BEAUTY AT HOME WITH

When Ashley Coiffard, owner of the beloved Brooklyn bakery L’Appartement 4F invites you into her home, you immediately feel the magic that comes from her generosity and deep love of hosting. We recently had the pleasure of co-hosting our New York event inside her inviting, French-inspired apartment located in the charming neighbourhood of Brooklyn Heights, where she lives with her husband, Gautier, and their pup, Chip. For Ashley, home is a sanctuary where family heirlooms tell stories and the dining table isn’t just for meals, but a space for dreaming. Whether she's hosting intimate dinner parties or sharing French pastries fresh from the oven, Ashley’s home is a living reflection of her creativity.

To me, the beauty of home is creating a sanctuary of rest and peace that reflects all of our treasures and travels. It’s the one place that is uniquely ours. The beauty comes from creating memories with my loved ones, surrounded by family heirlooms. Gautier and I are very intentional with what we bring into our home, and this starts with energy.

I have the same Persian rug that was in my mother’s childhood bedroom while she was growing up in Iran. The rug traveled with her to Germany, and then to America, where she eventually settled. It has been with me in every apartment and is rich in both color and history.

Our dining room table is where I feel most inspired. It's where Gautier and I have exciting conversations during our daily meals, or where intimate dinner parties take place with our friends. I love creating tablescapes and setting the table with linens. We have weekly manager meetings here and often taste new recipes. It's where we started our business, taking photos of Gautier's baked creations.

I moved to Brooklyn Heights, home to our first bakery location, because this neighborhood feels so magical to me. Our neighborhood is full of history and charm, and home to the loveliest architecture. More importantly, it is home to the community that welcomed our passion project and believed in us. We opened a brick-and-mortar with blind faith and unwavering support from this community. There is no place like it, and I hope to call this place home for the rest of our lives.

Our living room and bedroom rival each other for my favorite space in our home. Our living room has high ceilings, ornate crown moulding, and is where we gather to watch films almost every night. I love to unwind with a book, a cup of tea, and jazz on our record player. It’s home to art that has been gifted to us and my favorite lamp, commissioned by my favorite artist. Our bedroom has large windows that face the church, and at night, the rose glass from the church shimmers. I love sharing a bed with Gautier and (after some convincing) our dog, Chip.

We created L’Appartement 4F after noticing our friends’ reactions to Gautier’s baked goods. We would host parties in our Cobble Hill apartment and noticed that the food never lasted long. During a long drive in France, I convinced Gautier to start sharing his pastries with the world. Eventually, over a glass of wine, we created a menu and a name. Gautier said we should name it after our home, Apartment 4F, and I suggested we make it French to honor his heritage.

My favorite memory is my 35th birthday party. My dad had recently passed, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to celebrate. With encouragement from my friends, I threw myself a birthday party inspired by Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball – a masked party held in NYC at the Plaza in 1966. Everyone dressed up, wore beautiful masks, and Gautier surprised me with a string quartet surrounded by candles. I was surrounded by my closest friends when I needed them the most.

I grew up watching my mother host and welcome everyone into her home. It might be partly cultural, but Iranian hospitality is deeply rooted in generosity and kindness. I watched her cook and open her home with a “more the merrier” attitude. No one left empty-handed, and I like to think I learned that from her. I want everyone to feel nourished, both mentally and physically. Nothing is too precious; I’ve learned to use the good linens, the nice china, and to light the candles. Nothing is saved for a future day, because life is too short not to romanticize the present.

Pictured left to right: Ashley Coiffard - Owner of L’Appartement 4 and Nicolle Sullicvan - CEO and Founder of CULTIVER.

@lappartement4f | @ashleybernadette