This Architect's Paris Micro-Apartment Design is Definitely Tres Chic
When architect Mathieu and his girlfriend Clementine began to search for an apartment in Paris, they knew it would be a challenge to find something affordable. However, thanks to a few major tweaks, their Paris micro-apartment provides them with an affordable, sustainable home in the French capital.
What is a micro-apartment? It is a tiny apartment, often the size of one room in a “normal” apartment. Many might find the thought of living in such a small space to be scary. But as Clementine and Mathieu’s story shows, with a little bit of effort and a willingness to think outside of the box, a micro-apartment can be a great solution to sustainable urban living.
In this tour of their Paris micro-apartment, located in the Belleville district of the city, Mathieu explains how their use of intelligent micro apartment design transformed a 258-square-foot space into a 344-square-foot micro-apartment with a mezzanine, which is accessed by a foldable ladder.
Originally, the space had three rooms and no bathroom. Clementine and Mathieu knocked down the interior walls and ceiling, allowing them to increase the space in the apartment by building up their bedroom mezzanine. They also added a small bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower.
In order to increase the feeling of space in the bathroom, they used white tiles that reflect the light, but they repurposed a golden survival vest into a glitzy shower curtain with warmer tones. They also added skylights to the apartment to add natural light and a view of the skyscape.
Mathieu and Clementine did many of the renovations themselves, in order to save money and hone their construction skills. They made extensive use of French pine plywood, which they found aesthetically pleasing, as well as durable and economical.
The couple also used key pieces that incorporate family history into the apartment, like closet doors from Mathieu’s grandparents, and a table and mirror from Clementine’s grandparents. Their compact furniture unit includes the bedroom, bathroom, bookshelves, and closet.
But the real feature of the micro-apartment is the kitchen: It was important to Clementine and Mathieu to be able to cook together. Their micro apartment interior design includes ample counter and storage space, as well as a cooktop, oven, and fridge.
Chic Paris micro-apartment
Their chic Paris micro-apartment allows Mathieu and Clementine to lead a sustainable and economic lifestyle in the city that they love, in a home that reflects their love for each other.
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I would give this a try if my wife and I were younger. Right now we love our collected belongings.
Kudos to this couple for taking a small space and literally making it look huge! They changed what needed to be changed and integrated a lot of space saving ideas. Great job!
No bathroom originally? I wouldnt call that an aprtment.