Inside the Paris Flat of Galerie Kreo founders Didier and Clémence Krzentowski

Design dealers Didier and Clémence Krzentowski have lived at the same address, an apartment directly on the Right Bank of the Seine, since the mid-1980s. Looking directly onto the Eiffel Tower, their initial space measured 1,500 square feet. In 2000, they got the chance to extend it when the neighboring flat came up for sale. Their only problem? How to finance the acquisition. “I went to see my banker and told him, ‘All my money is in my art collection. I’ll have to sell a few things,’” Didier recalls. Initially, he thought he’d have to part with 20 or 30 works. In reality, he ended up deaccessioning just one: an ostrich by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. At auction, it fetched $270,000 and was dubbed by the French daily Le Monde “the most expensive ostrich in the world.”

Since 1999, when they founded Galerie kreo (“creation” in Esperanto) in Paris, the couple has gained almost legendary status. They produce limited-edition and one-off pieces with a roster of designers that includes Marc Newson, Konstantin Grcic, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, many of which have found their way into the apartment. They are mixed with vintage furnishings, in particular an impressive array of chandeliers, sconces, and lamps by Italian maestro Gino Sarfatti (Didier has co-written two books on modernist lighting and has a personal collection of around 500 models, mostly in storage).

The apartment’s décor changes regularly in an apparently organic fashion. “There is no method,” Clémence insists. “We don’t worry about things going together. Our collection is our self-portrait. So, there’s a natural coherence.”
And not everything is a signed work. For Didier, a meteorite he bought 20 years ago is “the most important sculpture in existence,” he explains. “It’s the only one that can never be copied.”

Anastasia Mirzoyan Offers a Fresh Take on the Bauhaus Aesthetic for a Historic Apartment

“Housing is a very individual thing,” says Anastasia Mirzoyan, founder of Kyiv design firm Anastasia Mirzoyan Bureau. “Modern housing has to meet the modern needs of its residents.” 

The resident of Mirzoyan’s latest project—a self-described “citizen of the world” who admires the Bauhaus aesthetic and the city’s vibrant art scene—needed a home base for a lifestyle, she says, “that should fit into a backpack.” Her design simply bisects the 650-square-foot apartment, located within a house built in 1874 in Kyiv’s historic district, into a public and private area. Each zone is then split again via furnishing: A custom installation of open-shelving separates the sleeping and social areas, while a monumental green marble island keeps the kitchen and bathing area discrete, and also conceals all necessarily appliances. 

“We wanted to show the historical context, so we left some of the enclosing structures open,” she says, to feature the brickwork. But the heart of the home is the custom wood table in the center of the apartment—a hub for socializing, working, and dining in one modern package. 

This Mass Timber Apartment Building in Colorado is Designed to Reduce Carbon

A 12-story mass timber apartment building, Return to Form, is planned for Denver after being recognized for its sustainable properties, as announced at the AIA Conference on Architecture. The building is one of six proposals selected for the Softwood Lumber Board and USDA Forest Service’s Building to Net-Zero Carbon competition. Winning projects were awarded based on their ability to demonstrate mass timber’s role in reducing the built environment’s carbon footprint. 

Local development group Katz Development was recognized for their efforts to reduce carbon—and awarded a $250,000 grant—for the development. “We have assembled a world-class team including some of the leading mass timber experts in the country to execute the vision,” founder and principal Andrew Katz says. 

The architects and designers of the project are Denver-based studio Tres Birds. “It’s modern and exciting to be reimagining buildings, especially tall ones, in mass timber wood,” principal Michael M. Moore adds. “Working with regional wood on this scale allows us to create high impact design with minimal fossil fuel usage in the construction process.” 

The building is inspired by local Denver structures, including brick-and-timber lofts in the area. The team aims to modernize these buildings while creating an environment surrounded by wood harvested from U.S. forests. Once completed, it will be the tallest mass timber structure in Colorado, and one of the tallest in the United States. 

This São Paulo Apartment by Architects Office and Triptyque Architecture is Elegant and Functional

For a 2-story apartment in São Paulo, Architects Office and Triptyque Architecture were responsible for a complete renovation to meet the needs of the client. The firms worked together to meld function and form—for example, a custom marble desk sits in the living area. They also included curtains, collapsible doors, and retractable partitions for privacy when needed. 

Throughout the space, iconic design mixes with luxe custom elements. Leather, stone, and brass comingle. “The project brought the great challenge of finding harmony between iconic pieces of Brazilian and worldwide design,” notes Architects Office’s Juliana Carvalho. Brazilian design and art take center stage, including pieces from Estúdio Rain and Jorge Zalszupin. International furnishings were also integrated, including by Patricia Urquiola and Michael Anastassiades. The designers also made use of the existing elements, including views of São Paulo. “The visuals of the city on all sides were prioritized in all environments,” Architects Office’s Raphaell Valença notes. 

Lichelle Silvestry Transforms a Haussmann Apartment into a Parisian Oasis

Lichelle Silvestry, founder and principal of her Paris-based studio, tackled the challenge of a complete renovation, decoration and turnkey project for a couple in their early 30s. The homeowners—a storytelling consultant from the U.S. and a French native who runs a fintech company—enlisted Silvestry’s help for a historic, 19th-century apartment.

The couple, who splits their time between France and their ranch house near Lake Michigan, asked Silvestry to create a functional yet cozy refuge in the city’s ninth arrondissement. “We reorganized the layout to create an open plan in the common areas by incorporating a kitchen near the living room, and getting modern comforts such as air conditioning, plenty of storage, walk-in closets, and a spacious bathroom ensuite,” says the interior designer. 

