A 33sqm/355sqft Paris atelier has been transformed into a home with clever design ideas. Sophie Berck and Pauline Girardot of Petit Jour Architecture used colour zoning, sculptural fixtures, and smart joinery to bring warmth and personality to the compact space.
The apartment’s kitchen, bathroom, and storage are located along the darkest edge of the plan, while the lounge and mezzanine workspace are open to the garden. A palette of brushed steel, enameled lava stone, spruce joinery, and aged mirror doors adds light and texture to the space.
The designers share five key design details that illustrate the thoughtful creativity behind the renovation. These details include a boldly painted entrance, mirrored floor-to-ceiling storage, a sculptural radiator, a desk that extends into shelving, and a pull-out bed that disappears effortlessly.
The boldly painted entrance is designed to give the apartment a welcoming impression. The rich red-orange shade is extended onto the lowered ceiling to hide the electrical panel and introduce a subtle sense of compression. This simple move has a big spatial payoff, making the rest of the apartment feel instantly more open.
The kitchen feels visually airy thanks to the designers’ decision to place the oven-microwave away from the main cabinetry. The storage zone is also designed to feel light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling cupboard clad in aged mirror doors that catch the greenery from the garden and add depth and brightness.
Related: Tiny apartment gets clever lighting upgrade
They chose a sculptural finned radiator piece that reads like an industrial artefact preserved from the building’s atelier past. The tubular form and industrial lines echo the building’s history and bring an unexpected interest to a practical object.
The mezzanine features a desk surface made from salvaged oak from an old train wagon, which flows into a run of open shelves, forming one continuous piece of joinery. This move makes the workspace feel unified and intentional, rather than pieced together. The warm oak softens the industrial context of the loft, while the continuous line visually stretches the mezzanine.
The pull-out bed is a practical solution for small-space living, gliding smoothly beneath the mezzanine without needing straps, folding, or extra handling. The bed can slide away fully made, transforming the space back into a generous living room within seconds.
These design details, along with other noteworthy moments, such as the industrial steel beams and the soft reflections bouncing between tile and brushed metal, contribute to the apartment’s calm atmosphere. For a deeper look at the project, Suspended elements like these are used to create a functional and beautiful space.
Sophie Berck and Pauline Girardot’s design is an example of the power of thoughtful creativity in small-space living. By incorporating clever design ideas and smart joinery, they have created a multifunctional home that feels larger than its footprint.
