SEEING THE LIGHT
We take a look at how revered designer Jean-Louis Deniot decorated his own home in Paris
設計師Jean-Louis Deniot以清新另類的非凡室內設計打造巴黎家居
The casual visitor to Jean-Louis Deniot’s enchanting Paris apartment might be surprised to discover a charming old master hanging next to a striking contemporary black-and-white image, or marvel at the rounded walls that are offset by a cubist-inspired fireplace in his living room.
Such dynamic juxtapositions are the signature style of this audacious French architect and interior designer, who’s known for his fondness of neoclassicism and admired for his genre-mixing skills. With his evident talent and film-star looks, this A-list designer has attracted a great deal of global attention during his 20-year career, including his revamp of France’s Château Latour winery and his interior design for a palace in Chandigarh, India. He's most recently put his mark on The Glebe – a set of luxurious detached homes situated along landscaped gardens in Chelsea, London.
While his interior designs heavily reference the past, Jean-Louis always contributes a unique touch of newness – and his elegant eclecticism is perfectly reflected in his own home. The apartment is in an 18th-century building in Paris’ 7th arrondissement, between the Quai d’Orsay and the Louvre Museum, and is adjacent to a road famous for its prestigious antiques shops. Due to its narrow streets and historic architecture, Jean-Louis defines it as a "typical Parisian area".
Despite the fact the property hadn’t been renovated for more than 100 years, Jean-Louis was undaunted. "The place was all rotten, but I felt it had potential," he says. "When it was built, the constructions were more comfortable and more insulated from the noise and the weather. What attracted me were the 12 huge windows."
到訪Jean-Louis Deniot巴黎單位的訪客要是看到動人舊畫放在當代矚目黑白圖片前或許會大感驚喜，他家客廳的立體派風格火爐與圓牆的對比也是同樣教人讚嘆不已。
如此出眾的交織襯托正是這位法國建築師兼室內設計師的標誌風格，他以熱愛新古典主義和混搭不同類別風格的技術聞名。這位星級設計師擁有無比天賦和電影明星般的吸引外型，20年工作生涯中贏盡環球讚賞，當中包括了法國Château Latour酒莊的翻近項目和為印度昌迪加爾一皇宮打造的室內設計。
他的室內設計項目深受昔日舊世界元素所影響，但同時Jean-Louis也注入獨特的新點綴——他那優雅的不拘一格風完美地在家中源源流露。單位位於巴黎第7郡一幢18世紀的大樓內，坐落奧塞碼頭和羅浮宮之間，毗鄰一道著名古董店林立的街道。這兒滿眼盡是窄巷和歷史建築，Jean-Louis將之定義成「典型巴黎區」。
To his specifications, the entire interior was demolished and rebuilt to accommodate four rooms – an office, a dining room, a living room and a bedroom – all of which benefit from natural light streaming through the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows that dominate the apartment. "The concept was simple – to give the impression of splendour without ostentation, while remaining contemporary," he says. "I injected every element that seemed new and interesting to me."
With his discipline as a trained architect, Jean-Louis begins every project by considering the location, the site, the natural light, the layout and the volume of the rooms, all of which end up defining the property’s future style. "I like my projects to be like scenarios – unique stories that are all custom-designed," he says. "Most initial inspiration happens in my head and I can visualise the finished spaces."
Though he often works on multiple projects around the world, Jean-Louis says that every single element in his work is selected and placed by him. "I choose everything to the point where, if a piece of art owned by a client doesn’t quite work, I’ll switch in one of my own for a photo shoot – so it will look as close as possible to my initial vision."
In part, it’s this attention to detail that has seen Jean-Louis nicknamed the "modern master of French interiors" and has led to acknowledgment as one of the world’s top architects and interior designers. It’s a career he felt he was "destined to do from the
物業已超過100年不經任何翻新裝修，但Jean-Louis卻未有因此卻步。「一片頹垣敗壁，但我仍能感受到當中的潛力。」他表示：「結構建成之時，感覺舒適，並能有效阻擋噪音和耐候。最吸引我的是12道大窗。」
根據他的要求，整個室內空間也被徹底掏空，並重建出四大房間，包括辦公室、飯廳、客廳和睡房，全都沐浴在源源不絕的天然光中，這還多得主導整個單位的落地大窗。他表示：「概念簡單：營造自然流露的豪華氣派，而同時不失當代魅力。在各處注入自己認為有趣和嶄新的元素。」
作為受訓建築師，Jean-Louis開始處理每個項目時總會想及地點、選址、天然光、格局和空間容量的問題，如此種種是成就出物業未來風格的要素。「我希望自己的項目都各有一定情景——度身設計的獨特故事。」他說：「大部分初步靈感均在我腦際呈現，這樣就能將之活現在完工後的空間中。」
age of 12." His approach to his work is both academic and abstract. "I love beauty and poetic elements that spark contemplation – pieces that make you dream, make you smile," he says. "I love the interactions between pieces – weird juxtapositions are exciting."
