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Plump, curvaceous furniture is hot property
and, in this home by interior designer Pierre
Yovanovitch, it creates a friendly atmosphere
Words BETHAN RYDER Photography JÉRÔME GALLANDHOME TRENDComfort and colour are in plentiful supply in this two-bedroom apartment
located in a 1950s property in Paris’s tranquil Les Invalides neighbourhood.
Designed for a young French couple who both work in the fashion industry,
and their young daughter, the home is the perfect example of Nice-born interior
designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s eclectic approach. He is known for blending
architectural elements with artisan-produced bespoke furniture, 20th-century
design collectables and contemporary art. On paper, this could sound dry, but
in reality his lively and inviting spaces are full of texture, materiality and
cheerfulness – imparted by his own expressive designs.
It’s hard not to feel affection for someone who christens their furniture and
lights with names such as ‘Papa Bear’, ‘Oops’ and ‘ET’. A pioneer of the curvaceous
and generous forms trending right now – the ‘Papa Bear’, for instance, designed
in 2012, is a huggable teddy of a chair with plush ears – Yovanovitch honed his
talents in residential projects after segueing from fashion (he was formerly
a menswear designer at Pierre Cardin). ‘I want my designs to bring character
to any space,’ he says. ‘I try to insufflate poetry into my work, so there is an
element of playfulness in most of my pieces. This is what gives life to an interior.’
In this home, Yovanovitch has generated that energy by creating a fluid,
open-plan atmosphere while maintaining distinct rooms. It is an approach
that is ideal for relaxed family living. At the heart of this layout is the living
room, dominated by a capacious solid-oak sofa upholstered in Jouffre linen.
‘It required exceptionally skilled craftspeople to realise the piece’s complex
shape,’ he says of the custom-designed piece. ‘I wanted to create a welcoming
feel, and this sofa, with its curved shape, lends itself to conversation.’
The calming neutrals and natural textures of the living area are enlivened
by the punchy dark teal and rust orange of Yovanovitch’s reassuringly chunky
and enveloping ‘Asymétrie’ armchairs. By extending this colour combination
throughout the rest of the apartment – the two shades are most notable in the
kitchen, where they add a vivacious warmth – he creates a harmonious flow,
not to mention a home full of verve and personality. pierreyovanovitch.comLiving room A pair of Yovanovitch’s chunky
‘Asymétrie’ armchairs, available at The Invisible
Collection, sit with a concrete coffee table
by Matthias Kohn for Pierre Yovanov itch and
a 1960s red lacquered side table by Tommi Parzinger
from Eric Philippe ga ller y. The floor lamp is a v intage
design by Alvar Aalto and the artwork is Cobra Baroc
(2016) by Georg Baselitz, from Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
Stockist details on p194 ➤EA SY
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ARTWORK: COPYRIGHT GEORG BASELITZ 2019