Before & After: Design Tricks & Secret Storage in a French Studio
Limited floor space wasn't the only challenge in this apartment: see the designer's clever solution for awkward angles
When the owner of this studio apartment decided to buy her first home, she fell for this 20-square-metre flat in France with an open-plan kitchen. Although it’s a small space, it’s in a pretty building ideally situated in the centre of Lamorlaye, just north of Paris.
The studio needed a complete overhaul. The owner realised that the living room’s unusual angles would pose complications and require a qualified expert. She found interior designer and decorator Patricia Coignard of Atmosphères Design on Houzz, and right from the first meeting, Coignard took on both the structural challenges and the owner’s wish to turn her first home into a cosy and trendy nest.
The studio needed a complete overhaul. The owner realised that the living room’s unusual angles would pose complications and require a qualified expert. She found interior designer and decorator Patricia Coignard of Atmosphères Design on Houzz, and right from the first meeting, Coignard took on both the structural challenges and the owner’s wish to turn her first home into a cosy and trendy nest.
Despite this difficult geometry, the homeowner asked Coignard to find a tailor-made solution that would fit a living space, double bed and storage space into the small studio.
She also wanted to revamp the original kitchen. And the result had to be very ‘her’, a place where she and her beloved cat could feel at home.
She also wanted to revamp the original kitchen. And the result had to be very ‘her’, a place where she and her beloved cat could feel at home.
Before. From the entrance of the apartment, the owner wanted to set the stage for “a cocooning, bright, Zen atmosphere with Scandinavian inspiration,” says Coignard. Together, the two decided on a soft look in white and wood.
Ready to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz for creative solutions to small spaces and awkward layouts
Ready to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz for creative solutions to small spaces and awkward layouts
After. Coignard turned to a clever colour trick to add character to the entrance and create a sense of spaciousness and wellbeing. “I went for a trompe-l’oeil technique,” she says of the practice of utilising three-dimensional optical illusions.
“Using a very dark colour in the entrance hall made the living room much brighter, and therefore seemingly larger by comparison. Optical effects are very effective for resizing rooms,” says Coignard.
“Using a very dark colour in the entrance hall made the living room much brighter, and therefore seemingly larger by comparison. Optical effects are very effective for resizing rooms,” says Coignard.
The designer also thought about durability when planning the entrance and chose timber-imitation porcelain stoneware flooring. It matches the oak floor in the living room, which was sanded to lighten its tone, then treated with a matt finish.
The original bathroom door was replaced with a glass door to bring in natural light. It also emphasises the graphic feel of the overall interior by echoing its geometric timber framework.
Coignard inserted a cat flap into the door of the opposite cupboard. “This is how we solved the problem of the cat litter, which was a major issue. This cat is the owner’s inseparable companion, and I saw right away that its wellbeing was also part of the requirements,” says Coignard. The designer notes that it’s her job to meet all her customers’ needs, even when they are not explicitly stated.
The original bathroom door was replaced with a glass door to bring in natural light. It also emphasises the graphic feel of the overall interior by echoing its geometric timber framework.
Coignard inserted a cat flap into the door of the opposite cupboard. “This is how we solved the problem of the cat litter, which was a major issue. This cat is the owner’s inseparable companion, and I saw right away that its wellbeing was also part of the requirements,” says Coignard. The designer notes that it’s her job to meet all her customers’ needs, even when they are not explicitly stated.
Before. In the living room, the wall on the left of this image was broken up by two built-in pillars.
“We had a column that stuck out 60 centimetres, and there was also a service duct by the window,” says Coignard.
After. Coignard took this as an opportunity to put lots of storage into a studio that originally had almost none. “The owner was alarmed when I suggested covering this entire section of wall with a floor-to-ceiling, full-width unit. She thought it would make the space feel cramped, but she trusted me,” says Coignard.
The designer chose joinery that is both discreet and geometric, which also hides the columns. The television takes centre stage in an oak niche, framed at the top and bottom by cupboards that store books, the internet router, and other living-room staples.
On the sides are two closets with hanging rods and drawers. On the right, open oak niches liven up the composition.
The designer chose joinery that is both discreet and geometric, which also hides the columns. The television takes centre stage in an oak niche, framed at the top and bottom by cupboards that store books, the internet router, and other living-room staples.
On the sides are two closets with hanging rods and drawers. On the right, open oak niches liven up the composition.
The owner wanted to be able to watch television from her living room, bed or kitchen, so Coignard came up with a trick. “The screen is mounted on an arm that allows you to move the TV out from its niche, bring it closer and adjust it,” she says.
Before. Opposite the wall of joinery was the studio’s pain point: a very pronounced recess, a “prominent and oppressive angle, so unusual that it drew all attention, making the room seem tiny,” says Coignard.
After. “That was the real challenge in this project, because it had to be ‘erased’ in the process of integrating various functions into this cramped space,” says Coignard.
