The hectic life of Louise Chen, a DJ and “party instigator” who splits her time between Paris and London , undoubtedly requires a quiet port that she can call home. For several years, the creative has owned an apartment in the French capital’s 9th arrondissement—a 753-square-foot space that, since becoming a new mother, Chen wanted to make more family-friendly and functional. She tapped Cyrus Ardalan to reimagine the space’s unusual layout—and when the Paris–based architect first saw it, the nooks and crannies reminded him of a boat’s design. From there, a renovation inspired by hulls, portholes, and other nifty ship mechanics unfolded, full speed ahead. Anchored in Paris “The living room was already bathed in light,” says Ardalan of the main space, which boasts large windows overlooking the rooftops of Paris. The rest of the apartment, not so much—the hallway, which provides access to the other bedrooms and bathrooms, was galley-like and shadowed.…