Paris left bank apartment: gold leaf, trompe l’oeil and a global art collection

A Parisian Left Bank apartment, meticulously reimagined by Marthe architecture, has emerged as a decadent testament to layered design – a collision of Victorian grandeur and contemporary art, fuelled by two years of dedicated restoration.

A symphony of maximalism

Marthe Simon and Paul Peller, the firm’s partners, traded a pair of cramped 1,100 square foot spaces for a sprawling, fluid floor plan, honoring the building's Napoleonic Second Empire roots with expansive openings and imposing double doors. The result? A jewel box brimming with meticulously curated objects, each whispering tales of far-flung locales and unexpected collaborations.

Time as a luxury

“We had the luxury of time,” Simon stated, a crucial detail often overlooked in the frenetic pace of contemporary design. “To truly inhabit the space, to understand its rhythms and nuances across the seasons, culminating in a design that genuinely responds to its soul.” This patient approach is evident in the thoughtful placement of light, strategically low-level fixtures casting a warm, intimate glow.

A global tapestry of materials

The apartment’s palette is dominated by gold leaf and trompe l’oeil, but it’s the carefully chosen materials – from Milanese metallic wallpaper to hand-painted Italian mirrors – that truly elevate the space. A bespoke quilt-like wallpaper, inspired by Gabriella Crespi’s rattan aesthetic, wraps the dining room in a rich, textural embrace. The kitchen, a vibrant mosaic of red Iranian travertine and antique-finished terra-cotta tiles, pulses with a golden sheen, thanks to a bronze candlestick by Hubert Le Gall.

Artful details

Standout pieces include a BKT resin table by Niko Koronis, a BKT resin table by Niko Koronis, a pair of 1960s armchairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, and a collection of bronze sculptures – including Clotilde Ancarani’s walnuts and Jacques and Dani Ruelland’s Spiralé vase – that anchor the living room. The bedroom boasts sculptural lamps by Garouste & Bonetti and a solid walnut bench, while the bathroom features mirrored walls adorned with Italian student-painted metallic hues.

Collaboration and craftsmanship

The design is a testament to instinctive collaboration, combining disparate influences – a London-crafted wrought-iron pendant light, a Lebanese brass basin, and a Chinese pendant light – into a cohesive whole. It’s a space where the patina of age meets the vibrancy of contemporary art, a carefully constructed narrative of global exploration and artistic vision.

A final note

Ultimately, this Left Bank apartment isn’t simply a dwelling; it’s a meticulously considered statement, a bold declaration of taste, and a tangible embodiment of the power of patient design.