This is apparent in his own apartment, where, imperceptible at first glance, the rounded angles of the living room walls and ceilings create a softness that’s repeated in the lacquered grey bookshelves that run the length of the curved walls. Curiously, the designer adds a Marc DuPlantier-inspired cubist fireplace, which he says is intentional in order to "prevent the softness from turning into drowsiness".
The walls and ceiling feature a ravishing panoramic painting of a cloudy sky by Mathias Kiss, perhaps alluding to the ceiling frescos of the 18th century or the view from the windows of a plane. This sense of lightness, exemplified by the living room walls and ceiling, is strikingly contrasted with architectural details and furniture from the 1930s and 1950s.
Jean-Louis is famous for creating dazzling contrasts, so how does he achieve them? "I have the ability to see finished spaces in my head when I am in the creation process," he explains.
Jean-Louis的工作項目遍滿全球，所有細節均由他本人親自挑選和擺放。「我愛親力親為的地步已到要是客人的藝術品跟空間不配，我會換上自己的珍藏用作拍攝，這樣才能跟我最初想像的氣氛拉近。」
正是這種對細節的執著和追求，才能讓Jean-Louis成為「法國室內裝潢現代大師」，並順利擠身全球頂尖的建築師和室內設計師行列。他自12歲起已早知道自己注定要在室內設計界打滾。他的取向既具學術性又抽象。「我喜愛美麗和帶有詩意的元素，教人沉思——一些讓你會心微笑和想象的作品。」他指：「我喜愛物件之間的互動交流——奇異的交織襯搭特別有趣刺激。」
第一眼看去或許難以察覺，但只要花點時間感受，就會發現客廳牆壁和天花渾圓角落能營造的柔和美感，沿彎牆而建的灰漆書架也繼承著這點魅力。有趣的是，設計師加建了Marc DuPlantier式立體派火爐，他表示這刻意之舉是為了「避免空間會柔和得令人昏昏欲睡」。
牆壁和天花飾有Mathias Kiss的密雲油畫，彷彿回應著18世紀的天花濕壁畫或從飛機望出的景色。這種輕盈感可見於客廳的牆壁和天花，跟30和50年代的建築細節和傢具形成矚目對比。
“I LOVE BEAUTY AND POETIC ELEMENTS THAT SPARK CONTEMPLATION – PIECES THAT MAKE YOU DREAM, MAKE YOU SMILE”
MADE TO MEASURE
Onyx-effect panels add an elegant touch to the walk-in closet. In the bathroom, contemporary fixtures are contrasted with antique sconces by Agostini, from Galerie 88 in London; the sink is from Duravit. The 1965 vintage suspension light is from Galerie Onsite Antiques in Paris
珍重一生
帶縞瑪瑙效果的鑲板為衣櫃混入優雅氣派。浴室的當代配飾與來自倫敦Galerie 88的Agostini古董壁燈成對照；鋅盆來自Duravit。1965年古董燈來自巴黎Galerie Onsite Antiques "So I can tell in advance what will work and what won’t. It’s a three-dimensional composition, taking into account the contrast, volumes, colours, textures, shadows and light. I create an effect of layering by prioritising these elements and ideas in different ways that emphasise the atmosphere, the richness and the refinement of the space."
This distinctive narrative, which runs throughout Jean-Louis’ body of work, is reflected in his own home without constraint. "I designed it without following any trend or concern for anyone’s opinion," he says. "I designed it how I felt, so it does feel very comfortable and personal. It represents my own freedom, my own preferences and my own aesthetic – and I had fun doing it." //
Jean-Louis以打造耀眼對比聞名，他是怎樣做到如此效果？「創作過程間我已能預視到製成品的模樣。」他解釋：「所以可預先知道怎樣才為可行。這個立體結構也得加入對比、容量、色彩、質感、陰影和光。透過不同方式重點應用這些元素和意念，打造出豐富效果，強調空間的精緻、富麗堂皇和氣氛。」
這種獨一無二的風格貫穿Jean-Louis的作品，在他家中更是自由奔放地獲一一呈現。「我沒有跟隨任何潮流或任何人的意見。」他說：「只是憑自己感覺設計，故教我舒適自在而滿有個人風格。它代表我的自由、我的愛好和我的個人美學，過程也絕對是賞心樂事。」//