(via Architectural Digest, photography by Matthieu Salvaing)
The Rive Gauche or Left Bank of Paris is known for its historic communities of philosophers, writers, artists at Montparnasse, the Latin Quarter of students attending the University of Paris, so it seems fitting that actress Hilary Swank took up residence in a grand apartment in this part of Paris. With the help of designer Axel Huynh, bold gestures of blues and a pop of red in the living room brought dramatic saturation to each living space. Much of the furniture was designed by Huynh, with custom details highlighted by the sparse decoration. This curated approach gives extra emphasis to the strong moments of color, such as on the velvet curtains and the custom paint color chosen for a teal accent wall in the dining room. I can’t help but call the mix of custom and contemporary furniture quite swanky, and often very sculptural, from the India Madhavi side table by the desk to the black and white oyster-shaped sconces in the dining room. See the rest of Swank’s Parisian home below.
This shot gives a good sense of the room, with facing daybeds and the stunning red marble fireplace pulling warm colors from the rug and floor as a balance to the cerulean blue on the seating and curtains. Below, a very striking vignette is made with a custom marble-topped desk and “Africa” chair by Albert Pinto, topped by a mid-century lamp.
The dining room masterfully pairs two cool hues, with the cerulean continuing from the living room to the lacquered legs on the dining cane back dining chairs and a dynamic teal color on the wall. Just outside of the right-hand side of this crop is the second oyster sconce, in white marble rather than black.
The bathroom was kept simple and straightforward, clad in Carrara marble. The apartment exudes a sense of confidence, from the rich colors to the simple vignettes. While it’s highly designed, the result feels very approachable. Do you like this contemporary take on a Parisian flat?
