Who hasn’t strolled the romantic streets of Paris and looked up at a particular window and wondered about the world within? A city full of bohemians and dreamers, the impossibly chic and, in some cases, the incredibly rich, Paris has plenty of extrordinary interiors and none more so than the former studios of celebrated artists. Many of those studios have since been converted into enviable living quarters. Here we offer you a private view of eight of our favourites.
Avenue Frochot
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 9th arrrondissement – Pigalle
Where?
A charming private street with a tranquil atmosphere in the midst of the still somewhat disreputable neighbourhood of Pigalle. Numerous famous people have lived here, among them the painters Chassériau, Toulouse-Lautrec and Gustave Moreau, as well as filmmaker Jean Renoir and guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt.
What we love
The original parquet floor, which the proprietor of this former dance studio has thoughtfully preserved.
How much?
The apartment can be rented for 4000 €/month. More information here.
Place de Furstemberg
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 6th arrrondissement – Saint-Germain-des-Près
Where?
The former studio of Claude Monet and his artist friend Fréderic Bazille in Saint-Germain-des-Près. It’s here that in 1865 Monet painted one of his early masterpieces, Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe, the fragments of which can be seen not far away in the Musée d’Orsay.
At the same address as Monet’s studio, but on the floor below, is the former atelier of Eugène Delacroix, celebrated for such iconic paintings as Liberty Leading the People. Delacroix worked here from 1863 until his death, and his studio is now a popular museum. Monet and Bazille’s quarters, meanwhile, have been transformed into a stunning loft.
“Mon logement est décidément charmant (…). Réveillé le lendemain en voyant le soleil le plus gracieux sur les maisons qui sont en face de ma fenêtre. La vue de mon petit jardin et l’aspect riant de mon atelier me causent toujours un sentiment de plaisir.” [My apartment is so decidely charming (…). I am awoken some mornings by the sight of the most delicate sunlight on the houses opposite my window. The view of my little garden and the cheerful aspect of my studio always bring me pleasure.] Delacroix
What we love
The huge window and its superb view of the garden of the Musée Delacroix and the church of Saint-Germain-des-Près.
How much?
The apartment can be rented for 4900 €/month. More information here.
Rue d’Estrées
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 7th arrondissement – Les Invalides
Where?
This former artists’ studio is located in the heart of the Les Invalides district in Paris’s 7th arrondissement and has been converted into a 120m2 loft.
What we love
All that light from the incredible windows.
How much?
The apartment can be rented for 4000 €/month. More information here.
Rue du Fer à Moulin
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 5th arrondissement – Panthéon
Where?
A peaceful haven in the busy heart of the 5th arrondissement, this 18th century leather factory, later a confectionery manufacturer’s, has now been converted into a family-size loft of 200m2.
What we love
The unique space and layout and the inner courtyard with its pretty flowers and plants.
How much?
The apartment is rented for 7000€/month.
Cité des Fusains
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 18th arrondissement – Montmartre
Where?
Bonnard, Arp, Miro, Max Ernst, Renoir and many other artists lived in this charming collection of residences at the foot of the butte in Montmartre. Classified as an historic monument in 1963, the Cité des Fusains is home to a few artists still, but vacancies are few and far between.
What we love
Its shady and peaceful alleyways and the feeling of being in the coutryside in the middle of Paris.
How much?
An apartment in Les Fusains can be rented for 2300 €/month. More information here.
Rue de Lauriston
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 16th arrondissement – Trocadéro
Where?
Numerous artists’ studios sprang up in the first three decades of the twentieth century in a private alley close to the Trocadéro. Most of those studios have now been turned into apartments, among them this one which belonged to an art dealer who wanted a generously proportioned space to display his collection of paintings.
What we love
The seven-metre-high ceilings and the private garden.
How much ?
The apartment was rented for 4200 €/month.
Rue Chauveau
Furnished apartment rentals Neuilly-sur-Seine
Where?
In the suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, to the west of central Paris, the high-profile architect Philippe Demougeot has transformed a former craftsman’s workshop into a 130m2 townhouse. The main room comprises a sitting room and a kitchen, with access to the bedrooms provided by a glass and concrete staircase.
What we love
A small patio for outside dining on warm days.
How much?
The apartment can be rented for 4500 €/month. More information here.
Passage de la Main d’Or
Furnished apartment rentals Paris 11th arrondissement – Bastille
Where?
In a pretty alleyway in the heart of the multicultural neighbourhood of the Marché d’Aligre.
What we love
The industrial style of the concrete floors and the wall of windows opening onto a private terrace.
How much?
The apartment can be rented for 2800 €/month. More information here.
Boulevard Saint-Germain
6th arrondissement – Saint-Germain-des-Près
Where?
In the heart of the neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Près, Alda Fendi and artist Raffaele Curi, her partner at the Foundation Alda Fendi, have attempted to capture the spirit of a great artist’s studio. The result: a light-filled loft of 120 m2 that’s an ideal location for large receptions.
What we love
The minimalist design and the north-facing windows which flood the space with the diffused light beloved of painters.
How much?
The apartment was rented out for 8500 €/month.