Paris-based designer Clarisse Demory never planned on purchasing a pied-a-terre in Sofia, but after a quick trip to Bulgaria a while back she found herself signing the papers on the way to the airport.
Demory has owned the flat for six years now; she spends her summers renovating the space, waltzing through farmer’s markets and enjoying a slower pace of life. When it came to the renovation, her first order of business was breaking down the walls, upgrading the electrical system, and installing new Italian plumbing fixtures. As Demory says, “in a minimalist place like mine, the details are important.”
Above: Demory displays a collection of linens on an antique ladder. Photograph by Mai-Linh.
Above: A kitchen tableau includes an enamelware pot from a local bazaar, German porcelain dishes from the flea market, and glassware adopted from a friend.
Above: An array of local produce and vintage dishes on a marble countertop. Photograph by Maya Lipman via Ensuite.
Above: A still-life display of grapes and glassware. Photograph by Maya Lipman via Ensuite.
Above: A simple wooden bed designed by Demory and built by a local craftsman in Sofia.
Above: Demory retained the pink lime paint on the walls as an homage to the past, part of what she calls “the ecology of styling.”
Above: A view of the flat’s open floor plan, ad hoc laundry room included.
Above: During the renovation of the attic space, Demory discovered a small wooden stool, ladder, and antique housewares. “Everything was humble, but for me it was a treasure,” says Demory.
Above: The impromptu utility room features a tiny closet and a white metal drying rack.
Above: Demory savors the quiet afternoons in Sofia; “the sunlight arriving through the window enchants me.”
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on January 19, 2012 in our European Travels issue. Since we first posted about Demory’s house in Bulgaria, we also visited her apartment in Paris, see: Done/Undone with Clarisse Demory.
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