After moving to Paris, English designer Ann McGovern decorated her apartment with real French taste

In the living room of designer Ann McGovern in Paris, there is a secretary of the XIX century. “I’ve always dreamed of this,” she says. — It’s a thing from my childhood. My grandmother was a dressmaker, and my mother adored everything related to fashion. So my career was also predetermined.”

The living room window offers a picturesque view of the Montolon Square. There used to be a mirror in the niche on the left. Ann removed it and freed the doorway, visually connecting the living room with the dining room. An antique crystal chandelier and a 19th-century Venetian mirror were purchased at local flea markets. A Louis XV—style secretary was bought in an antique salon, and a wooden coffee table was bought in an oriental goods store.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

Ann started working for Stephen Marks, the owner of the French Connection brand, represented the Alexander McQueen brand in London, and then headed the international development department of Jean-Paul Gaultier. Today she lives in Florence for a long time, but has been in love with Paris since she studied French at the Sorbonne. “I think Paris is just made for women,” says Anne. “Where else will you get so much attention!”.

A fragment of the living room. On the desk of the XIX century — a photograph of grandma Ann. An old portrait hanging on the wall was purchased at the Paris flea market Porte de Vanves.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

For many years she stayed in hotels near the Luxembourg Gardens. “It’s a great place, but as soon as you leave the hotel, you are surrounded by a crowd of tourists,” says Ann. Therefore, having decided to buy her own apartment, she chose the quiet Ninth district.

The old tiles on the kitchen floor are laid unevenly, some fragments are missing, but I like it anyway

In the XIX century, Chopin, George Sand and Verlaine lived here, and today young designers have chosen it. In addition, Ann has always been attracted by the typical “Ottoman” architecture of residential buildings. “Almost all the apartments here have something special, exclusively Parisian: marble fireplaces, high ceilings and exquisite stucco,” she says.

On the secretary in the style of Louis XV — gifts from friends and colleagues. The silver candlesticks were bought at a sale in Florida.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

But it was not so easy to find something suitable: Ann had to look through about fifty apartments before making her choice. “Either you won’t have an elevator, or a view from the windows — that was the question. But this apartment is just a godsend!” Nevertheless, it took her a lot of imagination to unlock the full potential of her new home.

The owner of the house is Ann McGovern.

Photo

Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

A fragment of the living room. Window seat, Andrew Martin. Glass candlesticks, Flamant. The antique silver-plated tray was bought at the Bonhams auction in London.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

The apartment was rented out for several decades, so it was a terrible mess. A bright blue carpet was glued directly to the parquet: it took a lot of work to remove it. But there are still a few pieces of it left in front of the fireplace in the dining room.

The chairs in the dining room are the famous Louis Ghost model created by Philippe Starck for Kartell. Dining table, Habitat. An antique crystal chandelier was bought at the Porte de Vanves flea market. A buffet in the style of the Louis Philippe era was purchased at an auction in the Paris suburb of Chatou.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

The kitchen looked like a warehouse of wooden crates and plastic chairs. The Parisian architect Eric Robin helped Anne to work on the interior. In order to make the apartment seem brighter, mirror panels were glued on the doors, and in order to visually increase the space, the living room and dining room were combined in an original way.

Hallway. A sofa in the style of Louis XVI was purchased at the Paris flea market Porte de Vanves. Originally, its upholstery was red and gold. Ann replaced it with a fabric of more restrained colors. The mirror frame is repainted white (Farrow & Ball paint). Metal sconces were purchased in Jaipur.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

“Eric proposed to free one of the niches from mirrors and leave the gap between the rooms. It turned out to be a large window in a stucco frame.” The old doors that had lain there for more than 20 years were lifted from the basement. Finally, a huge sideboard was thrown out of the kitchen, but they decided not to touch the original terracotta tiles under it. “The tiles are not laid very evenly, some fragments are missing,” says Ann, “But I like it anyway.”

Kitchen. Ann decided to keep the original terracotta tiles on the floor. “The tile has not been completely preserved,” the hostess of the house notes, “but I like how it fits into the modern interior.” White lacquered kitchen cabinets, shelves, lighting, IKEA. Kitchen stove, Whirlpool. On the shelves are a collection of ceramics, Astier de Villatte and Celtic Weave China. Some of the antique decanters on the top shelf belonged to Grandma Ann.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

Or you won’t have an elevator, or a view from the windows — that was the question. But this apartment is just a godsend

A fragment of the bathroom. Shells, Lapeyre. The mirrors were purchased at the BHV department store in Paris, the faucets and lamps were purchased at the Restoration Hardware store in New York. The tiles on the walls, Raboni, were similar to those used in the Paris metro.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

“My French friends, knowing my English origin, splash their hands when they come to visit: “Oh, how charming, everything is so English here!” Probably to please me, because the decor here is the most French,” she smiles. Anne upholstered the Louis XV armchair with a new plaid fabric after she saw something similar at Inez de la Fressange’s house.

View from the hallway to the master bedroom. In the foreground is a collection of Jean-Paul Gaultier umbrellas. Wallpaper decorating the bedroom walls, Romo. A Louis XVI—style chair is part of a set bought at the Porte de Vanves flea market in Paris. Night light, Laura Ashley. Bed linen, Liberty of London. Grey silk pillows from the Zara Home collection. The bedspread was bought in Blanc d’Ivoire.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

At the Porte de Vanves flea market, she bought a crystal chandelier, chairs and a sofa of the late XVIII century, portraits that now stand on the floor by the fireplace. There are many items related to her work in the apartment, and above all gifts from friends and colleagues: a fan from the Cook Islands was given to her by former Dunhill art director Stephen di Renza, and a portrait of the Maharaja was painted by a designer friend from Louis Vuitton. There are Gaultier umbrellas in the lobby. “I really love Jean-Paul,” says Anne. “It’s so easy to communicate with him. He is insanely talented and always invents something new. In a word, a real Frenchman!”.

A fragment of the bathroom. Tiles on the floor and walls, Raboni. The bath is lined with marble. Faucets and shower watering cans were purchased at the New York store Bed Bath & Beyond.

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Stephan Julliard/Tripod Agency

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