Interview with Light & Matter by Caroline Andréoni

What made this renovation unique, and what did you like about this apartment?

CAROLINE ANDRÉONI: This 230 m² apartment had been occupied for over 40 years by the same owners and required a complete overhaul to accommodate a new family. What immediately appealed to me was its exceptional natural light and the through-plan layout that offered beautiful views. I felt that my clients were open to An ambitious approach to rediscover the soul of the place: revealing the missing moldings, uncovering the parquet floors hidden beneath the carpets, and completely rethinking the spatial organization.

 

 

The kitchen occupies a central place in your design. Why did you choose to make it the heart of the apartment?

It has become the true beating heart of the apartment. This large, light-filled glass partition, combined with a custom-made banquette, transforms the space into a permanent family gathering place.

Since the lady of the house is passionate about cooking, we designed a multifunctional space where all meals can be eaten without necessarily having to move to the dining room. Its strategic location, with two access points to the children's bedrooms, naturally makes it a circulation and living area. A bright glass roof, combined with a custom-made bench, transforms the space into a permanent family gathering place.

 

 

How did you go about redefining the circulation and functionality of the spaces?

Our method consists of We strive to intimately understand our clients' lifestyles before making any changes to the design. Rather than simply asking them where they want a particular room, we analyze their habits: Do they work from home? Do they entertain frequently? Do they enjoy cooking? This approach led us to a complete reconfiguration: creating a fully independent master suite on one side, grouping the children's areas with a laundry room and dedicated bathrooms on the other, and centrally repositioning the kitchen and living room to take full advantage of the beautiful dual aspect.

 

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What design choices did you make regarding materials and the overall atmosphere?

We prioritized warmth and authenticity: wood is omnipresent for its comforting quality, and expressive wall coverings provide an immediate decorative signature – notably the metallic ceiling in the entrance hall and the striking patterns in the corridor. The warm color palette, combined with polished concrete From the master bathroom to the rounded plasterwork of the living room bookcase, a sophisticated coherence is created. We also discreetly integrated the television behind a mirror above the redesigned fireplace.

 

 

This project perfectly illustrates our approach: respecting the heritage identity while meeting the demands of modern living. The exceptional rapport with these clients, who already appreciated my work, allowed for a creative freedom that is evident in every detail. Ultimately, I feel I have designed an apartment in which I myself could live, which, in my opinion, is the hallmark of true success.