A sophisticated renovation revives and celebrates the natural brightness of the spaces, transforming them into a welcoming and functional refuge for a young family, managing to maintain the soul of the original home intact.
A 100m2 19th-century apartment, located on the fifth floor of a building overlooking the Luxembourg Gardens, in the heart of Paris’s Latin Quarter, has undergone a profound transformation thanks to the work of toledano + architects. The project redesigned the interior spaces, originally fragmented and compact, to create a larger and more functional space, designed for a young couple of architects with two children, without sacrificing the home’s historic character and charm.
The new open-plan living space, the beating heart of the home, expresses a balance between openness, functionality, and material warmth, in an atmosphere punctuated by natural light.
In the French capital, natural light is a precious and rare gift. However, the original plan featured numerous small rooms, all facing the same side, thus limiting the indoor brightness. The project aimed to enhance this resource by opening up the spaces to obtain a double exposure from east to west following the path of the sun from dawn to dusk.. The project aimed to enhance this resource by opening up the spaces to obtain a double exposure from east to west following the path of the sun from dawn to dusk. This detail recalls the original presence of the wall, creating a bridge between past and present.
The multifunctional study, separable thanks to a felt curtain, elegantly adapts to everyday needs: a workspace, a relaxation area, or a third bedroom when needed.
The interior is now divided into three distinct areas: the open-plan living space, which combines the kitchen, dining room, living room, and a multifunctional space; the master bedroom suite; and the children’s area, which mirrors the parents’ space for privacy and comfort.
In place of the old kitchen and bathroom, an intimate and refined space takes shape, characterized by versatile volumes and elegant finishes, perfectly integrated with the rest of the house.
The area once used as a kitchen and bathroom has been transformed into a versatile study, enhanced by a circular felt curtain that can be closed off, transforming it into a third bedroom when needed, with effective soundproofing. When opened, this space blends harmoniously with the living room, becoming a practical whole for dinners and convivial moments.
A green beam replaces the original 50 cm load-bearing wall of the old sleeping area, maintaining the connection between past and present; the project connects with the guest bathroom, redesigned with elegant, contemporary finishes that perfectly complement it.
The two original bedrooms were joined by demolishing the dividing wall, creating a large open space that combines the living room and open-plan kitchen, closely connected to the adjacent study. The original living room has been converted into a double bedroom and two separate bathrooms: one for the master bedroom and the other, with direct access from the bedroom, for the children, to ensure privacy and practical functionality for the whole family. The guest bathroom remains intact, redesigned with luxury finishes that reflect material details from other corners of the home.
The custom-designed walnut cabinet defines the transition between the living and sleeping areas, combining practical functions such as laundry, wardrobes and a home cinema in a single volume.
To ideally mark the boundary between the living and sleeping areas, a custom-made walnut cabinet was designed, which runs along the entire load-bearing wall. A solution that is not only furnishing but also integrates laundry room, wardrobes, bookcase and a home cinema system, ensuring order and optimal management of the available space. The chosen furnishings are a celebration of contemporary design with carefully considered vintage touches, perfectly blended into the period context, creating a contemporary vision of the most contemporary interior design, balanced but without excess.
The choice of materials combines comfort and functionality: the walls, covered in natural lime, improve air quality and thermal insulation, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The light parquet flooring blends harmoniously with the travertine kitchen island, crafted from vibrated stainless steel, a matte finish that hides everyday fingerprints and ensures long-lasting durability, especially with children in the home.
The light parquet flooring blends harmoniously with the travertine kitchen island, crafted from vibrated stainless steel, a matte finish that hides everyday fingerprints and ensures long-lasting durability, especially with children in the home.
Wood and stainless steel return and find conceptual references in the nuances chosen for the master bedroom suite, lending elegance and warmth to the rooms, as well as design uniformity. In the bedroom, plywood was used to make the bunk bed, wardrobes, and storage units, creating a functional and playful space suitable for little ones.
The master bedroom opens onto an en suite bathroom with shower, where refined materials and thoughtful details ensure comfort and privacy in an intimate and relaxing atmosphere.
The bathrooms, though compact, have been designed with great attention to detail and embellished with ribbed-effect tiles and marble. The master bathroom features a sophisticated shower, while the children’s bathroom features a comfortable tub that combines design and practicality.
The bedroom, made of plywood for a functional and playful design, overlooks a practical and comfortable bathroom, designed for the daily needs of little ones.
This project demonstrates how a historic apartment can be revitalized with respect and attention. Il passato si intreccia al presente attraverso soluzioni su misura che privilegiano la luminosità, la funzionalità e il comfort, creando uno spazio che va oltre la semplice abitazione, pensato per il benessere e la condivisione quotidiana di una famiglia.
Project by toledano + architects – toledano-architects.com
Photo © Romain Ricard
Before-and-after floor plans of a Parisian apartment overlooking the Luxembourg Gardens © toledano + architects
On the cover, the study with the circular felt curtain: an easily transformable space, offering privacy and soundproofing, without sacrificing continuity with the living room.
