisian living room, its beauty further augmented by a late-18th-century mirror Silvestry procured from Lila K Antiques, one of her go-to stores in Le Marché aux Puces.

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Besides that, the old-fashioned tiles in the bathrooms are updated with contemporary renditions, such as the artisanal zellige and Carrara marble mosaic in the primary bathroom.

Meanwhile, in the guest bathroom that used to be a walk-in closet, black marble hexagon tiles abide by the black and white colour scheme of the space, as subway tiles on the walls complement the pedestal-classic style sink for a timeless and bright ambiance.

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Aside from enhancing the home’s original elements, it would be remiss for the interior designer not to bring the lovely greenery and brown hues of the courtyard indoors.

“Natural materials such as timber, jute, wool, heavy tumbled linens and marble preserve and enhance the original architectural features and charming imperfections,” she explains. “While light neutral paints draw attention to the surroundings and incorporate the same rich, earthy hues to create a coherent, cosy, inviting feel.”

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Modern furniture pieces with simple, clean lines further highlight the existing architecture, while custom-built units make the most of the limited space and provide necessary functionality for a modern-day lifestyle.

“[In the primary bedroom with beautiful views of the private courtyard,] we wanted to position the bed at its natural focal point, but two closets restricted the space,” recalls Silvestry. 

“To resolve this issue, we designed a custom-built headboard that provides an alternative to side tables and incorporates a pair of wall sconces and electrical fixtures.”

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Last but not least, unlacquered brass accents from fittings in the kitchen and bathroom, and furnishing in the living room, such as the Casamance linen curtains, not only play off the building’s exterior stone colour, but also discreetly recall a sense of erstwhile grandeur.

“It’s truly captivating that the home exudes a contemporary yet timeless allure, perfectly balancing authenticity with subtle modernity,” Silvestry concludes.

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