Before & After
Before & After: A 9-Square-Metre Studio & Not One Right Angle
A French architect came to the rescue – twice! – in this tricky renovation of a tiny Parisian apartment
The owners of this apartment bought it for their daughter, who was about to start studying at a business school in the Saint-Bruno district of Grenoble, France. Their plan was to let her use it for her time at university, and then rent it out once she graduated. The studio was in poor condition and needed a head-to-toe renovation.
Sophie Graves of HomebOxcreation, the interior designer who took on the project, recalls, “The family first called a contractor [builder] for an estimate. He then called me one day to say that he had to put together a quote for a very small nine-square-metre space and that for the first time in his life he really didn’t know what to say. As he knows my penchant for developing small spaces, he asked me to contact the owner.”
Sophie Graves of HomebOxcreation, the interior designer who took on the project, recalls, “The family first called a contractor [builder] for an estimate. He then called me one day to say that he had to put together a quote for a very small nine-square-metre space and that for the first time in his life he really didn’t know what to say. As he knows my penchant for developing small spaces, he asked me to contact the owner.”
Before. The small studio is located on the first floor of an old three-story building, above a bakery and facing the courtyard. The block is divided into dozens of rooms like this one. These nine square metres were in very poor condition, and the common areas were equally unsightly. “There was water trickling through the flat,” says Graves.
The studio has only one window, so there is little natural light. Most peculiarly, there is not a single right angle in the space. From the front door, the space narrows towards the window. On the other side, the bathroom is crooked because the building’s sewerage drainage duct runs through one of its corners.
Thinking of renovating your own apartment or house? Find a local interior designer on Houzz to help you maximise your space
Thinking of renovating your own apartment or house? Find a local interior designer on Houzz to help you maximise your space
After. With her proposal, Graves was able to convince the owners that a more original and optimised solution for this space would be in their best interests.
A render of the new sleeping platform
A render of the new layout for the studio apartment
In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises, Graves made it clear that demolition was a prerequisite. Eventually, the owner decided to instead get an acquaintance to manage the work, thinking that would save time and money. “She called me back five months later in total distress. She had already exceeded the three-month deadline and had spent much more than expected. She finally decided to hand over all the finishing and carpentry work so that the project could get [finished],” says Graves.
In order to avoid any unpleasant surprises, Graves made it clear that demolition was a prerequisite. Eventually, the owner decided to instead get an acquaintance to manage the work, thinking that would save time and money. “She called me back five months later in total distress. She had already exceeded the three-month deadline and had spent much more than expected. She finally decided to hand over all the finishing and carpentry work so that the project could get [finished],” says Graves.
Before. The interior designer had been right to want to get rid of the existing finishes. Under the linoleum flooring lay decomposing timber floorboards on rotten joists. These had to be replaced and a light screed was poured on top so as not to put too much weight on the structure of the building.
Layers and layers of old wallpaper, saturated with humidity and mould, were found under the wall finish. The walls had to be treated and covered with a damp-proofing agent from Placo (pictured here).
Graves had to install a dropped ceiling to run electrical wiring to the bathroom and to house the utility meter. She also had double-flow controlled mechanical ventilation – which uses the heat from the internal air, which is pumped outside to warm the fresh air that is pulled inside – installed to address the humidity issues in the small space.
Layers and layers of old wallpaper, saturated with humidity and mould, were found under the wall finish. The walls had to be treated and covered with a damp-proofing agent from Placo (pictured here).
Graves had to install a dropped ceiling to run electrical wiring to the bathroom and to house the utility meter. She also had double-flow controlled mechanical ventilation – which uses the heat from the internal air, which is pumped outside to warm the fresh air that is pulled inside – installed to address the humidity issues in the small space.
After. Graves and her carpenter created a clever layout, which has added to the value of the flat. “I put the bed by the window to redraw the space orthogonally and make it easier to forget the unpleasant geometry. My idea was to design a ‘chill out’ zone based on the habits of young people, who like to live lying down and no longer necessarily work at their desks,” says the designer.
Behind the formwork of the electrictricity meter, Graves transformed an existing niche into a bookshelf, fitted with power points and connections for the internet router and a video projector.
Behind the formwork of the electrictricity meter, Graves transformed an existing niche into a bookshelf, fitted with power points and connections for the internet router and a video projector.
A render of the kitchenette and the sleeping platform
The bed rests on a two-metre-long platform made of melamine chipboard. It is 45 centimetres high and tailored to the uneven dimensions of this part of the room: the part near the window is 160 centimetres wide, while the other end is 200 centimetres wide. The mattress is 120 centimetres wide. “We had to create a second orthogonal structure inside to accommodate two 140-centimetre-wide, 30-centimetre -high drawers, which can be pulled out fully. One is for clothes and the other is for bags,” says Graves.
The bed rests on a two-metre-long platform made of melamine chipboard. It is 45 centimetres high and tailored to the uneven dimensions of this part of the room: the part near the window is 160 centimetres wide, while the other end is 200 centimetres wide. The mattress is 120 centimetres wide. “We had to create a second orthogonal structure inside to accommodate two 140-centimetre-wide, 30-centimetre -high drawers, which can be pulled out fully. One is for clothes and the other is for bags,” says Graves.
