It’s Sunday, let’s take a tour of my Parisian apartment! When starting any creative project, I create an Inspiration Phase to describe the desired style, feeling, and look. This creative exercise works well for all artistic projects - ranging from revamping your wardrobe to decorating your bedroom. For my French home, the Inspiration Phrase is “1970s Yves Saint Laurent meets The Row,” curating an edited style with warm tones muted colors, and layers of texture.
When sourcing for the classic Haussmannian apartment, I focused on French designers and artists so the space reflects the architecture and neighborhood. A lot of people ask me, “Did you ship furniture from Austin?” No! It’s a great question but Paris is the mecca of design (imo) and I craved a blank slate, carte blanche. I sourced all the furniture from French flea markets (not your typical American flea market), Parisian vintage stores, Facebook Marketplace, and Selency (sister company of Chairish).
How did I start the decorating process? When my family and I moved in, I immediately bought the necessities- a small IKEA dining table (for the European style kitchen), vintage chairs from Facebook marketplace, IKEA beds with storage, and mattresses from Amazon France (very different than American Amazon and not as good lol). Once we had a the basics, I didn’t rush into any furniture + decor purchases.
My first big purchase was the large 1960s Guillerme et Chambron oak table with 1960s Emile Baumann sleigh dining chairs, both from the Paris Flea Market. For the living room, I always knew that I wanted black Togos since they are very kid friendly and easy to clean. A general rule to decorating is to buy what you LOVE and every selection MUST fit within your inspiration phase. I hope this helps you decorate your place or supports your next creative project! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.
I feel grateful to Vogue Living for running a story about my apartment and you can read that article here. If you’re interested in finding your own Parisian treasures at the Paris Flea Market, I’m booking shopping experiences (aka tours) for 2024. I can help you find the French antiques of your dreams! If you need design help, I’ll always available virtually for consultations and in-person in Austin during the Summer of 2024.
What are the takeaways from this story? Create an inspiration phrase before starting any creative project. If you’re looking for French vintage or antiques, search online at Chairish, 1st Dibs, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or come shop the Paris Flea Market with me. If you’re starting a design project, read How to Start a Design Project and How to Create a Vision Board for Any Project. Lastly, take your time to curate your dream home.
Without further ado, let’s start the tour…
All photography by Stephen Karlisch and design by Allison Crawford Design
I hope you enjoyed this home tour and, if you have any questions, please comment below. Until next weekend, take care of yourself and I hope you feel a little inspired about this Postcards from Paris. xx
Bisous,
Allison
Follow me on Instagram at @allison.crawford. For more information about Paris Flea Market tours and booking HOTELette Austin, click here. To book a design consultation, click here.
Related stories are How to Start a Design Project and How to Create a Vision Board for Any Project.
Stunning! I love your design phrase - 1970s Yves Saint Laurent - swoon. Happy Sunday, xx
I love the pops of colour in the child's bedroom!