An apartment in Paris that feels like a country house
At the end of a cul-de-sac, garages have been transformed into a 130sqm apartment in Paris renovated in a country house style
At the end of a cul-de-sac in the 11th arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from the Bastille, there were several attached garages. They were dark, low-ceilinged spaces with poor layouts, and nothing suggested they could be turned into anything worthwhile. But the presence of a small, neglected paved courtyard made them highly desirable. It was nothing more than a patch of concrete and weeds, yet it gave off an undeniable country feel. It was this small courtyard that set the tone for the entire renovation of this apartment in Paris, led by interior designer Camille Hermand.
The first problem was structural, as the floors of the various garages were not at the same level. The solution? Lowering the entire floor by 20 centimeters, which added ceiling height without altering the existing structures. A room with sufficient ceiling height feels much more spacious. The openings were then completely redesigned. In the living room, two double glass doors were installed that now open onto the flower-filled courtyard.
On the street side, the old garage doors have been replaced by large picture windows that flood two bedrooms and the bathroom with natural light. The widened exterior ledges accommodate planters along their entire length, a clever way to extend the greenery into the interior. And all the interior doors are partially glazed, allowing light to flow from one room to another.
The living room is the centerpiece of this apartment in Paris. The discovery of a chimney flue during renovations made it possible to install a fireplace. It evokes the feeling of being in an old country house, even though we’re just a ten-minute walk from the Opéra Bastille.
Surrounding this fireplace is a moss-green sofa with colorful cushions, where touches of ochre, rust, and sage green enhance this almost neutral shade. The solid wood daybed with its compass-style legs is a piece from the 1950s, and this mid-century style works perfectly with the apartment’s country vibe. A teak wall-mounted bookshelf, with its system of posts and shelves, covers an entire wall. It’s filled with vintage finds, ceramics, and books stacked in no apparent order but with a very effective visual result.
This blend of mid-century and vintage finds is a balancing act that few pull off successfully. The off-white walls are ideal for accommodating this mix of eras. A black-fringed pendant light above the daybed adds a slightly unexpected, almost theatrical touch, giving the room a relaxed vibe.
The dining room opens onto a wall-to-wall bookshelf on one side and large windows on the other. Its raw wood table is surrounded by straw-seated chairs reminiscent of the Shaker style. A round jute rug is placed beneath it. The pendant light has a poetic lightness, adding a touch of modernity to this authentic country vibe.
The kitchen, visible from the living room, has been designed with the same care. To stay true to the country home aesthetic, the kitchen features a modernized rustic style. The cabinet fronts are painted in a slightly warm white with brass handles, creating a simple and timeless look. A central island, a combination of wood and painted metal, occupies the center of the room. The whitewashed exposed beams on the ceiling and the exposed brick on one corner of the wall evoke the space’s industrial origins without being overbearing.
A hallway has been entirely lined with white shelves filled with books. Hundreds of titles coexist there, packed from floor to ceiling, with a small-paned glass wall opposite. It’s not a hallway, it’s a passageway that makes you want to settle in.
The bathroom extends this library concept, with a ribbed glass wall opening onto bookshelves accessible from both rooms. It’s an idea that’s both bizarre and brilliant. Its antique freestanding bathtub, the retro faucets, the pedestal sink, the terracotta floor tiles, everything here evokes the decor of a family home.
The master bedroom of this apartment in Paris is right next to this charming vintage bathroom. It plays on neutral tones with a touch of color provided by the fringed pendant light and the books lined up on the shelf above the bed.
The courtyard wing is reserved to the two children’s bedrooms. One black glass partition separating the two rooms ensures each child’s privacy while allowing light to flow through.
It is in these rooms that we find the boldest choice of the entire renovation. A large-scale panoramic mural depicting a rainforest, palm trees, vines, and perched monkeys covers an entire wall. It responds directly to the greenery of the courtyard visible through the windows. From the courtyard, the effect is striking: you see the painted forest through the windowpanes, superimposed on the potted ferns arranged on the outer windowsill. This is a true interior designer’s decision.
We always come back to the courtyard. This square of moss-covered cobblestones, with its black wrought-iron table, bistro chairs, slightly old-fashioned cream-fringed parasol, potted plants, and climbing vines, is the beating heart of this Paris apartment. All the spaces face it or connect to it in one way or another.
The renovation managed to avoid over-styling this space. No designer furniture, no polished concrete, no steel pergola. Just vintage garden furniture, greenery, and cobblestones. Here, the courtyard feels like a laid-back, bucolic retreat.
This renovation achieves something difficult. It gives this apartment in Paris the soul of a home. Not through decorative artifice, but because the architectural choices, the recessed ceiling, the glass roofs, the fireplace, created the conditions to achieve this result even before furnishing the space. The terracotta tiles, the wood, the linen, the exposed brick, the cast-iron radiator, everything has a country feel. It’s a successful project because no one tried to make it flashy here.
