Just a few steps away from the famous Rue Montorgueil in Paris’s 2nd arrondissement, the Art Deco–inspired design of this 538-square-foot apartment incorporates materials elegant, rough, and raw. “The apartment is located in a 1930s building,” designer Elena Alexopoulos tells us. “The owner is a 38-year-old actor who works in contemporary theater and has a passion for ancient Greek tragedies, particularly Sophocles. She wanted a space that would reflect her theatrical and artistic sensibilities, and that walks a line between historical and contemporary elements.” She also had two other specific requests: A large living room and a generous bathtub where she can relax.

The green marble bench and the table with its fluted base were carved and sculpted on site. Vintage Eames chairs by Vitra, vintage copper hanging lamp. Lithograph by Alekos Fassianos.

Another view of the vintage Eames chair by Vitra.

The lithograph is by Alekos Fassianos, a renowned Greek painter. The plaster bust was purchased in Florence.

Designed by the French-Greek firm Stene Alexopoulos Agency, this small apartment in Paris blends the brutality of concrete with the refinement of green marble. The designers created a dialogue between matter and light, functionality and aesthetics, where every element is unique and some of them masterfully sculpted by artisans working on-site.

The firm wanted to highlight the era when the building was completed, drawing inspiration from a great Italian architect of that period, Carlo Scarpa. “The design,” Alexopoulos continues, “is inspired by ancient architecture, particularly with the reinterpretation of an ancient column for the dining table’s base, and Brutalism, through the use of raw materials such as concrete and marble. The owner’s theatrical universe influenced the design of the space, and we wanted to emphasize the original construction period of the building by looking to Carlo Scarpa for inspiration.”

The kitchen has several custom bookshelves above the worktop while functional elements are hidden in cabinets behind walnut fronts. Concrete and green marble, from Rajasthan, act as common themes to the design and are found throughout the apartment. The building’s original construction is reflected in the studio’s redesign, with concrete beams left exposed to reinforce the dialogue between past and present.

The shelves above the kitchen worktop are in walnut and stainless steel, while the countertops are waxed concrete, and the hood is green marble. The wall cabinets are walnut and the flooring is solid oak.

A detail of the walnut cabinets in the kitchen.

The shelves above the kitchen are made of walnut and stainless steel.

The studio’s approach focused primarily on highlighting craftsmanship, using raw, natural materials along with custom pieces. “When we start a project,” Alexopoulos says, “regardless of its size, we try not to be influenced by the existing layout. We reimagine all internal partitions while keeping only the load-bearing walls intact. In this case, we reorganized the space by moving the kitchen to a transitional area, thus freeing up space for a large living area that became the heart of the apartment. The goal was to optimize every square inch, making the apartment feel more spacious.”

Grundig Audiorama speakers and a Roche Bobois sofa sit in this corner.

The apartment’s architecture is emphasized by the use of concrete for the dining table, cast on site and then sanded, and the use of green marble from Rajasthan throughout the unit. “Materials played a key role in the aesthetics, and custom elements were essential. The renovation opened up the apartment by creating a new dynamic,” the designer explains.

Grundig Audiorama speakers and Roche Bobois sofa. Arc coffee table (Wendelbo). Handmade chairs from Skyros, Greece.

These materials create contrasts that lend strength and interest to the space. “The concrete dining table, which serves as both a functional element and a work of art, plays a central role and was designed specifically for the apartment.” The palette is defined by the natural colors of the materials used elements like the sculpted sink, the concrete table, the marble bench made on site, and the polished concrete countertops in the kitchen and bathroom.

Green marble headboard, linen curtains, and a plaster bust from Florence.

The apartment’s furnishings have also been thought out down to the smallest detail. There are handcrafted chairs from the Greek island of Skyros, plaster works from Florence, and vintage pieces, such as Eames chairs from Vitra and Audiorama 4000 spherical speakers from Grundig. Other design icons include a sofa from Roche Bobois and the Arc coffee table from Wendelbo.

The bathroom features a waxed concrete sink and painting by an unknown Beaux-Arts artist from Paris.

A green marble shower and sink base continues the stone thematic into all rooms of the house. The soap is by Frama.

The space is complemented by several works of art, including a lithograph by the Greek artist Alekos Fassianos, while the painting in the bathroom was created by an unknown artist from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In the area that was previously used to store the owner’s costumes from her stage performances, there’s now a bathtub made of green Rajasthani marble, which was at the top of the client’s wish list. It’s elegant design matches the owner’s theatrical and refined personality.

To make the apartment feel larger, it was essential to create different common areas and different perspectives within the space while also integrating plenty of storage into the design. “The solution was to move the kitchen and to use the same materials throughout the apartment which would have the effect of making it feel larger and more functional. That is why, for example, we used green marble in all the areas of the home,” Alexopoulos concludes.

The green marble used to colordrench the bathtub is from Rajasthan.

“My advice,” Alexopoulos shares, “is to choose materials that age well and add character to a space as well as to make it efficient by using custom designed furniture. Create focal points that structure the floorplan and make sure there are multiple seating areas, to offer different perspectives and places with different energies. Finally, being consistent when it comes to materials and colors will allow you to make the home appear larger than it is.”

A detail of the bedroom shows off another plaster bust.

A detail of the bathroom highlights a small painting.

This 538-square-foot apartment was originally published in AD Italy.