French interior designer Maxime Bousquet draws inspiration from a clients’ extensive art collection to redesign a now-light-filled Parisian apartment.
Described by Bousquet as “a bit unusual and unexpected,” this art-filled home is located in Paris’ 20th arrondissement. The owners were in search of a space with a garden—a rare find in central Paris. “They fell in love at first sight with this apartment, even though it’s more of a terrace than a ‘real’ garden,” Bousquet recalls, describing it as a slice of countryside in the middle of the city.
Before the redesign, the apartment was quite dark, with an abundance of steel, glass, and a raw, ‘DIY’ construction feel. The clients, who have a strong design sensibility, initiated the transformation themselves before bringing in Bousquet to refine and execute their vision. “We had been friends for a while, so it felt natural for me to step in and subtly help,” he says. “I’m more used to completing projects ‘carte blanche’ so this was a fun exercise,” he adds.
Bousquet’s approach focused on stripping back the previous owner’s industrial touches, opening up walls, and removing the existing flooring to maximise the impact of the ceiling windows and flood the apartment with natural light. “We wanted to return to what the space might have originally felt like, with no real visible design interventions,” Bousquet explains. “It was important to focus on the space and highlight the beautiful framework that we carefully renovated.”
The material palette was intentionally restrained, prioritising spatial flow and light. The original exposed timber beams lend warmth and character, echoed in the wooden kitchen—a homage to the raw, contemporary forms of Mexican architect Luis Barragán’s work, a reference that the clients loved and felt aligned with this space.
The kitchen and dining area features an Ingo Maurer Uchiwa pendant light, a sculptural red lamp by Mathieu Mategot on a vintage marble column and a collection of vintage ceramics.
The living space features a Pierre Jeanneret coffee table and artworks including The Annunciation by Marcello Venusti (1550) and Untitled by Francis Picabia (circa 1922).
A vintage Charlotte Perriand Bauche chair is paired with artworks by Victor Braumer (1956) and Eugène Leroy (1988-99).
At the heart of the interiors is the clients’ standout art collection, featuring works by Francis Picabia, William Copley, Man Ray, and Leonor Fini. “They are amazing collectors—the client specialises in surrealist art, so there are some beautiful pieces in the home,” Bousquet notes. However, he was equally intent on incorporating unknown finds to add personality and playfulness. “I think that’s what works the best here; a museum painting next to a flea market one,” he adds.
The clients’ art collection is complemented by an equally impressive curation of vintage furniture, including a Pierre Jeanneret coffee table, Bauche chairs by Charlotte Perriand, an Ingo Maurer ceiling light in the kitchen, and an Audoux Minet desk. One of Bousquet’s favourite moments in the apartment? “I love the Isamu Noguchi lamp paired with the painting of a woman and the light streaming from the roof,” he reflects.
Balancing moments of contemporary design and eclecticism, this Parisian apartment is both a refuge and a canvas where the clients can continue to live, create, and collect.
Pictured: A Vitra Akari pendant lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi with a 1940s painting.
Pictured: A desk by Audoux Minet designed in the 1950s, La Prière by Man Ray (1930) and As Thousands Cheer by William N Copley (1973).
The home office features an array of eclectic art, including pieces by Robert Brambora (2018) and Valentine Hugo (1940).
A Simrane bedcover and Imari vases found at the Saint Ouen flea market in Paris add playfulness into the primary bedroom. Artwork on canvas by Gérard Schlosser (1990).
Clad in deep green glazed tiles, the bold bathroom features a wall sconce by Andre Cazenave.
