September 7, 2025 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
a HAUSSMANN REIMAGINED
words Karine Monie
interior design Olga Ashby Interiors
photos Vigo Jansons
production Karine Monie
Set in the 7th arrondissement, just steps from the Eiffel Tower and Musée d’Orsay, this Paris home captures the effortless elegance of the city. Within its Haussmannian bones — stone façades, wrought iron details, a circular layout — designer Olga Ashby wove together modern comfort, tactile richness, and Parisian flair.
Travertine Epic coffee tables by Gubi, rattan accents in the bedroom, and dark wood grounding notes set the stage for a natural yet refined palette. In the living room, NV Gallery’s Carol armchair and a sculptural Wicker Willow floor lamp by Gubi strike a balance of playfulness and poise. Upholstery in chenille, velvet, and bouclé adds softness and sheen, layering casual comfort with understated luxury.
OLGA ASHBY’S VISION
The owners, wishing to avoid the inevitable debates that come with shared decision-making, handed full creative control to Olga Ashby, founder and creative director of Olga Ashby Interiors.
Her approach leaned into the spirit of Paris itself. “I went for a casual, relaxed look, ignoring tools of symmetry,” she explains. “I think Paris is all about collecting.” Much like the galleries and couture houses that inspire the city — she cites Schiaparelli’s headquarters as a reference — the apartment unfolds as a curated mix of eras and influences.
REWORKING A HAUSSMANN LAYOUT
Though built in 1900, the apartment came with quirks rather than turnkey charm. “Funny enough, the flat didn’t have a functioning kitchen; the flow was cut as the main bathroom opened into a corridor,” Ashby recalls. Ten months later, the transformation resulted in a home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a powder room by the entrance, and a stone-clad kitchen seamlessly tied into the overall design.
The circular layout of the architecture guided the design, ensuring an easy sense of movement and connection between spaces. This fluidity extends to the interiors, where ornate lighting, comfortable furniture, and objets d’art coexist naturally — a place to host, share a drink, or curl up with a book.
LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE
A warm, earthy palette of whites, caramels, and greens shapes the backdrop, while art — much of it impulsively acquired by Ashby herself — brings bursts of color and energy. Three antique mirrors left by the previous owner add another layer of history, their patinated gold frames amplifying the sense of timelessness.
MATERIAL POETRY
Ashby leaned on her signature mix of textures and finishes. Travertine anchors the living areas and powder room, while rattan adds a touch of stylish ease in the bedroom. Dark wood grounds the rooms, counterbalancing the luminous palette, and the upholstery — chenille, velvet, bouclé — lends softness and sheen.
In the dining area, a Latti table from La Redoute Intérieurs is paired with Miami chairs by Liang & Eimil, softened by a bench upholstered in Mark Alexander fabric. Above, artworks by Megan Fatharly and Trowbridge Gallery infuse a layer of individuality.
Just as importantly, vintage pieces mingle with contemporary furniture and art. “Having beautiful historical bones, we were excited about using contemporary design, but we also shopped vintage as I cannot imagine the project without it,” Ashby says.
