The real estate market is in a funk—high interest rates, tighter regulations, and sky-high uncertainty are making it harder than ever to buy, sell, or renovate. And in the middle of it all, small spaces are getting the cold shoulder. Too tricky to renovate, too tiny to turn a profit, they’re often written off entirely.
But not by Cyril Rheims. This Paris-based architect sees potential where others see problems. His specialty? Transforming the city’s forgotten corners—maids’ rooms, old caretaker lodges, micro-studios—into chic, functional homes that are full of personality and purpose.
For Rheims, it’s not just about making the most of tight quarters. It’s about reimagining how we live, one clever built-in, sliding door, and hidden storage solution at a time. In a housing market that’s struggling to keep up, his work is a reminder that small doesn’t have to mean second-best.
Ahead, we’re touring four of his standout projects that prove great design can thrive in the tiniest of footprints—and might just change the way you think about space.
The 194-Square-Foot Caretaker’s Lodge Turned Family Home
While a standard French bedroom typically measures around 129 square feet (12 m²), Cyril designed an entire home for a small family within just 194 square feet (18 m²). Originally a caretaker’s lodge, it has since been transformed into a family pied-à-terre.
Two parents sleep on a double bed that folds out over the sofa. The children have a nesting box-type sleeping space above. The multifunctional room is also home to a foldaway table, so the family can dine together. Cyril even incorporated helpful storage, useful features, and everyday appliances like a dishwasher and washing machine.
White is the predominant color in this tiny apartment, with all the cabinetry finished in a sleek white. However, Cyril introduced much-needed warmth with a sunset-inspired feature wall, where red blends into orange, yellow, and white in an ombré effect. Contemporary gray flooring completes the look.
The kitchen is tucked away in this apartment’s corner. The dining chairs used for family meals have their own storage cupboard between the kitchen and living area.
A small table pulls out of the wall cabinetry so that it can be used for work or study. The resident can simply unfold a chair from the cupboard, pull out the desk, and get to work.
While the pull-out table functions as a desk, it’s also a table for two or three diners. Mealtimes are made easy in this apartment. When you’re finished, you can simply slide the table back into place and fold up the chairs before returning them to the cupboard.
The living area beneath the children’s bedroom nook features a multifunctional piece of furniture. By day, it serves as a simple couch, comfortably seating up to three people.
At night, a Murphy bed folds down over the couch, transforming the area into a sleeping zone without disrupting the clean design
Whether the bed is up or down, the children can still access their bedroom nook via the ladder positioned to the left of the Murphy bed.
“Blink and you’ll miss it—the bathroom door is subtly tucked next to the ombré feature wall. Made of frosted glass, it maintains privacy while allowing light to pass through
The bathroom is easily accessible adjacent to the kitchen and cleverly uses the same vibrant colors against the stark white amenities.
The bathroom has all the essentials – shelving for storage, a toilet, a shower, and a sink. The mirror and vibrant tiles are also eye-catching features in this small space.
The apartment’s clever layout makes the most of its compact footprint.
Chantal’s Light-Starved 323-Square-Foot Studio
This 323-square-foot (30 m²) studio presented one major challenge for Cyril: a lack of natural light. With windows only on one side, daylight entered from a single direction. Cyril’s goal was to carry that natural light from one end of the studio to the other.
The resultant renovated studio was a masterpiece. Cyril achieved intimacy with a book-laden shelf acting as a partition wall. He also made the bedroom an extension of the kitchen and office perched on a storage-filled platform. Additional light also comes from the bathroom, which features a glass wall overlooking the bedroom.
The kitchen is the heart of this studio, tucked away in a corner with beautiful white cabinetry and modern appliances. It sits adjacent to the living and dining space. The large bookshelf is next to the kitchen, which functions as a partition wall.
The beautifully designed kitchen is packed with helpful storage, including floating shelves and wine storage. Everything is painted the same color for a clean and clutter-free look.
The bedroom is elevated on a platform with built-in storage, including hidden compartments in the steps leading up to the bed.
The bedroom is a serene, relaxing space in the center of the studio. The bookcase is a practical storage space for both bedroom essentials and books.
While the bookcase is a partition wall between the living and kitchen space, it also creates a private area for the bedroom, separate from the rest of the studio.
The bathroom is adjacent to the bathroom, with a cleverly placed window to let in natural light and a mirror to reflect it.
This small studio’s layout demonstrates how light from a single exposure flows through a sliding door and bookcase partition, illuminating the bedroom and bathroom
Vincent and Victor’s 162-Square-Foot Pied-à-Terre
At just 162 square feet (15 m²), this compact studio includes all the essentials of a full-sized apartment—even a washing machine. Designer Cyril found the layout fairly straightforward, but the client had one standout request: to showcase a record player and a vinyl collection.
The kitchen area in the quaint apartment is fresh and modern, with a combination of natural wood and white cabinetry. Cyril achieved character and fun through the patterned vinyl floor.
The record player takes pride of place on an open shelf, serving as both a decorative and functional focal point. A small nook at the end of the kitchen cleverly stores folding chairs, keeping them out of the way until they’re needed in the living area.
To define the kitchen from the living and dining area, Cyril used contrasting materials: colorful tiles in the kitchen and warm wooden flooring in the adjoining space
The living area has a comfortable blue velvet day bed/sofa tucked away in the corner next to the bistro dining set.
Cyril Rheims maximized storage in this tiny bathroom with smart corner shelving and additional overhead shelves
To bring light into the bathroom, Cyril used a frosted glass door and added a window within the shower enclosure.
Cyril successfully crafted a fully livable space within a compact 162-square-foot footprint.
Cécile and Damien’s 248-Square-Foot Apartment
Cyril made the most of every inch in Cécile and Damien’s 248-square-foot (23 m²) apartment by taking advantage of the high ceilings. Instead of leaving them unused, he added a striking mezzanine level with a metal structure to maximize efficiency.
The entrance to Vincent and Victor’s apartment feels fresh, welcoming, and thoughtfully organized, featuring clever storage solutions like a space-saving built-in corner unit. Elegant flooring adds a refined finishing touch.
When you can’t build outward, building upward is the next best solution. Thanks to the high ceilings, Cyril was able to create a fully functional apartment in just 248 square feet. The contemporary white kitchen with abundant storage sits underneath and adjacent to the bedroom nook. This is accessible by a storage ladder.
As the ladder to the bedroom nook is installed next to a wall, there is plenty of living space in the main part of the apartment.
The main living space feels bright and open, with natural wood floors and crisp white walls. Built-in cabinets provide ample storage, while frosted glass windows allow light to flow into the bathroom without compromising privacy.
The bathroom is modern and practical, with corner shelves, a vanity with a washer-dryer combo underneath, and a shower with a rainfall shower head.
The bathroom features modern tiling that echoes the contemporary style of the apartment, along with a built-in shelf for added function and flair.
Cyril has made great use of the space that would have otherwise gone to waste.
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