Before & After: A 258 Sq-Ft Studio Transforms Into a Comfy Flat
This designer had to get creative to fit a separate bedroom into this small space. See the tricks she used
When this 19-year-old moved to Paris from elsewhere in France, her parents wanted to give her the best possible surroundings and renovated a studio they own in the centre of the capital. The space, which had been rented out, hadn’t been renovated for 25 years, and the outdated apartment needed a complete revamp.
The owners contacted several interior designers with an ambitious brief: They wanted to fit all the conveniences of a much larger home into these 258 square feet (24 square metres), including a bedroom worthy of the name, a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry area, an office, a comfortable bathroom and all the storage space necessary to keep the place tidy. They fell for Aurore Pannier’s design proposal as much for its space optimisation tricks as for its fresh country feel.
The owners contacted several interior designers with an ambitious brief: They wanted to fit all the conveniences of a much larger home into these 258 square feet (24 square metres), including a bedroom worthy of the name, a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry area, an office, a comfortable bathroom and all the storage space necessary to keep the place tidy. They fell for Aurore Pannier’s design proposal as much for its space optimisation tricks as for its fresh country feel.
After
That meant she had to move the kitchen somewhere else. “We were able to entertain the idea of moving it because the plumbing could be relocated to the area in front of the front door,” Pannier says.
Know these things before installing a modular kitchen
That meant she had to move the kitchen somewhere else. “We were able to entertain the idea of moving it because the plumbing could be relocated to the area in front of the front door,” Pannier says.
Know these things before installing a modular kitchen
After
The U-shaped kitchen maximises countertop space. “This kitchen was challenging and the U-shaped layout was the only one that would fit a fridge, washer-dryer, oven, microwave, dishwasher, storage units and a trash can,” Pannier says.
Specifically, the left side of the U is for the refrigerator, and the washer-dryer is in the middle next to a combination dishwasher-oven, which has a dishwasher on the bottom and a traditional oven on top. On the right is a cabinet with a cutlery drawer. The three wall-mounted units contain the microwave, the recirculating range hood and a cabinet.
Here’s how to design an ideal U-shaped kitchen
The U-shaped kitchen maximises countertop space. “This kitchen was challenging and the U-shaped layout was the only one that would fit a fridge, washer-dryer, oven, microwave, dishwasher, storage units and a trash can,” Pannier says.
Specifically, the left side of the U is for the refrigerator, and the washer-dryer is in the middle next to a combination dishwasher-oven, which has a dishwasher on the bottom and a traditional oven on top. On the right is a cabinet with a cutlery drawer. The three wall-mounted units contain the microwave, the recirculating range hood and a cabinet.
Here’s how to design an ideal U-shaped kitchen
There was still a trash can to squeeze in and, challenging herself to find someplace other than the middle of the floor, Pannier came up with an unusual solution. “See the little circle on the right in the countertop? There it is,” she says. “It’s a rubber valve, under which a collar holds a trash bag that makes it possible to conveniently throw away peels and leftovers. The bag is hidden in a space that can be accessed from under the bar counter.”
The under-counter hatch is pictured here, next to the legs of the bar stools.
On the living-room side, the interior designer made the right side of the U-shaped kitchen into an about 57-by-12-inch (145-by-30-centimetre) bar counter.
Pannier was really in tune with the student’s decor wishes. “During my first visit, it came to me in a flash when I saw the windows: Even though the apartment is in the middle of Paris, it felt like I was in a country- or holiday house. This inspired me to use white, ceruse-like tones and the vegetation theme. The young woman loved it,” she says.
Now the kitchen looks like a “bubble of nature” bathed in sun with its green laminate doors and wall-mounted units with glossy white glass fronts. The original terra cotta floor was kept as a valuable vestige of the apartment’s history, but the beams and walls were painted white to brighten up the atmosphere.
On the living-room side, the interior designer made the right side of the U-shaped kitchen into an about 57-by-12-inch (145-by-30-centimetre) bar counter.
Pannier was really in tune with the student’s decor wishes. “During my first visit, it came to me in a flash when I saw the windows: Even though the apartment is in the middle of Paris, it felt like I was in a country- or holiday house. This inspired me to use white, ceruse-like tones and the vegetation theme. The young woman loved it,” she says.
Now the kitchen looks like a “bubble of nature” bathed in sun with its green laminate doors and wall-mounted units with glossy white glass fronts. The original terra cotta floor was kept as a valuable vestige of the apartment’s history, but the beams and walls were painted white to brighten up the atmosphere.
Before
Pannier wanted to replace the small shoe cabinet under the intercom with some useful storage units she designed herself.
Find a designer from the Houzz directory to help you with your next home improvement project
Pannier wanted to replace the small shoe cabinet under the intercom with some useful storage units she designed herself.
Find a designer from the Houzz directory to help you with your next home improvement project
After
They put two large, tall storage units here, one opening towards the front door and the other towards the bathroom door. One part of the closet houses the electricity meter, vacuum cleaner and iron while the about 13½-inch-deep (35-centimetre-deep) closet holds folded clothes.
Check out these smart storage ideas for shoe hoarders
They put two large, tall storage units here, one opening towards the front door and the other towards the bathroom door. One part of the closet houses the electricity meter, vacuum cleaner and iron while the about 13½-inch-deep (35-centimetre-deep) closet holds folded clothes.
Check out these smart storage ideas for shoe hoarders
To make the space look bigger and give the owner a chance to check her outfit, the facades of these units were covered in mirrors. Another goal of the renovation was to “break the linearity of the space and, for fun, make guests feel a little disoriented in the apartment,” Pannier says. The mirrors provide some interesting double framing that visually rearranges the space by creating new sight lines, especially when the doors are open.
