This apartment is located on Avenue Percier, close to the Champs-Élysées, in Paris’s 8th arrondissement. It’s a central, affluent part of the city, defined by wide boulevards, grand architecture and its proximity to Boulevard Haussmann and the major department stores. It also has a strong culture of bistros and fine dining, which makes it ideal for short stays and weekend visits.
Its owner conceived of the space as a pied-à-terre for friends and family to stay when visiting him in Paris, but it still needed to express his personality and interests fully. To achieve that goal, he turned to Hubert Zandberg Interiors.
‘The brief was to recreate the atmosphere of his own home in a lighter, less imposing way – a “softened” version of his world,’ Hubert explains. ‘He wanted the apartment to feel ageless and timeless, appealing to guests of all ages. As part of the process, we helped curate the collection, acting as an editorial eye to help balance the objects, books and artworks gathered over a lifetime of collecting, travel and flea market visits.’
‘When we first saw the apartment, it was in dire need of renovation,’ he recalls. ‘The layout was poorly conceived and inefficient, despite having large windows overlooking the avenue. There was a lot of potential, but the space felt run down and compromised, with an unfortunate and confusing plan that needed to be completely rethought.’
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As with many old Parisian buildings, the project came with challenges including ageing plumbing, structural constraints and compact proportions. ‘The key was making the apartment ultra-practical while maintaining a sense of ease,’ says Hubert.
A sense of arrival was important, so the layout was redesigned to avoid entering directly into the kitchen. Instead, a small lobby with a coat cupboard creates a moment of transition. Bookshelves act as walls and screens, and the kitchen was designed as an open-plan but lightly screened space, since heavy cooking isn’t expected in a guest apartment.
What had previously been two bedrooms became a luxurious one-bedroom suite with a generous bathroom and a more spacious bedroom. The living area was divided using sliding doors integrated into bookshelves, allowing flexibility between open and closed spaces. Storage was carefully integrated so the space could be closed off or opened up easily, keeping the interiors calm and free of clutter.
Hubert approached the apartment like a hotel suite – a temporary living space for weekend stays, which needed to feel layered, soft and welcoming in its design. The owner is a writer and an avid collector of books and art, with a particular focus on African art, and this became central to the scheme, which drew inspiration from his collections, his château in Provence and his connection to Africa.
Ochres, natural materials and textured surfaces such as canvas, leather and paper informed the palette. There was also a desire to create a sense of escapism – a space that feels transported, joyful and sunlit, with references to North African light and warmth.
A rich palette of colours and materials including weaving, grass, rope, metal and rattan brings texture and warmth to the space, while helping to conceal functional elements such as radiators.
Berber rugs from Morocco, mohair curtains, woven copper details in the kitchen and handmade terracotta tiles from South Africa were all incorporated. ‘Many pieces were made by artisans, and the client was deeply connected to the stories behind the materials and the people who made them, which added an extra layer of meaning to the space,’ adds Hubert.
He recalls the ‘joyful moment’ when the client saw the finished space, which now truly feels like a reflection of him, translated into a more relaxed and generous setting for guests. Hubert is most proud of the atmosphere he and his team managed to create in this compact but impactful space. ‘When a project designed to represent someone else truly comes alive through the people who use it, you know you’ve achieved what you set out to do.’ hzinteriors.com
