Effortless Elegance in Paris’s 7th Arrondissement

If you could purchase a pied-à-terre anywhere in the world with your closest friends, where would it be? For three friends in Australia, the UK and the US, the answer was instant. Paris. Now, their chosen home in the romantic city occupies a coveted address in the prestigious 7th arrondissement. Within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d’Orsay, it’s a setting that radiates history, culture and quiet grandeur.

To translate their shared vision into something tangible, the trio turned to London-based interior designer Olga Ashby, founder of Olga Ashby Interiors. ‘With three owners and multiple opinions, it was important to have one clear creative voice,’ says Olga. ‘I’d worked with one of the owners before, so they knew I could interpret different personalities into a cohesive design.’

Set within a Haussmann-era building from 19th century, the apartment captures timeless Parisian elegance. Elevating the space’s prestige, Olga’s design approach was guided by the city itself. ‘When I was pulling the scheme together, I kept thinking about Paris galleries and fashion houses — such as Schiaparelli headquarters, where random vintage pieces are pulled together with enormous precision,’ she says. ‘I went for a casual, relaxed look, ignoring the tools of symmetry. Paris is all about collecting.’

Reworking the layout of the home became an early priority. ‘Funny enough, the flat didn’t have a functioning kitchen,’ Olga recalls. ‘The flow was cut, with a bathroom opening into a corridor, and the powder room had two toilets — more “coffee shop” than “home”.’ The reconfigured plan introduced a stone-clad kitchen and improved movement between rooms, creating easy continuity for entertaining or a moment of retreat.

A warm, earthy palette — whites, caramels and greens — brings calm and cohesion, complemented by aged mirrors left by the previous owner. Travertine, rattan, dark woods, chenille and bouclé all feature, grounding the space while adding texture and depth. ‘I wanted to achieve a care-free, cosy atmosphere, as if pulled together by generations,’ says Olga.

Art completes the picture. ‘To be honest, I often buy first and ask later, I’m so afraid it’ll be gone,’ she laughs. The result is an apartment that feels spontaneous yet finely considered, a timeless Paris getaway that celebrates friendship, intuition and design at its most instinctive.

Credits

Text by Catherine Mo

Images: Vigo Jansens

This article was originally published in the December/January 2026 Issue of House & Garden SA