Houzz Tour: A Creative Broken-plan Layout Transforms a Small Flat
Before and after photos show how an ingenious layout brings all the functions of a much larger home to this tiny space
In France, more and more people work in Paris during the week, then spend weekends with their families in the provinces. Hotels and friends’ sofas have their limits, and when the situation becomes permanent, it makes more sense to invest in a pied-à-terre. This 280 sq ft (26 sq m) studio in an old building in the dynamic Montorgueil district of the city was designed to be just such a crash pad.
The studio was originally run down, but also bright and quiet. That it overlooks a courtyard was another bonus. So the owner asked the interior designers at Atelier Daaa, whose projects he had seen on Houzz, to optimise it for his lifestyle and give it a makeover. Three months later, the flat looked totally different.
The studio was originally run down, but also bright and quiet. That it overlooks a courtyard was another bonus. So the owner asked the interior designers at Atelier Daaa, whose projects he had seen on Houzz, to optimise it for his lifestyle and give it a makeover. Three months later, the flat looked totally different.
Before Originally, the studio had a closed yellow kitchen with a black-and-white floor. It was not really to the new owner’s taste.
The designers opened up the studio, and then created a modular but still functional layout. In other words, they wanted to make sure it wasn’t like a caravan, where the living room turns into a bedroom or office.
“We didn’t want a Swiss army knife, where to use one blade you have to lose another. We wanted all the functions to coexist without the space looking cluttered – despite the small area. It was a real brain teaser,” Guilbault says.
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The designers opened up the studio, and then created a modular but still functional layout. In other words, they wanted to make sure it wasn’t like a caravan, where the living room turns into a bedroom or office.
“We didn’t want a Swiss army knife, where to use one blade you have to lose another. We wanted all the functions to coexist without the space looking cluttered – despite the small area. It was a real brain teaser,” Guilbault says.
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In addition to the months of planning needed to figure out the best layout, two other factors pushed up the final cost.
First, the work had its share of unpleasant surprises. “This 18th-century timber-framed building had settled, so the floor had a height difference of about 20cm from one side to the other,” Guilbault says. “We had to make it level again by laying a screed and a steel deck.
“In addition, we replaced the windows with double-glazed wooden ones made by a carpenter, swapped the fan heaters for electric ones by Thermor, and put in an entire drainage system, which had been missing.”
Second, the owner is not a student, and design is important to him, so he chose high-end finishes: solid oak flooring, cement tiles in the kitchen and birch ply woodwork.
First, the work had its share of unpleasant surprises. “This 18th-century timber-framed building had settled, so the floor had a height difference of about 20cm from one side to the other,” Guilbault says. “We had to make it level again by laying a screed and a steel deck.
“In addition, we replaced the windows with double-glazed wooden ones made by a carpenter, swapped the fan heaters for electric ones by Thermor, and put in an entire drainage system, which had been missing.”
Second, the owner is not a student, and design is important to him, so he chose high-end finishes: solid oak flooring, cement tiles in the kitchen and birch ply woodwork.
After The entrance to the studio is just to the left of the kitchen. The small living room is immersed in soft, bright light.
The walls and floor are finished in a combination of white paint and pale wood, borrowed from Scandinavian style.
Black details and geometric patterns enhance the contrasts and lend a graphic touch to the space.
The walls and floor are finished in a combination of white paint and pale wood, borrowed from Scandinavian style.
Black details and geometric patterns enhance the contrasts and lend a graphic touch to the space.
Cement floor tiles with a labyrinth pattern adorn the entrance, kitchen and bathroom.
The highlight of the living area is this birch plywood panel, which partially separates the space from the sleeping area.
The partition slides along a rail in the dropped ceiling and allows the space to be modified in three different ways.
The highlight of the living area is this birch plywood panel, which partially separates the space from the sleeping area.
The partition slides along a rail in the dropped ceiling and allows the space to be modified in three different ways.
First, it can conceal the openwork cupboard, which houses the washing machine and storage water heater.
It can also be moved to hide the passage to the bedroom, located near the headboard, or it can cover the bookcase and TV stand.
“The sliding wall has no technical function, but it brings the space to life by giving it some movement,” Guilbault says. “It’s important to let the occupant of such a small place choose what he wants to see. It prevents monotony.”
“The sliding wall has no technical function, but it brings the space to life by giving it some movement,” Guilbault says. “It’s important to let the occupant of such a small place choose what he wants to see. It prevents monotony.”
The partition, like the majority of the carpentry work, is matt-varnished birch plywood.
Atelier Daaa particularly likes this material for its Scandinavian flair and graphic edges, which do not have to be refinished afterwards, as a laminate might be, for example.
Although it’s quite heavy, the panel slides very easily thanks to a track from Hawa fixed to the ceiling.
Atelier Daaa particularly likes this material for its Scandinavian flair and graphic edges, which do not have to be refinished afterwards, as a laminate might be, for example.
Although it’s quite heavy, the panel slides very easily thanks to a track from Hawa fixed to the ceiling.
The bookcase and flatscreen TV module was planned out in great detail. The top is only about 20cm deep, while the bottom, which contains drawers, sinks into the platform. They house the router, amp, video game console and so on.
“We made the fronts of the drawers in the same pattern as the laundry cupboard. This openwork style has both aesthetic and technical purposes: it provides ventilation for heat-emitting devices and allows you to change channels without having to open the drawer,” Guilbault says.
“We made the fronts of the drawers in the same pattern as the laundry cupboard. This openwork style has both aesthetic and technical purposes: it provides ventilation for heat-emitting devices and allows you to change channels without having to open the drawer,” Guilbault says.
The top of the bookcase has open spaces to make the room appear larger than it is.
