When art world mover and shaker Mathieu Paris relocated from Paris to London five years ago, he ended up in a very central location, the historic area of Pimlico. Located near Westminster, Mayfair, and Chelsea, the neighborhood features beautiful white stucco houses, many of which were developed in the 19th century by British master builder Thomas Cubitt. The space Mathieu and his partner landed on occupies the top two floors of a building by Cubitt, in what the English call a maisonette.

On the far wall, two paintings by Belgian artist Léon Wuidar from the 1970s were acquired from White Cube Gallery, where Mathieu is senior director. A large abstract painting by Solange Pessoa takes up the near wall, and a group of unusual plants from Belgian florist Thierry Boutemy add a touch of whimsy to the room. “It’s a bit old-fashioned here because there are a lot of political people around, but it’s a great mix with lots of English people, a bit rare in London,” says Mathieu of the area. Though filled with charm, the multistory unit had been transformed over the years, and many of the walls were torn down to create an open-plan apartment. “We redid it the way it was meant to be originally and put walls back up,” explains Mathieu of the renovation. “We wanted proper rooms.”

Art even finds its way into the kitchen. A work by Sigmar Polke leans against the wall while a collection of Japanese tea canisters adorn the floating shelf. 

On the landing, an office chair by Pierre Jeanneret is placed beneath an embroidery by Alighiero e Boetti entitled

(Losing the Compass). The work was the centerpiece of Mathieu’s first show at White Cube in 2015. True to English style, the front door opens onto the staircase, and the kitchen occupies a half floor. The living room, dining room, and guest bathroom are on one floor, the bedrooms and main bathroom on the top floor. Access to the roof terrace provides spectacular views of London.

The bed is flanked by an André Borderie ceramic lamp on one side and a Isamu Noguchi lamp on the other. The painting above is by Carla Accardi from 1989. Once the flow of the apartment was organized to his liking, Mathieu designed the spaces to be simple. “I wanted white walls and a peaceful environment,” he explains. As a senior director at White Cube art gallery, Mathieu travels often and wanted to come home to something “visually quiet.” Though he admits they did introduce some Parisian flair to the space: “It was a bit of a sacrilege, but we put in the wooden herringbone French floor. It reminded us of Paris and we wanted to bring a bit of Paris with us.”

In the guest bedroom, a wall sconce by Gino Sarfatti and artwork by Sol LeWitt hang above a desk by Maurice Pré. The 1960s Italian floor lamp is by Arredoluce.

A work by Nikolas Gambaroff and book cradle by Carl Auböck are perched atop a nightstand by Rick Owens.  When it came to furnishing the rooms, Mathieu focused on classic pieces. “I started my career in design from the 1950s and I like the

[economy of means] and the simplicity of that period,” he says, referring to the works of iconic designers such as Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand. “Purpose should always come first and if it is well thought out, design will follow. This way, you will always end up with beautiful furniture.” The apartment clearly reflects Mathieu's mindset: sparse, yet rich with timeless pieces and a highly personal art collection.

Mathieu has three stools by Charlotte Perriand throughout the home, each in a different wood. In the main bathroom, one is used to warm up the marble-clad space.  White Cube recently opened a beautiful showroom in Paris, so Mathieu will return to his hometown more often. “I want the space to live beyond the usual gallery model,” he explains of the new venture. “I want the artists to use it like a White Cube embassy in Paris and have their friends over, entertain curators and collectors.” From a look inside his own apartment, it’s clear Mathieu can effortlessly craft a clean yet comfortable space, perfect for displaying art.

A 1930s Belgian pendant hangs above a Marco Zanuso armchair and plywood cube, which is a tribute to Le Corbusier by designer Rick Owens. It it topped by a drawing by Thomas Houseago, Japanese ceramics, and a little sculpture by Carl André from the 1980s. The painting above the sofa is by Jannis Kounellis and a sculpture by Virginia Overton is displayed on the bookcase. 

The rooftop terrace offers spectacular views of London…

…and a small perch for herbs and plants.

Mathieu sits in the living room surrounded by more art. The ceramics on the mantel are by Georges Jouve and Alev Siesbye, and the little painting is by André Derain from the 1930s. The framed work behind Mathieu is by Cy Twombly from 1975.

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