“If I could, I’d live facing the Atlantic Ocean all year round,” confesses Parisian designer Marie Uzeel, the dynamic interior architect who turned her home on Île Saint-Germain into an elegant fusion of Californian cool and Parisian sophistication. This highly coveted enclave just outside Paris, known for its artistic vibrancy and architectural charm, served as the perfect canvas for Uzeel’s ambitious vision: a family retreat that exudes warmth, creativity and a distinctly vacation-like ambiance. From the moment she acquired the 1990s-era 2,368-square-foot house, Uzeel was determined to make it her own. “It had great proportions but didn’t suit our lifestyle or my tastes,” she explains. The only plausible solution? Demolishing everything to start afresh. What emerged is a luminous and playful sanctuary that seamlessly bridges urban living with a coastal spirit.
Upon entry, you’re greeted by Uzeel’s signature color: pink. “It’s a soothing color that transports me,” she shares. From the polished concrete of the kitchen to the custom wallpaper in the primary suite, pink reigns supreme. It’s not the saccharine hue one has grown to expect, but rather a nuanced palette balanced by dark wood carpentry and bold vintage pieces. A passionate advocate for secondhand treasures, Uzeel sourced many of her home’s furnishings from the legendary Saint-Ouen flea market. Iconic finds like the De Sede Terrazza sofa and a Saarinen table lend a sense of timeless character to her interiors. “Vintage items bring soul to a space – the little twists that make all the difference,” she muses. Whether it’s a pair of leather armchairs or the mural behind her bed created by a painter friend, the interior fabric of this home is deeply personal with a story at every touch.
Despite its bold aesthetic, the house remains firmly rooted in practicality – a necessity for a family of four (plus a dog and a cat). The ground floor’s open plan allows sunlight to flood the interiors, while upstairs, the children’s bedrooms lead to a verdant rooftop garden. “Nothing in the furniture or accessories is too delicate,” she notes, ensuring that her sons can play freely without disturbing her work. The garden itself is a marvel of transformation. Once a stark concrete courtyard, it now bursts with exotic plants inspired by the Cap Ferret homes on France’s southwest coast. “The only thing I regret not including is cacti,” she admits, laughing, and adding that Paris’s climate isn’t forgiving to desert flora.
Uzeel’s favorite space, the kitchen, encapsulates the home’s signature aesthetic. “It’s small but functional, an all-pink box that’s very me.” Like the rest of the house, this room is designed for connection – whether hosting guests or simply spending time with family. “Our home reflects my personality and values as a designer,” she adds. From the playful use of color to the emphasis on vintage craftsmanship, every element feels intentional yet unpretentious. The project wasn’t without its challenges. Reworking the first-floor layout – determining which walls to keep and how to optimize light – was a pivotal moment in the design process. “Once we decided it would be the parents’ floor, everything else flowed naturally,” she recalls.
Uzeel affectionately describes her aesthetic as Landifornie, a marriage of Californian relaxation and French elegance. Living on Île Saint- Germain, with its eclectic mix of modern architecture and quaint charm, inspired her to embrace this duality. “It’s close to Paris yet feels like its own world,” she describes, marveling at the freedom this unique setting afforded her. For Uzeel, design is as much about evolution as it is about creation. Though she considers her home a finished project, she remains open to change. “I’m always tempted to buy new pieces,” admits the designer, though her dream of a secondary home in Cap Ferret might soon take precedence. Until then, her Île Saint-Germain retreat remains a testament to her talent – a space that’s both a personal haven and an inspiring example of design ingenuity. “Be bold!” she advises anyone looking to create inspiring spaces of their own. “Embrace color and strong pieces and follow your taste without fear.”
Photography by Yann Deret.
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