place study 01: boon_room × métaphores

welcome to place study — a series observing thoughtful spaces through design, sketching, photography, and the details worth noticing.

some spaces don’t just inspire you—they change the way you observe.

i almost walked through boon_room the way i would any beautiful interior: taking in the rooms as a whole, snapping a few photos, and moving on.

instead, i found myself slowing down.

i started looking at the way a curtain softened the light, how a textured fabric transformed an otherwise simple chair, and how layers of material created warmth without relying on decoration.

created in collaboration with métaphores and set inside a 19th-century residence overlooking parc monceau, boon_room isn’t simply an exhibition of interiors. it’s a study of how textiles can shape an entire space.

as someone learning to sketch interiors, it became less about admiring beautiful rooms and more about understanding why they worked.

boon_room is a design gallery in paris that regularly transforms its interiors through collaborations with designers, artists, and makers. this exhibition, created with métaphores, explored how fabric could become the starting point for an interior rather than an afterthought.

every room felt thoughtfully composed, inviting you to slow down and notice the details.

design observations

01. texture creates the atmosphere

what stayed with me wasn’t a particular piece of furniture. it was the layering of textures. woven fabrics, polished metals, warm woods, natural stone, and soft upholstery all worked together to create depth. the rooms felt rich without feeling crowded.

it reminded me that texture can often have a bigger impact than adding more objects.

it’s interesting how our taste evolves with age. in my early twenties, i loved clean, modern, neutral homes. now, i find myself drawn to spaces that feel more layered and lived in, with a mix of materials as the foundation and pattern and colour adding personality.

maybe it’s because i’ve started thinking about home differently, too. home is such a personal, almost sacred space. the things we choose to surround ourselves with, from the materials and colours to the objects and art, become little reflections of who we are.

i think that’s what i’m drawn to now: not a perfectly decorated home, but one that feels distinctly like the person who lives there.

02. colour feels quieter through materials

the palette wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t minimal either.

deep greens, warm neutrals, muted reds, and metallic accents all shared a similar richness. rather than depending on bright colours, the materials themselves carried much of the visual interest.

there are a few colour combinations that are still engraved in my memory. first, a teal and purple metallic-infused fabric paired with warm wooden furniture. then, a chartreuse sofa alongside velvet chairs. such fun colours, but they never felt overwhelming in the space.

i think the materials had a lot to do with that. the colours weren’t sitting on top of the room. they were woven into it through velvet, metallic threads, wood, and upholstery.

it was a good reminder that colour is experienced through texture just as much as pigment.

03. the rooms felt collected, not decorated

nothing looked overly styled.

each space was carefully curated. mind you, this house has over five floors, and each floor felt like a massive flat. there was a lot of space to fill, but i appreciated that they never seemed concerned with filling all of it.

some areas felt like complete rooms, layered with books, artwork, lighting, and furniture that seemed as though they had found their place over time. other areas were intentionally left open, allowing a single piece of furniture, artwork, or material to stand on its own.

the empty space felt just as considered as the objects themselves. exposed materials had room to breathe, and certain pieces were given enough space to actually command your attention.

that’s something i love about residential interiors. they can tell a story without needing to explain themselves, and sometimes what you choose not to add is just as important as what you do.

04. sketching changes how you see

this visit reminded me why sketching is so important to me.

when i sketch, i stop looking at “rooms” and start looking at relationships: proportions, shapes, rhythm, negative space, shadows, and how materials meet. instead of asking whether something is beautiful, i start asking why it feels that way.

i’ve always loved sketching in perspective, and i think it’s one of the most valuable skills i’ve learned. it’s changed the way i look at the world. i find myself noticing perspective points, the space between objects, where shadows fall, and how everything is positioned in relation to everything else

for this study, i chose one of the rooms on the top floor with skylights and turned it into a full sketch and watercolor painting.

this was only my third day teaching myself watercolor. i’ve been watching videos, experimenting with two different palettes, and slowly figuring out how paint can become part of the way i document a space. i’m quite proud of how this piece turned out, especially knowing how new the medium still is to me.

i’ve always wanted to bring more colour into my work. now i’m curious to keep experimenting, whether that’s watercolor, coloured pencils, or another medium entirely.

maybe that’s part of carrying a sketchbook too. it gives me a place to observe, but also a place to keep trying new things.

sketchbook notes

• notice furniture curves soften hard architectural lines.

• layer materials before adding colour.

• draw the silhouette before the details.

• texture creates warmth without adding clutter.

• look at transitions between materials, not just the materials themselves.

• skill of balance without overcrowding.

designer’s reflection

one of my favourite parts of moving to europe has been discovering spaces like this.

my time in paris is limited before i move on to my final destination, so i’ve started keeping a list of places i want to experience while i’m here. not necessarily a list of places to check off, but places where i can slow down, sketch, and collect observations.

every museum, gallery, café, and interior has become another page in my sketchbook. a chance to notice how materials come together, how a space makes you feel, and what i might carry into my own creative work.

boon_room reminded me that good design isn’t about filling a room with beautiful things. it’s about making intentional decisions that work together, while knowing when to leave room for things to breathe.

i came for the interiors, but left thinking about so much more: how my own taste is evolving, how sketching is changing the way i see, and how much there is to learn simply by paying closer attention.

maybe that’s what i want these place studies to become. a way of collecting not just beautiful places, but the things they teach me along the way.

the best spaces don’t ask for your attention—they reward it when you slow down enough to notice.

thank you for reading the first of this series. i’ve already visited quite a few more places that i can’t wait to share, so there are plenty more observations, sketches, and stories to come.

see you in the next note,

janice