Houzz Tour: A Tiny Parisian Studio Reveals Clever Space-Saving Tricks
An architect with a passion for small spaces reinvents a student's home with multipurpose furniture and great imagination
Former cinema decorator and interior design graduate Géraldine Laferté now pursues a career in renovating small spaces and breathing new life into them. When the future owner of this Parisian studio offered Géraldine to work on this project, this ‘small space enthusiast’ couldn’t say no to her… which worked out great for both of them! ‘She asked me to come by during the buying process. While it was in a dire state, we did see the potential of the location and of the main interior space, which boasted a very decent size,’ says Géraldine. Fascinated by modular, retractable and multipurpose furniture, the architect created a home with optimum space, plenty of light and pretty decorations.
‘I pictured this dining area as the cabin of a boat. You’ve got very little room to have a meal, but you don’t want to be picnicking off the edge of a table,’ explains the architect. Therefore, she opted for a different dining table… without the oversized hassle. Made of solid oak, placed on hinges and secured by a latch, it folds out to cater for up to five people to eat. Retracted, it blends in perfectly with the surrounding decor. The matching materials bring unity and harmony to this area.
Discover more examples of space-maximising furniture
Discover more examples of space-maximising furniture
Although located on the ground floor, this pretty Parisian studio is full of light. Géraldine explains why: ‘The window is far from small, and although it looks out upon a courtyard, the buildings opposite are quite low.’ To make the most of the outside light, the architect decided to use cabinets covered with glossy white lacquer to reflect as much light as possible.
For the kitchen, she opted for classic cabinets with an oak worktop and door handles.
Kitchen cabinets, Ikea.
For the kitchen, she opted for classic cabinets with an oak worktop and door handles.
Kitchen cabinets, Ikea.
In the other side of the studio, a sofa made of gypsum blocks makes up the sitting area. Thanks to her quest for maximum storage and multipurpose elements, Géraldine was able to include a retractable desk, necessary in a student flat.
Next to the sofa, the architect added a lot of storage. ‘I really had to turn everything inside-out to fit all the required and desired elements,’ she says. ‘I finally succeeded in having my design occupy the full length of the wall.’ And with its 16 inch depth, these cabinets are perfect for storing all kinds of belongings. On the bottom, a cupboard with sliding doors holds the crockery. Above it, the desk folds out just as the dining table does. And just next to this, a long narrow door hides the ladder used to reach the bed.
Explore 8 multitasking studio spaces
Explore 8 multitasking studio spaces
The sofa has lots of clever features. Its modular shape allows for the black-lacquered coffee table to fit right under it, just as the two white-lacquered seats fit right under the table. The result is a cosy, yet retractable, sitting area. Once closed, the desk disappears in the surrounding decor, matching perfectly with the other solid oak elements.
For the sitting/sleeping area, Géraldine felt ‘it was a pity to take the conventional route and use a sofa bed,’ which she saw as too student-like. She then came up with the idea of a mezzanine, but had to drop it because ‘the ceiling was too low and it was impossible to build a platform and place the bed under it. We were left with the option of a fold-out bed. My contractor did his research and found the right mechanism in Germany. Because of the weight while climbing up or down, the design of the bed was a nightmare.’ In the end, Géraldine opted for a cylinder joint system ‘with the addition of brakes to soften the descent and a strap to bring the bed down.’
The solid oak storage units next to the bed offer space to put away duvets and pillows, which helps the homeowner maintain order in the studio. A large horizontal unit was created to serve as a headboard. Just above it, the architect designed elegant boxes with integrated spotlights, perfect to store books and trinkets.
All water lines arrive here, hence the choice of the architect to place both the kitchen and the bathroom next to each other. Featuring a long window to benefit from the light of the kitchen, the bathroom door is at the top of a few steps, covered in waxed concrete, echoing the kitchen splashback. The overall ensemble is particularly harmonious.
Géraldine explains: ‘I raised the bathroom 32 inches to make extra storage space available for the water heater and the washing machine.’
Géraldine explains: ‘I raised the bathroom 32 inches to make extra storage space available for the water heater and the washing machine.’
In order to maximise this charming Parisian studio, Géraldine really wanted to include as much storage as possible ‘to avoid the sense of confinement that comes with a very visual interior mess.’ According to the architect, ‘the initial layout of the apartment was pretty straightforward. There was a large living area and a recess where all the water lines were placed. It was easy to figure out that this would be where the bathroom and kitchen would fit in to free up as much space as possible for the main area.’
Here is a view of the apartment, which was dilapidated and uninhabitable before the renovation.
TELL US…
What do you think of this tiny Parisian studio? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this tiny Parisian studio? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A student
Size 194 square feet
Location 18th district of Paris
Photos Stéphane Déroussent
Optimum use of space is a priority in a 194 sq ft studio. This was therefore the task assigned to Géraldine Laferté in this small apartment in the 18th district of Paris. In the dining area, for example, she opted for modular furniture: ‘The bench is composed of three elements: the middle section is mounted on wheels and can be used as extra seating. Also, it allows for two people to sit face-to-face, against the wall.’ Finally, to define this area, Géraldine decided to use floral wallpaper on the back wall. This offers depth and creates a cosy area.
Wallpaper, Miss Print.