After
The partition for the bathroom was moved to accommodate a pocket door. The model they chose was built by Scrigno and requires an about 4½-inch-thick (11 centimetre thick) wall.
The student keeps her computer at a small stationary desk. It was made with a 27½-by-17½-inch (70-by-45-centimetre) black laminate shelf supported with a leg by Tiptoe. This corner is well lit by a wall lamp.
On the left, a custom-made unit in painted MDF provides additional storage and space for decorative items. The lower part serves as a TV stand while the closed niches hold the router and media server, which includes a TV and internet connection.
The partition for the bathroom was moved to accommodate a pocket door. The model they chose was built by Scrigno and requires an about 4½-inch-thick (11 centimetre thick) wall.
The student keeps her computer at a small stationary desk. It was made with a 27½-by-17½-inch (70-by-45-centimetre) black laminate shelf supported with a leg by Tiptoe. This corner is well lit by a wall lamp.
On the left, a custom-made unit in painted MDF provides additional storage and space for decorative items. The lower part serves as a TV stand while the closed niches hold the router and media server, which includes a TV and internet connection.
After
Illuminated by a white wall and pale-grey imitation zellige tiles, the new bathroom looks much more contemporary. Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t show the bathroom’s fancy terrazzo floor. “The young woman wanted something sober and practical and, especially, a shower with niches,” the designer says.
To optimise the space, the extra-flat 80-litre water heater was placed above the toilet. The original one was round and had been mounted in the kitchen: It was an eyesore the clients wanted to get rid of.
Illuminated by a white wall and pale-grey imitation zellige tiles, the new bathroom looks much more contemporary. Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t show the bathroom’s fancy terrazzo floor. “The young woman wanted something sober and practical and, especially, a shower with niches,” the designer says.
To optimise the space, the extra-flat 80-litre water heater was placed above the toilet. The original one was round and had been mounted in the kitchen: It was an eyesore the clients wanted to get rid of.
The 25½-by-39½-inch (70-by-100-centimetre) shower freed up some floor space in the small bathroom, making it comfortable to use. Pannier was even able to add another closet. In order to not lose a single inch and create the niches the student requested, the designer had to dig into the building’s service duct.
After
The bedroom is about 7½ feet (2.3 metres) wide and 6½ feet (2 metres) long. The left side was fitted with an about 19½-by-23½-inch (50-by-60-centimetre) closet that extends with more storage space above the bed and, in this way, forms a frame around it. This frame is enhanced by a mural wallpaper depicting flowers and papyrus plants, which livens up the headboard and offers a beautiful view from the living room.
Placing the second TV was a challenge for the interior designer: “The storage unit (adjacent to the glass partition) forms an about 60-centimetre-wide [23½-inch-wide] wall on the bedroom side, which would have been too narrow to hang a TV and keep it invisible from the living room, because of the glass. I ended up finding an adjustable arm that can keep the TV in portrait mode on that narrow wall and then flip it into landscape mode at the foot of the bed when she wants to watch it.”
The bedroom is about 7½ feet (2.3 metres) wide and 6½ feet (2 metres) long. The left side was fitted with an about 19½-by-23½-inch (50-by-60-centimetre) closet that extends with more storage space above the bed and, in this way, forms a frame around it. This frame is enhanced by a mural wallpaper depicting flowers and papyrus plants, which livens up the headboard and offers a beautiful view from the living room.
Placing the second TV was a challenge for the interior designer: “The storage unit (adjacent to the glass partition) forms an about 60-centimetre-wide [23½-inch-wide] wall on the bedroom side, which would have been too narrow to hang a TV and keep it invisible from the living room, because of the glass. I ended up finding an adjustable arm that can keep the TV in portrait mode on that narrow wall and then flip it into landscape mode at the foot of the bed when she wants to watch it.”
After
The two original windows, with frames reminiscent of those in country houses bring lots of light into the living area.
The latter is furnished with a couch, an armchair and two coffee tables.
The two original windows, with frames reminiscent of those in country houses bring lots of light into the living area.
The latter is furnished with a couch, an armchair and two coffee tables.
“As I am a storage maniac, I proposed adding a built-in storage bench, whose seat I had adorned with a jungle-inspired fabric,” Pannier says. To complete the nature-inspired decor, an elephant ear Alocasia and its vegetal-fibre planter stand alongside a bamboo pendant light, mini-succulents and a cactus-shaped vase.
These plants are suited for Indian homes
These plants are suited for Indian homes
Floor plan, after renovation. Labels clockwise from top left: bedroom, office, bathroom, entrance, kitchen, living room
As for the student, she has taken up residence in her pretty home with complete pride and satisfaction.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Tiny Studio Apartment Makes the Most of Its Space
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
As for the student, she has taken up residence in her pretty home with complete pride and satisfaction.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: A Tiny Studio Apartment Makes the Most of Its Space
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this home? Tell us in the Comments below.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A 19-year-old student
Location: Paris, France
Date finished: May 2018, after four months of work
Size: 24 square meters (about 258 square feet)
Interior designer: Aurore Pannier of Parisdinterieur
Other collaborators: General contractor DF Habitat7
Before
The about 24-square-metre (258-square-foot) apartment is located on the mezzanine floor of an old building in the centre of Paris. The spaces in the studio are regularly shaped, with no load-bearing columns, and it features two areas with large windows, one on each side, both overlooking internal courtyards. Nonetheless, the apartment was not very bright, and the combination of dark beams and terracotta floors made it darker still.
As the student wanted a full-fledged sleeping area, interior designer and decorator Aurore Pannier first focused on the apartment layout, a task she particularly likes because the optimisation of small spaces has been one of her specialties since she started working in this field six years ago. A recess at the back of the studio where the kitchen had stood seemed like the best and most protected place for a mini-bedroom.