Pack Your Bags! A Major Renovation of a Charming Paris Apartment May Motivate an Across-the-Globe Move

Swathed in Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, the main living area of designer Ann Huff’s Paris apartment delights with unique artwork, a mix of antique and new furniture, and a pop of animal print—a signature of the designer—seen in the Pierre Lottier black armchairs covered in a vintage Pierre Frey fabric.

Huff is the co-founder of Atlanta’s beloved Huff Harrington, who officially launched their Paris office in 2021.

A Biedermeier-style burled walnut dining table brings an additional layer of warmth to the dining area. As a dedicated Francophile, the vintage Pauly Murano glass chandelier with amber droplets originally felt out of Huff’s element, but turned out to be the space’s crown jewel.

In the kitchen, an oak island complements the rich green in the curvy counterstools. A secret door—built into the cabinetry to the right of the range—leads to Huff’s private at-home office.

Located in the 7th arrondissement, Huff’s apartment has prime Eiffel Tower views from nearly every space. The artwork above the Lacanche range is Carol Descordes through Huff Harrington Fine Art.

In Huff’s office, an antique painting offers a surprise contrast to the otherwise light and airy palette.

The molding and built-in arch housing Huff’s desk was designed to emulate the arches seen in the base of the Eiffel Tower.

A mirrored wall conceals additional storage space in Huff’s bathroom. The large-scale ceramic tile behind the vanity provides a clean, modern appeal.

A wall of mirrored closets reflects light to make the primary bedroom feel larger, while a whimsical wallcovering adds a sense of nature to the city apartment. “The thing that puts a smile on my face every morning is the birds singing outside my window, so I wanted a nod to that.”

t In the primary bedroom, an antique mirror found at the Paris Flea Market hangs above the mantel, which is original to the 1920s building. The painting is by Anne Darby Parker through Huff Harrington Fine Art.

In her husband Bill’s bathroom, Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black sets a moody tone.

Rich blue walls complement a custom Luise Parati sofa in Bill’s den. The plaster sculpture and painting by Lisa Zager are both through Huff Harrington Fine Art.

Designer and Huff Harrington co-founder Ann Huff has been in a yearslong love affair. And while her 36-year marriage with husband Bill stands strong, it’s a city—one with vibrant art and culture, a romantic spirit, and sophisticated soul—that’s stolen her heart.

Since 2010, Ann has visited Paris countless times to purchase art and antiques for her beloved Atlanta-based showroom, and also to work on design projects for foreigners purchasing Parisian apartments. It wasn’t until the pandemic prevented her from returning that she realized the market potential for Huff Harrington in France, so in 2021, the Huffs permanently moved across the pond to launch the European arm of the business.

Having lived in an array of apartments throughout the last decade offered full retrospect of what the couple’s needs were for a long-term home, and after a trial run in a different apartment fell through, a swift, aggressive search for a new place to live led the Huffs to an unexpected jewel. “I distinctly remember saying to my husband as we visited the apartment, ‘We have to like this one, it’s our only choice,’” says Ann. “And to our surprise, we actually did.”

Located in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, the 1920s ivy-covered building sits in a gated cul-de-sac and feels like the home from Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline brought to life. Birds chirp in the morning, the streets are quiet, the neighbors are friendly. Soon after moving in, the Huffs discovered the apartment above them—one with endless streams of sunlight, a wraparound balcony, and front-row views of the Eiffel Tower—was coming up for sale, and after placing a note under the door sharing their interest, Ann soon found herself becoming her own client.

At around 1,000 square feet, the apartment’s charm was undeniable, though poor insulation and an awkward layout required a full-gut renovation to bring it up to more livable standards. The removal of a large entry hallway allowed cramped bathrooms to be expanded, and the separate kitchen moved to the main living area, where sumptuous furniture and story-filled antiques invite guests to linger.

Hidden doors matching the new molding or built into kitchen cabinetry reveal the home’s private spaces, including Ann’s office—her favorite room in the entire apartment. With an arched niche that surrounds her desk and a dramatic 1820s painting depicting a Swedish sailboat on the Italian coast, creativity flows freely in the quaint space. “The living room is the wow factor, but my office is a surprise,” says Ann. “It’s like the exclamation point.”

Arches, most prominently housing the kitchen’s range and backsplash, call to the curves in the base of the Eiffel Tower (seen from six different windows in the apartment) as well as in surrounding buildings that dot the neighborhood. And as a passionate Francophile, Ann displays rare antiques, flea market finds, and rotating art in a museum-like, albeit inviting, way. “Mixing modern art with traditional 18th- or 19th-century art is my idea of happiness,” says Huff. “It gives a room soul, it gives it energy, it makes it interesting.”

Nearby, the modest bedroom boasts an original fireplace with marble mantel and a built-in wall of closets. “I’ve always felt you don’t need a big bedroom, just plenty of storage, nice lighting, a side table, and a really great, comfortable bed,” says Ann. “We mirrored the closets so that the room felt bigger and added molding to magnify the feeling of
the room.”

Special design finds are tastefully placed throughout the home, including a rare Pauly Murano glass chandelier over a Biedermeier-style burled walnut dining table sourced from Prague, antique Louis Philippe door hardware with beading that calls to the main living area’s oversize mirror, and dazzling crystal light fixtures in Ann’s office and the bedroom.

And as the Huffs sit in their home each evening sipping a nightcap and enjoying the sparkling Eiffel Tower, the pair feel as though they’ve found their missing puzzle piece in this home. Says Ann, “I’ve lived in many other apartments—some that were much bigger or that may be considered more luxurious—but this apartment just feels so good that I never want to leave. I think it’s our forever home.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER Ann Huff, Huff Harrington, (404) 467-0311; huffharrington.com