On the fifth floor of a townhouse in the 6th arrondissement of Paris – between Place Saint-Sulpice and the department store Le Bon Marché – is a 95-square-metre flat that recently underwent a spectacular makeover. The design was the responsibility of Emilie Magdelaine Interiors, who gave the space a unique character by combining bold colours with timeless design.
Colour and boldness in a subtle way
Although the flat did not initially stand out in any particular way apart from the excellent lighting, the designers decided to make it more expressive with a bold colour palette. However, it was important to maintain a balance – the strong accents had to harmonise with the subtle background.
Farrow & Ball’s palette was refined down to the smallest detail:
a deep blue greets you in the hallway and corridor, creating the first ‘wow’ effect,
an intense purple with an almost black hue leads into the private area with bedrooms and bathrooms,
in the bedroom, the Equus – Cocoa wallpaper by House of Hackney in a zebra pattern reigns supreme, set against an orange USM Haller bedside table and blue bed linen.
In the bathrooms, colours also play a key role. The main bathroom is a juxtaposition of cream mosaic, grey and white terrazzo and a freestanding Dafne bathtub from Cielo Ceramica, while the Brassica shade ceiling adds depth to the space. The second bathroom gets a softer vibe with a pastel blue mosaic and soft beige cabinet fronts.
Design icons and precious materials
The interior designed by Emilie Magdelaine Interiors combines boldness of colour with quiet luxury expressed through materials and timeless forms. The maple sycamore floor, cleaned of old white lacquer and finished with a matt varnish, brings warmth and lightness to the flat. The kitchen has been partially refreshed – retaining the fluted oak cabinets and adding a Colonial White granite worktop with delicate crystals and burgundy inclusions.
The flat’s furnishings are a thoughtful mix of 20th-century design icons: Jean Prouvé, Pierre Paulin, Noguchi, Eero Saarinen or Eames. In the living room, you’ll find a Paulin velvet armchair in gold tones, a Noguchi table with a glass top, a Persian rug in deep colours and a shiny navy blue USM unit. Paintings by Serge Poliakoff and Sergio Fiorentino subtly harmonise with the interior colours.
The result? Cohesive eclecticism
The designers have succeeded in creating a flat that is both lively and tranquil. The various materials – from mosaic and terrazzo, to oak and sycamore, to velvet and metal – create a harmonious whole. The eclectic interior is refined in every detail, yet uncluttered – an example of a timeless approach to design, in which a bold colour palette meets classic and quality.
Design: Emilie Magdelaine Interiors
Photography: Florian Wattier
See also: Flat | Architecture | Metamorphosis | Apartment | Furniture | Paris | France
