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Designers Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert renovated a Paris Haussmannian apartment that had not been updated since the 1970s, opening its previously divided rooms to improve movement and light. The project centers on a recessed black kitchen, a bespoke travertine fireplace and a mix of original features, vintage objects and contemporary materials.
Designers Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert have reworked a Haussmannian apartment in Paris that had not been renovated since the 1970s, opening up its divided rooms and giving its compact kitchen a defining black finish. The project addresses the client’s request for a brighter, more comfortable home while retaining the character of a traditional Parisian apartment, according to a report by Livingetc.
Before the renovation, the apartment’s rooms were tightly separated, and its layout limited how light moved through the home. Diettert Collet opened the plan and incorporated storage into the architecture. The report does not specify the apartment’s floor area, the renovation’s cost or when the work was completed.
The kitchen sits in a recess and opens onto the living room. Its black cabinetry and Zimbabwe granite countertop give it a strong visual presence instead of making it blend into the surrounding walls. The designers left the wall facing the living room uncluttered, placing upper cabinets and technical elements on the opposite side. They said leaving some space clear helped the compact room avoid feeling crowded.
Other interventions pair contemporary work with existing architectural character and collected objects. A bespoke travertine fireplace anchors the living room; mirrored panels behind built-in shelving add reflections and depth. The project also gives a client’s antique red ceramic family heirloom a pedestal, making it a visible part of the home rather than storing it on a shelf.
A Dark Kitchen in an Open Plan
The project offers a specific response to a common challenge in smaller homes: improving connection and light without making every feature visually disappear. Here, the designers opened up the layout but kept the kitchen deliberately distinct. Its black surfaces create a clear focal point, while the open wall toward the living room preserves a sense of connection.
That approach also shows how a renovation can make room for a client’s existing possessions instead of treating a new interior as a blank slate. The red ceramic heirloom sits alongside contemporary materials and vintage pieces, reflecting the designers’ stated aim of letting different periods coexist. These are design choices documented in the report, not evidence that the approach will suit every compact apartment.
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The apartment had not been renovated since the 1970s, according to Livingetc. Its previous arrangement separated rooms and restricted the flow of light. The client asked for a brighter, more comfortable home but also wanted to preserve the character associated with a traditional Parisian apartment.
Rather than reproduce a period interior, the designers said they wanted to blur the sense of time. One example was the fireplace: the client initially pictured a traditional Haussmannian marble mantel, while the designers proposed a contemporary travertine design. They said they preferred a dialogue between periods over simply repeating a historical element. Light wall colors, including Farrow & Ball’s School House White and All White, sit alongside the black kitchen and entrance, while vintage objects add further contrast.
“We prefer to blur the sense of time.”
— Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert, as quoted by Livingetc
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Project Details Not Reported
Livingetc’s report does not give the renovation’s completion date, budget, exact location within Paris or the apartment’s dimensions. It also does not establish whether the work involved structural changes or provide technical details about materials and installation. The designers’ comments describe their intentions and design reasoning; they do not provide measured results for changes in daylight or usable space.
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No Further Project Timeline Given
The source describes the completed design but does not identify a forthcoming project milestone or further work planned for the apartment. No next steps were reported. The account is based on Livingetc’s published feature and statements from Diettert Collet; additional information about the project’s timeline, costs or construction would require further reporting.
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Key Questions
Who designed the renovated apartment?
Emma Collet and Thomas Diettert of Diettert Collet designed the renovation, according to Livingetc.
What changed in the apartment’s layout?
The designers opened up the previously divided plan and integrated storage into the architecture, aiming to improve movement and let light travel through the home.
Why is the kitchen black?
The designers wanted the recessed kitchen to have a character of its own rather than disappear into the living room. They used black cabinetry and a Zimbabwe granite countertop, while leaving the wall facing the living room clear.
What happened to the client’s family heirloom?
The client’s antique red ceramic was placed on its own pedestal so it could be displayed as part of the interior.
When was the renovation completed, and what did it cost?
Livingetc’s report does not state the completion date or renovation cost.
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