The bed base is perforated to allow the mattress to breathe, and the bedding is firm enough to double as an extra-large bench seat. On the right side, the ledge serves as a bedside table or as a backrest when lined with cushions. On its other side, three niches store blankets, stationery and a bar.
Shelves above maximise the space. The old heater was replaced with more efficient and economical radiant heating, covered with perforated wooden battens to make it possible to rest in the lounge area without getting burned.
Graves chose innovative flooring: “a material composed of 70 percent PEFC certified wood, without plasticisers, PVC or toxic substances. We chose it for its textured design, which is a great imitation of wood. It is damp-resistant and has acoustic benefits”.
Shelves above maximise the space. The old heater was replaced with more efficient and economical radiant heating, covered with perforated wooden battens to make it possible to rest in the lounge area without getting burned.
Graves chose innovative flooring: “a material composed of 70 percent PEFC certified wood, without plasticisers, PVC or toxic substances. We chose it for its textured design, which is a great imitation of wood. It is damp-resistant and has acoustic benefits”.
Before. The cupboard at the entrance, opposite the kitchenette, previously stored clothes. Before Graves redesigned the studio apartment, the bathroom door opened right against it.
After. The bathroom door was replaced with a pocket door that slides behind the wardrobe, which was rearranged to optimise the layout.
Pictured here are the finishes added by the carpenter to the chipboard. These panels, which are less expensive than MDF, had to be applied to the edges, which could not remain untreated. The edging offers a stylish trim that chimes with the timber floorboards.
Before. The original kitchen was dated with its hot plates, old refrigerator and limited storage space.
A render of the kitchenette from the sleeping area, with the bathroom in the background
Initially, the interior designer had planned to put a window in the partition between the kitchen and bathroom, as in this early render. However, that idea was scrapped as the partition had to be thickened to allow for the double-flow CMV (controlled mechanical ventilation) ducts.
Initially, the interior designer had planned to put a window in the partition between the kitchen and bathroom, as in this early render. However, that idea was scrapped as the partition had to be thickened to allow for the double-flow CMV (controlled mechanical ventilation) ducts.
After. Two 60-centimetre-wide modules now house a stainless steel sink and a domino induction cooktop. The melamine countertop has been reduced to 55 centimetres in depth, down from the original 63 centimetres, thanks to the round basin, which is only 45 centimetres in diameter. Overhead cabinets offer more storage and integrate an extractor range hood and a niche for the microwave oven. On the right, the foldable table offers space for up to four diners: “two on the bench, one at the end and another in the kitchen,” says Graves.
Browse more small kitchens that are big on style
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Before. In the original bathroom, the 70 x 70-centimetre shower was on the left, behind the wardrobe. The basin was in the centre with a free-standing toilet on the right.
After opening up the room and removing the wall finish, the designer found that an existing, covered-up window could be used to create a niche.
On the right we can see the building’s waste-water duct. Graves placed the motor housing of the double-flow CMV in a dropped ceiling at the level of the duct outlet.
On the right we can see the building’s waste-water duct. Graves placed the motor housing of the double-flow CMV in a dropped ceiling at the level of the duct outlet.
After. Facing the entrance to the small room, the flared plated mirror works to visually enlarge the space, by acting like a vanishing point. The interior designer took advantage of a window she found to frame the basin in an artistic way. On the left an extra-flat water heater hangs over a suspended toilet. The water meter sits between the two.
The space on the other side of the basin was irregular because of the drainage pipes. By pushing the shower towards the drainage boxing, the designer managed to avoid using boxing to make the angle more regular, which would have taken away 19 centimetres of depth. “We also accentuated the contrast with a black floor, which rises in a band behind the shower column, because the white alone does not define the space properly. The smaller the room, the more contrast is needed,” says Graves.
A render of the bathroom
Although the renovation was not smooth sailing, the young student was able to move in just in time for the start of her studies.
Although the renovation was not smooth sailing, the young student was able to move in just in time for the start of her studies.
Project plan view. Clockwise from top left: shower; kitchenette and folding table; storage hatches, bed and drawers; front door; wardrobe; toilet and sink
Your turn
Which space-saving elements in this studio do you like most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Craving more clever interior transformations? You’ll love this Before & After: An Ocean-Toned Island That Makes a Kitchen Sing
Your turn
Which space-saving elements in this studio do you like most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Craving more clever interior transformations? You’ll love this Before & After: An Ocean-Toned Island That Makes a Kitchen Sing
Flat at a Glance
Who lives here: A young student
Location: On the courtyard side of an old building, on the first floor, in Grenoble, in the south-east of France
Size: Nine square metres
Date completed: September 2019
Duration of work: Six months
Interior Designer: Sophie Graves and Emmanuelle Doncarli of HomebOxcreation
The interior designer got to know the mother’s wishes on her first visit. “The family only wanted to redo the bathroom and kitchenette and add a splash of paint,” says Graves. “They wanted a retractable ceiling bed, but I thought that in this unusual space it would have produced an overwhelming feeling and resulted in a loss of space.”