This Parisian Apartment Has the Pinkest Library We’ve Ever Seen
Eli Mizrahi, founder of the fashion label Mônot, is known for the head-turning eveningwear he creates for friends like Hailey Bieber, Gisele, and Kate Moss. The Lebanese-born designer and longtime New Yorker has a point of view that is unique and daring. So when he took the plunge on a Paris apartment, he went big.
The space, in an 1860 building near Parc Monceau, is enormous by Parisian standards, with six bedrooms and three baths—4,300 square feet in all. But while its expansiveness made a statement, the apartment was far from the daring and imaginative showplace Mizrahi had envisioned. Indeed, in its most recent iteration it had been a law office. To transform it he turned to his iPhone, where his Instagram feed had lately been filled with images showcasing the eye-popping work of a young Paris-based architecture and design studio, Uchronia. “They are bold and different, and that’s what I liked about them,” he says.
For Uchronia’s founder, Julien Sebban, getting the equivalent of a cold call from a potential client via a direct message on social media is more the norm than an anomaly. Founded in 2019, Uchronia gained buzz when Sebban designed the decor of Forest, a brutalist brasserie at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. In a city known for restrained elegance, Uchronia instantly stood out with its playful vocabulary of bright colors, fun florals, and wavy patterns. “Eli saw one of our flower tables on Instagram, and that’s how it all started,” Sebban says.
Still, Mizrahi’s project pushed the young Paris design firm to the next level, in both scale and budget. In this client, Sebban found an active collaborator and collector for whom the sky was the limit. Mizrahi brought to the project a trove of blue-chip art by Richard Prince, George Condo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many others. He also gave Uchronia carte blanche to commission art and design specifically for the Paris apartment. “I’m drawn to works that make me think,” Mizrahi says. “I look for pieces by young and emerging artists.”
Primary Bath
The primary bathroom’s custom green lacquer walls are by Atelier Roma. Bathtub and fittings by Drummonds; custom vanity in verde alpi marble; 17th-century Flemish tapestry.
Living Room
The living room's armchairs are by Michael Wolk and the custom draperies are in fabric's from Uchronia's Prelle collection. The sofa is by Vladimir Kagan, the vintage cocktail table is by Ado Chale, and the rug is Aubusson. The artwork is by Pat White.
Library
The library, with a ceiling in a custom pink, has tables by Univers Uchronia, a rug by Nodus, and a custom Murano chandelier by Christian Pellizzari.
Kitchen
A Roberto Matta artwork hangs over a custom blue marble wall sink console in the kitchen. Tulip sconce by Elizabeth Garouste; vase by Dinosaur Designs.
Breakfast Area
Univers Uchronia flower tables are paired with an antique French sofa in the kitchen. The adjacent wine cellar has a sculpture and rug by Bence Magyarlaki. The vases are by Ebony Russell.
Dining Room
Clad in a custom purple cloth, the dining table is framed by vintage Pierre Jeanneret chairs with Univers Uchronia chairs at either end. Pendant by Morghen Studio; antique Aubusson rug; custom bow curtains in a Dedar fabric; neon wall sculptures by Jochen Holz.
Dining Table
The table is set with Haviland porcelain plates, custom Leo Costelloe cutlery, and vintage crystal glassware.
Primary Bath
The primary bathroom’s custom green lacquer walls are by Atelier Roma. Bathtub and fittings by Drummonds; custom vanity in verde alpi marble; 17th-century Flemish tapestry.
TV Room
The chandelier in the tv room was originally designed by Julian Schnabel for New York's Gramercy Park Hotel. The sectional is by Poltronova, the raku table is by Uchronia, and the artwork is by Vasily Kluykin.
Living Room
An antique table is topped with vintage Italian glassware.
Dining Room
The dining room's custom bow curtains were designed by Uchronia in a Dedar fabric. The end chair is by Univers Uchronia.
Library
The library's wood millwork is custom. The tables are by Dinosaur Design and the curtains are of a Prelle fabric.
Powder Room
Artist Nicholas Devlin created the chandelier, sconces, mirror, and vanity in the powder room. The artwork is by Robert Elibekian.
But as ambitious as the project was, Mizrahi was anxious to move in. Sebban and his team visited the space in the summer of 2023 and quickly devised a plan. “Eli wanted a funkier version of a Haussmannian apartment, something with a twist,” Sebban says. Uchronia served up a marigold kitchen, an emerald primary bath, and a mirrored dining room inspired by Versailles, complete with a table that seats 20 and window treatments topped with ginormous custom-made silk bows.
Underlying the scene-stealing decor, though, is an attention to craft and an understanding of traditional architecture. Uchronia restored the apartment’s classic features and enhanced them with new parquet flooring, plaster moldings, and custom mirrors. The idea was to play with the classicism but give it a modern spin. For example, Sebban took a historic design trope—urns displayed on wall brackets—and turned it on its head by commissioning artist Ebony Russell to create dozens of vases in custom colors for the kitchen and the main salon. “Almost everything was site-specific,” Sebban says. “Every room was a joint effort between us and the artists and craftsmen.”
Perhaps the most surprising room of all is the library, which has a custom pink ceiling, a matching velvet modular sofa by Verner Panton, and an undulating chandelier in pink and red Murano glass commissioned for the space by the designer Christian Pellizzari. Once again Mizrahi led the way. “He wanted a big gesture, something interesting and fun,” Sebban says. It’s definitely a statement, but the room still manages to feel cozy and conversational, with its soft palette and custom shelves filled with books and art. “It’s like a boudoir,” Sebban adds.
Somehow, within the span of a year and with a client who was deeply involved but constantly on the go, Uchronia managed to design a home that is a visual delight, to be sure, but much more than that: It’s a complete work of art. Every detail in the apartment, from the lighting to the bow-shaped flatware that appears during dinner parties, was made bespoke for the project. When asked about the challenges, Sebban bursts out laughing and says, “The timeline! And the goal of creating a cohesive project where everything ties together. But honestly, this was a dream. Best of all was the chance to work closely with my client and give him exactly what he wanted.” ◾
This story originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Elle Decor. SUBSCRIBE
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