Turenne by Alicia Luxem Exhibits a Soothing, Natural Material Palette

Alicia Luxem has completed the design for an apartment in Paris with a focus on utilising natural materials and a “calm shell” of neutral tones.

The interiors of the “Turenne” apartment are defined by lime-plaster walls and solid wood floors, anchored by carpentry crafted from metal and an abundance of locally-sourced, natural materials.

“I loved the fact that the apartment has a very smooth and calm shell in beige and natural tones,” said Luxem.

In addition to this aesthetic, the home is furnished with a “cutting-edge” art collection built around “distinct-coloured treasures”. The complete space is complemented by a careful curation of “new and vintage pieces of furniture”.

“Through some selected furniture and art, we could add a bit of variety of colours,” Luxem said.

Upon entry is a rectangular, symmetrical hallway, with a “beautiful” mirror on axis to the front door.

Symmetry in interiors is an important component of Luxem’s work, who believes in its ability to create harmony within a home.

The open-concept plan carries visitors to the right through a large, gypsum arch to the kitchen and dining room spaces, where the main material used is metal.

Alternatively, those who continue to the left can access a spacious living room, through which a further passing is mediated by another arch, which leads to a library and study with access to a small bathroom, featuring a “large, traditional window”.

Returning to the entryway is a more private “night area”, accessed through a set of two, large, double arched doors that open into the bedrooms.

The first bedroom is equipped with its own washbasin, while the master bedroom was designed with the bed facing the window, in order to create a “cocooning feeling”.

To achieve this intention, Luxem considered how to orient furnishings in relation to the overall available floor plan.

“We designed a long, curved wall for the bed head, creating a specific enveloping atmosphere,” she said. Its layout accommodates the dressing and primary bathroom, adjacent on either side of the bed.

Luxem has described how the colours and materials used within her work are often chosen quite instinctively, relying wholly on “narratives during the whole design process” and a creative vision cultivated when she visits the space.

Furthermore, when drawing, she has highlighted the attentiveness to details, as well as to the location’s “proportions, materials and colours”. In particular, natural light was accentuated and controlled by Luxem through the use of delicate, quality fabrics and drapery.

“[The] living room curtains are all made of 100 per cent wool,” she said.

This recent Parisian project isn’t the first Luxem has designed for the same client.

In addition to an interest in decorating with symmetry and subtle elegance, the Belgian and Swiss-born interior architect credits the importance behind “(it has) always been there” messaging, “the uniqueness of a location, the history and specificity of an existing structure“.

Finally, her clients – “who also have their past, personality and desiderata” – are a primary source of insight for Luxem, who explains that she carefully considers every possibility when planning for a new commission.