Houzz Tour: A Tiny Studio Apartment with Very Clever Storage Solutions
Ingenious storage and a skilful layout make this contemporary mini studio a welcoming and well-functioning home
Elen Pouhaer
9 September 2016
Contributrice Houzz, je suis journaliste déco/design, architecture et lifestyle.
Perched on the top floor of a 19th century building in Paris’s 9th district, 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? To successfully create a kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom in a 15 sq m space. The result is a bright, modern home, showcasing both functionality and modularity.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A woman in her 30s
Location Rue Saint-Lazare in Paris’s 9th district
Size 15 sq m on the top floor of a 19th century building
Project cost €33,000 before taxes (£27,742)
Interior architect Rebecca Benichou of Batiik Studio
Photos by Bertrand Fompeyrine
The apartment is in Paris’s fairly central 9th district, a trendy neighbourhood filled with great restaurants and shops.
During the renovation of this old, dilapidated attic room – between December 2015 and February 2016 – everything was refurbished: floors, electricity, plumbing, roof insulation, paintwork and even the skylights.
Who lives here A woman in her 30s
Location Rue Saint-Lazare in Paris’s 9th district
Size 15 sq m on the top floor of a 19th century building
Project cost €33,000 before taxes (£27,742)
Interior architect Rebecca Benichou of Batiik Studio
Photos by Bertrand Fompeyrine
The apartment is in Paris’s fairly central 9th district, a trendy neighbourhood filled with great restaurants and shops.
During the renovation of this old, dilapidated attic room – between December 2015 and February 2016 – everything was refurbished: floors, electricity, plumbing, roof insulation, paintwork and even the skylights.
The apartment originally consisted of an entrance that led into a living room, with the kitchen and bathroom to the left.
The owner gave the designer free rein to reconfigure and maximise the space, which had a very impractical layout relative to its size. The idea was to integrate a kitchen, bathroom, dining area, desk, sofa and bed using materials that were both durable and inexpensive.
The owner gave the designer free rein to reconfigure and maximise the space, which had a very impractical layout relative to its size. The idea was to integrate a kitchen, bathroom, dining area, desk, sofa and bed using materials that were both durable and inexpensive.
All of the bespoke furniture is made of birch plywood, while the floor is light grey polished concrete.
The clever built-in furniture features multiple concealed and fold-out functions to optimise the small space while maintaining its minimalist look. Beneath the kitchen, for example, is a pull-out sofa and bed. This flexible design allows the resident to quickly transform the apartment according to her immediate needs.
See more ways to tuck a dining area into a small space
The clever built-in furniture features multiple concealed and fold-out functions to optimise the small space while maintaining its minimalist look. Beneath the kitchen, for example, is a pull-out sofa and bed. This flexible design allows the resident to quickly transform the apartment according to her immediate needs.
See more ways to tuck a dining area into a small space
The kitchen has been relocated from its original position and is now zoned by being raised on the platform that conceals the sofa-bed. The table – which is created by folding out a section of the peninsula worktop – offers a space to entertain friends while whipping up a simple a dinner.
Voxtorp kitchen; bar stools; chairs, all Ikea.
Voxtorp kitchen; bar stools; chairs, all Ikea.
Once unfolded, the table can accommodate four to six people. Its legs are designed as a timber screen partially concealing the kitchen, and doubling as a back support for the sofa (and a headboard for the bed).
This studio also includes clever storage spaces in several areas: a series of cabinets and open shelves, which can also be used as a bedside table, are built under the sloped ceiling, and a chest is hidden under the kitchen platform on the right-hand side. This provides space to store the bar stools in order to free up more space outside of meal times.
Near the entrance, 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, which can also be used as a bedside table, are built under the sloped ceiling, and a chest is hidden under the kitchen platform on the right-hand side. This provides space to store the bar stools in order to free up more space outside of meal times.
Near the entrance, a cabinet built flush to the wall remains discreet while allowing for the storage of a full wardrobe.
The greatest difficulties encountered when renovating this former maid’s room came from the sloping ceiling. All of the custom-made furniture had to be adapted on-site. “In addition, given the area of the room, there could never be more than one person working here,” Benichou says.
The bed set under the platform serves as a sofa when taken half out, and is decorated with colourful cushions with geometric patterns. When fully slid under the platform, it disappears, freeing up space for the dining table.
Pendant light, Leroy Merlin.
The bed set under the platform serves as a sofa when taken half out, and is decorated with colourful cushions with geometric patterns. When fully slid under the platform, it disappears, freeing up space for the dining table.
Pendant light, Leroy Merlin.
“We decided to move the entrance and reconfigure the bathroom along the length of the left side,” Benichou says. “Nonetheless, it’s as small as possible in order to maximise the living area.” The modern and minimalist bathroom is painted in a very dark blue, echoing the coffee table, which is painted in the same colour.
The coffee table on wheels was custom-made, in common with all of this apartment’s furniture. It also serves as a chest to store duvets, cushions and so on.
This new layout has also allowed for the creation of a study nook, which benefits from natural light through the installation of a skylight.
The coffee table on wheels was custom-made, in common with all of this apartment’s furniture. It also serves as a chest to store duvets, cushions and so on.
This new layout has also allowed for the creation of a study nook, which benefits from natural light through the installation of a skylight.
Just 2 sq m in size, this petite bathroom accommodates all the necessities: storage, a toilet on the right, and a basin and shower on the left.
Basin, Castorama.
Get ideas for how to rev up the style in a small bathroom
Basin, Castorama.
Get ideas for how to rev up the style in a small bathroom
The result of all the clever planning is a bright studio in which every square centimetre has been put to good use.
What do you think of this neat layout and clever storage? Have you had to maximise a small space? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
What do you think of this neat layout and clever storage? Have you had to maximise a small space? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
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Love the ingenuity - bed/sofa/bar/table. Clever.
Brilliant! We need studios built to this size with this interior designer in London - it would soon help the housing crisis!