W hen architect Frederic Berthier first encountered this apartment, its classical character was completely obscured. It was in what he calls a “classical Parisian building”—a nineteenth- century Haussmannian apartment building—in “the real old Paris,” the historical center of Saint-Germain-des-Prés among the galleries and bookshops and the famous cafes where everyone from Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir to Picasso, Ernest Hemmingway, and James Baldwin would hang out. “The apartment had been decorated by an architect in the 80s,” says Frederic. “There were angles everywhere, very complicated volumes and corridors...” The design was the complete antithesis of its classical character. “I tried to bring it back,” he says. “My work was mainly to rebuild the rooms as they were before.”
A subtle division has been created between the living room and TV area with a long, low bookshelf. “A part of it is made with cedar,” says Frederic. “It smells very good; I really love it.” The circular table is by Christian Liaigre. The wooden floors recall classic Parisian materials, and a long, low ledge in Carrara marble is perfect for the display of art. The lounge suite is by Frederic Berthier Design. The sofa, coffee table, and wood-block side table are all by Christian Liaigre. The natural textures of the raw wood and sisal rug contrast with the sleek black of the other furniture. Frederic says that he felt it was important when creating a sanctuary that shelters his clients from the information overload and rapid pace of change that characterize modern life, to create a connection with nature. He’s achieved that through the use of natural materials, but also by filling the terraces with plants. One of his favorite things about this apartment, he says, is that “you are in the centre of Paris, but you live with open windows and you see only green.”
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