Nestled along the beautiful sidewalks of the prime 16th arrondissement district in Paris lies an enchanting house with a sprawling garden and an illustrious history. Bryan O’Sullivan, the designer whose studio undertook the impressive transformation of the home takes Home & Decor on a private tour of the residence, to uncover the laborious journey of giving it a new lease of life.
At a glance
Who lives here: A couple, whose children have grown up and moved out
Type of home: House with six bedrooms, grand salon, petit salon, formal dining room, pool and spa, gym, kitchen and informal living space, tv room and dressing room
Size of home: 10,500 sq ft
ID: Bryan O’Sullivan Studio
“The house was purchased over 10 years ago by the client, who was looking for a large family home with a generous garden, which is a rarity in central Paris,” Bryan explains. From the outside, neatly trimmed bushes line the sidewalk, providing a sense of privacy for the homeowners. The grey slatted roof gently slopes downwards, creating a grand look complemented by the elegantly framed windows and archways.
Behind the house lies a lush garden designed with a European-style landscape, dotted with trees and shrubs. Stairs lead down to a private terrace below.
“The house was previously owned by Bernard Arnault, of billionaire, chairman and chief executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy, the world’s largest luxury goods company, but it had been left dormant for many after it was sold,” Bryan says. When his clients, a well-heeled couple looking to establish a family home with a large garden purchased the property, they too left the historic house empty for several years as they took their time searching for the right designer to take on the mammoth task of transforming the interiors. The main door opens into a stately foyer. Bryan accented one of the walls with mirrors in order to create a sense of symmetry in the space, as well as opening up the whole area to make it feel more spacious and inviting.
At the other end of the hallway lies a flight of carpeted stairs, flanked by a gilded balustrade.
The formal living room is located close to the entrance foyer, and across it lies the dining room. Bryan’s team tried to retain as much of the home’s previous glory as possible.
“We wanted the old part of the house to feel as old as possible, so we worked with Gohard for the specialist paint finishes, architecturally. It was important for us to have as calm a palette as possible, so as to create an informal and inviting space. We tried to mix the textures up as possible and only had one rule – nothing shiny!” he points out.
“The house was painstakingly returned to it’s former glory by our studio. We researched the appropriate skirting and cornicing details, swapped the location of the swimming pool into the centre of the lower ground floor with the kitchen and engaged the best artisans in France to make the bones of the house feel as authentic and old as possible,” Bryan continues, highlighting the gold gilded filigree on the walls, matched by ottomans in the same colour. Bringing the whole look together is a collection of modern-styled furniture in a cream palette.
Bryan decided on going for a cosier mood in the dining room, created by the use of vintage-style wallpaper and decorative wall moulding. A contemporary chandelier helps to make the large room feel homier, while adding a dose of modernity to the classic-feel of the space.
The walls of the library are lined in wood, evoking a sense of warmth and intimacy. Bryan’s team included plenty of comfortable seating appointments in this area to allow guests to relax and unwind.
While most of the home is designed to reflect the grandeur of its status and background, Bryan’s team also created an informal den, where the homeowners can spend a casual afternoon catching up with family or having breakfast by the kitchen.
The den also opens up onto the garden and swimming pool. Bryan’s clever design brings both the out- and indoor spaces together seamlessly, creating a sense of harmony throughout the room.
Stairs leading to the upper floor of the home accented by a large window framed with beautifully-cut glass panels.
Unlike the stately look of the formal living and dining rooms, the bedrooms are designed to evoke a calming atmosphere. Light pastel colours are used for the walls, and chic contemporary fittings help to make the room feel inviting but not overwhelming.
The colour of the sofa in the bedroom was also inspired by the light hue on the wall.
“We sourced a lot of the furniture through Parisian galleries and the city’s incredible flea market, Clingnancourt. We also went to established masters such as Delisle. We also designed many of the pieces, such as the beds, gesso pendants and other items in the house,” Bryan mentions.
Clad entirely in marble, the master bathroom is luxurious and opulent. Bryan’s team pared back on adding complex ornamentation within the space in order to bring out the true beauty of the marble’s grains.
Bryan sums up this project by explaining how he manages to update the look of this home without taking away its former glory, “The Bryan O’Sullivan Studio design aesthetic brings together multiple influences to create places where people feel comfortable and at ease, while maintaining a sense of place. I guess you could say that we strive to make even the most demanding spaces appear welcoming and timeless, whether a public hotel or private residence.”
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This article was originally published in Home & Decor.