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Nicolas Baumann Fischer shows us this jewel box of an apartment with a certain pride. “We’ve come a long way,” he says. Abandoned since the 1960s, time and the elements were taking their toll on the 624-square-foot apartment, which was in need of a complete renovation. Today, it has a new look and a second life thanks to a complete makeover by Maison Baumann.

A silent witness to the military past of this emblematic neighborhood of Paris, the dome of Les Invalides also watches over this apartment. Its inescapable presence played a role in the design, creating a majestic setting for entertaining or simply quiet moments at home. The dome’s golden light floods into the apartment through the large windows that frame it and as soon as you enter, your gaze is drawn to the views of it.

The view of the dome atop Les Invalides.

On the wall, Felix Agostini bronze wall lights. A Luigi Caccia Dominioni sofa for Azucena. The coffee tables in the living room are limited editions of 15 pieces by Simone Fanciullacci, Edizione Limitata. Two are cast bronze with a black patina, one is aluminum with a Breccia Paradiso marble top.

A beautiful marble fireplace, found in the 16th arrondissement, is located on one side of the living room. A sofa from a gallery in Brussels is elegantly paired with Felix Agostini wall lights found in New York and, on the floor, are two gilt candlesticks from a church providing a form of sacred consecration to this unique space. Baumann Fischer says, “My style is not a style. It’s contemporary, old, and sometimes somewhere between those two.” He knows what he likes and his taste goes beyond any particular style, place, or era. With a particular eye for materials and finishes, he pays attention to detail with constant precision and tact.

The character of the renovated apartment is revealed in details like the moldings and the herringbone parquet flooring, salvaged thanks to Baumann Fischer and various artisans working on the project. To enlarge the opening into this small space, the door to the main room was replaced by a wider double door, found in Rouen and adapted to the dimensions of the apartment.

A custom kitchen system from Eggersmann.

The Chubby dining room table in dark oak is by Arthur Vallin. On the wall, a work by Marc Bernard, Nicolas Sur la Lune, 2024. The Dahlia chandelier is in satin-finished pressed molded glass.

The compact Eggersmann kitchen system is both functional and beautiful, combining metal and solid wood into a harmonious whole. It opens onto a bright dining room, where Arthur Vallin’s Chubby table, carved in oak in the south of France, has been custom-made based on the dimensions of the apartment. The chairs come from Italy, but the seats have been reupholstered with old LVMH silk jacquard fabrics. Overlooking this room is a canvas by Marc Bernard, named in a nod to the owner Nicolas Sur La Lune (2024). With its curves and celestial relief, it reflects natural light and illuminates the room, while being more subtle than a mirror. The Dahlia chandelier was presented on the Esplanade des Invalides in 1925, for the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts, which took place just steps from the apartment where it is located today.

A Japanese byobu folding screen in the bedroom is from the Taishō period.

Atop the desk, a black Snoopy table lamp from Flos.

The intimate and cozy bedroom offers a peaceful place to rest. The headboard, a Japanese screen decorated with silver leaf, is reminiscent of the silvery canvas in the dining room and once again offers a play of textures and colors with the rest of the room in neutral tones. On the desk is a Snoopy lamp, acquired by the owner at the age of 18. It’s a design object with sentimental value, adding a personal touch to this living space. The integrated wooden storage units with wrought iron handles maximize the use of the space while maintaining a refined atmosphere. The bathroom was redesigned several times before settling on the current layout, which features a walk-in shower and custom elm burl wood cabinets.

In the bathroom, made-to-measure cabinets in elm burl.

Baumann Fischer reminds us: “You can’t make an apartment that has no relation to its environment.” That’s the true credo of this interior as every object, whether contemporary or vintage, tells a story of an exchange or an encounter. It’s a small space that feels larger than it is thanks to its eclectic and refined approach.

This 624-square-foot apartment was originally published by AD France.