It's been over a year since I last updated you on my Parisian apartment journey! At that time, we had just completed the renovations and added some artisanal molding.

See the video below of my contractor Guillaume crafting custom plaster moldings, following the apartment’s original millwork style.

The Hunt for Treasures

Since then, I've been meticulously collecting beautiful pieces to truly make this space feel like home. While it might seem like a lengthy process to decorate a small apartment, my aim has always been to hand pick each object.

Those who know me well understand that my love for the treasure hunt is almost as much as the treasures themselves! Consequently, I've been diligently antiquing and sourcing with intention, gradually filling up the space. I still don’t consider it entirely finished, but I wanted to share some of the decor choices I’ve made so far.

Today, I'm inviting you inside my French home to discover how I've integrated antique and artisanal finds into the space.

The Mantle Story

The transformation of this apartment truly started with the base: the walls! They evoke a historic Parisian charm, so I knew I had to bring in a marble mantle to complete the look. Funny enough, when I first got the keys to the apartment, all this charm had been stripped of it during recent renovations. My husband jokes that we probably bought the mantle they had removed from the apartment in the first place! We found it in a pretty magical store in les Puces de Saint-Ouen, a story I’ll be telling you all about in a future blog.

It’s All in the Details

I always feel like paying attention to the small details you think no one will notice is truly what elevates a space! Look at these door handles for instance. I found them at Porte de Vanves. They were not original to the space; as a matter of fact, neither were the doors — we got to design those too. I did hear from the contractor that the old door handles gave him some trouble. I believe I’ve since been forgiven… They’re now one of my favorite details!

Bringing in Modern Pieces

You can’t just introduce antiques to an already vintage looking room. Which is why I enjoy playing with a touch of modern! It’s just like designing a garden, not every flower or plant have the same height, texture, or shape so that your eye can flow through the space. A prime example of this is in the living room where Modern swivel chairs coexist with a charming crystal chandelier.

Artisanal Pieces

France's reputation for craftsmanship inspired me to showcase it in this space. It was during the renovation that I had the pleasure of discovering the wonderful small businesses whose products we now carry at the shop, such as Antoinette Poisson for the restroom wallpaper, and Alix D. Reynis for the vases, bowls, and lights in the apartment. Speaking of which, many on Instagram have inquired about the hanging lights in my bedroom—they're from Alix D. Reynis, and we'll soon be stocking them in the store. Stay tuned!

What’s Next

As I mentioned, the journey isn’t over yet! I've just ordered more wallpaper from Antoinette Poisson to add an artisanal touch to the modern kitchen, and I'm still sourcing some artwork for the hallway. I promise a full apartment tour as soon as it’s completed! In the meantime, I hope you’ve enjoyed these highlights.

A bientôt,
Sandra

P.S. I brought home antiques from my trip to Paris in March, similar to the ones you see in my apartment. You can now check them out on our website and in the shop!