Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Parisian Apartment With a Stunning Balcony
An awkwardly shaped apartment gets a total renovation to create a sleek, chic home with spectacular views of Paris
Drawn to the wraparound balcony and stunning view of Paris’s Left Bank, this home’s owner decided the panorama was worth the odd layout and questionable décor. Husband and wife design duo Alon and Betsy Kasha gutted the space, starting over with a blank slate. Matt oak flooring, white walls and clean lines now visually expand the small space out onto the newly revamped balcony, embracing the Paris skyline.
Houzz at a Glance
Location Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Cost About £160,000
Houzz at a Glance
Location Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Cost About £160,000
Wassily chairs by Marcel Breuer in an unusual navy blue leather complement a large piece from the client’s art collection.
The apartment’s original floor plan had the bedroom sandwiched between the living room and the bathroom. The Kashas switched the kitchen and bathroom locations, allowing for a more open kitchen. Now the kitchen takes up minimal space in the open living and dining area. The Kashas stuck with a simple design that complements the clean lines of the main living area. Custom matt white lacquer cabinets have a seamless look.
Coatrack: Hang It All, Eames; pendant: Milk Light, The Conran Shop; table: Saarinen Tulip Table; dining chairs: vintage Italian
Coatrack: Hang It All, Eames; pendant: Milk Light, The Conran Shop; table: Saarinen Tulip Table; dining chairs: vintage Italian
The couple kept this existing door to the balcony, carefully designing the depth of the kitchen so that the grill would sit at the same level as the cabinetry, connecting the interior and exterior.
Oven, undercounter refrigerator, microwave: Gaggenau; hob, dishwasher: Miele
Take a look at how to make a white kitchen work in your home
Oven, undercounter refrigerator, microwave: Gaggenau; hob, dishwasher: Miele
Take a look at how to make a white kitchen work in your home
The kitchen opens out onto a large balcony – almost two-thirds the size of the apartment – adorned with fragrant jasmine trellises.
The Kashas fitted the new balcony with teak flooring, planter boxes, a railing, electricity for lighting and a new watering system. They wanted simple, low-maintenance and sturdy plants for the balcony, so a local garden designer chose boxwood, baby’s tears, white gaura and Mexican needle grass.
Check out more stylish balconies
Check out more stylish balconies
In the old layout, the master bedroom opened to the living room. The designers added a new wall to separate the two rooms. Plain white walls and simple floor lamps serve as a backdrop for bold art, in line with the gallery style of the home.
Simple cotton and linen bedding feels clean and fresh.
Now accessed through the bedroom, the bathroom has gained space, privacy and light from the balcony.
The Kashas used a thick, limestone tile for the shower walls and floors, extending it out for the rest of the bathroom’s flooring. A custom limestone sink sticks to the simple but luxurious material palette.
Before
The original living room was an odd mix of mirrored walls, a tropical mural and a window seat serving as a sofa.
The original living room was an odd mix of mirrored walls, a tropical mural and a window seat serving as a sofa.
Turquoise tiles and chocolate-brown accents in the previous bathroom felt outdated. Its awkward location on the other side of the main living area made the room difficult to access from the bedroom.
The kitchen felt closed off from the rest of the apartment.
Tucked away in a peach-coloured corner in the living room, the bed felt like an awkward afterthought.
Although it needed some help, the balcony – rare in this part of Paris – is what drew the client to this apartment. The Kashas were pleasantly surprised to find that it was structurally sound and required only cosmetic changes.
After
Have you recently redecorated? Share your photos and stories in the Comments below.
Have you recently redecorated? Share your photos and stories in the Comments below.
Lounge chairs: Le Corbusier; coffee table: Pedrera; side tables: The Conran Shop