The Avenue Marceau Apartment by Hélène Van Marcke, a two story penthouse located in a typical Parisian 8th arrondissement structure, was totally transformed by connecting a floor of “chambres de bonnes” or attic rooms with the existing apartment below, by means of a fluid plaster-clad staircase that provides a luminous passage between residential and private areas.
Distinctive Haussmannian details were interpreted in a more modern way: bleached “pointe de Hongrie” oak floors, open perspectives between the spaces, plaster moldings, and detailing, a glass-partitioned “atelier d’artiste”. On both levels outside views are emphasized and stretch from the Arc de Triomphe & the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre. The architecture remains sober and timeless, allowing the owners’ breathtaking art & design collection to add color to the rooms. |
A mesmerizing mix of African elements by Maison Intègre and more cutting-edge pieces by Van Severen, Paulin, and Charpin complement vintage Gino Sarfatti & Paavo Tynell fixtures and Sheila Hicks tapestries. Many rooms feature bespoke designs by Hélène Van Marcke’s studio, including desks, sofas, and a custom headboard with Sam Kasten hand-woven upholstering.