Big Ideas in a Tiny Parisian Studio
With a practical layout, this custom-built 15-square-metre studio is located in Paris’ trendy 9th arrondissement
The site’s owner bought this apartment as a rental investment property. Perched on the top floor of a 19th century building, this former maid’s room has been refurbished from top to bottom, thanks to the work of Rebecca Benichou, founder of Batiik Studio.
The challenge? Successfully creating a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a bedroom in a 15-square-metre space. The result is a bright, modern setting, showcasing both functionality and modularity.
The challenge? Successfully creating a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and a bedroom in a 15-square-metre space. The result is a bright, modern setting, showcasing both functionality and modularity.
Originally the apartment consisted of an entrance defined by its walls. Occupants would then enter the living room, with the kitchen and bathroom to their left.
The owner gave the designer free reign to reconfigure and maximise the space, which had a very impractical layout relative to its size. The idea was to integrate a kitchen, a bathroom, a dining area, a desk, a sofa, and a bed using materials that were both durable and inexpensive.
The owner gave the designer free reign to reconfigure and maximise the space, which had a very impractical layout relative to its size. The idea was to integrate a kitchen, a bathroom, a dining area, a desk, a sofa, and a bed using materials that were both durable and inexpensive.
All of the custom-built furniture is made of birch plywood, while the floor is in light grey polished concrete.
A clever, customised built-in that features multiple concealed and fold-up functions optimises the small space, while maintaining its minimalist look. For example, beneath the bar-height table and the kitchen platform is a pull-out sofa and bed. This flexible design allows the occupant to quickly transform the apartment according to her immediate needs.
A clever, customised built-in that features multiple concealed and fold-up functions optimises the small space, while maintaining its minimalist look. For example, beneath the bar-height table and the kitchen platform is a pull-out sofa and bed. This flexible design allows the occupant to quickly transform the apartment according to her immediate needs.
The kitchen, which has been relocated from its original position, is now elevated on a platform concealing the pull-out sofa bed. With the bar-height table, it’s also a space to entertain friends while whipping up a simple dinner.
Voxtorp kitchen, chairs and stools: Ikea
Voxtorp kitchen, chairs and stools: Ikea
Once unfolded, the kitchen benchtop becomes a larger table that can accommodate four to six people. Its legs are designed as a timber screen partially concealing the kitchen, and doubling as back support for the sofa (or a bedhead for the bed).
This studio also includes clever storage spaces in several areas. A series of cabinets and open shelves (that can also be used as bedside tables) are built under the sloped ceiling, and a chest is hidden under the kitchen and radiator platforms. It provides space to store the stools in order to have more circulation space outside of meal times.
At the entrance area, a cabinet built flush to the wall remains discreet, while allowing for the storage of a full wardrobe.
This studio also includes clever storage spaces in several areas. A series of cabinets and open shelves (that can also be used as bedside tables) are built under the sloped ceiling, and a chest is hidden under the kitchen and radiator platforms. It provides space to store the stools in order to have more circulation space outside of meal times.
At the entrance area, a cabinet built flush to the wall remains discreet, while allowing for the storage of a full wardrobe.
The greatest difficulties of this renovation came from the sloping ceiling of the maid’s room. All of the custom-made furniture thus had to be adapted on-site. “In addition, given the area of the room, there could never be more than one person working on-site,” Benichou says.
Set under the platform, the bed serves as a sofa when taken half-out, and is decorated with colourful cushions in geometric patterns. When fully slid under the platform, it disappears to free up the entire space, allowing for the creation of a full dining space.
Suspension: Leroy Merlin
Set under the platform, the bed serves as a sofa when taken half-out, and is decorated with colourful cushions in geometric patterns. When fully slid under the platform, it disappears to free up the entire space, allowing for the creation of a full dining space.
Suspension: Leroy Merlin
“We decided to move the entrance and reconfigure the bathroom throughout the length of the left side,” Benichou says. “Nonetheless, it is as small as possible in order to maximise the area of the living room.”
This new layout has allowed for the creation of a study nook, which benefits from natural light through the installation of a skylight.
This new layout has allowed for the creation of a study nook, which benefits from natural light through the installation of a skylight.
A modern and minimalist bathroom is adorned with a dark blue coat of paint, echoing the coffee table which is painted in the same colour. The coffee table on wheels was custom-made, like all of the apartment’s equipment. It also serves as a chest to store doonas, cushions and other objects.
Covering an area of two square metres, this space accommodates all the necessities: a vertical storage space, a toilet on the right, and a rectangular sink and shower on the left.
Covering an area of two square metres, this space accommodates all the necessities: a vertical storage space, a toilet on the right, and a rectangular sink and shower on the left.
The result: a bright studio in which every square centimetre has been put to good use.
Sink: Castorama
TELL US
What do you love about this tiny Paris studio? Tell us in the Comments below.
Sink: Castorama
TELL US
What do you love about this tiny Paris studio? Tell us in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A tenant in her 30s
Location: Rue Saint-Lazare, in Paris’ 9th district
Size: 15 square metres (on a 22 square metre piece of land)
Project cost: €33,000 (AU$48,600)
Interior Architect: Batiik Studio
Photos by Bertrand Fompeyrine
The owner of this clever little home invested in the 9th arrondissement, a trendy neighbourhood filled with wonderful restaurants and shops. With its great location, it is also close to the Saint-Lazare train station.
During the renovation of this old dilapidated attic room – carried out from December 2015 to February 2016 – everything was refurbished: floors, paint, electrical work, plumbing, roof insulation, even the Velux skylights.