Interior Design Feature:

A Jewel Box Above Paris: Inside Callender Howorth Interiors’ Maximalist Transformation

Overview

When designer Mark Howorth first stepped into the tired 1910 apartment overlooking the Eiffel Tower, he knew it had the bones for something extraordinary. “The building was incredibly dated and had no character,” he explains. “There was none of that Belle Époque grandeur, so every single detail had to be rebuilt and customized.”

Brand

Callender Howorth Interiors

Type

Family Residence

Location

Paris, France

Services

Full Feature on YouTube, IG, FB & TikTok

Presented by

Mark Howorth

An ornate, spiral-shaped chandelier hangs in a dark, elegant room with patterned curtains. Soft, warm lighting creates a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere.

Cozy room with teal walls and warm lighting. A yellow sofa and chair with cushions sit in the foreground. Through a doorway, a lamp glows in the adjacent room.

The clients, a family from Los Angeles, approached the project with rare openness. “They gave us carte blanche,” Howorth says. “They wanted something fun, quirky, cozy and memorable.” The couple echoes this sentiment, recalling their first visit. “When we saw it, we knew we could make it into something beautiful and something that would really fit our family. And that really happened.”

Rebuilding Character and Creating Drama

Spatially, the original layout was a challenge. There was no proper ensuite, no space for the nanny and no flow that reflected how the family lived. The team reconfigured the plan entirely, reinstating architectural detailing and crafting custom ceilings, floors and moldings. One ceiling in particular, set in the main living space, became a playful signature. “The client loves butterflies, so we added a few into the plasterwork,” Howorth says. “It is a quirky element but it holds its own and gives the property personality.”

Elegant hallway leading to room with a large gold ceiling light resembling a flower. Art-decorated walls, velvet chairs, chandelier, and marble flooring.

Pendant light with circular glass elements against a warm, textured, copper-toned background. A wing illustration on the right adds elegance.

Throughout the apartment, lighting became a defining feature. The clients rave about it. “Mark and his team sourced the most incredible lighting that makes the apartment feel grand,” they say. Many pieces are vintage or bespoke, chosen to anchor each room and shift atmosphere through a customized Lutron system.

Luxurious room with a modern bar area featuring a grid wine rack, ambient lighting, plush chairs, a green vase with pink flowers, and an elegant chandelier.

The wine room, once a conventional dining room, is now the clients’ favorite space. “The Eiffel Tower is literally out the window,” Howorth says. The room glows at night with a rich green jewel tone, custom onyx bar and unusual statement lighting. The brief was clear. “They said, give me a club. Give me a little wine bar in my house. So we did.”

A luxurious room with a rich, dark green wall features a framed painting, gold sconces, an ornate sofa with patterned cushions, and a flower vase on a stylish coffee table. The warm tones and elegant decor create a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere.

Textiles play a strong role. Much of the fabric is from Dedar, paired with Porter Romana lighting and custom sofas from Portugal giving the space a playful, layered and intimate feel.

Elegant dining room with a large wooden table surrounded by black chairs, featuring a stunning chandelier, abstract art on walls, and soft natural light.

A Dining Room That Anchors the Home

Dining is central to the family’s lifestyle, so the team designed a room that balances calm with dramatic focal points. An oversized chandelier sets the tone above a custom table and cabinetry featuring striking Calacatta Viola marble. The art wall, curated with Lost Art, ties personal history to place. One piece, originally painted in Ojai where the family has a home, immediately resonated. “It really means something to us,” the client says.

Maximalism with Purpose

Throughout the home, Mark’s vision blends color, texture and architectural revival with a sense of play. Jewel-like rooms open into calmer spaces with warm brass details, vintage mirrors and bespoke joinery. The redesign even extended to functional problem solving. A corridor that faced an unattractive courtyard now glows with a custom faux stained glass panel inspired by Chagall and depicting the family. “It is very personal and very beautiful,” the client says. “I notice a new detail every time.”

Elegant kitchen with dark blue cabinets and marble countertops. A vase with pink hydrangeas sits on a central island. A white chandelier adds sophistication.

Elegant kitchen with deep blue cabinets featuring gold accents, marble countertops and backsplash. Two black stools sit at the marble island.

Spaces Made for Living

The fully reworked kitchen brings together expressive material choices and thoughtful functionality. Vintage mirrors, Calacatta Viola and brass inserts create what Mark calls “a sexy kitchen” meant to be used and enjoyed. Every detail, from the spice racks to the lighting scenes, was designed for a family who loves to cook.

A stylish bedroom corner with a dark wood nightstand, marble top, a black base lamp with a white shade, and a vase of dark and light flowers. The dark wavy patterned wall and plush black headboard create an elegant, calming atmosphere.

Luxurious bedroom with a dark theme, large bed with white linens and decorative pillows, elegant crystal chandelier, and soft lighting from table lamps.

The primary suite builds atmosphere through tone on tone navy, custom moldings and an oversized chandelier. The adjoining bathroom is a showstopper of Patagonia marble with brass inlays and a checkerboard floor. “This was the punchiest design decision,” Mark says. “But it really worked.”

A cozy bunk bed setup in a dim room with dark blue walls and floral ceiling. Pink curtains frame each bed, and soft light creates a calming ambiance.

A cozy bedroom with a tan color scheme features a neatly made bed with patterned pillows and a cushioned headboard. Matching nightstands with elegant lamps frame the bed. The wallpaper, with a wavy design, complements the serene, warm atmosphere.

Guest rooms and the children’s spaces continue the story with textured wallpapers, warm golds, playful lighting and rich navy tones. The children’s room features a patterned wallpaper and a ceiling wrapped in paper for added texture. “We did not want a kiddie room,” Mark notes. “Something more sophisticated, something that will last.”

Behind the scenes, the infrastructure was rebuilt to match American expectations for heating, AC and water pressure. “It does not matter how good it looks if the systems don’t work,” Mark says. “So everything was redone to the highest standard.”

A Vision Brought Fully to Life

For the clients, the collaboration exceeded what they imagined. “We went all in,” they say. “There were no half measures.” When shown the design mockups early in the process, they recall thinking, “Almost no notes.”

Looking around the finished apartment now, they describe it simply. “It is cozy and elegant. It is a work of art.”

Mark Howorth stands in an elegant, warmly lit hallway with artwork and a colorful bench. The scene conveys a stylish, relaxed vibe.

And for Mark, the project remains personal. “If I could choose any of our clients’ homes to live in, I would take this one,” he says. “It reflects them perfectly. It makes you smile.”

View the full house tour on youtube here.