The apartment is on the first (French) floor of a classically Parisian five-story structure that could easily appear on a poster featuring the classic architecture of the Ile St.-Louis. The building is entered through a massive wooden door on the street that opens into a cobblestone courtyard, where one flight of steps leads to the apartment.

Immediately apparent upon entering the studio are its fine woodwork, gleaming floors and quality antiques. Light streams in through two huge floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the placid and always picturesque rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile. (When closed the double-paned soundproof glass will eliminate virtually any street noise at night.) The ceilings are quite high, and the white walls contrast pleasingly with the dark wood of the exposed ceiling beams and floor-to-ceiling armoires that frame the two windows on either side.

The apartment is decorated in a traditional style that uses antique furniture pieces (including two striking Louis XV armchairs upholstered in an off-white damask), curtains in rich hues of gold, burgundy and ochre, and an oriental carpet that goes wonderfully with the Versailles parquet floor. The dining area has a round wooden antique table suitable for four, over which there is a glass chandelier. Other pieces include a coffee table and a sofa that converts to a double bed, bringing the sleeping capacity of the studio to four. A few well-chosen paintings and a gilded mirror complete the warm tones that gives this apartment its ambiance of warmth and stylish comfort.

The large living-dining room area is separated from the bedroom space by a room divider depicting scenes from 17th-century France. In this cozy space are a large double bed in an antique wood frame, and two side tables with lamps.

The front and rear parts of the apartment are separated by a long and graceful hallway with two chairs and a side table. As the front portion of the apartment reflects the charms of old Paris, the rear is devoted to modern comfort and convenience.

Here one finds the brand-new kitchen, which is well equipped and unusually commodious by Parisian standards - in fact, more like the typical kitchen one would find in a country home than in a Paris apartment. The spacious counters are done in a red-and-white tile pattern. There is generous cabinet space, and a reasonable array of basic cooking utensils. Appliances include a dishwasher, range-top four-burner stove, wall oven, refrigerator, microwave oven, coffeemaker and toaster.

The bathroom, separated from the kitchen by an opaque sliding glass door with a pretty sand-blasted design, is fully modern and has a good-sized tub with hand-held shower, and a hairdryer. Also in the bathroom is a combination washing machine and dryer.

Other features include cable TV (with CNN), a stereo system and an intercom system for communicating with the front gate.

The Ile Saint-Louis, known by tourists as a haven of peace and calm from the busy Saint-Germain-des-Près and Marais areas, is a place inhabited by real Parisians, and as such has an abundance of shops for the basic necessities of everyday living - small grocery stores, wine shops, florists, pharmacies, bakeries, etc. The Ile also has a post office and two or three banks with ATM machines. Of course the Ile is rich in historical sites, including the church designed by 17th-century architect Le Vau, also on the rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile and only a stone's throw from the apartment.