This Tiny Paris Apartment Delivers Big Drama – and a Bookcase That Doubles as a Staircase and Desk

From the spectacular views of Paris rooftops, the Eiffel Tower, and the Sacré Coeur to the bold, beautiful interior with clever use of space and exquisite design details, it’s hard not to fall in love with Sae-Kyung’s home—a 269-square-foot (25m²) apartment in Paris.

The journey to owning this petite Parisian apartment with unparalleled character, color, and clever design began when the owner considered buying an entirely different property. She had arrived to view a maid’s room on the same landing. However, when the door to this apartment opened by chance, she knew she had to have it.

The problem was that it wasn’t for sale. It would take several months to convince the former owner to part with it. Eventually, she took ownership, and work was quickly underway to transform this regular apartment into a beautiful home.

Getting Started

The Paris apartment had plenty of potential, but it wasn’t until interior designer Marianne Evennou stepped in that it truly came to life. Marianne got to work recovering the attic space to maximize the generous view. She also installed a mezzanine with a spare bed and moved the toilet. The French designer even managed to incorporate drama, bold colors, and furniture that could serve multiple purposes to maximize the space.

While many modern interiors lean toward calm, neutral palettes, Marianne went in a bolder direction. Knowing her client’s love of color, she infused the space with vibrant pinks, rich blues, and warm reds throughout.

The entire floor plan is now fun, bright, cohesive, and, most importantly, functional for daily living. As you enter, you’re met with the kitchen to the right, with a sink in front of a window. The living room with an alcove is to the left of the kitchen, and there is a staircase leading to the mezzanine floor. This has a guest bed above the kitchen and a toilet in the attic. The ground-floor bedroom with an en suite is seamlessly accessible from the living room.

Interior designer Marianne Evennou gave much-needed height and character to this 269-square-foot apartment by playing with color and transparency. As you enter the entrance, you can store belongings in a cupboard that cleverly blends into the wall and hides the toilet.

Knowing the homeowner loves color, Marianne incorporated plenty of color into all the areas of this apartment. She also believes color gives a home personality. While blue sometimes feels cold, Marianne cleverly paired it with paisley fabrics, red accents, and even pink kitchen tiles. This sofa with red Indian fabric tucked into a nook offsets the coolness of the blue.

The pole pendant light with the petal-shaped lampshade is among the first things you notice as you enter the living area. It looks like a retro fan when air flows through from the open window. Underneath it is a gorgeous marquetry table flanked by two ‘Sussex’ chairs designed by William Morris. Completing the look are garnet curtains. Their pink coloring offsets the blue walls and adds warmth to the space.

The built-in bookcase is easily one of the apartment’s most striking features. Painted in a moody ‘Ashes of Roses’ tone, it contrasts beautifully with the ‘Dark Blue’ stairs beside it. But it’s more than just a bookcase—this clever unit doubles as storage, a desk, and even a staircase leading to the mezzanine.

The two tones of blue give life to the apartment’s entrance. The doors and mirror are painted in ‘Dark Blue’ while the walls and cupboard doors are ‘Lichen de Granit.’ The Herringbone oak parquet flooring injects warmth and modernity into the space.

A window has been installed between the living room and bedroom to offer an ‘airy’ feeling.

The ground-floor bedroom is both modern and classic. Marianne chose to paint the lower third of the walls in the same green as the bathroom to tie the two spaces together.

But it’s the artwork above the bed that truly grabs your attention. According to Marianne, her client was horrified at first. While it’s strange and even ghostly in some people’s opinions, Marianne said its presence is a mystery, and she feels as though the character is watching over the place.

While small, the bathroom has much to offer the home’s occupant. The pale green space has been reconfigured to allow for a larger shower. The toilet now sits opposite the entrance rather than in the bathroom.

The kitchen is central in the home, in its own distinct area with eye-catching flooring.

Marianne installed an antique mirror in the kitchen to contrast against the walls. It cleverly makes the space feel larger. While the walls are light blue, the cabinetry has been painted in the shade ‘Dark Blue’ for added depth. There’s a sink in front of the window so you can watch the world go by while you prepare a meal.

This beautiful 269-square-foot apartment in Paris offers 180-degree views of Paris roofs, the Eiffel Tower, and the Sacré Coeur Basilica.