FRENCH LESSONS

A visit to François Motte’s converted historic home in the heart of Paris is an adventure that is chaotic and colourful yet still superbly functional.

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COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO RESIDE IN YOUR HOME?

Fifteen years ago, I accidentally visited this place – near Montmartre, a district of Paris I have always loved – and immediately saw the potential. It was a near-abandoned ground floor of a tiny mansion where a craftsman still worked and lived. With its high-ceilinged car shed, brick stable, attic for storing fodder accessed by a ladder and concierge’s lodge, it was an inspiring witness to a vanished Paris. There was also a small courtyard where I could make a garden – and find peace in the heart of the city.

WHAT DID THE ALTERATIONS ENTAIL?

The place was not inhabited for years. It took two days to clear everything out, followed by a few months of construction. From my first visit, the new layout was obvious. I wanted a large kitchen through which to enter the house – somewhere to cook, of course, but also have meals in the evening for two. I wanted a large, fairly theatrical dining room where I could entertain friends, and the car shed was perfect for its size. I wanted to make the stable into an intimate space, a library and reading room, and I wanted a tiny cocoon under the roof above as my bedroom. Of course, we had to create a bathroom, which I did in the same vein as the old stable, and I added a living room.

WHAT INFORMED THE SELECTION OF FURNITURE, ART, FITTINGS AND FINISHES?