The living room proudly displays a textured reproduction of a painting by Monet – the original of which is in the Met Museum in New York -, representing the Monceau Park located a stone’s throw from the apartment. The work, which the duo particularly likes, was an essential creative starting point for imagining the contours of this small space. “The inspiration comes from both the painting and the trees we see outside, comments Olivia Mexme, who says to herself ‘of Monet’. From there was born the desire for tactile, natural materials, and the recurring green color in this project.” Thus, vintage armchairs from the 1980s are covered in sensual green velvet, hand-reupholstered cushions are reminiscent of raffia, an antique mirror in the false fireplace evokes the reflections of water…
The famous painting that inspired the apartment, in a Montparnasse Émile Bouche frame from 1940. Inside, the reproduction of the painting Monceau Park by Claude Monet.
Cy Twombly’s colorful bedroom
The bedroom reveals a headboard designed by Studio Harp in wild silk and twisted cable The Marquesas Houlès, with a fabric bolster Dahlias Poppies Tulips from Dedar and wired Valmont Houlès.
© Studio Harp
Around the dressing table, the stool Primo (Vine) by Léa Zeroil, fabric curtains Free Love by Dedar, the wallpaper Shagreen d’Arte and small Vallauris ceramics found by Olivia Mexme.
© Studio Harp
“In the room, the atmosphere is different, describes the interior designer. It is intended to be softer, more soothing, with more noble materials”. Inspired again by a Cy Twombly poster, Olivia Mexme designs a sophisticated headboard. “The headboard was the starting point of the bedroom. It is wild silk, with a little green — the green touch of the piece. The colors of Cy Twombly’s poster made me want to also add burgundy to the large bolster, antique ceramics to the dressing table and the stool Primo from my friend Léa Zéroil. On the wall, imitation shagreen wallpaper finishes enhancing the space.
Art, nature and poetry
In the kitchen, green zelliges by Samir Mazer for Ateliers Zelij and photography Cabbages Gaeta de Cy Twombly.
© Studio Harp
The bathroom has a more sober finish, white and pastel.
© Studio Harp
In the kitchen, green also adorns the zellige splashback, the same color as the velvet armchairs in the living room, as well as a screen-printed still life by Pierre Boncompain. “The idea wasn’t to marry all the artwork with the decor, rather they were pleasant reminders. » More sober, the bathroom has white tiles, while the bathroom has a soft pistachio green from floor to ceiling.
In the bathroom, pistachio green is in the spotlight, all over.
© Studio Harp
The dining area, with a ceramic vase by Morgane Pasqualini, a vintage chandelier by JT Kalmar, 1970. Vintage cowhide table and chairs 1970 (Czech Republic). Zara Home jute rug (400x300cm).
© Leo Kharfan
We understand that art and nature are at the heart of the duo’s creative sensibility. Even its name, Harp, chosen in reference to a work by Rothko. “During the exhibition given at the Louis Vuitton Foundation last year, I spotted a work called Aeolian Harp, remembers Olivia Mexme. I liked the sound of this name and I immediately thought of Jean Arp, a sculptor I like. We kept ‘Arp’ as a tribute to the artist, with the “H” to recall the instrument. » The S and H of the studio intertwine in an elegant logo reminiscent of the shape of a lyre. And the duo concludes, very delicately: “It’s good to always cultivate a little subtlety. »
Studio Harp : studioharp.fr / Instagram : @studio__harp
