A 291-Square-Foot Apartment in the Heart of Paris Gets Innovative With Storage

“It was a small and run-down two-room apartment in the heart of Paris, on the second floor of a building overlooking a courtyard, between the Montorgueil and Bonne Nouvelle neighborhoods,” says architect Joshua Florquin, founder of Florquin Studio, which has offices in Paris and Ghent, Belgium, where he is originally from. “The owner wanted to live there half the year and have his child stay with him in the summer, so he envisioned the place as a mini hotel suite, with all the necessary amenities and lots of storage. He also wanted it to feel refined with a Mediterranean look.”

Florquin Studio didn’t keep the existing two-room layout—they chose instead to open up the space. To still maintain two distinct areas, however, a platform was built to accommodate a king-size bed, which can be accessed from either side via steps. “We concealed storage space underneath it to maximize space and functionality while maintaining a clean and elegant look, with little nooks where you can sit, chat, or read a book on the steps,” says Florquin. This division of space allows for the integration of a 6.5-foot-long sofa that can be converted into a bed for the owner’s child, while also creating a sitting area. The large bed in its majestic position reflects the Studio’s take on hotel comforts, where beds are large and sofas sometimes double as an impromptu extra sleeping area.

In this layout that feels like a small hotel suite, the kitchen is divided into two areas. The washing machine and refrigerator are in the entrance behind large doors without handles while there’s a galley-style area in the living room. The pottery on the shelves is from Sejnan, Tunisia, and was made by craftswomen using an age-old method of hand forming pieces without using a potter’s wheel.

Making good use of limited space

Just as the apartment’s sleeping area is clearly defined, the living area also reflects the studio’s design vision. It is arranged around a sofa and, in front of it, a custom table in red Persian travertine surrounded by red beech chairs by Bruno Rey. There’s a low bench on the wall of the living room opposite the sofa and a kitchen in light oak and travertine that has a certain Mediterranean style with sandy, earthy tones that complement the beige lime walls. The table serves as both a workspace and a dining area, inviting conversation and offering a certain idea of luxury and comfort worthy of a mini-suite with its combination of fine noble materials and Mediterranean colors. The result is a home that pairs Parisian elegance with Mediterranean warmth and simplicity. “This studio is much more than just a place to live; it is an invitation to relax and enjoy a refined home in the heart of the City of Light. Everything has been custom-made with carefully selected, textured materials in keeping with that spirit.”

The water heater, washing machine, and refrigerator are behind a light oak panel without any handles in the entrance hall, freeing up space in the kitchen, while a fluted-glass door allows daylight to flow into the entry from the bathroom. The bathroom is its own immersive space, with green waxed concrete and terracotta flooring, perfect for the owner who loves green plants. The room creates a sort of imagined outdoor shower, with plants placed on custom shelves to create an atmosphere that is half-jungle, half-greenhouse with walls in a sage green that is both all enveloping and soothing.

The heart of the studio is dominated by a double king-size bed, just like in a hotel. To accommodate the owner’s child and other guests, Florquin Studio has incorporated a convertible sofa that forms a small sitting area when it’s not being used as a bed. The platform for the bed conceals hidden storage space, maximizing space and functionality.

Mediterranean inspirations

This small home on a southeast-facing corner is bathed in natural light. “This 291-square-foot apartment gets a lot of sun, with a double exposure and four windows. For a space so compact, there’s plenty of light throughout the day,” Florquin says. As soon as you walk in, your gaze is drawn to the bathroom, a green gem where terracotta and waxed concrete create an inviting Mediterranean look. The smooth texture of the waxed concrete contrasts with the rustic terracotta, offering a perfect balance between modern and traditional looks. In the kitchen, travertine surfaces add a touch of sophistication, while the natural colors of the wooden elements evoke a timeless simplicity. A bench fixed to the wall in front of the window serves as dining table seating that also incorporates storage space for books and a stereo—another example of how everything is optimized in this space. The minimalist look was a no-brainer—considering how small the apartment is, it’d be easy to overwhelm—but Florquin Studio managed to imbue coziness with objects, vases, and works of art. Statues and ceramics from Tunisia also complement the Italian and Persian travertine.