Above the bench, a canvas by Serge Poliakoff reflects the room’s colour palette.
In one corner, a vintage 1950s bar cart by Cesare Lacca, Artemide Shogun lamp, vintage teak G-Plan sideboard, ‘Fleur qui marche’ ceramic sculpture by Fernand Léger (1952), and ‘Petit cheval pince à linge’ bronze sculpture by Robert Couturier (1998), both courtesy of Galerie Dina Vierny.
Tucked away within the Paris streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, JACOB by Nathan Baraness is an apartment reimagined as a characterful retreat. In JACOB, books, art, colour, pattern, and materiality collide, echoing the cultural volumes of its past.
Each room is neither traditional nor contemporary in its aesthetic. The living room feels warm, with terracotta tones of the Mario Bellini Camaleonda velvet sofa bouncing off the yellow velvet Pierre Frey banquette seat, disguising the radiator beneath. Alongside it, brightly coloured books beg to be read in the dappled sunlight overlooking the neighbouring Parisian rooftops. A vintage studded armchair and 1970s magazine rack by Giotto Stoppino add layers of personality to the space, grounded by a fireplace and striking 1940–44 bronze sculpture by Aristide Maillol, Étude pour Harmonie.
Connecting each space effortlessly—but not overtly—are the unique pieces of art and sculpture that carry from living room to bedroom, from bedroom to study, and so on. We see more of Aristide Maillol’s bronze works: the 1900 Baigneuse debout on the opposite side of the living area, and the 1905 Torse de Méditerranée sitting proudly on the study desk adjacent to the bedroom, inviting us to take a seat on the Mart Stam Cantilever chair.
“The study stands out with its enveloping walnut layout, designed to follow the contours of the space like the interior of a boat,” founder of his namesake design studio Nathan Baraness says. “A bronze torso rests on the bookshelf, while antique measuring instruments punctuate the wall. The desk lamp—a bright orange Snoopy by Achille Castiglioni—adds a retro touch, echoing the 1970s influences woven throughout the project,” he adds.
The dining area is defined by colour: a custom-made bench in Pierre Frey solar yellow velvet, a bespoke Emperador marble table, and conical pendant lights by Santa & Cole.
The kitchen combines walnut cabinetry, veined Rosso Levanto marble, and a niche showcasing a bright pop-orange Artemide Nessino lamp.
Pictured: ‘Joueur de flûte et Cavaliers’ plate by Pablo Picasso (1956) from Ateliers Hugo and Cassina Leggera chair designed by Gio Ponti.
The dining room is defined by colour, centred around the custom-made bench in Pierre Frey solar yellow velvet and a bespoke Emperador marble table. The lower half of the wall is painted in a pale orange hue and framed with varnished walnut, creating a geometric pattern that the designer shares is “directly inspired by Mondrian’s work.”
In the kitchen, the use of walnut continues with cabinetry, met with a Rosso Levanto marble benchtop and splashback. “On the countertop, a bronze work by Fernand Léger feels like it has always belonged,” Baraness muses. It sits alongside ceramics by Mado Jolain and more traditional objects such as a stone mortar and a cast-iron pot. Facing the benchtop, a suspended shelf displays a silver dish subtly signed by Picasso.
The light-filled living room reveals its new proportions following the removal of a false ceiling, which uncovered a hidden layer of beams, now painted white. Pictured: B&B Italia Camaleonda sofa by Mario Bellini, ClassiCon E-1027 stainless steel side table by Eileen Gray, Valerie Objects Hanging No. 2 light designed by Muller Van Severen, Ligne Roset Mojave lamp designed by Nathan Baraness and Maryna Dague, and a 1970s Model TRV vanished burl coffee table designed by Willy Rizzo.
Pictured: Santa & Cole Dórica floor lamp.
The original chevron parquet flooring and black marble fireplace establish a classic base, while a large rug designed by Giancarlo Valle for Nordic Knots adds a touch of mischief. Vintage artwork includes ‘Ecriture en masse – Transformation III’ by Judit Reigl (1961) above the fireplace, ‘La Main à la poire’ by Robert Couturier (1993), ‘Étude pour Harmonie’ by Aristide Maillol (1940-44), and ‘Mouvement de danse’ by Henri Matisse (1945), all courtesy of Galerie Dina Vierny.
Facing the bed, a recessed niche lined with fabric holds books, decorative objects and artwork, including ‘Ma de Proverbis’ by Joan Miró (1970), ‘Petite nuit’ by Aristide Maillol (1970), courtesy of Galerie Dina Vierny.
The bathroom design plays on contrasts of materials and lines. “The lower walls are clad in glossy black ceramic tiles from an English manufacturer,” Baraness explains. “The floor features a houndstooth mosaic by Bisazza, while the shower is tiled in a shaded green mosaic inspired by Hammams,” he adds. A naturally aged mirror in an oak frame brings warmth to the space, and a Bauhaus wall sconce by Wilhelm Wagenfeld completes the composition.
In JACOB, every room tells its own story, culminating in a home that feels at once intimate and like something to be shared in bustling company.
Near the dressing area, a resin chair by Gaetano Pesce from the Bottega Veneta Spring–Summer 2023 show.
In the study, a ‘Torse de Méditerranée’ sculpture by Aristide Maillol (1905) courtesy of Galerie Dina Vierny sits alongside a Cassina Zig Zag chair by Gerrit Rietveld, Maison Pouenat lamp designed by Nathan Baraness and Maryna Dague, Thonet Cantilever leather chair by Mart Stam, and an orange Flos Snoopy lamp by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni.
Pictured: ‘Visage de faune’ ceramic dish by Pablo Picasso (1955) courtesy of Ateliers Hugo, vintage Carimate chair designed by Vico Magistretti, USM Haller sideboard, and Serax red table lamp.
Bathed in natural light from a large overhead skylight, the bathroom is centred around a Corian sink unit. A brass chandelier by Hans-Agne Jakobsson is suspended at the heart of the space. A brass porthole, sourced from a shipyard in Brittany, is set into the door.
