Charming 18th century duplex renovated in Place de la Madeleine

When you usually hear about an apartment being renovated you expect it to feature a contemporary style. But not all renovations focus on bringing the décor up to date. Sometimes a different style can be chosen just to give that space more charm and character. A great example would be this beautiful duplex.

Apartment Madeleine design3

The duplex can be found in an 18th century building in Place de la Madeleine, Paris. It occupies the top two floors of the building and it has been recently renovated by Michael Herrman, principal of French studio Ateliers Michael Herrman for him and his family. The duplex now features a very interesting and unique interior.

Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3

You can see that it’s very chic and stylish but it doesn’t feature the characteristics of a typical contemporary apartment. It’s not minimalist but it’s simple and very chic. The 1,500 square foot duplex went through a series of major changes. For example, it now has a glass floor above the dining area. This feature was meant to bring light into the lower level but also to connect the two spaces.

Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3
Apartment Madeleine design3

The apartment is very spacious. It was created by unifying 12 maids’ rooms found on these two levels. The result was this three-bedroom duplex with spacious rooms and a very charming interior. During the renovation, the architect tried to preserve the charm of this old building so most of the original features were incorporated into the new design. It’s why it doesn’t look like any other modern apartment. It has the original limestone walls and the oak beams and most of the elements that were added during the renovation were meant to bring out the beauty of the apartment and to reinforce its character. It is, indeed, a unique space and a very charming family home with a lot of character.