French television host Julia Vignali has opened the doors to her former Parisian duplex apartment near Place de la Bastille, showcasing a meticulously designed interior that reflects her passion for music and vintage décor. The host of France 2's "Affaire Conclue" now splits her time between Burgundy, Morocco, and Paris, but her previous home in the 11th arrondissement remains a testament to her impeccable taste for carefully curated living spaces.
"I was born in Parmentier, in the 11th arrondissement, and I had never left eastern Paris until five years ago when I moved to the Montorgueil area," Vignali revealed. This geographic shift marked a new chapter in her life, though it didn't diminish her appreciation for precisely planned interiors that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal.
In 2017, Vignali discovered her duplex sanctuary behind a carriage gate, where a cobblestone courtyard provided insulation from the capital's bustling energy. Located on the top floor, the apartment was bathed in soft, consistent natural light that never felt overwhelming. The space had already been transformed by an architect, requiring only minor modifications from its new owner.
Vignali personally handled the painting and redesigned the bathroom, replacing the bathtub with an Italian-style walk-in shower. With the structural elements in place, her focus shifted to creating the perfect ambiance. In the evenings, when everything was arranged to her satisfaction, she would settle into her AM.PM armchair facing the Caravane sofa, creating the heart of her living room.
The apartment's design revolved around one central priority: music. A large two-meter buffet housed her mixing console and the MK2 turntable she had gifted herself for her 30th birthday. When asked by Côté Maison magazine whether she lived "with music or in silence," Vignali responded with amusement: "With music!" She acknowledged that the entire décor was conceived around her passion, with careful attention to giving breathing room to her vinyl records, CDs, and audio equipment, all illuminated by deliberately subdued lighting.
Rather than pursuing a cohesive total look, Vignali's style philosophy centered on avoiding a showroom effect. "At flea markets, I hunted for the buffet, the dresser with green and beige sliding doors, and a green velvet chair with a very low seat. I had bought another red one, but the two side by side didn't work well. The green one alone makes a beautiful statement," she explained. Her vocabulary drew from the fifties, sixties, and seventies, resulting in a controlled yet whimsical aesthetic.
The living room featured several signature pieces that defined the space's character. A Scandinavian retro buffet established the design line, while a lamp by Paola Navone cast a gentle orange glow. The "Fantomas lamp by India Mahdavi" served as a playful focal point—a 40th birthday gift that commanded attention. The coffee table, long elusive in her search, was finally discovered at Fleux on Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie. Together, these elements composed an almost disco-like atmosphere.
At the center of the home stood a striking architectural signature that captured visitors' attention. "The beautiful suspended glass staircase," designed by the architect, created the illusion of ascending through empty space—a graphic sculpture connecting the mezzanine level, office, and bedrooms in a seamless flow.
Color selections came from Emery et Cie, with the living room featuring blue-gray tones on the upper portion of the fireplace and one wall section that nearly blended with a soft white. The mansard bedroom displayed powder pink walls, while white beams and parquet flooring ensured visual continuity throughout the space. Her son's bedroom combined white parquet and beams with duck blue walls, where a platform bed created a simple cabin-like retreat.
The north-facing apartment benefited from consistent, even lighting, filtered in the evenings by cream-colored blackout curtains. Daily organization represented both a choice and nearly a discipline for Vignali. "I'm pathologically organized and meticulous; I have a passion for tidiness. Nothing is left lying around or out of place! Objects have precise locations, cables disappear, the TV hangs like a painting in a recessed area. Vinyl album covers are displayed like frames. Jasmine or orange blossom candles punctuate the rooms. Window sills are adorned with herbs and tall plants, creating a discreet screen for privacy. Everything composes a living décor that's never oversaturated."
Five years ago, Vignali changed her urban scenery without abandoning her design principles, moving with partner Kad Merad to the Montorgueil neighborhood. "I really like both facets of my new neighborhood—it's simultaneously bourgeois and working-class," she noted. She has established new routines in her current area, sharing her favorites with ELLE magazine: Plume restaurant above the Louvre Post Office for dinner, with views that extend the celebration; Chez Vong, a Vietnamese address with slightly kitsch décor and indulgent cuisine when the refrigerator runs empty; and Le Melville, a music bar run by a friend where evenings often drift into jazz sessions. While Bastille holds the memories of her past, Montorgueil continues writing her story.
