THE PROPERTY
Forties modernist house in Paris’ 20th arrondissement.On the ground floor of this modern home there is a music room, bathroom and yoga studio. The first floor comprises an open-plan sitting room, study area and kitchen, plus a cloakroom and terrace. On the second floor there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
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Living room
When Véronique Piedeleu and her husband Jack-Eric make changes they don’t do things by halves. A few years ago they left behind their old suburban house and careers in the world of commerce and reinvented themselves with a new modernist home and a hip interiors brand to go with it.
The modernist, box-shaped Forties home that they now occupy in an area of the city known for its mix of metal workers, artisans and creatives, is a world away from their former Parisian townhouse. But it was a move that chimed with the couple’s passions.
The colours of nature have been magnified via a palette of vivid blues, yellows and greens, punctuated by a dramatic shot of turquoise in the low-slung sofas, which Véronique chose so as not to obstruct the view.
hallway
Now the French homeware store Caravane they bought seven years ago has evolved into a brand with a relaxed, individual feel, with shops throughout France, one in Copenhagen and two in London. That same individual air pervades their home too, with its mix of bamboo and eucalyptus furniture, ethnic textiles and vibrant artwork.
Inspired by Le Corbusier’s simple lines, Véronique and Jack-Eric spent two years simplifying the layout of this box build, where main living spaces now occupy the first floor, accessed by a contemporary wooden staircase, designed by architect Aida Djahandari.
A top storey, housing bedrooms, bathrooms and an additional, smaller roof terrace, was added by the couple.
kitchen
Educated in antiquing and ‘art decorative’ by her grandmother, Véronique is now a treasure hunter of a different sort, scouring the globe for unusual accessories and textiles made by independent artisans. India is a favourite destination and its vibrant colours awaken not only her decorative skills but her culinary senses.
Lime green and grey chequerboard kitchen cabinets lend a playful feel.
dining area
This cleverly redesigned building, which accommodates a music room and a yoga studio, is evidence that the couple put a sense of fun and informality at the heart of their colourful home. Every Sunday, the family gathers round this vintage table, sourced at Paris’ Paul Bert Serpette market.
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guest bedroom
The couple’s love of travel is evident in this guest room’s tribal-inspired decor, from the rattan wall hangings to the textured Moroccan rug. Véronique picked up the butterfly candleholder on a trip to Washington more than 30 years ago.
guest en suite
The walls in this room are finished in raw concrete, while geometric tiling adds a graphic element. Veronique loves playing with colour combinations and chose grey and mustard here as it's easy on the eye yet still dramatic.
study
A turquoise wall adds a punchy note here, while built-in joinery provides a sleek home office area.
terrace
This generously planted space provides the sense of nature and privacy that Véronique and Jack-Eric craved in this busy district. Sleek light wells built into the wooden flooring channel extra daylight into the ground floor below.
Check out Caravane at caravane.co.uk
Photography/Frenchie Cristogatin
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