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French historical interior by Richard de Barentin
Interior Decoration

The French art
of living, woven
into your walls.

From the Grand Siècle to contemporary interiors, I create spaces that unite historical character with modern comfort — places to live in as much as to admire.

Let's discuss your project
Richard de Barentin, interior decorator

A sensibility shaped
by excellence

My eye was shaped in the heart of museums, art galleries and great historical residences — remarkable places where architecture, furniture and the decorative arts converse with a grace and fluidity that feel self-evident. It is this natural harmony, this aesthetic precision, that I strive to bring to every project I undertake.

After completing a degree in management, my career first took root in the exclusive world of haute couture and fine leather goods. Working alongside these houses of excellence, I developed an absolute attention to detail and the delicate art of presentation. Driven by a passion for history and architecture, I subsequently chose to place my expertise at the service of a leading public institution devoted to the preservation of French heritage.

Today, I bring these two cultures into dialogue — the uncompromising standards of luxury and the depth of our architectural heritage — to create unique spaces. My ambition is to design interiors where the spirit of the great French decorative traditions is embodied in a vision that is resolutely alive, warm and rooted in its time.

“The great French decorative traditions are not relics to be preserved under glass. They carry a language of proportion, light and material capable of giving an interior a presence that no generic style can offer.”

Richard de Barentin

Three convictions,
one standard of excellence

01

From the Louvre to your living room

My decorative vocabulary draws from the source: Louis XIV, Régence, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire. I do not reproduce a period style — I extract its proportions, rhythms and refinements to compose interiors that carry this heritage with elegance.

02

Living in beauty

A historical décor that constrains its inhabitants is not a good décor. Behind every panel, I think storage; behind every enfilade, I think circulation. Beauty must be as simple to live with as it is pleasant to look at.

03

The eye and the hand

Proportions, the scale of mouldings, the grain of a fabric, the exact shade of an off-white — the details that are invisible in isolation are those that, together, create the self-evidence of a fully realised space.

Moulding and panelling detail

French taste, without the constraints of a museum

My projects are born of a conviction: the great French decorative traditions carry a language of proportion, light and material capable of giving an interior a presence and coherence that no generic style can offer. Yet a home cannot function like a period set. Integration of modern amenities, concealed storage, seamless circulation: I ensure that historical elegance serves everyday life, never the other way around.

Craftsmanship and rigour

Joinery, panelling, decorative painting, period hardware, designer textiles — every component of an exacting décor requires specific expertise. I work with a network of artisans and suppliers selected over the years for the quality of their execution. From the initial sketch to the final curtain rod, I personally ensure that every finish lives up to the decorative intent.

From sketch
to completion

01

Listening & sketching

Everything begins with an in-depth conversation: your desires, your way of living, the references that speak to you, the atmosphere you are looking for. I visit the site to grasp the character of the space, its volumes, its light and its potential. From this raw material, I present the first directions: mood boards, layout sketches, the overall spirit of the project.

02

Design & detailing

With the broad lines agreed, the project takes precise shape: floor plans, elevations, bespoke joinery drawings, selection of materials, colours, textiles and finishes. Every choice is made so that the décor forms a coherent whole, from the tint of a wall to the hardware on a door.

03

Supervision & delivery

I coordinate all trades and maintain rigorous aesthetic oversight throughout the build, from the first intervention to the final adjustment. The goal: that the finished result is in every respect faithful to the project's intent.

The great styles
of French decoration

Imagine
your interior

Whether you wish to rethink a single room, compose a décor inspired by a particular era or design a complete interior, everything starts with a conversation. The first exchange is free and without obligation.

Decorating a single room or an entire home

A decorative renovation project

One-off advice on colour, furniture or material choices

Projects in France or abroad

I typically respond within 48 hours.