Nouvelle Athenes - “New Athens” sits in the north of the city and was named for its beautiful and unique architecture, which was mostly built within the 19th century. Full of Parisian culture, residents of Nouvelle Athenes included Victor Hugo and Frederic Chopin. So, when French-American design firm, Champeau & Wilde was hired to renovate one of the Haussmannian apartments, their main intention was to connect the past and the present.
The two key elements of the design included the completely restored grand double séjour and the Haussmannian’s magnificent contemporary art collection. A full renovation was required, using the structure of the space and the way it is lived in to establish the link between the past and the present.
Originally located at the back of the apartment, the design duo moved the kitchen towards the front of the apartment, where the old bedroom was, to help guests flow from room to room. By moving the kitchen’s location, this has allowed them to connect it to the entrance hall for caters to discreetly slip in and out. The old kitchen that overlooked the courtyard was then made into a guest room, which was decorated using neutral tones for the walls.
Champeau & Wilde have expertly mixed the old and new through juxtaposing modern accents and decorative details such as the mirrored and glass surfaces layered throughout the space, making the relationship between past and present shine throughout the Nouvelle Athenes apartment.
Champeau & Wilde offer fully designed projects that express their client’s desires, keeping in mind attention to detail, space, furniture and many more. The duo apply the intangible rules of sophistication à la française to their work using subtle contemporary and classical references. To find out more, click here.