00:02I designed this apartment and I have lived in it for the past two years my
00:09goal was to design a contemporary minimalist white box while highlighting
00:13the few historical elements that I managed to preserve I chose soft
00:20furniture curved lines and rounded details despite its small size I wanted
00:26this place to have all the features of a traditional apartment without
00:30compromising on comfort or amenities my name is Mariana Casagrande I am an
00:36interior designer and the founder of Studio Casagrande based in Paris I wanted
00:42to create a place where a single person or potentially a couple could live
00:46without feeling confined
00:56this apartment is located in the Au Marais which is one of the oldest
01:01neighborhoods in central Paris the area is a hip vibrant and artistic
01:06neighborhood it's filled with galleries trendy cafes food markets bars and
01:12restaurants the apartment is tucked away on the small and quiet street this is
01:18one of many historical buildings in the area dating back to the 17th century the
01:25initial condition of this place was quite bad the bathrooms had electric
01:30Sunny Boyer toilets without proper plumbing and part of the structure of the
01:34ceiling and floors were badly water damaged and were at risk of collapsing
01:41this apartment was originally made of two equally sized studios the first thing I
01:47did was to connect the studios through a passageway I was able to take over part of
01:52the building's corridor to create a toilet and a small entryway I repositioned the
01:58kitchen freeing up space to create a large open-plan living and dining room in
02:04what used to be the other studio I installed a box containing a large closet a
02:09dressing room and the main bathroom
02:17as you enter the apartment I chose a powder parchment gray for the walls and
02:22ceiling it contrasts the exposed wooden structural pillars typical from these
02:27old Le Marais buildings which I restored and preserved
02:33right beside the door a wall of floor-to-ceiling closets has space to store my
02:39coats shoes and bags as well as a dedicated space for larger luggage the
02:45furthest closet hides the laundry machine as well as a few other cleaning
02:49supplies and a rail to hang delicate clothes the kitchen was designed to blend
02:57in with the living room the large vertical cabinets were custom made to fit this
03:03space while the rest of the cabinetry is made with IKEA structures with
03:08customized fronts the mirror reflects the natural light coming from the windows
03:14and adds a soft warm glow to the entire room within the cabinetry I placed a
03:21full-sized fridge and freezer a dishwasher and a white oven that blends into the
03:26cabinets there's also a small microwave and a coffee bar area on the far end I
03:37added a discreet wine rack which is something I had always wanted to have the
03:42countertop is a simple white Corian resin that doesn't stand out with a
03:47built-in sink that I paired with a golden faucet I kept the ceiling beams exposed
03:55because they're part of the history of the apartment and I painted it in white I
04:02also took advantage of a niche in the wall to perfectly fit a full-height mirror I
04:08squared off the old chimney flue which created a small storage behind it I chose
04:15a statement satin and white marble table the chairs are set from the 70s I found
04:20at a vintage shop and had rear falster I chose this Vitra sofa because it's
04:28modular you can move around with the little tables and change the composition
04:35according to your needs it is big enough to use it as a day bed or when someone
04:42comes to sleep over for a short stay above the sofa I placed a wall scones which
04:49I custom designed with a venison company the switches and baseboards are flush with
04:55the wall to maintain this idea of a sleek white box in small places I like to use
05:01tools because they provide flexibility you can use them as coffee tables or plant
05:07stands and of course as extra chairs for guests I painted the wooden planks of the
05:14floor with a white resin that together with the natural light highlights the
05:19ripple texture of the material between the chimney flue and the wall I
05:24installed a set of oak shelves where I display my art books plants and favorite
05:29objects along the windows there's a bench that wraps around the wall to create a
05:36storage it also hides the heaters I chose to do deep drawers that felt more
05:44convenient for such a low piece I wrapped it in wooden slacks to conceal the
05:49drawers as a result they also act as handles I added a custom set of pillows to
05:57make this the perfect sunny reading spot and with a lovely view
06:09the bedroom is my sunny retreat as a hotel designer I may have a professional
06:15bias but I designed the bedrooms and the bathroom as I like to design it for
06:20hotels behind the bed a wood paneled half wall acts as a headboard I use the
06:28leftover wooden planks from the floor the switches beside the bed are also hotel
06:33inspired as they control all the lights in the bedroom the headboard open ups on
06:40both sides of the bed to reveal storage for my office supplies and there is also a
06:45hidden storage compartment under the bed above the windows I created a special
06:52niche to hide the roller blackout curtains and keep the room looking tidy
06:59during the renovation work I discovered another set of wooden pillars under
07:04multiple layers of wallpaper I left them visible and contrasted them with a
07:10textured lime plaster that pairs nicely with the irregular surface of the wood
07:17the closet serves as a transition space between the bedroom and bathroom
07:22the cupboards are covered with soft pale blue green velvet curtains
07:28it covers a hanging rail as well as a set of shelves and drawers which I made with IKEA pieces
07:37the bathroom was designed to feel serene and sophisticated I decided to wrap the walls in
07:43mirrors which is something I like to do in hotel rooms and makes the space feel a lot larger than
07:48it is
07:50the walk-in shower feels roomy the LED cove in the shower provides a smooth and intriguing glow
07:57that accentuates the textured white tiles the vanity is a piece I custom designed to fit perfectly in this space
08:07it has a simple line with curved edge around sink which adds softness that is much appreciated in a small
08:14room like this
08:15its deep drawers hold all my towels and toiletries helping keep the space uncluttered
08:23I've added a small edge for perfume and things I want to have easily accessible
08:31having the toilet separated from the main bathroom means my guests don't need to go inside my room
08:37all the time although this is a small space I decided to install a deep sink so I would have
08:43more space to wash my hands without splashing the wallpaper or making a mess
08:48the wall-to-wall mirror reflects the leopard pattern painted wallpaper by designer Kelly Wessler
08:55the floating tankless toilet sits below a custom closet that hides the water heater
09:00and the small shelving unit for my cleaning supplies
09:06when I design a small space my first goal is to make it as functional as possible
09:12I incorporate all the necessary features for comfortable everyday living
09:16when an apartment in an old building is refurbished the opportunity is created to restore its structure
09:22keep its history alive and make the city still livable and comfortable for everyone
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