Discover the blend of tradition and modernity in Parisian design, highlighting the latest trends and visionary designers shaping the City of Light.
Paris, a city known for its classic style and cutting-edge creativity, is still at the forefront of design innovation worldwide.
Parisian style is a wonderful fusion of tradition and innovation, from the stylish, contemporary rooms lining the Seine to the vast halls of Haussmannian apartments.
This article explores how designers like Julien Sebban of Uchronia are reinventing aesthetics with their creative and sustainable techniques, delving into the newest trends reshaping the design scene in the City of Light.
Come explore the vivid trends that perfectly encapsulate modern-day Parisian style with us.
Looking Up at the Eiffel Tower
For six years, Joseph Dirand and his wife, Anso, an event coordinator, lived on the Left Bank.
Expecting a new baby, they needed more space but found it challenging to locate noble buildings in Paris.
Their landlord eventually mentioned an apartment on Passy Hill, originally built as a hotel for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Joseph saw its potential immediately.
“I’ve spent my career creating settings for others, but rarely for myself,” he says, emphasizing that “design must always serve its function—a well-studied space delivering a certain quality of life.”
Stone is a recurring element in Joseph’s parisian designs. His home features soft-tone stone or marble for walls, surfaces, and bathtubs, often carved from blocks he acquired years ago.
His notable projects include a resort in the Bahamas, interior design for London’s new Rosewood hotel, and designs for Paris’s Loulou and Monsieur Bleu.
He hired skilled parisian artisans to meet his exacting “taste for details.”
The entryway, with three arches trimmed in Massangis limestone, leads to a spacious living and dining area.
“Arches are more a vocabulary for a house than an apartment,” he says, describing them as giving a “mini-palazzo” feel with their hand-rounded edges catching the light to form a continuous ribbon-like line.
In the kitchen, Joseph’s daughter Ninon does her homework on a vanilla-colored island made of parisian breccia stazzema marble.
He loves “the thick width of the base and how the veins run down it.”
The bathroom walls are adorned with Italian breccia verde marble, which he describes as “like a landscape,” and the master bath features paonazzo marble from the mountains above Carrara.
Mineral materials also appear in key furnishings, like a white travertine dining table and an estremoz coffee table.
The family’s private quarters are accessed through a parisian neoclassical pedimented limestone doorway.
The hallway features a modern bronze and gold lioness sculpture by Harumi Klossowska de Rola.
The overall palette includes “natural tints,” with off-whites, light grays, and tobacco-hued Versailles parquet, creating a neutral backdrop for Joseph’s collection of modern, abstract, and Arte Povera artwork.
Joseph’s parisian home is a dynamic living space rather than a static exhibit. A hidden turntable deck in the salon’s bookcase reveals his wife’s DJ setup.
She also prepares food for their frequent dinner parties, such as a recent menu featuring risotto Milanese, osso buco, and watercress soup for twelve guests.
“I work in fantasy and construct a framework for living,” Joseph explains. “And she makes it live.”
A Sunroom for Guests
For John Gerhardt, global creative director at Moët Hennessy, and his husband, Boris Masip, a fintech entrepreneur, the sign of a good night in their parisian apartment includes a messy table, dirty napkins, and half-empty bottles of their favorite drinks.
Living in Paris for about two years, their home frequently hosts such vibrant gatherings.
Gerhardt and Masip’s journey to this Parisian abode began with a long-distance relationship.
They played global hide-and-seek for a year before meeting in person. “At the time, I was doing international banking and working primarily in the Caribbean and in Central America,” Masip says. “John was always traveling, so we physically couldn’t meet.”
Despite their busy schedules, they stayed connected, and after years of travel and working apart, they finally settled in Paris.
Their home was not initially on their list of desired neighborhoods, but that changed as soon as they walked in.
“The bones of the place are outstandingly beautiful from an architectural standpoint,” says Gerhardt.
The couple appreciates extreme architectural features that characterize parisian design, having lived in Victorian houses and Hong Kong high-rises.
They admire the ornate moldings, carvings, and the building’s historical integrity, which required only light cosmetic updates to preserve its structure.
For Gerhardt, three elements make their house a home: the architectural beauty, the quality of light, and the energy of the space.
They get incredible afternoon light, creating a stunning ambiance. “It’s all about the energy,” Masip adds.
