There is something particularly appealing about a home that reflects not just where its owners live, but how they live. For two young brothers who had spent periods living separately, their Paris apartment offered the opportunity to share everyday life once again – and to create their first proper home together.
The apartment, in a historic early-20th-century building, had plenty of promise. Fresh white walls, worn wooden floors and original cement kitchen tiles provided a quiet backdrop, while tall windows, generous proportions and a decorative fireplace gave the rooms a sense of history. Even the bathroom had a memorable detail: a window overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
For the younger brother, who was studying architecture, the decision was almost immediate. After a year of living in central Paris, he knew how unusual it was to find such a well-proportioned apartment. The challenge was turning its blank canvas into a home that felt personal to both brothers.
A Home Shaped By Art And Memory
Designer Lena Zufarova was drawn to the project because the apartment’s owners already had a strong relationship with Paris. They had known the city since childhood, remembering its playgrounds and streets from years earlier, while growing up with an appreciation for art, books, music, cinema and beautiful old objects.
That history became the foundation for the interiors. Rather than imposing a single decorating style, Zufarova created rooms that feel collected over time, combining vintage and antique furniture with accessible contemporary pieces.
The living and dining room became the heart of the apartment. An antique cabinet left by the previous owners was transformed into a buffet, setting the tone for a space where old and new sit comfortably together. A 19th-century marble-topped dining table is surrounded by vintage chairs, while a sofa, low coffee table, bookshelves and speakers create a relaxed setting for long meals, conversation and music.
There is deliberately no television. Instead, the younger brother’s large monitor can be moved into the living room when the brothers want to turn the space into a cinema.
Two Bedrooms, Two Very Different Personalities
The bedrooms reflect the brothers’ individual interests. The older brother, who studies economics and psychology while composing and recording music, has a spacious bedroom with room for a double bed, reading corner and compact music studio.
His room is filled with meaningful details: an antique chest of drawers displaying favourite books and personal objects, a professional microphone, childhood film figurines and a vintage movie poster. A painting by Ilya Ovsyannikov hangs beside the bed, while a map of Burgundy’s vineyards adds another distinctly French touch.
The younger brother’s room is more overtly geared towards architecture. A broad desk beside the window provides space for drawings and scale models, while an antique secrétaire stores his architectural tools. Existing furniture from previous apartments was carefully arranged to divide the sleeping area from the entrance without making the room feel crowded.
His belief that hand drawing remains essential to architectural practice is evident throughout the space, with his own drawings and projects displayed on the walls. Guitars, a wooden bench and a comfortable chair add to the room’s relaxed, creative atmosphere.
Beautiful Interiors On A Modest Budget
Importantly, the apartment was not designed around an extravagant budget. As Zufarova points out, students should live like students – and Paris makes that approach surprisingly rewarding. The city’s abundance of antique and vintage furniture means characterful pieces can often be found without enormous expense, while accessible brands such as IKEA can fill the gaps.
The result is an apartment that feels deeply personal rather than overly polished. Its beauty comes from the combination of old objects, practical furniture, creative pursuits and memories – all brought together within the elegant framework of a Parisian apartment.
With warm lighting, original details and rooms designed around the brothers’ daily rituals, the home demonstrates that good interior design is not necessarily about having more. It is about knowing what matters and giving those things space to belong.
Photographer: Patricia Brnasevic
