Above An Italian 1950s armchair, Gino Sarfatti lamp and ‘Lalinde’ table from Sentou
Dining area The Corian-topped table is a custom design which has been paired with
‘Ant’ chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen and a ‘Coogee Cotton’ sofa from Sentou.
A pair of ‘Marseille’ wall lights by Le Corbusier for Nemo and a photograph
by Jean-Pierre Khazem hang above Stockist details on p194 ➤
THE TREND
French interior designer Charlotte Macaux Perelman,
the mastermind behind the inviting look of this
Parisian home, believes that the current affection
for blonde timber is down to much more than just
a continued obsession with Scandinavian design.
As she points out, there are ecological concerns that
have led to this growing trend. ‘Darker woods, such
as wenge and mahogany, have become much rarer
in recent years, therefore it would be unethical to
use them in large quantities today.’ When it comes
to sustainable timber, the best choices are fast-
growing soft woods, such as pine, or oak from
European forests where harvesting is monitored.THE HOME
‘There’s a soul to every home, something to preserve,’
says Charlotte, whose approach to design is always
to respect the history of a space. There is, however,
an exception to every rule, and what interested her
about this 230-square-metre apartment, which
overlooks Paris’s Parc Monceau, was precisely the
fact that there was nothing to salvage. The former
owner had lived here for 42 years and redecorated
rooms at different times, each in the tastes and
fashions of the specific period. ‘It was all over the
place stylistically’, Charlotte recalls.
The project represents the most extensive
demolition job the interior designer, who divides
her time between her own studio and her role as
co-creative director of Hermès Maison, has ever
undertaken. ‘Nothing was left in place’, she says. Or
rather, almost nothing. During the renovation, a
ceiling with majestic mouldings – hidden for decades
behind simple plaster panels – was revealed in the
living room. Although it was painted brown and
covered with dirt, Charlotte decided to celebrate
this one original feature by modifying her initial
plans. Instead of configuring several smaller reception
rooms, she created one large open-plan living space,
tailored to accentuate the ceiling ’s dimensions.
The apartment’s décor is typical of Charlotte’s
style. She favours a rigorous architectural approach,
with white walls, clean lines and natural materials- particularly wood and marble. The pale oak used
for the flooring throughout was also used for the
cabinetry, with Charlotte choosing to leave the
timber untreated. ‘I wanted to preserve its natural
honey tone’, she explains. Both of the apartment’s
owners are art lovers (he is the grandson of an
antique dealer; she formerly worked in the legal
department of a well-known art foundation) and,
for Charlotte, their collection brings a dose of fantasy
to this home. It’s the ideal contrast to the elegant
restraint of her design. studio-cmp.com
The design world’s AFFECTION for
blonde TIMBER is due to more than
a love of the SCANDINAVIAN look
108 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK AU G U S T 2019