{"id":200328,"date":"2022-09-06T09:50:48","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T13:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_project&p=200328"},"modified":"2022-10-18T17:12:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T21:12:13","slug":"galerie-kreo-apartment-design-paris","status":"publish","type":"id_project","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/projects\/galerie-kreo-apartment-design-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Paris Flat of Galerie Kreo founders Didier and Cl\u00e9mence Krzentowski"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"the
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec\u2019s Sofa, which consists of a large black oak box inside of which are cushions, a shelf, and a lamp, anchors a living room seating area that encompasses a Gino Sarfatti chandelier, Marc Newson cocktail table, vintage Florence Knoll sofa, and Hella Jongerius\u2019s blue UN lounge chair\u2014conceived for the 2013 redesign of the UN North Delegates\u2019 Lounge at the United Nations in New York. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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September 6, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Ian Phillips<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Inside the Paris Flat of Galerie Kreo founders Didier and Cl\u00e9mence Krzentowski<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Design dealers Didier and Cl\u00e9mence Krzentowski have lived at the same address, an apartment directly on the Right Bank of the Seine, since the mid-1980s. Looking directly onto the Eiffel Tower, their initial space measured 1,500 square feet. In 2000, they got the chance to extend it when the neighboring flat came up for sale. Their only problem? How to finance the acquisition. \u201cI went to see my banker and told him, \u2018All my money is in my art collection. I\u2019ll have to sell a few things,\u2019\u201d Didier recalls. Initially, he thought he\u2019d have to part with 20 or 30 works. In reality, he ended up deaccessioning just one: an ostrich by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. At auction, it fetched $270,000 and was dubbed by the French daily Le Monde \u201cthe most expensive ostrich in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cl\u00e9mence
Cl\u00e9mence and Didier Krzentowski in front of Danh Vo\u2019s We the People in their Paris living room, where a vintage Gino Sarfatti chandelier hangs above Jaime Hayon\u2019s Hymy cocktail table; the chair on the right is Hieronymus Wood by Konstantin Grcic. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since 1999, when they founded Galerie kreo (\u201ccreation\u201d in Esperanto) in Paris, the couple has gained almost legendary status. They produce limited-edition and one-off pieces with a roster of designers that includes Marc Newson, Konstantin Grcic, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, many of which have found their way into the apartment. They are mixed with vintage furnishings, in particular an impressive array of chandeliers, sconces, and lamps by Italian maestro Gino Sarfatti (Didier has co-written two books on modernist lighting and has a personal collection of around 500 models, mostly in storage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The apartment\u2019s d\u00e9cor changes regularly in an apparently organic fashion. \u201cThere is no method,\u201d Cl\u00e9mence insists. \u201cWe don\u2019t worry about things going together. Our collection is our self-portrait. So, there\u2019s a natural coherence.\u201d
And not everything is a signed work. For Didier, a meteorite he bought 20 years ago is \u201cthe most important sculpture in existence,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s the only one that can never be copied.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Quobus
One of Marc Newson\u2019s most recent creations for the couple\u2019s Galerie kreo, the Quobus 1,3,6 Multicolored shelving unit, in enameled steel. Image courtesy of Galerie kreo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A light installation consisting of 30 globes by Corsican artist Ange Leccia hangs above the couple\u2019s bed. The Allan McCollum wall piece, 96 Plaster Surrogates, dates from 1989. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"In
In front of the bedroom window, a playful sculpture by David Noonan converses with Gino Sarfatti\u2019s 1050\/2 floor lamp and a Pierre Paulin slipper chair and ottoman. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Etienne
The corridor is enlivened by Etienne Bossut\u2019s Watt, made of resin bulbs that don\u2019t actually light up. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"the
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec\u2019s Sofa, which consists of a large black oak box inside of which are cushions, a shelf, and a lamp, anchors a living room seating area that encompasses a Gino Sarfatti chandelier, Marc Newson cocktail table, vintage Florence Knoll sofa, and Hella Jongerius\u2019s blue UN lounge chair\u2014conceived for the 2013 redesign of the UN North Delegates\u2019 Lounge at the United Nations in New York. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"artwork
Among the works above the vintage Robin Day credenza in the dining room are paintings by Keith Haring, A.R. Penck, and Jean-Michel Sanejouand. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Efflorescence
The Krzentowskis organized two exhibitions of furniture by the late Virgil Abloh in their Paris and London galleries in 2020. His Efflorescence Bench 2 is a one-off. Image courtesy of Galerie kreo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A work consisting of four suitcases by Zoe Leonard stands in front of Marc Newson\u2019s aluminum-clad Pod of Drawers chest. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"An
An Alessandro Mendini mirror is paired with Dutch designer Wieki Somers\u2019s playful Bath Boat in the principal bathroom. Photography by Moon Ray Studio\/Living Inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n