See Inside an American Couple’s Dreamy Paris Pied-à-Terre

For this San Francisco–based couple, a place in Paris was always a dream. It all began with a year the wife spent abroad during college, when she met her current husband. Fast-forward to today, and walking into this light-filled, top-floor apartment is breathtaking. With stunning views of both the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, this gracious space immediately brings to mind the refrain “location, location, location.”

Before embarking on the search, the clients had enlisted their architect, Sandrine Teze-Limal, to help them. (The clients met Teze-Limal while they were in graduate school.) It didn't take them long. The couple knew they had found their perfect getaway after opening the door to this fifth-floor space in the middle of the elegant 7th arrondissement. It had great bones in a historic building that had been owned by the same person for the past 50 years. Soon thereafter, the couple called on designer Benjamin Wood to help them with the interiors. The clients had met him over 20 years ago in Sun Valley, Idaho, where they were neighbors.

Two smaller rooms above the apartment's main floor allowed for additional space to create this library with amazing views over the Invalides esplanade. Wall-to-wall carpet by Holland & Sherry and the Lana chair by Donghia . Sofa and ottoman in Rubelli fabric. The painting above the sofa is by American artist John Dubrow, and Laura Caye Decoration helped Wood hunt down items from the streets of Paris and the flea market. Wood explains, “This area provided a fun opportunity to create a cabinet of natural curiosities, with items sourced from Deyrolle and books.”

But the team had their work cut out for them. “The place was entirely gutted and it took a few years, but it now has heating and air-conditioning,” Wood says, looking back. "They wanted to keep the Parisian 18th-century spirit but with all the modern aspects they were used to.” Fortuitously, Wood, who is based in Austin and has a pied-à-terre in the City of Light, was working on another project nearby when the couple contacted him, rendering an otherwise complicated, far-flung project a bit more seamless.

For the homeowners, active professionals with other residences, the key was to make it feel like home but retain its sense of place. “They are curious people and collect photography,” Wood remarks, pointing to a painting of Versailles by Robert Polidori, one of several works he helped acquire for the two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. When an additional service room on the floor above became available, they combined floors and added a charming library upstairs.

“I wanted to help them create some memories," says the English-American creative, noting special touches like a Christofle tea set found at the Paris flea market and a guest room appointed with paperback books about the metropolis.

Asked about his career in design, Wood pauses in thought. “My career just happened. Not to sound arrogant, but I seem to have design karma.”