To bring some warmth and brightness to the 1,615-square-foot space, Silvestry introduced a light color palette combined with earthy accent tones as well as creamy and stone natural textures. “For example, we installed an Ananbo panoramic wallpaper in sepia tones with an oasis-like motif in the master bedroom,” says Silvestry. 

For this apartment nestled in an elegant Haussmann building, one of the other main objectives consisted in respecting the architecture from the past characterized by an old fireplace, cornices and moldings. The newly created arches and the low elongated sofa in the living area—among other elements—complement the welcoming atmosphere where materials such as natural oak, plaster, terrazzo, travertine marble and brass result in a balanced and peaceful home in the heart of Paris. 

In a Quito Studio, Juan Alberto Andrade and María José Váscones Find the Right Place for Everything

As a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito boasts many ancient architectural delights. Modern endeavors include Moshe Safdie and Uribe Schwarzkopf’s stacked and staggered Qorner building and, inside that, a 300-square-foot studio with seriously big ideas.

“The design emerges from the void between furniture and architecture, which shapes space through objects,” explains Juan Alberto Andrade, who cofounded JAG Studio along with María José Váscones. “Space that condenses living activities, such as: sleeping, working, cooking, eating, and storing.” The condensing arrives courtesy of a horizontal axis of laminated MDF boards across an otherwise open space. Behind the boards, the team arranged everything else, including a kitchen, laundry, closet, library, and a dining table-cum-office desk tucked in front of the bed.

“The bed-desk-table module is a favorite because of its multiple spatial configurations under constructive solutions,” says Andrade. “Each module solves one, or even multiple needs.” The result? A flexible, small home designed to maximize every inch of space—and its potential.

Soothing Neutrals and Organic Textures Define This West Village Home

The team of SISSY+MARLEY Interiors—led by Chelsea Reale and Diana Rice—transformed this 1,700-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment into a calming refuge for a young family who wanted to escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City without leaving town. 

“The client approached us, inspired by our past projects and attracted to our aesthetic and nonuse of color in welcoming spaces,” remember Reale and Rice. “She gave us full creative control.” 

A restrained palette prevails makes the apartment feel larger, bright and crisp, while reflecting a relaxing vibe. The homeowner—who has a demanding schedule and was searching for a peaceful and cozy atmosphere—asked SISSY+MARLEY Interiors to recreate the sensation of a dreamy boutique hotel. 

“Since the palette of the home was neutral, it was important to introduce interest through the materials we used — such as leather, shearling, and brass,” says Reale. “These additions give a very luxe feel to the home.” Shades of white, organic textiles, and warm finishes contribute to the timeless look and feel that pervades in every nook. 

“We always say each project is our baby and finishing it is like giving birth,” confesses Reale. “Our beautiful client learned she was pregnant early on in the design phase and gave birth a few weeks after completion of this space. We love being part of these special moments.” Visually balanced, this home is a true retreat in the heart of the Big Apple. 

This Eco-Friendly Apartment is a Peaceful Refuge in the Heart of London

For Tom Lawrence-Levy, founder of Natural Asthetik, this project located in the British capital was a challenge for many reasons. First, the designer had to learn more about feng shui principles. His client, a young married couple of Asian descent, felt strongly about reflecting feng shui rules throughout their home. Second, another part of the brief consisted in creating a living space of eco-friendly pieces free of any carcinogens. When Lawrence-Levy realized he couldn’t find furniture assembled and made using 100% non-toxic adhesives and sustainable materials, he decided to design them himself, fashioning many pieces as functional storage as well. “This way, we were able to create a space that was easy to keep clear of clutter and maintain the calmness,” he says. 

In this apartment inspired by a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian influences (described as Japandi style), the serene environment was achieved using a restrained, soft and natural color and material palette with wood, stone and natural fibers. “We incorporated organic shaped pieces and many curves to express the importance of keeping the energy of the rooms flowing,” Lawrence-Levy says. “This home is a moment of peace in the middle of the city.”

Architects Office Creates a São Paulo Apartment That is Both Warm and Minimal 

For an apartment in a leafy residential neighborhood in São Paulo, Brazil, the client had lived in the apartment for years. Ready for a refresh that could also accommodate work-from-home needs, they approached Greg Bousquet’s Architects Office, an architecture and interiors firm with offices in Brazil and Portugal. Led by Raphaell Valença and Vinicius Fernandes, the firm’s intent was to adapt new demands and create an apartment that was both for living and for working. “The project managed to meet the demand for refuge and meeting at the same time,” Fernandes says. “It presents the possibilities of living with well-being in contemporary times,” Valença adds. 

In the home office, Architects Office designed a custom desk and shelving. In the living room, iconic pieces mix with furniture from emerging Brazilian designers. Linen curtains help create warmth throughout, alongside wood tables, artwork, and soft textiles. Throughout the space, Architects Office worked to mix pieces together in a way that was both minimal and cozy. Individual pieces are distinctive and have personality, but together they create a home that is a sanctuary.

Studio Nishita Kamdar Infuses a Mumbai Apartment With Natural Touches

Within a thicket of mangroves in Vikhroli, a northeast suburb of Mumbai, rises an apartment tower, and within that sits the 950-square-foot home of a mother and daughter, designed by Studio Nishita Kamdar. For such a location, explains founder and principal architect Nishita Kamdar, “taking inspiration from nature was inevitable.”

The material palette of the three-bedroom residence tends toward oak, teak, linen, and jute. A bright pink sofa blooms in the living area, atop a hand-dyed rug and live-edge table. A passage secrets a guest bedroom and storage spaces behind paneling as it travels toward the glass screens that announce the olive green kitchen. And walls throughout are painted in a subtle tone of sand. “This makes the space look cozier and larger than it actually is,” says Kamdar. “The sand shade bounces off the yellow sunlight and almost makes the entire space glow.”