One of the most intriguing apartments I spent time in when shooting COLOUR, was the work of Monsieur Jean-Louis Deniot. Ever since I first saw a pic of his kitchen online I was obsessed (beyond obsessed), I had to track him down and have him in the COLOUR book! I know I’ve been teasing you with this apartment for a while, showing off his incredible kitchen and his mastery of glam style. But it’s way too cool not to share in full, so here finally is the proper House Crush post it deserves!
From faux marble walls in the hallway which have been expertedly hand painted to metal hammered gold doors that front the kitchen cabinetry. Deniot’s look is luxe, sophiscated and supremely French. His approach to design is incredibly refined, neoclassical even. He trained as an architect and you can tell that his spaces are considered all the way from floors to light fittings, hardware to wall treatments, sightlines to other rooms, the lot.
It was those wall treatments which really took my breath away. From a bespoke paper he’d commissioned for the library, which almost replicated bark, to a beautiful metallic hand finished effect in the dining room, and the piece de resistance marble effect hallway. We were actually stroking the walls to check it wasn’t marble – but, nope! All paint. Graham (photographer Graham Atkins-Hughes that is) and I were begging him for the trick, but he wasn’t letting on. We all have to have some secrets I suppose!
Luckily some of Jean-Louis’ tricks are easier to pull off yourself. The colour palette for a start – it’s always pulled back but the most beautiful take on neutrals you’ll ever see. Heavy on metallics and the occasional killer combo, like the regal purple and gold scheme in the library. There’s also the high-low mix – Deniot is expert at mixing highly individual pieces and has the ability to create breathtaking and droolworthy rooms that you still feel you can hunker down and relax in. He never overdoes it, being too trendy or overly formal. Every house he designs, from this Left Bank apartment to amazing residences in India and LA are all beyond beautiful. If you’re as obsessed as I am, you can see more of his pad in COLOUR. Enjoy!