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16 4 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK S EP T E M B ER 2019

Opposite Under the restored Art Deco stained-glass window is

a ‘Thalie’ marble console by Joris Poggioli for Youth Editions.

The table lamp is also by Youth Editions, and the vase is by Lalique

Stockist details on p188

et in a 1930s mansion in the elegant Parisian neighbourhood

of Neuilly-sur-Seine, this atmospheric garden apartment

is home to a fashion journalist, her lawyer husband and

their four children. The pair had spent considerable time

searching for the perfect home, and enlisted the help of

interior designer Gaspard Ronjat to update and revitalise

the space, which occupies the entire ground floor of this

imposing residence. ‘The place hadn’t been touched for

several years, and there was a lot to do, but the spirit and

the atmosphere were very special: a true Art Deco ambience,

with very specific architectural details,’ says Gaspard.

The designer worked with the apartment’s existing split-

level layout, which featured a series of interconnecting

reception rooms on the upper floor. He decided to convert

part of this storey into a main bedroom, retaining all of the

original elements, including a striking marble fireplace.

In order to preserve the proportions of the grand space,

which was formerly used as a music room, Gaspard designed

a freestanding box to house the ensuite bathroom and act

as a partition, helping to give the room a more intimate feel.

One side of the structure contains a shower that faces the

fireplace, the other a wall of storage. ‘I like the fact that this

feature could be removed if future owners decide to return

the space to exactly how it was,’ he explains.

A strong respect for the building ’s past was a constant

throughout the renovation, which sought to preserve as

many period features as possible, including fireplaces,

floors, woodwork, ironwork and, of course, the incredible

stained-glass window in the entrance hall. ‘All of this means

that, despite our intervention, the house retains its soul,’

says Gaspard, who also created four further bedrooms on

the apartment’s lower level for the couple’s children.

As for the decoration, ‘eclectic’ is how the designer

describes it. ‘I chose most of the furniture in collaboration

with the client, and mixed contemporary designs with

antique pieces,’ he explains. ‘The apartment still has its

elegant Art Deco feel, but it’s relaxed and comfortable, too

• ideal for family life.’ gaspardronjat.com