G
eorge Gershwin composed An American in Paris
to convey his own first impressions of the City of
Lights. In the sumptuous 1951 film version, Gene
Kelly famously pliéd through a ballet sequence to
that song with a similar sense of naive optimism.
Here, Ashley Maddox has decoratively danced her
way through an 18th-century apartment in Saint-
Germain with a Californian-style joie de vivre.
Maddox — a West Coast-born property developer — has been
buying and renovating homes in historic buildings since she arrived
in Paris with a newborn and toddler in 2008, and now makes it her
business to search out neglected Paris apartments — “ugly
ducklings”, she calls them — and wave her magic wand over the
1970s decor.
The formerly dowdy bird in question is the first floor of a building
on Rue Jacob, built in 1710. “There are many designers in Paris who
are removing the original elements,” says Maddox. “For me, it’s like,
noooo! I’m American. To have a marble chimney that’s practically
older than the United States — it’s such a joy.”
The ornate period details are all the more ‘wow’ in a revamped
interior with a modern layout and an easy flow. “It’s about adding
personality, but personality in a way that’s not overbearing,” says
Maddox, who collaborated with Paris-based GCG Architects and
contracting team WITO on the project. It was also about
reconfiguring the layout; repurposing the period features; and
injecting some colour, a dose of American practicality and an
eclectic selection of furniture, including the 1970s Azucena Toro
sofas and chairs in their original blue and tomato-soup velvets. “The
joy of doing this in Paris,” says Maddox, “is that you have these
amazing spaces that have been neglected for a long time.”
The team started by ripping up the linoleum floors and knocking
out the lowered ceiling. In the hallway, architraves from the salon
were repositioned. Previously enclosed, the salon was opened up to
make the whole space feel brighter.And where was the American in this corner of Paris? In the glossy
blue-painted window seat, for one, inspired by a Paris cafe. Maddox
says she likes to anticipate nice places to sit; it’s about comfort and
a moth-like search for the utmost light. “We knew the blue would be
a nice visual focus,” adds the designer, who’s known for favouring
saturated colour palettes. “Colour actually makes these classical
rooms feel taller, as well as giving them a good graphic punch.” The
blue also ties in with the bottom half of the kitchen, which relates to
the blue bedroom and the Toro salon chairs.
American comfort is most commonly sought in the (French-
named) ensuite, so there is now a bathroom for each bedroom. Not
to mention an ample new kitchen sink: “In America, we always have
a big sink,” says Maddox. “When you have friends over for drinks,
you can put everything in it and you can’t see a thing.”
The decor itself is hardly American. Like Paris, it is a melting pot
of designs behind which lie stories of travel. The burled wood
kitchen table is Italian, found in Holland, and combines with the
Marcel Breuer chairs (German, but found in Italy). Picked up from
a flea market, the Murano chandelier in the kitchen hangs above
Austrian Thonet chairs sourced in Marrakech.
But the game is given away by the colour scheme of Californian
Gold Coast-warm rather than grey or stark white, a tale of
tonality that best demonstrates the culture clash. “There’s a funny
reality when I work with architects in Paris,” Maddox muses.
“Often, when we think of a colour scheme, a range will be presented.
I’ll choose the warm colours, whereas they’ll go towards the cool.
We’re using brass throughout, for the lighting and taps, which is not
typical at all in France or Paris.”
It’s almost as if Gene Kelly just performed a pirouette across the
apartment’s pale oak parquet floor, and whatever he touched
assumed a gossamer Hollywood filter. “I grew up in California in
the sunshine,” explains Maddox. “In Paris, the sky is already grey.
We don’t need any more.” VL
laurenashleymaddox.com @laurenashleymaddox.comTHIS PAGE Ashley Maddox. OPPOSITE PAGE in the hallway, bergère
matches the bench by Double G, upholstered with Tulip Sway and Iris
Bloom linen by Idarica Gazzoni; wedding cake architraves, relocated
with the help of construction company WITO; pendants by Caravane.“We knew the blue would be
a nice visual focus. Colour
makes these classical rooms
feel taller, as well as giving
them a good graphic punch”
ASHLEY MADDOX122 vogueliving.com.au
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER: ZOE FIDJI. ADDITIONAL TEXT: JOANNE GAMBALE