The journal
Advice, behind the scenes and inspiration for your renovation.
Lighting an Old Apartment: Working with Ceiling Height and Natural Light
Lighting an old apartment means reading the natural light, making the most of generous ceiling heights, and enhancing mouldings and fireplaces with a finely judged lighting scheme.
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Mouldings, Ceiling Roses and Cornices: A Short Illustrated Lexicon of Parisian Plaster Décor
Corniche, rosace, cimaise, staff: decode the plaster décor of Parisian apartments, learn to read a home’s period and understand how to showcase it.
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How Much Does an Apartment Renovation Cost in Paris in 2026? A Detailed Budget per m²
Paris apartment renovation prices per m² in 2026: ranges by scope of work, itemized costs, a worked example and a method for securing your budget.
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Creating or Renovating a Bathroom in a Period Property: Plumbing, Drainage and Windowless Rooms
Bathrooms in period Paris apartments: where to place them, how to manage drainage and macerators, ventilate a windowless room and waterproof timber floors.
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Noble, Durable Materials: Lime, Terracotta, Brass and Stone, Why They’re Making a Comeback
Lime, terracotta, brass and stone: yesterday’s materials are returning to renovation. How they unite heritage, ecology and lasting elegance in Paris.
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The Colour of Paris Façades: A History of Stone, Ravalement and Tints
Why Paris is beige-blond: pierre de taille, mandatory ravalement and regulated colour charts give the capital its instantly recognisable hue.
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Kitchen and Bathroom: Reconciling Heritage Character with Modern Functionality
How to bring a contemporary kitchen and bathroom into a period Paris apartment without sacrificing its charm: materials, smart ideas and mistakes to avoid.
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Parquet à la française, point de Hongrie and bâtons rompus: three centuries beneath our feet
From Versailles parquet to haussmannien floors: the history of point de Hongrie and bâtons rompus, and how to restore antique parquet in Paris.
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Renovating a Loft or Former Atelier in Paris: Glass Partitions, Volume and Industrial Chic
Renovating a loft or former atelier in Paris: making the most of height and light, installing an interior glass partition, heating the volume and designing a mezzanine with taste.
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