Inside a Haussmannian Paris Apartment With a Worldly Point of View

Kristen Flanagan

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When artist Noelia Hobeika and video editor Burke Williams decided to plant roots in Paris ahead of the birth of their first child, the couple, who split their time between Brooklyn and the French capital, discovered a Haussmannian apartment that, while brimming with charm, had remained untouched for decades. What followed was a transformation that married understated elegance with deeply personal touches—all under the thoughtful eye of designer Thomas Fournier.

The homeowners in the apartment’s living room. Noelia Hobeika sits on one of a pair of 1950s Italian armchairs featuring their original velvet, sourced from Pomona, while Burke Williams stands alongside one of Hobeika’s works, entitled Hommage. The art infuses the room, outfitted in warm neutrals, with rich color.

“We really wanted the interiors to stand the test of time and transcend any particular period, style, or trend,” Hobeika shares, noting that the couple desired a “comfortable, highly livable home.” The apartment’s renovation, which involved reinventing the outdated kitchen and bathrooms, also prioritized functionality. “We needed additional storage and a layout that worked for a young family,” Hobeika adds.

Having first admired Fournier’s work in AD France, Hobeika was struck by Fournier’s ability to blend French, Italian, and Asian influences with a timeless sensibility. Her Parisian upbringing and Lebanese Argentine heritage helped shape the design direction. “His aesthetic felt like a natural extension of my own taste,” she notes. “Collaborating with him was a delight—his instincts and proposals were spot-on from day one.” Williams, who admits he initially took a backseat in design decisions, grew increasingly involved as the project unfolded. “It’s been a learning experience,” he says. “And now, I can’t imagine a better place to start our family.”

The entry welcomes guests with a masterful mix of styles and eras. A Chinese Qing Dynasty portrait from the late 19th century, a 1920s Art Deco pendant, and a contemporary bench from Lea Zeroil all set the tone for the eclectic space beyond.
The living room is anchored by a 1950s Danish three-seat sofa, sourced from Selency and reupholstered in an earthy brown velvet from Metaphores. The 1970s Italian wood and brass coffee table is from Pomona, while the French end table is from 1stDibs.

For Fournier, the project was an opportunity to break away from the white-on-white minimalism often associated with Haussmannian renovations. “We wanted something different—something that felt warm, soulful, not too modern, with a touch of old-world spirit,” he explains. The entrance hall sets the tone, enveloping visitors in a moody palette that contrasts with the brighter living and dining rooms beyond. A once-awkward mirror was elongated to create a dramatic focal point, while a cabochon-patterned floor in Botticino marble and blue stone evokes Parisian grandeur.

Dark, moody tones define the galley kitchen, which features black-red powder coated cabinets and Breccia Imperiale quartzite, offset by polished brass hardware from La Quincaillerie. The range is from Officine Gullo.
At the center of the dining room is a 1990s metal table, which the homeowners bought at a flea market in Provence, surrounded by 1960s wooden chairs reupholstered in fabric from the Marché Saint Pierre. The 19th-century Japanese folding screen in brown lacquer is from Soubrier Antiquities.
A marble-clad fireplace graces one corner of the dining room. The mantle showcases treasured items, including a vintage brutalist twisted bronze candelabra and a small metal and mother-of-pearl vase from Byblos, Lebanon.
A marble-clad fireplace graces one corner of the dining room. The mantle showcases treasured items, including a vintage brutalist twisted bronze candelabra and a small metal and mother-of-pearl vase from Byblos, Lebanon.

From the dining table unearthed at a flea market in Provence to the postmodern chair sourced from a local gallery, every piece tells a story. Many furnishings, like a sculptural desk and pedestal, were inherited from Hobeika’s childhood home. “They’re pieces that hold so much meaning for me," she says. Even the art on the walls—her own vivid paintings—forms a cohesive thread. “My artwork is so intertwined with my design philosophy; it all flows naturally,” Hobeika reflects.

In the bathrooms, Fournier drew inspiration from the lavatory tilework at the Musée Nissim de Camondo in Paris, replicating the pattern in green and beige marble for the primary bath and rich browns for the secondary. "We wanted them to feel timeless, almost like they’d always been part of the apartment," he says.

To create more privacy and functionality, Fournier closed off a second entry to the primary bedroom and used that interior space for storage, in addition to the built-ins. The stool next to the fireplace is by Tom Ducarouge from Galerie Paradis. The glazed ceramic sconces are by Lea Zeroil.
In the primary bathroom, Fournier had a 1930s sideboard converted into a vanity, sourced from Selency. Both the countertop and the floor tiles feature Botticino marble. The Murano glass sconce and Flos cocoon pendant light are both secondhand purchases.
The secondary bathroom is accented by a rich brown Emperador marble on the trim, tub surround, and floor tile. The mirror is flanked by two 1960s ribbed Murano glass sconces, sourced from Etsy.

The kitchen, meanwhile, is a master class in restraint. Custom cabinetry in deep burgundy pops against the quartzite countertop with chestnut veining, which ties back to the natural materials seen throughout the home. The upper fronts were designed with fluted glass, but were revised to feature mesh-screen fronts. “We wanted to avoid anything that felt overly trendy,” Hobeika explains. “Classic choices always win out.”

Now, as the sunlight filters through the Haussmannian windows, casting a warm glow on the carefully chosen surfaces and inherited treasures, Hobeika and Williams find themselves exactly where they hoped to be: at home. It’s a space that doesn’t just reflect their past lives but also the promise of the future.

In the office, furnishings from Hobeika’s childhood home in Paris—like the vintage wood chinoiserie desk and the wood pedestal—received a second life. The desk’s postmodern French brutalist throne chair is from Galerie Paradis, while the large vase on the pedestal is by ceramic artist Jaye Kim. Hobeika’s mixed media work Geste Symbolique sits atop the desk.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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