A renovated Haussmann-style apartment in Paris by d'Ussel & Decoster
The Ussel & Decoster design firm has transformed this 105sqm renovated Haussmann-style apartment in Paris into a contemporary interior
Paris’s 9th arrondissement has an urban village atmosphere, and the buildings there often retain their Second Empire character. This renovated Haussmann-style apartment features all the hallmarks of that era. Baroque moldings, herringbone parquet flooring, and a white marble fireplace enhance the beauty of these classic spaces. It was in this context that the interior design firm d' Ussel & Decoster took on this apartment. With a floor area of 105sqm, it is located on the second floor of a building dating from 1864, and for several decades had been heavily partitioned and lacked natural light.
The architects’ client, a young woman, works primarily from home. She wanted an open, bright living space capable of accommodating both her private daily life and her professional activities without one encroaching on the other. A request that seems straightforward until one realizes what it means in practice within a Haussmann-style building: redistributing the spaces, reworking the floors, ceilings, and walls, and starting from scratch without erasing the building’s history.
One of the project’s boldest decisions involved demolition. Knocking down a partition in a Haussmann-style apartment is a common practice. But the presence of moldings is a factor that must be taken into account. The proportions change, and the reconfigured space can lose all its beauty if the moldings are damaged. d'Ussel & Decoster anticipated this by commissioning a stucco artist to meticulously restore the moldings, ensuring that the new proportions fit seamlessly into the building’s natural architectural flow.
As a result, it now has a living room and dining room combined into an open-plan space of about 29sqm, where light flows freely. Even if you look closely (and with a magnifying glass!), you can’t tell where the old wall used to be. This is exactly how this type of renovation should be done, and it’s rarer than you might think.
A former bedroom has been transformed into an open kitchen, a beautiful space of about 13sqm. The old kitchen, which was too small and poorly located, is now a functional laundry room. It’s an incredibly practical space, perfectly suited to modern living.
It’s impossible to discuss this renovated Haussmann-style apartment without dwelling at length on this feature. Between the kitchen and the dining room, d’Ussel & Decoster installed a screen made of Mutina’s Hives bricks, designed by Konstantin Grcic. These unglazed hexagonal terracotta bricks create a honeycomb pattern that filters the light without completely blocking the view.
This screen defines the two spaces without closing them off from one another. The prep area remains discreet from the dining room, natural light flows freely, and the raw texture of the terracotta introduces a warmth that neither the light wood nor the white marble could produce on their own. A custom-made frame, reinforced by a carpenter, attests to the attention to detail.
Our take? It’s the best choice for the project. The Hives screen completely redefines the layout. It justifies the terracotta palette, the natural oak, and the camel-colored sofas found in the living room decor. It gives the apartment an identity that no other choice could have created.
The kitchen fits perfectly into this renovated Haussmann-style apartment. Custom-made cabinet fronts are simply mounted on IKEA modules. They feature the natural oak found throughout the apartment. The veined white marble countertop, the matching marble backsplash, and two wall sconces with exposed bulbs in a dark brown finish create a warm space, without being overly minimalist or ultra-technical. It is simply beautiful, practical, and consistent with the rest.
The open shelves allow for the display of a few colorful ceramics, and the French doors leading to the long balcony flood the space with light at the first light of morning. This Hives brick screen, seen from this side as well, is the standout feature of the room.
The master bedroom is more neutral. An entire wall clad in oak wood features the built-in headboard, with its recessed storage niches, small retractable reading lights, and discreet control buttons. Two gold globe sconces complete the look. The effect is sleek yet warm.
The adjoining bathroom has its own distinct identity, one that is far more original. A sandblasted concrete finish covers all the walls and ceiling in a single very pale shade. An archway has been built in front of the freestanding bathtub to create an alcove reminiscent of a Mediterranean home. An unconventional choice for a renovated Haussmann-style apartment in the heart of Paris. A heated wall replaces the traditional towel rack, preserving the purity of the lines. The brushed gold fixtures, the organically shaped mirror framed in brass, and the white flower-shaped wall sconce give it a very elegant look.
Its office is one of those rooms rarely photographed but appreciate every day. D’Ussel & Decoster designed a bench upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric, behind which a pull-out bed is hidden. The guest room appears on demand and disappears the rest of the time. Its straw-yellow ikat jacquard curtains provide the apartment’s only true pop of color, and it works perfectly against the warm beige backdrop of the walls.
A floor-to-ceiling light oak storage unit occupies the entire back wall and maximizes every square inch. The ceiling moldings serve as a reminder that this is a 19th-century Haussmann-style apartment. An ecru linen light fixture with terracotta trim serves as a unifying thread.
The Boraha raffia wallpaper by Élitis in the hallway is the finishing touch to this renovated Haussmann-style apartment. Installed with precision, it introduces an organic, almost vegetal vibe.
What sets the Trudaine project by the d'Ussel & Decoster studio apart from an ordinary renovation lies in one fundamental principle: never to erase the history and original architecture of the space. The restored moldings, the sanded and oiled herringbone parquet, and the preserved marble fireplaces all form the backdrop against which Ussel & Decoster executed their contemporary design.
