Finding affordable homes in Paris is no easy feat, but when a 25-year-old set herself the challenge of finding a home for under $148,000 (€130,000), she wasn’t going to let the unaffordable housing market beat her. However, not only did her small budget have to find a home, but it had to allow for potential renovations too. It didn’t seem possible.
Then, she came across an 11 sqm “chamber de bonne” – a servant residence in a seventh-floor apartment building. It was in dire need of renovation and transformation, but with the help of architect Agathe Marimbert, that’s precisely what it got. The Parisian woman bought the apartment, and the pair got to work.
Agathe’s brief was going to be a challenge. The studio apartment needed to feature a full-size bed that didn’t fold away, had to have storage space and needed to be aesthetically appealing while not feeling claustrophobic. In 11 square feet, it almost seemed impossible. While the toilet had to remain out in the stairwell area due to space constraints, Agathe met the rest of the brief.
The kitchen and bathroom took up one full wall, all because the plumbing already lay along that area. A full navy tiled shower sat to the left with a glass door, while a stark white semi kitchen with a microwave and sink sat to the right.
The cabinetry in the kitchen featured modified Ikea boxes which held a hidden fridge and kitchen appliances. This area, too, featured the same navy tiles. In this area, you could also eat your meal courtesy of the pullout dining table and single chair.
It’s a tight squeeze, but the kitchen nook has room for a microwave oven and sink.
Storage is plentiful, with even a pullout dining table and chair to cater to meals.
Copper pibes are used as coat storage, with the bed adjacent.
The copper pipe meets the brief of being aesthetically pleasing.
While the toilet had to remain outside of the studio apartment, architect Agathe Marimbert was able to tick all the boxes concerning the other requirements on the brief.
The same white and navy theme in the bathroom and kitchen featured throughout the home, with light gray added to offer an additional sense of space. Space was definitely of the essence, with a 120-centimeter day bed only just small enough to fit into the area left over. A mezzanine floor was not an option due to the limited space available above the primary living areas.
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