Abstract vision

The owners, a painter and a financier, share a keen eye for detail. This loft is one of several in the French capital the Parisian duo have renovated and re-designed. When they aren’t here enjoying the vibrant area, they escape to their country house just outside Paris.

Art and ambience

Rue des Filles du Calvaire is in the heart of the Marais, Paris’ historic Jewish quarter. Cultural and cosmopolitan, the 3rd arrondissement is a maze of cobbled streets alive with cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and museums. And the atmosphere has infused this arty home – eccentric colours and ultramodern décor mean you could easily mistake the living space for an avante garde boutique. If you find time to sleep, there’s a well-equipped bathroom and welcoming bedroom in this Colorful Paris Loft.

A great old library serves as a partition between the office and second living room that also serves as guest bedroom since the sofa is convertible.

With a ceiling height of 4.45m, right from the start, this project overwhelms its viewer. The whole interiors were modified to create large open spaces while at the same time retaining the great sensitivity of the building’s history. All the mouldings, wood flooring and detailing have been preserved which aids in the preservation of unique elegance and poise within. One of the most spectacular details is the existing mirrors throughout the residence which have been restored to represent one of the most dominant features. In the living room, the gold plated life size mirrors at opposite ends of the space bring about an overly opulent feeling reminiscent of the Versailles where the skirting, dado rails wood panelling and ceiling motives make you appreciate the old times.

These surrounding details have been applied with the starkness of white to elevate and create a light feel while the inset furniture and soft furnishings within the perimeter primarily consist of dominant black. There is a sense of aristocratic living in combination with a sexy through for example the artistic pieces all around you. Art is a major part of the space, the pieces of furniture were chosen by artistic convictions; a Rick Owens chair, a leather marquetterie gaming table (a unique Deuce piece), a Galerie Fortin armchair and Pierre Chareau wall lighting. In other words, an apartment designed for a true art collector.

Moving away from the main living area the ratio of the residence mildly shifts from aristocracy to more contemporary modern living. The kitchen is the center of the home: an area of life with an art ad family gathering. Now moving towards the master bathroom all aristocracy is once again restored. At this point one would expect us to analyze the master bedroom, but when it comes to this overwhelming en-suite glamour we have to be true to our selves and say that for us this IS our master HEAVEN. White polished marble throughout, the exposed shower, black sliding floor to ceiling partitions and inset day bed, I think there is absolutely no need for us to go on except to say that this is our modern Cleopatra bathroom, but in modernization terms, milk is substituted for Veuve Clicquot champagne.

SO-AN have a signature design style, which is very fortunate because along with everything else, it possesses the demanded sexiness, poise and the much-wanted felling of elitism.

This 310 square meters (3,337 sq. ft.) state-of-the-art luxury loft apartment has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a lower level integrated gym equipped with a sauna. The main living area has an open floor plan with a gourmet kitchen. The wraparound mezzanine has sitting areas all around and overlooks the main living area below.

The master bedroom has access to a balcony with view of the courtyard. There is a stone wall in the lower level which provides an interesting contrast to the modern staircase. The apartment design includes a two-storey high cathedral window and skylights which allow plenty of natural light to spread through the entire loft.

The loft is composed of a living room of 100m² with 6m of height under ceiling with an open Comprex kitchen and bay windows on a quiet terrace of 30m², a parent’s suite, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a sports room, 4 toilets and an exclusive 2 rooms flat of 50m².

The place offers luxury appointments: heated pool, floor heating, air conditioning, lot of incorporated storage. The loft is full of light thanks to 36 windows.

And let’s talk about color here : look at this sumptuous palette used throughout the loft. So subtle, yet deep and strong and delicate all at once. Now that’s what I call a color statement. This loft is full of personality.

In short, this loft red and white has everything you might need… are you ready to rent?

Where is your loft?
The Monastery is located 15 km north of Paris , four in the Val d’Oise. The place is nested in the valley of Montmorency, near the forest of the same name, 5 km from Enghien-les-Bains is famous for its spas and its Lake Casino. Groslay is a small town of 8,000 inhabitants.

What was the previous function of the place?