The overall palette, sand-beige, natural oak, terracotta brick, and touches of camel in the textiles, adds cohesion to the spaces. Natural materials and muted tones feel particularly at home in this Haussmann-style interior. The Maison de Vacances sofa, Pierre Frey fabrics, Kundalini and Nedgis lighting, and a few pieces from The Socialite Family all find their place here. None of these furnishings or objects aim to be exceptional, but rather to harmonize and create a pleasant and aesthetically pleasing interior. Photo: © Julien Pépy
The architects’ client, a young woman, works primarily from home. She wanted an open, bright living space capable of accommodating both her private daily life and her professional activities without one encroaching on the other. A request that seems straightforward until one realizes what it means in practice within a Haussmann-style building: redistributing the spaces, reworking the floors, ceilings, and walls, and starting from scratch without erasing the building’s history.
Demolishing a partition without damaging the moldings, a technical feat
One of the project’s boldest decisions involved demolition. Knocking down a partition in a Haussmann-style apartment is a common practice. But the presence of moldings is a factor that must be taken into account. The proportions change, and the reconfigured space can lose all its beauty if the moldings are damaged. d'Ussel & Decoster anticipated this by commissioning a stucco artist to meticulously restore the moldings, ensuring that the new proportions fit seamlessly into the building’s natural architectural flow.
As a result, it now has a living room and dining room combined into an open-plan space of about 29sqm, where light flows freely. Even if you look closely (and with a magnifying glass!), you can’t tell where the old wall used to be. This is exactly how this type of renovation should be done, and it’s rarer than you might think.
A former bedroom has been transformed into an open kitchen, a beautiful space of about 13sqm. The old kitchen, which was too small and poorly located, is now a functional laundry room. It’s an incredibly practical space, perfectly suited to modern living.
The Hives brick screen by Mutina, a centerpiece of the apartment
It’s impossible to discuss this renovated Haussmann-style apartment without dwelling at length on this feature. Between the kitchen and the dining room, d’Ussel & Decoster installed a screen made of Mutina’s Hives bricks, designed by Konstantin Grcic. These unglazed hexagonal terracotta bricks create a honeycomb pattern that filters the light without completely blocking the view.
This screen defines the two spaces without closing them off from one another. The prep area remains discreet from the dining room, natural light flows freely, and the raw texture of the terracotta introduces a warmth that neither the light wood nor the white marble could produce on their own. A custom-made frame, reinforced by a carpenter, attests to the attention to detail.
Our take? It’s the best choice for the project. The Hives screen completely redefines the layout. It justifies the terracotta palette, the natural oak, and the camel-colored sofas found in the living room decor. It gives the apartment an identity that no other choice could have created.
The oak and Carrara marble kitchen
The kitchen fits perfectly into this renovated Haussmann-style apartment. Custom-made cabinet fronts are simply mounted on IKEA modules. They feature the natural oak found throughout the apartment. The veined white marble countertop, the matching marble backsplash, and two wall sconces with exposed bulbs in a dark brown finish create a warm space, without being overly minimalist or ultra-technical. It is simply beautiful, practical, and consistent with the rest.
The open shelves allow for the display of a few colorful ceramics, and the French doors leading to the long balcony flood the space with light at the first light of morning. This Hives brick screen, seen from this side as well, is the standout feature of the room.
The master suite and its bathroom
The master bedroom is more neutral. An entire wall clad in oak wood features the built-in headboard, with its recessed storage niches, small retractable reading lights, and discreet control buttons. Two gold globe sconces complete the look. The effect is sleek yet warm.
The adjoining bathroom has its own distinct identity, one that is far more original. A sandblasted concrete finish covers all the walls and ceiling in a single very pale shade. An archway has been built in front of the freestanding bathtub to create an alcove reminiscent of a Mediterranean home. An unconventional choice for a renovated Haussmann-style apartment in the heart of Paris. A heated wall replaces the traditional towel rack, preserving the purity of the lines. The brushed gold fixtures, the organically shaped mirror framed in brass, and the white flower-shaped wall sconce give it a very elegant look.
The convertible office with a pull-out bed and Pierre Frey fabric
Its office is one of those rooms rarely photographed but appreciate every day. D’Ussel & Decoster designed a bench upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric, behind which a pull-out bed is hidden. The guest room appears on demand and disappears the rest of the time. Its straw-yellow ikat jacquard curtains provide the apartment’s only true pop of color, and it works perfectly against the warm beige backdrop of the walls.
A floor-to-ceiling light oak storage unit occupies the entire back wall and maximizes every square inch. The ceiling moldings serve as a reminder that this is a 19th-century Haussmann-style apartment. An ecru linen light fixture with terracotta trim serves as a unifying thread.
The Boraha raffia wallpaper by Élitis in the hallway is the finishing touch to this renovated Haussmann-style apartment. Installed with precision, it introduces an organic, almost vegetal vibe.
A balance between architectural heritage and contemporary design
What sets the Trudaine project by the d'Ussel & Decoster studio apart from an ordinary renovation lies in one fundamental principle: never to erase the history and original architecture of the space. The restored moldings, the sanded and oiled herringbone parquet, and the preserved marble fireplaces all form the backdrop against which Ussel & Decoster executed their contemporary design.
The overall palette, sand-beige, natural oak, terracotta brick, and touches of camel in the textiles, adds cohesion to the spaces. Natural materials and muted tones feel particularly at home in this Haussmann-style interior. The Maison de Vacances sofa, Pierre Frey fabrics, Kundalini and Nedgis lighting, and a few pieces from The Socialite Family all find their place here. None of these furnishings or objects aim to be exceptional, but rather to harmonize and create a pleasant and aesthetically pleasing interior. Photo: © Julien Pépy
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