Picture this: you’ve finally realised your dream of buying your own home in Paris and it’s all yours, now it simply needs the right look and feel. However, you’re not quite sure what that would be and this is Paris, and you don’t have the contacts (and maybe not the vocabulary if you’re an English speaker) for an interior design service in Paris – someone to bring your vision to life.
What you really need is a professional magic wand, someone you can trust to transform your property into a warm and welcoming living space that fits you like a glove. Enter Antonia Mahon, who might not carry a wand but certainly works a particular magic when it comes to interior design.
The skills behind the magic
Originally from Ireland, Antonia moved to the French capital in 1999. With more than twenty years’ experience as an interior designer working exclusively in Paris, she started by transforming her own three-room apartment. Now she creates fabulous Parisian homes for her lucky clients.
“Imagine stepping into a home where every detail reflects your unique taste, blending effortlessly with the timeless Parisian charm,” she says. “I’m here to make that vision a reality, whether you’re looking to revamp a single room or transform your entire space. We’ll work together to identify what level of renovation is needed, what atmosphere you want to create, and the precise pieces, colours and textures that will bring everything to life.”
Interior design service in Paris
Antonia’s company, Blue Sparks, specialises in Full-Service Interior Design, which spans everything from discussing initial ideas in person or by Zoom through the practical stages of planning and coordinating with local artisans, ordering and installation of everything in the space and on to the final finishing details of interior decor and styling. And, if you have a shortlist of properties and you’re just not sure which one is best for you, Antonia can visit them to see the potential, and give an estimation for the cost of renovations.
“Paris is such a wonderful city bursting with history, and its buildings reflect that. I’m passionate about highlighting and showcasing original features in Parisian apartments, and I enjoy mixing period and contemporary pieces to create elegant, chic interiors. The goal is always to show the space to its best advantage while tailoring the overall look and feel to your individual requirements and tastes.”
One of a kind
Just as each property and person is unique, so is the service offered by Blue Sparks. You’ll have a single point of contact you can trust to manage your project hands-on, and there’s no language barrier, so communication is always clear and direct. Even if you’re new to the city of lights, you’ll suddenly gain twenty years of specialist expertise in Parisian properties: whatever the challenge, chances are that Antonia already has a possible solution in mind.
“I work with a small team of trusted contractors and artisans, and can recommend parallel services such as bilingual property finders, notaries, tax experts and concierge contacts. We only take on a few select projects every year, so when you work with us, you have our full attention.”
Truly great design is invisible
“If a space functions well, you don’t have to think about how it works, you live in it and use it naturally,” says Antonia. “Ideally, there’s a smooth flow and an instinctive harmony between your movements and the space, the furniture, the accessories and the light.
“We’ve all had that experience of using a kitchen where the cupboard door opens against the fridge or trying to brush your teeth but you keep banging your head on a mirror or oddly-placed light. For an overnight stay it’s a little irritating but if you live with poor design, it changes how you use the space and can even change how you feel about being there.”
Working with a professional interior designer means that someone else is thinking of these details on your behalf, ensuring you have enough surfaces in the kitchen for how you like to cook or host, making sure storage options are an organic fit for your movements, and designing lighting that caters for both relaxation and focused tasks like reading. From the very first call or meeting, Antonia chats to her clients about their hobbies and activities, how they use their space, and any periods of history or design that they warm to, so that their Parisian home can be designed specifically for them.
“I firmly believe that the environment in which you live and work has a direct impact on your quality of life. A well-designed and well-decorated space helps you to live as the best version of yourself.”
A shared delight
Blue Sparks has an extensive, ever-growing list of satisfied clients, who often praise the smooth efficiency of working with Antonia and her team, but above all they appreciate how the finished result feels so natural that living there is effortless.
“As I didn’t have time to be involved, I delegated fully to Antonia who looked after everything, even in a complex and stressful context,” explains one client. “I’m delighted with the result which is all that I had imagined and more.”
The Blue Sparks’ website includes many recommendations from existing clients, all with a recurring theme of delight and appreciation. Finding your dream property in Paris is one thing; the real trick is finding the dream team to transform it into the space that you always long to come home to.
Free expertise
If you’d like to find out more, Antonia’s website bluesparks.paris has a whole host of practical information including two expert guides completely free of charge: Sotheby’s Paris Ouest Buying Guide with a map of the various neighbourhoods and Blue Sparks’ Guide to Creating Your Dream Home in Paris, including a step-by-step guide to the buying process plus all the vital vocabulary for purchasing a Parisian property. To get these, simply sign up for the monthly newsletter – which brings its own professional insights – and you’ll instantly be able to download the two guides.
Whether you’re in the house-hunting stage or have already bought your Parisian pied-à-terre and are looking into design, Antonia and Blue Sparks will help you to take that space and truly make it your own.
