In order to be recognised as one the most important names of the luxury property market, Gérard Faivre Paris has aims to meet the high expectations of today’s customers – which involves combining high-end design with comfort and cutting-edge technology.

Gérard Faivre’s signature – which is simultaneously his challenge – is that he never creates the same interior twice. For him, each client is unique – and this uniqueness should be reflected in their home. He uses a blend of traditional and contemporary elements in each of his projects, aiming to surprise and charm his clients.

Paris, ‘the city of light’, is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. It dazzles with its architecture, culture and neighbourhoods of incomparable beauty. Here, it is possible to stroll along the avenues that showcase some of the most renowned fashion designers, boutiques and luxury palaces. Located on the right bank of the River Seine, Rue Lincoln – part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ – is recognised for shopping worldwide.

Until the late 19th century, the nobility and the haute bourgeoisie (upper-middle-class), recognising the beauty of buildings and mansions in this neighbourhood, made this their home. In the 20th century, the prestige of these addresses was increased as industrialists and bankers began to move to the area. The historic Christian Dior factory, in particular – a leader in the development of luxury goods – made this area the epicentre of Parisian haute couture.

The proximity of the famous Avenue Montaigne and Champs-Elysées inspires Faivre, who then harnesses this inspiration to incorporate an element of haute couture into his homes; making them luxurious in their setting and satisfying the needs of his clients – just as the grand French fashion designers achieved with their creations.

Faivre’s Rue Lincoln Haussmann-style apartment already had many beneficial assets (spacious with high ceilings, original parquet flooring, marble fireplaces as well as large mirrors and mouldings), but it had lost the prestige of the Parisian salons of yesteryear, where designers presented their first haute couture collections. To reclaim that prestige, Faivre revised the floor plan and managed to create a new layout and perfect harmony between the majestic row of three rooms and two suites arranged around the room. Each suite consists of a bedroom, bathroom and a separate dressing room.

Materials

As haute couture continues to be highly associated with luxury, Gérard used the finest materials for this apartment which reflect this association: Marble: a much-coveted material, marble refers to creations made to be timeless. It is found in the bathrooms, kitchen worktop as well as the coffee tables in the lounge. To mirror this effect in the lounge, Faivre also installed artwork representing marble and its timeless elements.

•Glass and crystal: captures light beautifully and is used with hanging lights and wall lamps, in perfume bottles and door knobs.

•Leather: is used on sofas and beds.

•Mirrors: are essential in an apartment such as this to reflect the beauty of a haute couture creation. Mirrors can be found in various pieces of custom-made furniture – including a pedestal table. The doors of a dresser are covered by a sumptuous mirror, surrounded with diamond-shaped, sandblasted piping.

Faivre also subtly evokes haute couture through the fabrics and wallpaper that make up the walls, sofas, armchairs and wardrobes of this apartment – acting like a second skin. Whilst, the lounge area is decorated with fabric reminiscent of the Coco Chanel tailors. The colours, inspired by the preferred colour schemes of the grand couturiers (black, white, grey and beige), creates an impression of chic elegance.

Pure luxury

Commenting on his design, Gérard explains: “I design all my projects by combining vintage and contemporary styles in order to surprise my clients. For this reason, the entrance of a project is very important. It is the first point of contact for a client and has to immediately show the style that inspired me when designing.”

Gérard’s target clientele has been accustomed to the finest hotels and first-rate restaurants. Therefore, the kitchen/living room comprises all the technology and comfort possible. “This allows future homeowners to host in their home,” explains Gérard.

“All the rooms are designed as luxury hotel suites, they each have their dressing room and private bathroom.

“The patterns that dress the walls, lace for one and pattern barnyard for an other, have the appearance of fabric but is actually a wallpaper designed specifically for bathrooms.

“At the creation of the first haute couture fashion house in Paris, the catwalks would take place in beautiful private Haussmannian apartments, that would host for the occasion a very elite clientele.

“I designed the living rooms with this idea of space and luxe. There is a reference to Chanel, for one, with the fabric of the sofa nodding to the famous suit and another would be more of a reference to Dior, in the form of the armchairs – remembering the silhouette of women that had been immortalised with the Dior corset.”

Consistency is key

Through conceptual art, including decorative objects, Gérard is able to make his inspired designs flow with consistency from one room to another. The paintings contribute to the haute couture sentiment of the apartment, highlighting the precious fabrics that are at the centre of the creation. Sculptures remain consistent with the theme – some depict natural folds of fabric, while others symbolise fashion accessories, corsets, hats and dresses.

Faivre has designed the main entrance to reflect a hallway from a house of haute couture, setting the tone with mirrors, carpets featuring a houndstooth pattern, mannequins and a padded leather ottoman. From this elegant entrance hall, one can access all the different areas of the apartment.

“The ambience felt is worthy of that felt in the lounges of haute couture,” confirms Faivre. “It is both luxurious and innovative and confirms, as the creations of fashion designers, the desire to make each unique piece a separate work of art.”

Faivre has expressed his theme in a contemporary form in the furniture chosen, by the materials that cover the sofas (velvet, mirrors, fabrics with motifs often used by fashion designers) and the lights, as well as his careful choice of every object and sculpture. The ambience of the apartment is similar to that of the ateliers of haute couture; it is both luxurious and innovative – and reinforces the idea that each unique piece is a work of art in its own right.

The bedrooms have each been designed as the suites of a five-star hotel. Each room is incredibly elegant which is confirmed by its details. “I decided to design beautiful dressing rooms that are styled with mirrors, with a golden diamond pattern to recall the fitting rooms of the Dior house,” comments Gérard.

Industry influencers

“Fashion most definitely influences new designers,” says Gérard. “They take inspiration from colours, patterns, materials and the creativity of the great designers. I think that the fashion industry is aimed for a larger public audience, while haute couture targets a more elite clientele. This is why this apartment, and its luxury features, targets a very special category of clients.”

When growing up, Gérard’s studies were focused towards architecture. However, with the death of his father, he was obliged to take over the family business of ready-to-wear apparel. “I spent 30 years in this industry,” explains Gérard. “We made and sold to large supermarkets both in France and abroad.

“I met my wife in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the village in which Van Gogh painted many a time. We fell in love and bought our first house which we fully restored and decorated. A member of the local community witnessed this dramatic change, fell in love and wanted to buy the house fully furnished – as to retain the ‘soul’ I had given it. Thus, the idea of selling properties and renovated apartments, decorated and furnished, was born.”

Gérard’s second project also found a buyer and his adventure began. 15 years ago, after the success of his houses in the south of France, Gérard decided to export the concept of ‘Art Homes’ to Paris.

Fashionable finesse

• Houndstooth, made timeless by the likes of Chanel and Dior
• Lace, reminiscent of Balenciaga and Chantal Thomass
• Geometric shapes on chairs and sandblasted wardrobes with diamond piping decor and a patterned mirror on the headboards of beds
• Mouldings with silver accents accentuate the elegance of the apartment
• Colours are inspired by the colour palettes of great French designers such as Dior and Chanel – black, white, grey and beige all bring an elegance imprinted with a chic feel.