Our loft is part of the ancient castle of Groslay, which was mentioned for the first time in 1650 as the property of Philippe Gervais, alderman of Paris. The property passed from hand to hand following numerous sales and inheritances. In 1779, Claude de Beauharnais, Count acquires Roches. His nephew, Alexander, first husband of Josephine Tascher La Pagerie inherits it. Josephine significantly revised and expanded the originally modest country house and creates a music room and dance on the west side of the house.

In 1933, the Sisters Servants of Mary inherit the place and turn it into a clinic well-known in the region and decided to use the old dance hall as a convent. We now live in this part of the castle – the old music hall and convent.

Living in a loft was a dream for you or have you given in tothe spell of the place?

There is absolutely no chance in the discovery of this place, it is not our first loft, as we love unusual places.

We are travelling constantly to such places as old garages ceasing their activities, old buildings sold for demolition … In fact, it is a passion that dwells within us!

How and when did you find your loft?

In June 2009, it has been six years since we live in our old factory space, having completed the work of restoration and interior design, we were “bored”. Thus we started to look for a new place that we could throw our heart in and to which we can restore.

After several months looking at the various sites specializing in lofts, we found a strange place rather poorly put forward with a vague description, so we decided to go there for a visit. During the visit we immediately fell in love with this place rich in history, perfectly located with a privileged environment.

In what state was your loft when buying?

The place was under construction for quite some time when we had visited. Plumbing and electricity was already finished. During our many visits before signing the contract at the notary, we experienced the anguish of flood, wet spots and so on.

Nevertheless we stayed the course, imagining what we could do instead. We took down old walls, restored the entire roof (we did rely on architects since it is a protected place), installed a kitchen that did not exist previously, breaking all the bitumen to create a garden of 100 sq.m.

I then started planning, did sketches and moodboards to show to my friends and give a working basis to craftsmen.

How you did you took to do the work?

With zero level of DIY, it was easy for me! So we took the time to look good craftsmen to do the full renovations. Recommended by friends we quickly found a roofer, for outdoor works and walls we knew a very good craftsman with whom we have already worked in the past.

Regarding the kitchen, a native and lover of northern France, we went to an exhibition that was held in Lille, where we found our future kitchen.

And of course, we received help from friends and family during the weekends.

How long did the work take?

The work took about a year non stop, we had to live permanently with the scaffolding and  the dust. But it was worth it because I had seen the prospects of transformation that this place offered from the beginning.

What is the area and the ceiling height of the loft?

Today the convent offers 230 sqm of living space with a garden of 100 sqm and a courtyard of 40 sqm. The site is located in a small building of 8 houses (7 apartments in the old chapel) + our convent.

We have 1 hectare in the old castle park all within a gated and secure area.

The ceilings are around 6 meters high: we have chosen to retain as much as possible stucco have them live with the metal and contemporary furniture. The Convent has 3 bedrooms a, bathroom of 30 m², shower room of 15 sqm, a living room opens onto the mezzanine, 3 toilets and main hall of 130 m².

The whole place is heated by two wood pellet stoves, which is our only means of heating! In fact we had to find the most economical heating system given the volumes.

What spirit do you want your loft in the landscaping?

Part of my job, – I work in the advertising business – is to look for patterns and trends.
This motivates us the most, in our approach “give new life to ruin,” is to leave traces the history of the place, which characterizes the place but also the subtlety of times by juxtaposing contemporary elements.

The goal is to enhance each space by playing with the architecture: the dark side of a corridor is accented by a gray wall but embellished with a large mirror with silver trim to enhance the perspective, or give even more headroom and highlight the moldings with high walls painted a strong color.

What does living in a loft for you?

This choice was made in the beginning: when I was 20 I bought my first apartment, a duplex with a living room with cathedral ceiling 5 meters high.

This feeling of space, freedom of movement draws us above all. Living in a place rich in history, knowing that Napoleon’s wife Josephine lived there, all this is that a standard house does not suit us! This has nothing to do with snobbery, it’s really a way of living, thinking.

Because of our relationship, we don’t  go into the “standards”, this type of property allows us to let our imagination fly and create a vibrant place that we like, but attaching different!

Nicolas & Mick offer their loft rented for filming and photography. Below you can find an example of shooting done for ICD Concrete.

And to learn more about The Convent, visit lecouvent-loft.sitew.com

via Notre Loft