We recently discovered Haven in Paris, a group of apartments for rent in Paris and other parts of France. We started browsing through these lovely apartments and were instantly smitten with the desire for a Paris visit — and a chance to cook in one of these chic kitchens! Here are a few of the inspiring kitchens we came across.
The main thing that strikes in all these kitchens is a reliance on natural light. We love how the sun comes into the 3rd or 4th story apartments. We also love the frequent mix of rustic and modern elements. Thank you to Joanna Goddard for the tip on these lovely little spots!
TOP ROW
• 1 Rameau - Oh dear, we love everything about this kitchen: the classy black and white colors, the vintage-style posters, and the light over the table.
• 2 Rameau
• 3 Montmartre Studio - A small studio in Amélie's neighborhood.
• 4 Montmartre Studio - We love how this kitchen is tucked under the eaves, with a big window and sloping ceiling.
• 5 Houdon - Another blue studio kitchen in Montmartre.
BOTTOM ROW
• 6 Houdon - It's small, but we like the crisp Mediterranean blue mixed in with more rustic pieces.
• 7 Abbesses - A light, bright country-style kitchen with the table already set for dinner.
• 8 Marais - A sleeker, shinier kitchen. We rather like the open storage shelves on the far wall.
• 9 Marais - Another table set for supper.
• Visit the Haven in Paris website
Related: Kitchen Tour: At Home in Paris with David Lebovitz
(Images: Haven in Paris)
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Thanks for the great inspiration! I'm slowly working on getting my own Parisian kitchen less ugly and since it's a rental, I can't just put in new counters and cupboards. It's nice to see examples of spaces using rustic and modern together in an attractive way.
One note for those now fantasizing about spending time in a Parisian rental - these kitchens are very atypical of what you'll find in Paris in a few regards. They all seem to have four stove burners (in my experience, the majority have only 2) and ovens (usually there is only a microwave - some will have a microwave/oven combo that is the size of a microwave), and finally, these kitchens are not all kitted out in Ikea (it's very, very popular here for kitchens - especially the nicer apartments b/c it's an affordable way to have a modern looking kitchen which is the preferred trend right now). Note that all but the Monmartre Studio seem to have below counter refrigerators - that is very common here.
Also, these are pretty spacious for kitchens here - they generally have about 1/2 the counterspace and cupboards and are often in either a small room off the livingroom or are a "cuisine américaine" (American kitchen) which means that they are in the corner or along one wall of the livingroom and perhaps separated by a counter.
They are all brimming with style, but personally, I love the vintage prints on the wall in the first one!
At first, I was going to post and say "cool -- that is the dining table I grew up with!" (first picture). Then I clicked on the pictures, and thought "what they chose to highlight the kitchen, instead of the TOGO in the living room??!!" (I think I am the unofficial TOGO cheerleader on AT), and then I remembered I was on kitchn... oops! :-)
Pretty expensive to stay there though!
My partner and I are going to do an apartment exchange in Paris for 3 weeks in October. The apartment is a "lived in" apartment and so it has a pretty decent kitchen, at least by New York standards.
This was arranged through home link - a website that facilitates exchanges by membership. It is our first exchange and I am excited about getting to shop in the markets and shopping streets.
Also, there is no rental cost - it is an equal exchange, so it frees up a lot of $ for all that food shopping (and a bunch of restaurant meals).
Wife and I have stayed in Montmartre studio on two occasions, each for a week. Brilliantly designed. I/we shopped most days at Rue Lepic market and prepared many memorable meals in that kitchen.
Oh so beautiful - I could just see myself spending hours in there chopping fresh herbs, making coq-au-van and cassoulet, uncorking a bordeaux...