Many people are quite attached to living in the city. It’s a phenomenon that is hardly surprising, as that translates to living in the thick of things, whether that means living close to a diverse range of cultural activities, as well as typically having the best libraries, schools, restaurants, and parks all nearby.
So it’s little wonder that many choose to stay close to all the action, sometimes choosing to live in a smaller apartment that may be more affordable, or located in an attractive neighborhood. That was the situation with French architect Matthieu Torres, who along with his girlfriend Clementine did an impressive revamp of a tiny apartment in Paris’ Belleville neighborhood. Doing much of the renovation themselves, the apartment was transformed from a dark, dingy apartment into an open plan living space, filled with natural light and recycled furniture and accessories—some of them with important sentimental value.
We get to see how the couple’s “Jourdain” apartment was transformed via Never Too Small:
Originally measuring 258 square feet (24 square meters), the couple choose to purchase the apartment because of its location in a neighborhood that is known for its hilly landscapes, great views, and quaint, village-like atmosphere. The existing apartment was dim and run-down, however, so the pair got to work demolishing the partitions that separated the floor plan into three different rooms, as well as raising the ceiling, and installing skylights.
With the ceiling raised up, it was now possible to insert a mezzanine for the new sleeping area, increasing the total usable area to a more comfortable 344 square feet (31 square meters).
Instead of having lots of furniture pieces that take up precious space, Torres decided to design a custom-built storage unit out of affordable and durable French pine plywood that now holds their collection of books.
The ladder leading up to the bedroom is designed to be easy to climb and maneuver out of the way when it’s not in use.
The sleeping area up the ladder is simple but cozy and lit with one skylight.
Reusing things with an emotional value was important to the couple, and a lot of attention to detail was made possible by the fact that this was a self-designed and self-built project. For instance, the well-loved knobs used in this large cabinet came from Torres’ grandfather’s home, which was saved when he passed away and his home had to be sold. Says Torres:
The kitchen is the main focal point of the apartment and includes plenty of storage and a long counter that is perfect for two people preparing food.
The couple chose to reuse the same sink from the original apartment, as its white porcelain bulk matched well with the light and bright palette of the renovation.
The big dining table is a refurbished workshop table that came from Clementine’s grandfather, which can seat six.
Back under the mezzanine, we have two doors: one leading into the bathroom, and the other to a small walk-in closet.
The bathroom is small and makes the most out of one small window. To make it seem bigger, everything has been done in white, from the tiles down to the fixtures and the reclaimed sink. To increase the amount of sunlight bouncing off inside, the couple has cleverly used a golden reflective safety blanket as a shower curtain.
It’s an terrific transformation, and Torres explains why they chose to live in a smaller space, and why it makes sense to do so in a big city like Paris:
