One of the great pleasures of what we do is creating Parisian apartments that truly feel like home. But it’s about so much more than style or modern amenities – it’s also about the experience of living in Paris. That feeling comes just as much from the neighborhood setting as it does from the views, from being part of daily life to those unforgettable moments looking out over the city.
That philosophy is brought beautifully to life at Lirac, a stunning penthouse in the 7th arrondissement with three private balconies and a dream Eiffel Tower view, designed in collaboration with Ann Huff of Huff Harrington.
Right now, you have a rare chance to stay at Lirac for longer and truly settle into Parisian life. For a limited time, enjoy 20% off stays of 60 nights or more at the Lirac vacation rental, now through November 1, 2026, with promo code LIRAC20. Consider it your sign to spend time in Paris this year! Find out more and book here.
For a little more temptation, we couldn’t resist sharing how this special apartment was designed to create a Paris stay like no other.
AFTER: A bright and beautiful space you’ll love calling home – with two balconies off the living area!
Finding the Perfect Paris Penthouse
Set at the corner of Rue Cler and one of our favorite streets in the 7th arrondissement, Lirac’s location immediately caught our attention. It’s a neighborhood we know and love. With its top-floor position—8th floor North American—we knew this penthouse was an incredibly special find. But nothing quite prepared us for the moment we stepped inside. The apartment was filled with light, and just beyond the French doors, the balconies revealed what makes this home truly unforgettable.
Step out from the living room for a spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower.
There it was – the Eiffel Tower rising above the rooftops of Paris. And in another direction, the golden dome of Les Invalides in the distance. And then there were the balconies. Not one, not two, but three, each offering its own place to take in the views. It felt like a dream setting for anyone who loves Paris.
Of course, as with every project, there were challenges to solve. While the apartment was bright and full of potential, the layout felt dated, with a separate kitchen that didn’t connect to the living space and an awkward L-shaped bathroom desperately in need of a complete remodel.
BEFORE: The original floor plan of Lirac. So much potential!
We focused on what would make the greatest difference for daily life: creating an open, welcoming living space at the heart of the home. The kitchen was relocated and integrated into the main living area to create ease and flow. In turn, the former kitchen and bathroom spaces were reworked to create a gorgeous bathroom along with a separate powder room – an important addition for both comfort and practicality.
AFTER: A more functional and beautiful design at Lirac.
To anchor the space, we introduced a curved banquette dining area that echoes the shape of the balcony just beyond, creating a natural focal point for gathering and enjoying meals at home. The result is a space that feels both elegant and inviting, with two of the terraces extending the living area outdoors.
An Open Plan Designed for Living – Indoors & Out
AFTER: Read on to see how we created this gorgeous space in Lirac.
The goal was to create a beautifully designed and highly functional open-plan space that would become the true heart of the home. With two balconies opening from this area, the layout naturally suggested two distinct yet connected areas – one centered around the living space and balcony with Eiffel Tower views and the other oriented toward the curved balcony that would become the perfect setting for dining.
BEFORE: Living area was a blank canvas, but needed a lot of work.
To make this vision possible, one of the most important changes was increasing the footprint of the living area. By removing the former kitchen and reworking the L-shaped bathroom, we were able to open up the space and shift the wall back, creating a much more comfortable layout and seamlessly integrating the kitchen along the back wall.
AFTER: The living area is now comfortable and showcases the balcony.
In the living area, the design was focused on highlighting the French doors and the balcony beyond. Positioned to face the view, the sofa creates a natural place to relax, with two armchairs framing the doors and creating a sense of balance in the room. A wall-mounted TV is discreetly placed to the side, ensuring the emphasis remains on the light and the view.
AFTER: Bringing together the beauty of the rare outdoor space into the home.
At the center of the living area, a beautifully detailed antique trunk adds both character and function, serving as a coffee table with hidden storage. Decorative elements were chosen with a careful eye to balance classic and contemporary touches. A stunning antique mirror with a gold finish sits perfectly within the molding that was added for a historic touch, while a striking late-19th-century bronze chandelier adds elegance overhead.
AFTER: Light decor and gold accents create a bright home.
The flooring was completely redone as part of the renovation, with a rich, dark finish that grounds the space and highlights the natural light that fills the apartment throughout the day, while still honoring the building’s original character.
BEFORE: Large balcony just off the living room had so much potential.
Just beyond the French doors, the living room opens onto one of Lirac’s three private balconies – a space we knew from the start would be something special. With its direct view of the Eiffel Tower, it was the perfect setting to create a place for dining outdoors or enjoying a quiet drink in the evening as the lights begin to sparkle.
AFTER: Now that’s a view you’ll fall in love with during a stay at Lirac!
