Paris: This 17th century mansion is an exemplary showcase of vintage interiors
CM Studio Paris has crafted a coherent chemistry between the history of the building and the aesthetic of its interior
Devyani Jayakar
CM Studio Paris
Photo Caption: The living room of this French townhouse is the centrepiece of the Paris apartment, with a ceiling height of five metres and a monumental stone fireplace inscribed with indecipherable inscriptions from the old French language
You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled into a museum. Certainly, no one could accuse John Coury and Florent Maillard of CM Studio Paris of harbouring parsimonious design sensibilities. Located on Rue Quincampoix, one of the oldest streets of Paris in the Marais quarter, this 17th century mansion was built at the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV. Maison Sémonville is inspired by the life of Charles-Louis Huguet de Montaran, the Marquis de Sémonville—France's ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. "We received a totally empty apartment with everything in a terrible condition of disrepair…we had to replace even the floors and also relocated rooms. Only the old fire place and the beams on the ceiling were retained," says John.
Photo Caption: This 17th century mansion in Paris was built at the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV and is inspired by the life of Charles-Louis Huguet de Montaran, the Marquis de Sémonville
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Vintage Meets Contemporary
Packing this equivalent of a grand British townhouse with serious pieces of art and vintage accessories, the design duo has sourced period furniture, fabrics and paintings from all over the world. Carpets, lamps, old basins, and ancient objets d'art have been curated from the finest antique dealers, bringing gravitas to the design. "We meticulously curate antique and decorative pieces – an approach which requires much patience and diligent searching for just the right piece to fit into a space, to create the effect which we have visualised," says John.
Photo Caption: This 17th century Paris mansion was renovated into a vintage meets contemporary apartment by John Coury and Florent Maillard of CM Studio Paris
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Baroque Baseline
To complete the picture, velvets, glowing silks and golden fringe trim with tassels are used generously. The home is also defined by an unabashed use of colour. "Using white is like not choosing. There is no risk in using white…it's a safe option," says John. "The sensibility here is largely Baroque, with touches of Rococo."
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Classical Manifestation
"We also enjoy adding a touch of contemporary art through very exclusive selected objects in a very classical interior," says Florent. "We like to give a soul to our projects and we chose an eclectic approach by mixing periods and origins through the objects and furniture we selected, finding our inspiration both in the East and the West."
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Timeless Interiors
Reinventing the past, they create the illusion that everything has always been there…put together by at least a few generations of collectors who were rooted to that space. Modern day conveniences, however, are not sacrificed. "Although we have a passion for 17th and 18th century architecture, we make no concessions in absolute comfort levels in our projects. We believe that timeless interiors should still benefit from all the improvements brought by technology," says Florent. Cognisant of convenience as well as luxury, the design negotiates skilfully around the requirements of a contemporary lifestyle.
Photo Caption: A wall sconce shaped like an arm thrusts outward from the wall, proffering a candle. Above it, a hand is depicted in part of a painting, creating a subtle communication between the images
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Showcasing Antiquity
Lavishing the facades, ceilings, the staircase, and the beams in the living room with attention, the design duo identified fundamental aspects of the antiquity of the property. To this they added pieces of antique furniture, dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, creating a precious, heady mix. The oldest piece in the home is a 2nd century stone statue from Yemen, placed in the dining room. Overhead, a 17th century painting depicting the meeting between Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius represents the confluence of the East and West.
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Meeting of Empires
"The living room is the centrepiece of the apartment, with a ceiling height of five metres and a monumental stone fireplace inscribed with indecipherable inscriptions from the old French language. Two sizeable canvas paintings by Italian Renaissance painter Andrea Vicentino cover the wall above the fireplace, representing the meeting of Ottoman and Venetian ambassadors, and depicting the Marquis de Sémonville," says Florent.
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Masculine and Feminine Accents
In the bedroom, the feminine peachy pink tones are offset by a contemporary print from Chinese photographer Shen Wei called "I Miss You Already" placed on the wall behind the bed, its masculine imagery in startling contrast with the rest of the room. The Manhattan lamp by Hervé Isle de Beauchaine shaped like skyscrapers is another modern touch.
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Material Reality
"For us, combining the old with the new is a great source of excitement. We enjoy adding a touch of contemporary art through exclusive selected objects in a very classical interior," says John. "We believe decoration is the reinterpretation of a space, the relationship between a room and its dimensions, the choice of surfaces and materials, and finally the selection and positioning of objects within the space."
A soft and intimate boudoir atmosphere has been created, with upholstered armchairs, rugs and Venetian mirrors. Trimmings by Declercq, and a Louis XIV wardrobe are par for the course. The bathrooms are in a red marble, inspired by Ottoman architecture.
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Legacy and Lineage
"Lending further authenticity to the finishes, the partners with whom we like to work, such as Tassinari & Chatel are the flagship house of the Lyonnaise silk industry and have been supplying fabrics to the European courts since 1680. For our bed linen, we like to work with Frette, which has been manufacturing the best Italian quality high-end household linen since 1860. These are houses with a lineage, in sync with the kind of work we do," says Florent.
Maison Sémonville, Paris: Timeless Harmony
What John and Florent highlight is the importance of harmonising the time-period and style of a building's façade with the interior architecture and design. They have woven together architecture and interior design, offering a coherent, symbiotic space that is also timeless. Their handpicked addition of antique furniture and fabrics reimagines the past, while creating a space which is fully functional today.
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