Caroline Rostang, the renowned French chef who opened Odette by Maison Rostang in the heart of Les Halles' Canopée in 2017, has created a stunning contemporary living space in her completely renovated Parisian apartment. The transformation reflects both her culinary heritage as part of the six-generation Rostang family dynasty and her personal design philosophy that emphasizes warmth without saturation, creating what she describes as a "contemporary breathing space."

When Rostang purchased the early 20th-century Parisian stone apartment, she knew immediately what she wanted to achieve. Rather than an impulsive decision, she describes the purchase as an obvious choice that allowed her to envision an open, light-filled space far removed from the original compartmentalized layout. Working with an architect, she made the bold decision to tear down walls and transform five separate rooms into one expansive living area.

"The living room that serves as kitchen-living room-dining room," Rostang explained to Côté Maison magazine. "When we bought this apartment, we had to do a lot of work: we transformed five rooms into a large open space with the kitchen open to a living-sitting room." This dramatic renovation reflects both her professional background and personal temperament, creating a space that functions as seamlessly as a well-orchestrated kitchen.

The centerpiece of her renovated space is a spectacular "La Flamberge" rotisserie from La Cornue, a rare piece that never fails to surprise visitors. "People often ask me if I really use it. The answer is yes!" she says with amusement. This dramatic culinary centerpiece perfectly complements her design philosophy of creating spaces that are warm yet uncluttered, avoiding overly designed interiors that feel forced or artificial.

"Contemporary but not ultra-design," Rostang explains her aesthetic approach. "The atmosphere is warm but airy: I don't like confined spaces." This philosophy extends throughout the apartment, where she has carefully balanced functionality with style. The overall framework relies on soothing materials and tones, with wood and light colors dominating the palette. "We have a very beautiful floor and especially, during the work, we were able to recover a wall of exposed stone," she notes.

The apartment also reveals Rostang's more intimate passions and personal touches. She proudly displays a vintage Gottlieb pinball machine that she recently discovered in a vintage shop, adding an unexpected element of playfulness to the sophisticated space. Another treasured piece is a glazed terracotta lion signed by Jules Lesouëf, which she enjoys moving around the apartment according to her mood. "It wanders around the apartment, sometimes we find it in my library, sometimes above the fireplace," she explains.

Rostang's daily routines seamlessly blend her professional expertise with comfortable living. She frequently prepares meat or poultry cooked in the rotisserie on a whim, demonstrating how her home naturally accommodates the gestures of daily life without losing its distinctive style. On her nightstand, she keeps "Sans oublier d'être heureux" (Don't Forget to Be Happy), listens to jazz music, and has strong preferences even for window treatments – she resists sheer curtains and prefers thick drapes.

She has even developed practical solutions inherited from her country house experience, including a precise method for darkening overly bright rooms: "Buy blackout fabric, have two rivets placed at each end and attach two small hooks above the window." These personal touches and practical considerations show how she has created a space that truly works for her lifestyle.

The apartment reflects Rostang's appreciation for simple pleasures and natural beauty. She treasures the flowers her husband brings her – ranunculus, sweet peas, or mimosa depending on the season. Her books line a large bookcase but often end up in stacks at the foot of her bed before being passed along to her mother or sister. Despite the apartment's sophistication, she admits to dreaming of having a proper laundry room, proof that even an ideal interior can always be improved.

This peaceful and coherent design philosophy extends to her restaurant projects as well. When designing Odette in collaboration with her sister, Rostang drew inspiration from a trip to New York where she fell in love with the combination of copper and wood. "We wanted these two materials to dominate," she recalls. Architect Alexandre Danan expanded on this concept by creating wooden undulations described as "an organic tablecloth," while the round tables she adores were redesigned in pairs to avoid discomfort when seating four people.

Rostang's apartment renovation demonstrates how personal living spaces can reflect professional expertise while maintaining intimate comfort. The transformation from a compartmentalized early 20th-century apartment to a contemporary open-plan living space showcases her ability to balance heritage with modernity, creating an environment that honors both her family's culinary legacy and her own vision for contemporary living.