We tour interior designer Stéphanie Coutas’ Paris apartment, which embodies her passion for exquisite craftsmanship and the art de vivre.
Stéphanie Coutas’ diverse cultural and creative background, raised in Asia and beginning her professional career in fashion, directly influence her distinctive style as an interior designer. Her Parisian interior design studio comprises architects, designers and decorators and spans a range of project types, including private homes, hotels and yachts. A self-proclaimed connoisseur of clean lines and spectacular decor, Stéphanie’s projects are bespoke, modern and undeniably elegant.
In the most recent issue of est magazine ‘Kitchen Confidential’, we had the pleasure of showcasing the kitchen of Stéphanie’s own home in Paris, which is situated on the verdantly-lined Esplanade des Invalides. Boasting an open plan, tall ceilings and many windows, the apartment is designed to feel luminous, sophisticated and peaceful.
In Stéphanie’s kitchen, countertops in swirling green-and-blue marble contrast with oak cabinetry. Mirrored surfaces add intrigue and dimension to the small space. The enamelled stone stools are by ceramist Marc Albert and surround an oak table designed by Stéphanie. A sculpture by artist Michel Rico rests on the countertop.
Painting by Wang Yan Cheng
Responding to the question, ‘what are three words that describe your kitchen?’ Stéphanie said “verdant, cosy and cheerful”. Functionality was key in the space, but she wanted it to exude elegance and sophistication. The material palette blends swirling green-and-blue marble, warm oak and, for an element of visual intrigue, mirrored surfaces.
“I love how the natural swirling green tones of the White Beauty marble combine with the plants on the windowsill,” she says. “I like to work with the concept of inside-outside, which means the designs work well day and night with natural and artificial lighting scenarios.”
The dining space features a table made of black sawn oak and alpaca fur encircled by aluminium-cast chairs, both designed by Stéphanie. A concrete bowl designed by Faye Toogood is in the centre of the table. Two paintings by contemporary Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata are paired with a late 19th-century tribal mask from Congo and a sculpture by Christian Caulas.
The apartment’s open plan creates a sense of fluidity, reinforced by tall ceilings and curved architectural elements. Parquetry flooring was specified to give the apartment a distinctly Parisian feel.
The living space features a custom marble fireplace, two boucle sofas designed by Stéphanie, a marble and bronze coffee table, also designed by Stéphanie, two wall lamps designed by Christian Astuguevieille, and sculptures by Coralie Bonnet and Simone Pheulpin.
The rest of the spaces share the same penchant for beautiful materials and arresting art. In the dining space, a table made of black sawn oak and alpaca fur is encircled by aluminium-cast chairs designed by Stéphanie. Two paintings by contemporary Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata are paired with a late 19th-century tribal mask from Congo and a sculpture by Christian Caulas.
The living room is anchored by a marble fireplace, flanked by pedestals displaying sculptures by artists Coralie Bonnet and Simone Pheulpin. Boucle sofas and a marble and bronze coffee table, also designed by Stéphanie, add to the bespoke nature of the space.
The office features a mural by Stéphanie in collaboration with local sculptural artist Lookas, as well as a desk designed by Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, a coffee table designed by Pierre Chapo and a plaster pendant light designed by Pierre Augustin Rose.
The office features a spectacular mural of olive trees designed by Stéphanie in collaboration with local sculptural artist Lookas, made from plaster and marble powder. The mural complements notable design pieces, including a desk by Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret.
The primary bedroom has been finished in a neutral palette, creating a cosy and serene atmosphere, while the adjoining bathroom is clad almost entirely in bold Italian marble.
The kitchen in this home originally appeared in est magazine issue 48: Kitchen Confidential as one of four designer’s kitchens (pp. 54-57).
The primary bedroom features custom pieces by Stéphanie: a pair of rope stools, a bedhead made of sawn oak, leather, bronze, patinated brass and Dedar fabric, and two headboard lamps made of alabaster.
The ensuite is clad almost entirely in bold Italian marble.
The powder rooms features a sculpture by Beatrice Serre.
Stéphanie in her home