Behind this partition, the bedroom was designed as a sleeping box. “The difference is that there isn’t really space to move around the bed. Still, this type of alcove is just as comfortable as a real bedroom,” Guilbault says.
The bed can be accessed either from this small passage between the laundry cupboard and the TV…
The bed can be accessed either from this small passage between the laundry cupboard and the TV…
…or from the foot of the bed. This also serves as a seat for the built-in desk along the wall. Sitting at the foot of the bed, the owner can work facing the window while enjoying a view of the trees outside.
“The great advantage of a custom-made layout is being able to create links between separate areas,” Guilbault says.
The well-chosen finishes likewise unify the spaces. “Just as the tiles at the entrance run straight into the bathroom to create unity, birch furniture here unifies the living room and the sleeping area,” he adds.
“The great advantage of a custom-made layout is being able to create links between separate areas,” Guilbault says.
The well-chosen finishes likewise unify the spaces. “Just as the tiles at the entrance run straight into the bathroom to create unity, birch furniture here unifies the living room and the sleeping area,” he adds.
The double bed has been placed on a platform in order to differentiate the zones and gain some space. “This is the second modular element in this studio, but we’ve worked on the modularity so you don’t lose one function to create another,” Guilbault says.
A 140 x 190cm frame and slats were integrated into the top of the 50cm-high platform by a carpenter. They lift up to reveal a roomy storage space where the owner can keep his luggage.
A 140 x 190cm frame and slats were integrated into the top of the 50cm-high platform by a carpenter. They lift up to reveal a roomy storage space where the owner can keep his luggage.
A small niche at the head of the bed serves as a bedside ‘table’. It’s been equipped with a light switch for both the bedroom area and the living room and has several outlets for the owner to charge his portable electronic devices.
The wardrobe is composed of several tall cupboards.
The wardrobe is composed of several tall cupboards.
It’s been designed as a continuation of the laundry cabinet, and is therefore 60cm deep. There are lights inside it, while an LED strip backlight was placed behind a filler strip to give the bedroom area a beautiful atmosphere after dark.
The office shelf extends to the end of the living room. “It was a good way to lengthen the lines of the living room, rework the spaces and add storage,” Guilbault says.
The shelf is wider on the office side than in the living room because the rear facade of the building is slightly angled. This trick makes the room seem more rectangular.
Opening up the living room created space for a custom-made, 2m-long linear kitchen unit that extends to the ceiling.
The cabinet doors have no hardware in order to create a lightweight feel. The base cabinets are birch, while the top ones are in pale-grey lacquered MDF. The worktop is solid surface.
Upper cabinet painted in San Miguel, Ressource.
The cabinet doors have no hardware in order to create a lightweight feel. The base cabinets are birch, while the top ones are in pale-grey lacquered MDF. The worktop is solid surface.
Upper cabinet painted in San Miguel, Ressource.
The kitchen does not have a dishwasher, but it does feature a combination microwave, an induction hob, a small fridge and plenty of storage space.
As in the rest of the flat, the lighting has been thought out carefully. “The kitchen is lit by three modern ceiling lights, while an LED strip illuminates the entire worktop. There’s also lighting in the extractor hood,” Guilbault says.
Lights: SLV
As in the rest of the flat, the lighting has been thought out carefully. “The kitchen is lit by three modern ceiling lights, while an LED strip illuminates the entire worktop. There’s also lighting in the extractor hood,” Guilbault says.
Lights: SLV
To liven up the space, tiles with a graphic feel have been chosen for both the floor and the wall. They’re real cement tiles with a labyrinth motif designed by the Swedish brand Marrakech Design.
You’ll find a range of decorative wall and floor tiles in the Houzz Shop
You’ll find a range of decorative wall and floor tiles in the Houzz Shop
The designer placed a round table in front of the kitchen unit.
Although the bathroom is about 1.75 x 1.40m, it’s been efficiently planned out, with an 80 x 130cm shower, a toilet and a vanity unit.
Nothing in this design was accidental. The polished shower base is a cheerful touch, while the white sanitaryware and contrasting black bathroom fixtures add to the Scandinavian atmosphere.
Rectified porcelain stoneware wall tiles (60 cm sq), Revigres; bathroom fixtures, all Zucchetti.
Rectified porcelain stoneware wall tiles (60 cm sq), Revigres; bathroom fixtures, all Zucchetti.
Creating the bathroom was technically challenging because there was originally no water supply or drainage system. The designers handled the problem cleverly using a lift pump concealed inside a box that serves as a shelf in the shower.
The box is aligned with the vanity unit, a custom-made, space-saving resin model with a ceramic basin. “Our job was integration, hiding the technical equipment. That’s part of our challenge,” Guilbault says.
Thanks to Atelier Daaa, the owner now has an enhanced studio with a graphic touch that’s both comfortable and functional. He feels the cost was well worth it, because having a home he can feel good in makes being away from his family during the week a bit more bearable.
Tell us…
What do you think of this clever design? Share you thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you think of this clever design? Share you thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here A young person whose work takes him away from his family during the week
Location Montorgueil, Paris, France
Property A flat in an 18th century, timber-framed building
Size About 280 sq ft (26 sq m)
Budget €85,000 (about £74,800)
Completion date Summer of 2017, after three months’ work
Designers Richard Guilbault, Julien Ensarguet and Pierre Petit of Atelier Daaa
‘After’ photos by Bertrand Fompeyrine
In general, small spaces are the most difficult to optimise because the design has to make use of every inch.
“Although the space was very limited, it was our job to integrate the same number of functions as might be found in a larger apartment: a bedroom area, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and an office.
“We also had to ensure the space felt open,” interior designer Richard Guilbault says.