Modern Thrift: Lucile Demory’s Architect-Designed Rental in Paris
Posted by admin on
When Lucile Demory moved back to Paris after a stint in Philadelphia, she was lucky enough to find an architect-designed rental loft at the end of a courtyard, in the 10th Arrondissement (a friend’s sister happened to be moving out at the same time). Lucile moved in right away but changed very little. It’s the decor that stands out. Lucile—like her sister, creative director Clarisse Demory—has an offbeat yet refined style that has been developed over decades of thrift store collecting and unaffected by the vagaries of Insta-trends. Join us for a tour.
Photography by Claire Cottrell for Remodelista.
Above: The loft, in a 1990s building by commercial architects Fassio-Viaud, once functioned as a counterfeit handbag workshop. Lucile and Michel added floor-to-ceiling curtains and potted plants for privacy.
Above: The inset coco mat came with the apartment. Lucile and Michel created an instant entryway with a white-painted peg rail.
Above: Lucile couldn’t find a neutral area rug that she liked so, instead, she had a carpet custom cut and added a binding.
Above: The sofa and ottoman are part of a 1960s daybed set by French designer Pierre Chapo. The lamp is a Spirale Desk Lamp by Ingo Maurer for Design M.
Above: Lucile bought the glass coffee table for €5 at a thrift store in Vaulx-Vraucourt, a town in northern France where her mother lives. On the coffee table is a Raku ceramic tile, a found sculpture, and [product id="989003"]A.P.C. Transmission[/product], the new book by Jean Touitou.
Above: Lucile on the Pierre Chapo; she wears an A.P.C. Italian lamb’s wool sweater. For more on her personal style, visit Unfussy French Girl Style with Lucile Demory.
Above: A 1990s halogen floor lamp of Michel’s illuminates a corner; the speakers are from Focal and the turntable is a Technics 1210MK2. Albums are filed in an [product id="989002"]Ikea Kallax[/product] shelving unit, a favorite among record collectors. For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: DJ-Approved Home Stereo Equipment.
Above: The two vintage leather poufs are from a Paris thrift store.
Above: Two side-by-side pine [product id="612966"]Ivar Shelving Units[/product] from Ikea hold Lucile’s things, from “years of collecting”: glassware from Emmaüs, France’s chain of charity shops, and Philly AIDS Thrift; ceramics by Lucile herself or by friend and artist Cécile Daladier; and a wood-base table lamp from resale site leboncoin.fr.
Above: The white vase with fingerprints is by Lucile.
Above: A sturdy speckled vase brought back from Philadelphia and a stack of ordinary white plates mixed with ceramic dishes.
Above: Glassware in shades of amber, pink, and green.
Above: A fig galette baked by Lucile atop a table of unknown origin that “folds into a mini console.” The silver tray was Michel’s, and Lucile’s sister Clarisse bought the chairs from a Belgian antiques website.
Above: A view from the kitchen into the two-tiered living/dining space.
Above: Lucile and Michel keep the small kitchen spare. On the counter are two stoneware cook pots, bought at a thrift store. The bread on the counter is from Paris bakery Du Pain et Des Idées.
Above: A steel handrail is one of the many timeless architectural details added by Fassio-Viaud. Lucile and Michel use one edge of the stairs to store their shoes.
Above: Lucile and Michel installed the alabaster wall lamp when they moved in. An uncommon color pairing—dark blue and green—is a theme, from throw pillows to candles and vases.
Above: A vintage yellow side table fits between the bed and built-in shelves.
Above: Lucile bought the green pillar candle from Vellas Loreto, a church candle shop in Lisbon, Portugal. The blue glass tube vase is, again, from a thrift store, and holds a single stem of pampas grass. The bowl is a half dried calabash (a type of gourd).
Above: Clarisse gave Lucile the school chair, one of a batch she sourced for a restaurant design, and the poster from a 1973 Iranian painters exhibition.
Above: Planted and potted trees create a privacy shield.
Above: A view of the gated courtyard shows how the modern Fassio-Viaud structure to the rear contrasts with the traditional, historic Parisian architecture.
For more on Lucile (and her sister, Clarisse), see our posts: