close
close

6 design tips to steal from this little duplex in Paris

6 design tips to steal from this little duplex in Paris

Not far from the Bois de Vincennes on the east side of Parisa somewhat dated 40 square meter apartment was waiting to be reborn as an inviting duplex. The owners, a young couple, had purchased the apartment on the top floor of an early 20th century building with the aim of extending it upwards into the attic space. This is true Benjamin Godiniaux and his collaborator Lorena Torres came in, with a design that would add an additional 86 square meters to the unit. The architects were enthusiastic about the creative possibilities for renovating the small space, while the clients, fashion and design enthusiasts, also wanted to ensure that the practical requirements of the space were not forgotten. But most of all, they wanted an elegant space and were okay with breaking some of the usual rules of interior design if necessary. Here are some design tips we can learn from this renovation.

Tip 1: Lower the attic floor to create a spacious second level

Image may contain indoor interior architecture building house housing stairs wood and furniture

The conversion of the attic space created a new small room on the top floor.

Image may contain furniture table home decoration tabletop chair indoor interior coffee table and plant

The mezzanine overlooks the living room while enjoying the natural light.

With the addition of a mezzanine level and a more open floor plan, the apartment became an adults-only duplex, with a living area, a bedroom with dressing room and bathroom, and a galley kitchen. ‘By lowering the attic floor by one meter, we still have two and a half meter high ceilings downstairs – a completely acceptable height. We have gained a lot of space upstairs, without losing anything downstairs,” Godiniaux explains.

Tip 2: Turn your entrance into a kitchen

The entrance hall of the apartment is now a simple and understated galley kitchen. Glasses by Ulysse Sauvage. Lamp by Piero Castiglioni & Roberto Menghi.

In contrast to the shaded kitchen, the adjacent living room is bright and light. Ferm Living mirror, Togo Bank by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset.

The architects then turned the entrance hall into a kitchen, allowing them to expand the living room. “We deliberately created a dark kitchen-hallway, both to hide the cupboards and toilet, and to create a contrast with the light, minimalist living room,” says Godiniaux. In the compact kitchen we used oak and dark green, complemented by mirrors above the worktop and at the back of the room to visually expand the space. Rounded corners soften the overall effect.

Tip 3: A minimalist staircase helps to maximize the use of a small space

Image may contain Architecture Building Dining Room Dining Table Furniture Indoor Room Table and Interior Design
Image may contain home decoration coffee table furniture tablecloth wooden box indoors and interior design

A light oak arch, opposite two large windows, leads into the living room. In contrast to the kitchen, the living room is light and simple. White and oak dominate the atmosphere, even though that is true Japandi accents that the owners wanted. “They selected most of the pieces, while we took care of the larger pieces, such as the sofa,” says Godiniaux. He posted the iconic Togo in the center of the room, surrounded by designer pieces such as the duo of brick-shaped coffee tables and the geometric rug. Opposite this, the sculptural staircase rises to the mezzanine. “We placed it against the wall to use as little space as possible. The simple metal plate seems to unfold until it reaches the sofa along the wall.” The climb up may be a bit steep, but the shape reflects the priority for the aesthetics of the apartment, shared by both the architect and his clients, guided by an impeccable sense of design.

Tip 4: Use a desk with a view as a balustrade

Image may contain: Book Publication Architecture Building House Housing Indoor Attic Room Chair Furniture and wood

On the mezzanine floor, a gray sofa feels like a natural part of the apartment’s structure.

Image may contain chair Furniture Window Indoor Table Desk Box Architecture Building and Skylight

The desk in the office-library space also serves as a railing for the mezzanine.

Upstairs, you “feel like you’re in a house” thanks to the exposed beams of the attic-like space. Here, the top of the bedroom ceiling creates a low sofa, another clever trick from the team at Godiniaux. The oak desk in the library offers a view of the living room from above and simultaneously functions as a balustrade. “These kinds of tricks work really well in small spaces: the desk that doubles as a railing, the kitchen that doubles as an entrance hallway, the hidden door in the bedroom that leads to a bathroom.”

Tip 5: Combine the bathroom and dressing room into one room

Image may contain Corner Indoor Interior Design Lamp Cushion Home Decoration Bed Furniture Bedroom Room and Cushion
Image may contain closet cupboard furniture inside interior design wardrobe corner door and lamp

The design of the cupboard doors in the dressing room is continued in the door to the bathroom. The painting is by Eric Vigneron.

The bedroom, hidden beneath the mezzanine floor, features floor-to-ceiling wardrobes, the door design of which was also used for the door to the adjacent bathroom. When the door is closed, it appears as if the closet doors extend into the corner of the room. When it’s open, you can see the gentle curve of one of the building’s structural supports.

Tip 6: Combine shower and bath in a shared wet room

Image may contain Corner Indoor Interior Design Sink Electrical Appliance Switch Floor and floor
Image may contain indoor bathroom and shower

Godiniaux created a space-saving wet room that is also very fashionable. It is separated from the sink by a Galbobain curtain.

The parquet in the bedroom continues into the bathroom, avoiding the typical break. “The great thing about these clients is that they were open to architectural details that may seem impractical at first glance. Parquet floors in a bathroom are an unusual choice, but aesthetically it made sense.” Behind the round white wall, green tiles cover the wall leading to the bath area with shower and bath. “We treated the bathroom like a swimming pool, with these mosaic tiles covering the walls, floor and side of the bathtub.” This wet room concept is one of the top trends of the moment and is especially suitable for small spaces where it is difficult to create separate areas for bath and shower. From the shower it is possible to look out of the window with an unobstructed view of the city. “When open, the linen shower curtain gives the room an ethereal feeling,” says Godiniaux, enthusiastically reflecting his passion for bringing imaginative design to small spaces.

These design tips and apartment tour were originally published by AD France. It was translated by John Newton.