4 min readParis, in Garrow Kedigian’s telling, looks better in color. Not the cream, black, and gilt version that has come to dominate our collective imagination, but cognac, lacquered red, turquoise, and umber—the type of palette that makes a room feel alive before even a single antique arrives. “Traditionally, French design was very colorful,” Kedigian says, citing the richly layered interiors of François Catroux and Jacques Grange as antecedents. “It was only in the modern age that white and cream has just overtaken.”
His own Paris apartment, on Rue de Varenne in the 7th arrondissement, makes a persuasive case for the pigment of a bygone era. Located directly across from the Musée Rodin, the home is a step up—literally and figuratively—from Kedigian’s former pied-â-terre, a smaller space that proved a little too successful at attracting visiting friends and family. “I ended up giving them my bed, and then I’d have to sleep on the sofa,” he recalls. More time in Paris also meant more work there, and the designer wanted a proper desk, rather than an “office” that disappeared every time he cleared the dining table for guests.
What he found boasted grandeur in spades—14-foot ceilings, generous rooms, an enviable address—but had suffered through an unfortunate 1970s renovation. Kedigian, who has a background in classical architecture, set about putting the apartment back together, basing much of his approach on one of the few surviving details: a curved bay window and the kitchen’s shapely cabinetry. “That was the generator for the apartment,” Kedigian says. From there, he opened up sight lines, raised the doorways to 19 feet, restored missing moldings, and sourced period-appropriate details, like a Pompadour-style mantel, at Parisian flea markets.
His studied mix of restrained maximalism is on display in every corner. Antiques gathered across decades mingle with modern art, Venetian lighting, sculptural objects, and sentimental pieces from former homes. It’s a chemistry lab of sorts, a place Kedigian refers to as his “prototype,” where he can try the moves a client might initially resist. And yet, the result is undeniably cohesive, neither perfectly preserved nor particularly interested in behaving itself. As Kedigian puts it, “It’s mixing the things that you find most beautiful in a way that they work well together.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Garrow Kedigian
Stylist: Robert Rufino
Location: Paris, France
The Space: A two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom apartment across 1450 square feet
LIVING ROOM
Various seating zones make the most of the oversized space.
Affectionately dubbed the “Grand Salon,” this elegant space pays homage to all the things designer Garrow Kedigian loves about Parisian design, from the one-of-a-kind blue mixed for the walls to the intricate plaster molding and the custom tufted banquette that follows the window’s curve.
“The original plaster crown molding, fireplace mantle, and over mantle mirror really anchor the room,” says Kedigian. “My furniture layout plan was a derivative of the fireplace and curved window, including banquette seating organized around the fireplace.”
LIBRARY
Kedigian replaced the wood mantel with a period-appropriate pompadour marble design found at the Paris flea market.
Kedigian prefers to work surrounded by red, though this custom Benjamin Moore paint shade is decidedly more “fiery” than the one in his New York City apartment. “The walls were a custom mixed color—I wanted a rich, enveloping red with a lot of energy, hence more towards the orange tones,” he adds. Built-ins anchor one side of the room, while large-scale dentil molding frames the space, adding contrast and texture.
HALLWAY
Gilded trimwork adds regal shine.
This passageway is a main artery through the home, so Kedigian knew it needed to carry its weight. To make it purposeful, he relocated several doors and added a curved niche to spotlight favorite objets d’art.
KITCHEN
The cabinets’ curves mimic arcs found throughout the home.
Anchored by a vintage La Cornue stove (a discontinued colorway Kedigian found on Le Bon Coin, the French eBay), the blue and red kitchen nods to the French flag, giving Kedigian a stylish spot for pre-dinner cocktails (though, admittedly, not much cooking). “Kitchen should always be designed as an extension of your main living spaces; colors and materials should be carried throughout,” says Kedigian.
DINING NOOK
A strategically placed mirror bounces light around the room.
Spurred on by a bold black-and-mustard color palette—which a client of Kedigian’s fell for after seeing it in his space—the cozy dining nook leans into drama, backed by an expansive mirror and a gilded ceiling that bounce light around the room.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
The circular oculus window above the doorway was a new addition.
In what Kedigian calls his “greatest trick,” he painted double lines onto the walls to mimic the look of molding where there is none. A curtained 18th-century canopy bed brings historic flair.
PRIMARY BATH
The window here looks into the kitchen, at just the right height to maintain privacy.
Fulfilling his love for a bathroom that is “sultry and sexy,” Kedigian clad this space in a striking mix of black marble and gleaming brass sheets.
About the Designer
Born and raised in Montreal, interior designer Garrow Kedigian studied architecture at McGill University before honing his design sensibility under celebrated Boston designer William Hodgins. After relocating to New York City, he established his eponymous firm in 2001, building a reputation for richly layered interiors that marry classical architecture with bold color, sophisticated detailing, and contemporary flair. His portfolio spans residential and commercial projects across Manhattan, Greenwich, and Palm Beach, including his own storied Park Avenue apartment, once home to Fred Astaire.
