French Houzz: A Classic Parisian Apartment Gets a Light-Filled Lift
A couple start from scratch and transform a rundown apartment in Saint-Germain into a stylish family home
Welcome to this charming Parisian apartment located in the 7th district of the capital city, where comfort, art and charm are key. Contemporary furniture mixes with the traditional elements of the apartment, including cast-iron heaters and authentic timber floors, to highlight the Hausmannian charm of the home. Architects Alon and Betsy Kasha live here with their 16-year-old daughter and cat, but it hasn’t always been this way. The architects had to start from scratch before they could even consider moving in. It previously featured small rooms, poor light and an awkward layout.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Alon and Betsy Kasha, along with their 16 year old daughter
Size: 116 square metres
Location: Paris, France
Architects: Alon and Betsy Kasah of A+B Kasha Designs
Photos: Idha Lindhag
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Alon and Betsy Kasha, along with their 16 year old daughter
Size: 116 square metres
Location: Paris, France
Architects: Alon and Betsy Kasah of A+B Kasha Designs
Photos: Idha Lindhag
When Alon and Betsy decided to move into the apartment, they were fully aware of the amount of work needed to make it liveable. “It was a Parisian apartment; very classic and very deteriorated. The floors buckled and the ceilings cracked. The layout of the rooms was very disappointing; for example, both the kitchen and the dining room were upstairs,” says Alon. Furthermore, the ceilings were low and the lack of natural light was obvious – starting from scratch was the only viable option.
The apartment has a wonderful rooftop panorama of the Parisian district Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
The layout of the rooms now flows very naturally. A wide hallway leads to a double living room with an adjacent kitchen that overlooks a small courtyard. On the other side of the corridor is the master suite, which includes a bedroom, dressing room and master bathroom. Upstairs is a second bedroom and bathroom. ‘"We definitely wanted to maintain the classic feel throughout the apartment, this was key in our choice of materials, but the main idea was to open up the apartment visually and liberate the space,” says Betsy.
For Alon and Betsy, it was essential to give the home a real sense of personality. “The soul of the apartment is very important, and our feelings guided us naturally towards the adequate style,” say the architects. They turned to design classics like a Le Corbusier sofa and a table and chairs from Saarinen. By tying contemporary pieces to more authentic elements (like the timber floors), the owners were able to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The couple and their teenage daughter are not alone in the apartment… A four legged feline friend is also a member of the family. According to the couple, “we were committed to include our cat in the design of the apartment, so we created a little hidden spot under the staircase. It’s a quiet spot for the cat that’s in keeping with the style of the space. We also created a little balcony outside our bedroom window so the cat can enjoy the outside world, too,” says Alon.
The colour white runs throughout the flat – white on the walls, white on the windows, white on the beams – and keeps the home light and feel more spacious. “Using white gave us the perfect neutral background to exhibit our different paintings,” say the owners. Their artwork, photographs, carpets, curtains and other objects all bring additional colour to the apartment.
In order to bring that extra soul to the home, Betsy and Alon decided to use vintage materials; authentic wooden floors were refitted and reconditioned, cast-iron heaters were installed, and tongue-and-groove jointed windows were fitted with stripped espagnolette rods. The result is the perfect mixture of classic and contemporary.
“Decoration is very important to us,” explain Betsy and Alon. “The key is to enter the apartment with the feeling that it has always been like this. To help prompt this feeling, we love to mix the classic designers of the ’50s, like Le Corbusier, with contemporary, secondhand and antique finds from the start of the century.” The result is an eclectic yet balanced and harmonious atmosphere.
Alon and Betsy soundproofed the apartment to avoid any tension with the other residents in the building.
For their 16-year-old daughter’s bedroom, they went for a soft colour palette and a delicate atmosphere. “We used an old trumeau mirror to create a wonderful bedhead and added a cushioned pink fabric,” explain the parents. There are many bookcases in the room because their daughter loves reading. The space was formerly an attic. The architects chose to paint the beams white to increase the sense of space, and air-conditioning was added.
For their 16-year-old daughter’s bedroom, they went for a soft colour palette and a delicate atmosphere. “We used an old trumeau mirror to create a wonderful bedhead and added a cushioned pink fabric,” explain the parents. There are many bookcases in the room because their daughter loves reading. The space was formerly an attic. The architects chose to paint the beams white to increase the sense of space, and air-conditioning was added.
In the bathroom, the architects chose a tasteful mixture of tiles, marble and glass.
Combining so many different textures creates a warm atmosphere. “Harmony between materials and objects comes quite naturally. For example, we use chairs, sofas and curtains of beige and brown tones such as leather and linen to accentuate the warmth of old wood. We also feel the latter combines well with stone and marble elements,” explain the architects.
There was still the issue of low ceilings and scarcity of natural light. They decided to pull down the interior walls to open up the space and get rid of the suspended ceilings, revealing numerous beams. The new space, along with the white-painted beams, windows and walls, is bright and light-filled. The double exposure of the apartment allows light to flood through it – such a transformation from the previously dark and enclosed space.
The original beams were also painted white to keep the feeling of space, and they provide a warm and authentic atmosphere to the apartment.
The couple explain that the incorporation of art into their design is very important. Artwork is carefully placed in almost every room.
These pictures show the radical transformation.
The former bathroom was converted into a sleek and contemporary kitchen …
… and the former kitchen is now an elegant and bright bathroom.