Dear Readers,
Many of you have been eagerly waiting to see the final reveal of the studio apartment that has been going through a remarkable renovation and remodeling in Paris. If you’re just tuning in, you can see the first installment of the series when we visited the apartment for the first time and asked, Can This Apartment be Salvaged? Then we teased you with an update on the renovation here where you could see the incredible work that was being done to turn this apartment into a petit bijou, or little jewel. I took photos of the work progress and was gobsmacked by the transformation that had begun.
Well, after that the owner Ann refused to let me in until I saw the finished apartment. So while we waited I pondered the incredible Eiffel Tower view from this studio apartment while wondering what the final result would look like!
I knew it was going to be gorgeous, but this was better than I could imagine! As our resident wine expert, my husband Philippe gives the final approval to all of our apartment names. He agreed to our suggestion for the name, Crémant, which is so fitting, because like the apartment, this wine sparkles! (A side note: Philippe must actually like the wine before agreeing to an apartment name, which can make the name process difficult.)
So, without further ado, let me be the first to introduce you to the beautiful new Crémant!
The pictures speak for themselves, but I’m excited to share some of my favorite touches. And there are a lot, some subtle and some not. Starting in the bright living area, I can’t get enough of the enormous chandelier, which was found at the flea market. When I first saw it, it was so large that I was afraid it wouldn’t fit. But hanging above the dining table, no one will hit it with their head – and it looks gorgeous reflected in the mirror above the fireplace.
The entire layout of the apartment was switched around and the kitchen moved to the living area (check out all the renovation changes here), which permitted a real queen sized bed to fit in the apartment and beautiful built in cupboards. The cupboards were covered with mirrors, which reflect the light from the large window in the sleeping area and the light from the pretty chandelier at night.
This meant the sofa didn’t have to be a sleeper sofa, so Ann selected a day bed with ticking style cushions in gray and cream. Her special touch are the other cushions she found to highlight the room: the dark gray velvet and darling pink lumbar pillow.
The brand new kitchen has everything needed for cooking at home, including a dishwasher hidden away in the dark taupe cupboards. The antique marble fireplace mantle and decorative mirror add a sense of Parisian style to this charming space. The dark gray dining chairs highlight the pretty soft colors and are practical for guests and comfortable for relaxing dinners at home.
In addition to the gilded antique mirror, the back splash in the kitchen area has mirrors, which really opens up the space and reflects light so nicely. It’s an ingenious touch to make a small space feel larger!
To make it a welcoming vacation rental, the Crémant has been outfitted with everything you need to enjoy your stay, including the always popular Nespresso machine and a fully equipped kitchen.
What I love about this apartment is how it captures the romance of Paris with its decorative touches yet is such a comfortable and well designed space at the same time. The beautiful antique mirror pictured above was a special find, and the details are utterly romantic.
The bathroom has been completely redesigned and also features a distinctive mirror, sink console with storage area below and shower with a lovely rain forest-style shower head.
Painting the ceiling beams a soft gray was a brilliant move as they became a real feature, not a heavy imposition. (Check out the original dark beams and horrid blue – yes blue – walls here!) And putting a small wall in the middle created a partial separation between the living and sleeping areas. I was concerned about using curtains to separate the spaces, thinking it might look too do it yourself. But not at all! The curtains are heavy and elegant and when pulled back they add to the softness to the apartment.
I consider Ann one of the best Paris flea market shoppers ever. I used to think I was the best until I met her, but I’m still a close second! It’s a lot of fun to go together because each of us wanders our own way, negotiates and then brings in the other to act like the bad cop to close the deal. She found the beautiful chest at the Puces in Paris and bargained dealer from €2,000 down to €500 – one of her best acquisitions to date.
I don’t mean to sound like an ad for Ann and Huff Harrington Home, but I’ve watched her work with her clients on their wonderful antique shopping trips – and you will never find a better buyer for you! First, she finds those hidden gems at the back of a stall. She can tell when something is a really nice piece or a bad copy. She’s the best negotiator and most of all, the price you pay is the best price. She’s found many little treasures to transform this studio apartment into a gorgeous vacation rental in Paris.
I invite you to have a look at all the photos here and book a stay at the Crémant. After all, as that cute pink cushion says … Paris is always a good idea!
Read Part I: Can This Apartment Be Salvaged? How the Crémant Looked Before!
Read Part II: Can This Apartment Be Salvaged? – An Update!
The Crémant apartment was offered as a fractional through Paris Perfect Shared, but is sold out. This fully deeded ownership opportunity allows you a month in Paris each year, without all the hassle of full ownership. Take a look at all the details of fractional ownership, as well as the apartments we currently have available.
What a beautiful use of space, great design
Lovely, absolutely lovely!
[…] image source: parisperfect.com […]