DREAM BATHROOM A chic master en suite with a French-boudoir look

A MODERN TWIST ON CLASSICAL PARISIAN STYLE ENSURES THIS MASTER EN SUITE IS OVERFLOWING WITH FRENCH FLAIR

DESIGNER Stéphanie Coutas, director, SC by Stéphanie Coutas, +33 (0)1 81 29 31 90, stephaniecoutas.com.

THE PROPERTY A two-bedroom, 19th-century Haussmannian apartment near Trocadéro, Paris.

DESIGN BRIEF To achieve a grand ‘French boudoir’ atmosphere that celebrates neoclassical Parisian architecture, with unique, contemporary touches to steer the overall look in a young, fresh direction. DIMENSIONS 4.5x6m

LAYOUT

The previous bathroom was minuscule, with a tiny shower and no bathtub – far removed from the luxurious master suite the owners desired. Stéphanie and her team reconfigured the whole apartment, carving space for a glamorous walk-through dressing room and more generous bathroom in the process. Stéphanie’s layout focused on preserving the enviable Parisian views. ‘Installing the bath in front of the window ensured great natural light within the room, as well as a delightful glimpse of the Eiffel Tower,’ she explains. The WC is tucked away to the left of the entrance.

SURFACES

While the views may be big news outside, inside a generous shower was made star of the show. To secure its leading role, Stéphanie went on a deep search for an eye-catching marble to clad the shower wall. ‘I was looking for a very white background with powdery coloured veins and struck gold with this Antigua Green. I fell in love with the light green, purple and grey hues,’ recalls Stéphanie. She specified a polished finish on the walls and vanity unit for glamour, and leathered on the shower floor to help with slip resistance. The parquet floors are featured throughout the apartment in reference to its Haussmannian heritage.

FITTINGS

Contemporary fittings – such as an egg-shaped bath and sleek Dornbracht brassware – were chosen to create moments of design friction. Pitched against traditional materials and accessories, the crisp minimalist lines and handle-less furniture feel unexpected and unique.

MIRRORED GLASS

The decorative concept for the outsized mirror was focused on framing the marble vanity unit to boost its presence. The mirrored plinth below the vanity makes it appear lighter, as if the heavy marble is floating against the glass. When using mirror, Stéphanie always keeps two points in mind.

‘The first is to make sure that it will be reflecting a spectacular piece – in this case the custom shower – and the second is to place it where the natural light hits best,’ she explains.

LIGHTING

To complete the ‘boudoir’ element of the brief, Stéphanie went full luxe with wall lights from Italamp’s exquisite Chanel range. Dripping with Swarovski crystals, the two-arm fittings appear doubled in the reflection of the mirror, resembling mini floating chandeliers. ‘There are also dimmable ceiling spotlights for ambiance control,’ adds Stéphanie.