Their parisian apartment, requiring no major structural work, underwent some light updates to enhance its charm.
Gerhardt’s favorite space is the dining area. “We love to cook and entertain. Nothing is better than when the dining room is a complete disaster after a meal,” he says.
Masip, on the other hand, loves the den, where he works, reads, and strategizes. “It’s such a magical room and probably the smallest—it’s just like a cocoon,” he explains.
The couple’s goal is to make their guests feel included and comfortable. “We want them to feel like they’re being treated nicely in our space,” says Masip.
They’ve carefully curated their interiors, choosing pieces based on love rather than brand or price. “We buy what we love and then find a way to make it work,” Gerhardt says.
This philosophy is evident throughout their parisian home. The foyer features earthenware ceramics from Casa Gitane in Amsterdam, acrylic paintings by Cuban contemporary artist Jose Miguel Costa Martinez, and a George Nelson pendant light.
Their living room, often used as a cocktail room, showcases a Bernhardt sofa, Maxalto chairs, a Roche Bobois Boomerang coffee table, and pillows from a Belgian shop called the Corner Studio.
Artwork by Tahir Hemphill and a Lane Crawford “OMG” neon sign add eclectic touches.
A standout feature is their ornate fireplace, which they couldn’t resist when apartment hunting.
The Art Deco bar cart by Christophe de la Fontaine and stoneware ceramics by Whitney Bender contribute to the eclectic mix.
The home also includes a “time-out room” solarium, perfect for afternoon siestas, featuring a Roche Bobois Walrus Armchair designed by Raphael Navot.
The dining room, the most heavily trafficked area, is loved for its spaciousness. It includes a Saarinen dining table from Design Within Reach, a Lane Crawford sideboard, and Vitsoe shelves.
The kitchen, larger than typical Parisian kitchens, is a functional and evolving space.
The den, described as the most interesting room, features a vintage Eames desk chair, a Moroccan wool rug from Lisbon, and an abstract watercolor painting by Bruno Grizzo.
The bedroom includes a blue velvet bed by Matthew Hilton with linen bedding from Merci, in Paris, Tolomeo floor lamps from Artemide in New York, and Japanese break-dancer photographs by Tokyo-based photographer Takay.
Gerhardt and Masip’s Parisian home is a testament to their eclectic taste and their ability to create a space that feels both personal and inviting.
Their approach to design—buying what they love and making it work—has resulted in a vibrant, dynamic living space that reflects their personalities and their love for entertaining.
Overflowing with Color
Julien Sebban, the creative force behind Uchronia, made his mark on the Parisian design scene in 2019 with the opening of Crèatures, a vegetarian restaurant on the roof of Galeries Lafayette.
Known for its vibrant, selfie-worthy setting, Crèatures features raised gardens and colorful furniture made from recycled plastic.
Since then, Sebban has been in high demand, with projects including four restaurants, two bakeries, his first hotel, and a new retail concept for Sonia Rykiel stores.
Sebban’s unique style, characterized by bright colors, oversized forms, and wavy lines, attracts many clients through Instagram.
“We embody a new generation,” says the 29-year-old designer, who collaborates with a dynamic team, constantly learning and evolving.
Educated at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, Sebban founded Uchronia in 2019 to explore the effects of light and color on mood.
Uchronia’s projects span interiors, graphic design, fashion shows, and art installations.
Notable works include the Right Bank restaurant Forest and Café Uchronia at the 2022 Maison & Objet show.
In 2023, Sebban launched Uchronia Wave, a furniture line featuring playful, lacquered pieces made by French artisans.
His designs are now incorporated into residential projects, such as a Haussmannian apartment with custom tapestries and a raku ceramic dining table.
Sebban’s multidisciplinary approach will soon culminate in Château Uchronia, a five-story 1970s building in the 18th arrondissement.
This space will serve as a showroom, office, photography studio, test kitchen, and event hall.
Emphasizing recycled elements and local production, Sebban transforms existing materials in innovative ways, always advocating to “keep the moldings” for a cost-effective, stylish look.
Explore the captivating world of Parisian design and discover how tradition and modernity seamlessly blend in the City of Light.
Don’t miss out on the latest trends and inspiration for your own home.
Unlock the secrets of Parisian design trends! Explore the innovative styles and cutting-edge ideas shaping interiors in the heart of Paris.
