Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Family - Paris

When the Haussmannian Becomes Stylish

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Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen,
Georgia 2 years old

Aroussia Chamakh is a fashion designer and Henrik Jessen is a photographer-producer. These jobs need them to have a great sense of art, and a thought. And when it’s not for their customers, the two artists have fun creating harmonies at their place, with their daughter. Coloured, textured and always refined, in order to enhance the light brightness of every room and to make their recent moving in the promise of a new life. Parisian. Aroussia likes being loyal to her city, to its culture and architecture. “There’s everything here”, according to her. Their apartment is not going against this philosophy. Point de Hongrie parquet, moulding, chimneys and great spaces: the Haussmannian style in all its splendour, proud and suspended. Furnished with taste and sophistication, as in her numerous shootings. A real decorative identity born from total relastionship of trust with Henrik, which symbolises the solar spirit of this contemporary family and foreshadows great future moments at the fireside.

Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Famille Chambre Père Fille Giorgia Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Salle à Manger Luminaire Table Invités Appartement Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Famille Portrait Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Fauteuil Vert Velours Doré Appartement Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen

Aroussia, Henrik what do you do for a living?

Aroussia

I am a personal fashion and photo designer, and I also advise brands for their collections. Dressing people is what I like the most. The life of some people are so busy that they don’t have time to care about themselves, about their styles. They don’t see themselves, because they have things way more important to do than this. My job is secret, intimate, based on a relationship of trust. We both truly let go. It is a fusion. The clothes are related to the person. Then, everything is natural. Today, we live in a world where appearances tremendously matter. A lot of the customers I have feel good after I took care of their style. They need someone who deals with this form of identity they haven’t had the time to expose, explore and for which they have no interest, and even no desire. Their talent is somewhere else. Mine is to make them save time as much as possible.

Henrik

I take the ideas from a customer, I merge them with mines and then realise/produce this vision in a media to promote his product as artistically as I can. I always want to bring it where it wants to go.

For how long have you been living in this apartment?

Aroussia

It has been a year.

What seduced you most when you moved in?

Aroussia

The light! The brightness it gives to every room.

Henrik

The smell of my wife and of my baby!

In terms of decoration, how would you define your style?

Aroussia

I love when an apartment is defined by the place, which means I am not very fond of the “mix of genres”. Wood for chalets in Switzerland, lofts for cities like New York, and for Paris, something more indefinable but which is always related to elegance and beauty. I like being loyal to the culture of the country, to the architecture, the structures, and the volumes… Stupidly. I didn’t invent anything; it had already been said.

Henrik

When Los Angeles in the 70’s meets the Parisian chic.

Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Jukebox Vinyl Variété Appartement Musique Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Chambre Enfant Giorgia Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Chambre Enfant Fauteuil Luminaire Peau de Mouton Parquet Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Chambre Enfant Jouets Liberty Appartement Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen

I love when an apartment is defined by the place, which means I am not very fond of the “mix of genres”. Wood for chalets in Switzerland, lofts for cities like New York, and for Paris, something more indefinable but which is always related to elegance and beauty.

Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old

Who chose the furniture?

Aroussia

Both of us, without hesitation. We are not complementary at all, but we have the right thoughts and the same tastes.

Henrik

Fifty, fifty.

Where do you spend the most of your time?

Aroussia

In our bedroom. It is, in its own way, a bit austere, at the limit of the solemn. However, when the curtains are down, it becomes an ode to comfort and to cocooning. I love it. Looking at the sky, the view, the light, the hanging garden… This beauty is astonishing!

Henrik

After our bed, I would probably say the kitchen, where I assist, taste and enjoy life with my wife.

What is your favourite piece of furniture?

Aroussia

The Hoffmann living room furniture: I am very proud of this purchase. It is a real master stroke. I may admit I don’t sit a lot on it but I keep looking at it!

Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Couverture V Magazine Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old

Which artist inspires you most?

Aroussia

I’m instantly attracted to the Scorpion Kings – the three of us are Scorpio – and the women artists! They are so beautiful! Georgia O Keffe, Tilda Swinton. Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso are more than artists: they are geniuses. Then, photography means a lot, and I also like a lot of Japanese artists, such as Kursawa and Takeshi Kitano: I am crazy about him. I could have married him – even if he’s much smaller than me – since I think he is original and genius! And how could I forget to quote Dylan and Bowie. They are my daily Sun Kings.

Henrik

Werner Herzog.

What was your education in terms of interior design and furniture?

Aroussia

None. There is no school for this.

Henrik

My love for vintage pieces from the flea market and the “ultimate chic” sophistication of Aroussia.

Is it easy to combine nice deco and family life?

Aroussia

Yes. For now, we just have a two-years-old baby who learns alone about beauty.

Henrik

Yes! You just have to know all the secrets to remove the stains.

What is missing at your place?

 

Aroussia

A room dedicated to books. A real library. It is my absolute fantasy. A room where I could smoke cigars and look at the books for which an entire life would not be enough. My great guilt: I don’t read as much as before! What a pity.

Henrik

A room just for me, accessible thanks to a wrought key.

What is the cheap object you’re proudest of?

Aroussia

The triptych: an idea we had in common. Pictures from one of my shootings we incorporated in an old folding screen a specialised workshop covered for us.

Henrik

Everything we have in our bathroom! Sun is free in the bath, and when it’s not here, I turn on my “Teufel” sound system, a lamp which makes nice shadows on the ceiling – or just candles – and enjoys the reflect created by the mirrors (all found for less than 10 euros).

Do you have a restaurant to recommend, in Paris or elsewhere?

Aroussia

Kunitoraya and le Petit Lutetia in Paris, my two favourite canteens!

Henrik

Same!

Salle de Bain Déco Coloré Imprimé Appartement Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Aroussia Chamakh and Henrik Jessen, <br> Georgia 2 years old
Tapis Berbère Blanc Déco Appartement Aroussia Chamak et Henrik Jessen

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5 comments

Such a lovely article, thank you! I am entranced by this family and their admiration of all things beauty-filled.

Can you tell me the brand of Aroussia’s blouse?

Thank you again for all your wonderful work here, it is my favorite thing, to find a new TSF email in my inbox!

The Socialite Family, 16 November 2016

Once again, thank you very much Meg!
We are glad to be part of your life and we hope we could keep contributing to the small little things you discover every day, at our level.
For Aroussia’s blouse, it comes from the brand Bonpoint!
We look forward to reading you soon.
Have a very nice day,
The Socialite Family Team

What a beautiful home. So tasteful. May I ask you where this beautiful green velvet sofa is from?

The Socialite Family, 23 November 2016

Hello !
Thanks you for your words.
The green velvet sofa is made-to-measure. The base is a caravane model, covered by some Dedar fabric.
Have a very nice day,
The Socialite Family Team

Hi, Very late to the party! can you please let me know who makes the wall paper in the entry way? They one next to the pink sofa.Thanks.

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