The owner asked her to create a cosy sitting area with lots of storage, a comfortable double bed that could magically disappear, and where she could hang out with friends.
The owner asked her to create a cosy sitting area with lots of storage, a comfortable double bed that could magically disappear, and where she could hang out with friends.
It was clear that they would need a tailor-made solution to accommodate both the geometry of the space and the owner’s requests. “We started with a 60-centimetre-tall wooden platform, with a very comfortable double bed that slides underneath. The platform can be accessed by three 20-centimetre-tall steps. The living-room space is structured by two partitions,” she says.
The slatted base and its high-end mattress have been treated like a drawer. “Equipped with wheels, the system slides on ball-bearing rails positioned on the sides of the structure. I had two requirements: that the bed should pull out easily, and that it could be stored again with all of the sheets and pillows still on it, to make it easy,” says Coignard.
As shown here, the bed can be pulled out without moving anything in the living area. This is why the platform was built to match the geometry of the walls.
Coignard didn’t have to sacrifice a single square centimetre for storage space. “I start from the principle that a flat is for living in, and not just for looking beautiful in photos. You should never sacrifice practicality for aesthetics. To the right of the bed, I created a second drawer for the woman’s luggage.”
The steps at the foot of the platform hide more storage still.
Dividing screens smoothly delineate the living space without reducing the natural light.
Dividing screens smoothly delineate the living space without reducing the natural light.
The owner stores her shoes in the platform steps.
Before. Here is a wide shot of the living room during the renovation.
After. The owner wanted to erase the angle visually, which can’t be done with the furniture arrangement alone. Once again, the trompe-l’oeil technique came to the rescue. Coignard visually resized the inside angle with dark paint: highlighting the left side in white and painting the angle on the right in a darker shade helps it recede from view.
This trick is well-known among interior designers, but you need to know how to use it: “a triangle that stands out too much painted on the wall can have the opposite effect,” says Coignard.
This trick is well-known among interior designers, but you need to know how to use it: “a triangle that stands out too much painted on the wall can have the opposite effect,” says Coignard.
On top of all that, there was also decor and furniture to select. “My client picked it based on my recommendations: a chic 150-centimetre-wide love seat, adjustable lights, round objects to compensate for the clean lines of the platform, a cosy carpet and a comfortable, fancy ‘kennel’ for her cat,” says Coignard.
Before. The kitchen was in fairly good condition. The owner was keen to limit the renovation costs, but still wanted to give the cooking space a new look and more character.
After. Coignard added four game-changing features: new floors, new lighting, an improved peninsula bench-table and a well-thought-out wall unit that serves as a link between the kitchen, the living room and the entrance.
The white kitchen cupboards were taken down temporarily to paint the walls blue. The owner and designer chose a shade lighter than the one used in the entrance hall. Services in the rear-left corner disappeared behind a box painted the same colour as the rest of the wall. A dropped ceiling and new tiles with a geometric design create a sharp visual division between the kitchen and the rest of the room. LED downlights and black pendants light up the space.
The original peninsula was pretty basic. “We enlarged it and redesigned it with an oak counter, which has turned it into a comfortable table for lunch. The waterfall counter also clearly sets out the entrance to the kitchen,” says Coignard of the versatile peninsula bench.
The original peninsula was pretty basic. “We enlarged it and redesigned it with an oak counter, which has turned it into a comfortable table for lunch. The waterfall counter also clearly sets out the entrance to the kitchen,” says Coignard of the versatile peninsula bench.
Before. In the original kitchen, the oven column and refrigerator were against the wall on the right.
After. Coignard wanted to hide functional parts of the kitchen from the living room as much as visually possible. The bench on the left hides the sink and Coignard changed the tap for a more upmarket model.
Coignard used another trick to hide the fridge and oven, and to match the waterfall peninsula bench. “I designed, and then had made-to-measure, an end unit in oak and white laminate to mark the entrance to the kitchen and create a transition between it and the living-room decor. To hint at the former, we painted the backs of the niches the same blue as the kitchen. This unit gives the project a real through line,” she says.
To make the most of a space like this, the designer had to conduct an in-depth analysis and order custom furniture. This raised the total price, though thanks to the quality materials and finishes the owner should be able to enjoy her cosy nest for many years to come.
Your turn
Which features impress you the most in this small studio apartment? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
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Your turn
Which features impress you the most in this small studio apartment? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Love before-and-after makeovers? Don’t miss the stunning transformation in this Before & After: Is this the Dreamiest Ensuite Makeover Ever?
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young woman
Location: Lamorlaye in the south of the Oise district, France
Year renovated: 2018
Size: 20 square metres
Interior designer: Patricia Coignard of Atmosphères Design
Coignard spotted the owner’s main concern right away on her first visit. “When I entered the living area, a sharp angle caught my eye,” she says. “It visually reduced the size of the room and caused a lot of grief.”