Blame it on the fireplace

P. 122

A 17th-century apartment in Paris, which a gallerist couple has filled with archeology, design and art

For Gladys and Ollivier Chenel, Parisian antiquarians specializing in Egyptian and Roman relics, it was love at first sight. As usual, you might say, but their case is a bit different, because the first time they saw the place it was online. They were on vacation, at the beach. But the photo of an enormous fireplace made them hurry back to Paris. And the physical impression matched their hopes.

The flat fills the piano nobile of a hôtel particulier from the 1600s in the 4th arrondissement. It has an area of 170 sqm, a staircase protected as heritage, ceilings with carved beams. «The previous owner was an American woman who did not live here full time», says Ollivier. «She used it mostly for dinner parties. In the early 1980s she combined two apartments on the same floor. Her renovation was full of ideas, which we have kept: the red damask corridor; the master bedroom, entirely clad in fabric; the custom furnishings. The only thing we have completely changed is one bathroom».

The decorating has been a creative process, made of layers and contrasts. Gladys explains: «I do the setups for our gallery and our booths at trade fairs. Spaces that communicate warmth, life, and have to get done in a few days. For the house, on the other hand, I’ve taken my time, gradually purchasing what’s needed, at auctions and markets». «We’re dealers, it’s in our blood», Ollivier says. «But I don’t want to sell certain items. The marble table by Mario Bellini is just perfect».

«This house is anything but a museum. With two teenagers in the family, that would be impossible, in any case», Gladys continues. So amidst Egyptian and Roman antiques, and ceramics by Picasso, the true star is the Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass in a corridor: «That’s the spot for selfies for our daughter's friends». Ollivier is also proud of the apartment’s four fireplaces, which he loves to light: «He has even cooked steaks in the monumental one», she confesses. It’s putting into practice the advice they give to customers in the gallery: «Don’t buy an object for its value. Buy it because you love it».