And what a view it is. Seeing the Eiffel Tower rise above the rooftops never loses its magic, shifting with the light from morning through night. Designed to feel like a natural extension of the living space, the balcony offers a place to step outside and fully experience Paris.
AFTER: Beautiful Parisian inspired planters on the balcony.
A table and classic Parisian bistro chairs make it easy to relax here, whether for a simple breakfast or a dinner with the city as your backdrop. Beautiful plantings were added to bring a sense of greenery and intimacy, with climbing jasmine and planters that were inspired by the Luxembourg Gardens. A lovely touch!
BEFORE: The kitchen before the remodel.
With the original kitchen located near the entrance and separate from the main living space, it didn’t quite support the kind of everyday living we had in mind. Moving it into the open-plan layout was one of the most important changes.
AFTER: The kitchen is now an element of the living room’s design.
Now fully integrated into the living area, the kitchen blends beautifully into the space, designed to feel both elegant and practical. White upper cabinetry keeps the look light and airy, while darker lower cabinets echo the deep tone of the flooring, creating a sense of balance and cohesion throughout.
AFTER: A kitchen as functional as it is beautiful.
Fully equipped for cooking at home, it’s a kitchen designed for real life in Paris, from breakfasts to relaxed dinners with market fresh ingredients from nearby Rue Cler. A dark wooden console extends the workspace while maintaining the clean lines of the design and ensuring everything feels connected.
BEFORE: A more comfortable dining area was needed near the curved balcony.
Just beside the kitchen, the dining area became one of the most rewarding parts of the redesign. The apartment already had a beautiful curved wall of doors and windows opening onto the balcony—a natural place for a dining space—but the original layout didn’t allow it to function that way. It was just too small.
AFTER: A solution that’s not just practical but strikingly beautiful.
That’s when Madelyn had an incredibly clever design idea that made all the difference. By reworking the footprint and borrowing a small amount of space from the bedroom, it became possible to create a curved banquette that follows the line of the architecture. The result is a dining area that feels both distinct and connected – an intimate nook that doesn’t interrupt the flow of the open-plan living space.
BEFORE: Original view looking toward the hallway to bedroom and bathroom.
This transformation came from adjusting the layout in two key ways. Moving the original living room wall back (to the left in photo above) created space for the kitchen, while carving out a small area from the bedroom (on the right) allowed the curved banquette to take shape – two subtle changes that had a big impact on the final design.
AFTER: The dining area sits in a the nook created by the redesign.
Upholstered in a rich deep green fabric and paired with custom curtains in the same elegant tone, the banquette creates a warm and inviting setting for meals and conversation. The space is finished with Pierre Frey’s Au Palais Petit Chantilly wallpaper, with a subtle texture and soft hint of green that adds depth without competing with the light and views. Overhead, a striking Fortuny fixture brings an element of Italian craftsmanship to the space.
AFTER: A beautiful space for dining at home.
French doors open directly onto the curved balcony just beyond, where a bistro table offers the perfect setting for dining outdoors. Set near the kitchen, it’s exactly this ease of living that we wanted to create at Lirac.
BEFORE: The curved shape of the dining area balcony inspired the interior design.
Having so much outdoor space is a rare luxury in Paris, and at Lirac it truly shapes the way you live. With three balconies to enjoy, there’s always a spot to step outside, whether for a quiet morning coffee, a leisurely lunch break or an evening drink as you take in the City of Light.
AFTER: The perfect Parisian bistro table.
From the dining balcony, you can look down toward Rue Cler, one of Paris’s most beloved market streets. Daily life here is full of so many little pleasures, like morning visits to the boulangerie to picking up fresh ingredients for dinner, with an array of specialty shops, cafés and neighborhood favorites right on your doorstep.
AFTER: The dome of Les Invalides marks Napoleon’s final resting place.
In another direction, the view opens toward the golden dome of Les Invalides, a reminder of the history and beauty that surrounds you here. It’s easy to fall in love with this corner of the 7th arrondissement, with everything you need so close at hand for truly enjoying Parisian living.
A Beautiful Bedroom Overlooking Paris
AFTER: Wake up to this charming Paris view.
The bedroom at Lirac is every bit as inviting as the living spaces, with a design that makes it easy to settle in and feel at home. As we mentioned earlier, creating the curved banquette required taking a small portion from the corner of the room. This change called for a reworking of the layout, including relocating the original built-in storage to better suit the new design.
BEFORE: Bedroom had large built-in storage on right.
The highlight of the bedroom has always been the French doors opening to the apartment’s third balcony, but the storage on the right side couldn’t stay due to the dining room changes.
BEFORE: The bedroom storage could be repurposed to use some of the floor plan in the dining area.
