The big easy This Parisian home shows the charm of plump designs
Plump, curvaceous furniture is hot property and, in this home by interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch, it creates a friendly atmosphere
Comfort and colour are in plentiful supply in this two-bedroom apartment located in a 1950s property in Paris’s tranquil Les Invalides neighbourhood. Designed for a young French couple who both work in the fashion industry, and their young daughter, the home is the perfect example of Nice-born interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch’s eclectic approach. He is known for blending architectural elements with artisan-produced bespoke furniture, 20th-century design collectables and contemporary art. On paper, this could sound dry, but in reality his lively and inviting spaces are full of texture, materiality and cheerfulness – imparted by his own expressive designs.
It’s hard not to feel affection for someone who christens their furniture and lights with names such as ‘Papa Bear’, ‘Oops’ and ‘ET’. A pioneer of the curvaceous and generous forms trending right now – the ‘Papa Bear’, for instance, designed in 2012, is a huggable teddy of a chair with plush ears – Yovanovitch honed his talents in residential projects after segueing from fashion (he was formerly a menswear designer at Pierre Cardin). ‘I want my designs to bring character to any space,’ he says. ‘I try to insufflate poetry into my work, so there is an element of playfulness in most of my pieces. This is what gives life to an interior.’
In this home, Yovanovitch has generated that energy by creating a fluid, open-plan atmosphere while maintaining distinct rooms. It is an approach that is ideal for relaxed family living. At the heart of this layout is the living room, dominated by a capacious solid-oak sofa upholstered in Jouffre linen. ‘It required exceptionally skilled craftspeople to realise the piece’s complex shape,’ he says of the custom-designed piece. ‘I wanted to create a welcoming feel, and this sofa, with its curved shape, lends itself to conversation.’
The calming neutrals and natural textures of the living area are enlivened by the punchy dark teal and rust orange of Yovanovitch’s reassuringly chunky and enveloping ‘Asymétrie’ armchairs. By extending this colour combination throughout the rest of the apartment – the two shades are most notable in the kitchen, where they add a vivacious warmth – he creates a harmonious flow, not to mention a home full of verve and personality. pierreyovanovitch.com