The Saint-Sébastien neighborhood, between Bastille and République, is part of the 11th arrondissement of Paris that we love for its discreet courtyards, converted artist studios, and buildings that hide more than they reveal. The project perfectly captured this spirit, that of a Parisian address that reveals its full charm the moment you step inside. living room contemporary and mid-century decor apartment in Paris Bastille Photo : © Agathe Tissier
Lowering the floor, opening up, letting in the light
The first problem was structural, as the floors of the various garages were not at the same level. The solution? Lowering the entire floor by 20 centimeters, which added ceiling height without altering the existing structures. A room with sufficient ceiling height feels much more spacious. The openings were then completely redesigned. In the living room, two double glass doors were installed that now open onto the flower-filled courtyard.
On the street side, the old garage doors have been replaced by large picture windows that flood two bedrooms and the bathroom with natural light. The widened exterior ledges accommodate planters along their entire length, a clever way to extend the greenery into the interior. And all the interior doors are partially glazed, allowing light to flow from one room to another.
A living room that’s both contemporary and rustic
The living room is the centerpiece of this apartment in Paris. The discovery of a chimney flue during renovations made it possible to install a fireplace. It evokes the feeling of being in an old country house, even though we’re just a ten-minute walk from the Opéra Bastille.
Surrounding this fireplace is a moss-green sofa with colorful cushions, where touches of ochre, rust, and sage green enhance this almost neutral shade. The solid wood daybed with its compass-style legs is a piece from the 1950s, and this mid-century style works perfectly with the apartment’s country vibe. A teak wall-mounted bookshelf, with its system of posts and shelves, covers an entire wall. It’s filled with vintage finds, ceramics, and books stacked in no apparent order but with a very effective visual result.
This blend of mid-century and vintage finds is a balancing act that few pull off successfully. The off-white walls are ideal for accommodating this mix of eras. A black-fringed pendant light above the daybed adds a slightly unexpected, almost theatrical touch, giving the room a relaxed vibe.
The kitchen and dining room, two spaces in dialogue
The dining room opens onto a wall-to-wall bookshelf on one side and large windows on the other. Its raw wood table is surrounded by straw-seated chairs reminiscent of the Shaker style. A round jute rug is placed beneath it. The pendant light has a poetic lightness, adding a touch of modernity to this authentic country vibe.
The kitchen, visible from the living room, has been designed with the same care. To stay true to the country home aesthetic, the kitchen features a modernized rustic style. The cabinet fronts are painted in a slightly warm white with brass handles, creating a simple and timeless look. A central island, a combination of wood and painted metal, occupies the center of the room. The whitewashed exposed beams on the ceiling and the exposed brick on one corner of the wall evoke the space’s industrial origins without being overbearing.
The hallway-library, the master bedroom, and the bathroom
A hallway has been entirely lined with white shelves filled with books. Hundreds of titles coexist there, packed from floor to ceiling, with a small-paned glass wall opposite. It’s not a hallway, it’s a passageway that makes you want to settle in.
The bathroom extends this library concept, with a ribbed glass wall opening onto bookshelves accessible from both rooms. It’s an idea that’s both bizarre and brilliant. Its antique freestanding bathtub, the retro faucets, the pedestal sink, the terracotta floor tiles, everything here evokes the decor of a family home.
The master bedroom of this apartment in Paris is right next to this charming vintage bathroom. It plays on neutral tones with a touch of color provided by the fringed pendant light and the books lined up on the shelf above the bed.
The children’s rooms in a rainforest style
The courtyard wing is reserved to the two children’s bedrooms. One black glass partition separating the two rooms ensures each child’s privacy while allowing light to flow through.
It is in these rooms that we find the boldest choice of the entire renovation. A large-scale panoramic mural depicting a rainforest, palm trees, vines, and perched monkeys covers an entire wall. It responds directly to the greenery of the courtyard visible through the windows. From the courtyard, the effect is striking: you see the painted forest through the windowpanes, superimposed on the potted ferns arranged on the outer windowsill. This is a true interior designer’s decision.
The courtyard, the central theme of the entire project
We always come back to the courtyard. This square of moss-covered cobblestones, with its black wrought-iron table, bistro chairs, slightly old-fashioned cream-fringed parasol, potted plants, and climbing vines, is the beating heart of this Paris apartment. All the spaces face it or connect to it in one way or another.
The renovation managed to avoid over-styling this space. No designer furniture, no polished concrete, no steel pergola. Just vintage garden furniture, greenery, and cobblestones. Here, the courtyard feels like a laid-back, bucolic retreat.
What stands out about this project
This renovation achieves something difficult. It gives this apartment in Paris the soul of a home. Not through decorative artifice, but because the architectural choices, the recessed ceiling, the glass roofs, the fireplace, created the conditions to achieve this result even before furnishing the space. The terracotta tiles, the wood, the linen, the exposed brick, the cast-iron radiator, everything has a country feel. It’s a successful project because no one tried to make it flashy here.
What about the neighborhood?
The Saint-Sébastien neighborhood, between Bastille and République, is part of the 11th arrondissement of Paris that we love for its discreet courtyards, converted artist studios, and buildings that hide more than they reveal. The project perfectly captured this spirit, that of a Parisian address that reveals its full charm the moment you step inside. living room contemporary and mid-century decor apartment in Paris Bastille Photo : © Agathe Tissier
Comments