With the storage relocated to the opposite wall, it was redesigned with glass-paneled doors that reflect the natural light and help keep the room feeling open and airy. This simple change not only improved the layout but also enhanced the overall sense of space, allowing the bedroom to feel both functional and beautifully composed.
AFTER: Bright and plenty of well-designed storage.
The walls are finished in Pierre Frey’s Jardin de Paradis wallpaper, an iconic design in soft, neutral tones. Its delicate botanical pattern echoes the greenery of the terraces while adding warmth and character without overwhelming the space.
BEFORE: Bedroom balcony was spacious and had room for real creativity.
Even before the redesign, the bedroom balcony was a stand out feature for its size and potential. It was clear this could be more than just an outdoor space. It deserved to feel like a natural extension of the room, with the flexibility to enjoy it throughout the day.
AFTER: Two Parisian bistro chairs on the balcony.
To bring that vision to life, the balcony was arranged with both a bistro table and a separate lounge area. Whether for a morning tea or a glass of wine in the evening, it’s a setting that is both practical and inviting. Exactly what we wanted for this beautiful space!
AFTER: A lovely view toward Les Invalides from the bedroom balcony.
It’s the kind of space that easily becomes part of daily life, perfect for reading in the afternoon light, catching up on emails or simply pausing to take in the rooftop views of Paris.
A Bright & Beautiful Bathroom Design
AFTER: The elegant and spacious new main bathroom.
One of the biggest changes at Lirac was the complete reimagining of the bathroom spaces. By moving the kitchen into the open-plan living area, we were able to free up room to create a spacious main bathroom along with a separate powder room, a rare and welcome feature in a one-bedroom apartment.
BEFORE: The previous kitchen would become part of the new bathroom, including the window.
Looking back at the original layout, when the kitchen occupied this part of the apartment, there was a window that brought in natural light. It was a wonderful feature to build around, and one we knew would play an important role in shaping the new bathroom.
BEFORE: The L-shaped bathroom needed to be redesigned.
The original bathroom, meanwhile, was arranged in an awkward L-shape wrapped around the kitchen. A long, narrow entry led directly toward the bathtub, with the sink and toilet positioned off to the side, making the space feel small.
BEFORE: The entrance to the bathroom (left) and the awkward shape (right).
However, there was one key advantage: a second window. With natural light coming from both the former kitchen and bathroom, we had the opportunity to create a new space that would feel bright, open and balanced.
AFTER: Soft colors and striking design blend beautifully.
Just across from the bedroom, the new main bathroom now feels modern and filled with soft natural light. The dual windows bring a brightness that’s rare in Paris apartments, and the wall of mirrored storage opposite adds even more to the sense of space.
AFTER: Built-in storage hidden behind mirrors.
A large glass-enclosed shower anchors the space, contributing to its clean, open feel. The walls are finished with pale green and white vertical tiles that add a fresh, elegant touch.
AFTER: All the comforts of home discreetly tucked away.
Cleverly integrated within the storage area is a washer and dryer, offering the convenience of in-home laundry without interrupting the overall design.
AFTER: Separate powder room is a wonderful touch.
In addition to the main bathroom, a separate powder room adds an extra level of comfort and practicality. With its mirrored nook and refined finishes, it’s a beautifully designed space that’s especially convenient when hosting guests or settling into longer stays.
Dedicated Workspace & Welcoming Entry
AFTER: A beautiful welcome home to Lirac.
For longer stays, having a dedicated place to settle in—even for a short time each day—makes all the difference. At Lirac, what was once a simple storage closet has been reimagined as a small workspace just inside the entrance, creating a spot that feels both practical and inviting.
BEFORE: Entrance closet became beautiful work space.
Designed to double as an elegant console, the desk blends seamlessly into the entryway while offering a convenient place for catching up on emails, planning the day or working remotely for a few hours. A vintage leather bench adds a warm, lived-in touch and a comfortable place to pause as you come and go.
AFTER: A charming spot to work from home.
Finished with Farrow & Ball wallpaper, the space sets a welcoming tone from the moment you arrive. It’s a subtle detail, but one that reflects the overall approach at Lirac.
Don’t miss the chance to plan a dream stay.
Your Chance to Stay at Lirac
For a limited time, there’s a rare opportunity to experience Lirac for yourself. Available for longer stays, this beautiful penthouse offers the chance to truly settle into Parisian life. From the carefully considered layout to the smallest decorative details, every element has been designed to create a home that feels both elegant and welcoming from the moment you arrive. It’s the kind of place where you can unpack, slow down and feel at home in the heart of the 7th arrondissement – all with exceptional Paris views! Take a closer look at Lirac to find out all the details and to start planning your stay.
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