00:04The main inspiration for this project was the owner's family home in the south of France.
00:12The idea was to bring natural light to the whole apartment and to make it more functional.
00:19We achieved this by creating a large open space that we defined using paint color
00:25and cleverly placed pieces of furniture.
00:30Our client wanted the space to feature some of his family heirlooms,
00:35so we had to come up with the idea to cleverly mix the traditional pieces with a modern sleek renovation.
00:44We wanted to bring in the colors and textures that made him think of the sunny countryside home.
01:00My name is Josephine Ballin, I'm an interior and furniture designer in Paris.
01:07The apartment is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
01:12It's a quiet and family-friendly neighborhood close to the Champs-Mars and the Eiffel Tower.
01:20The building is from the 60s and has 10 floors, which is not very common for the area.
01:27When we found the apartment, it was very dark and the rooms felt small and boxed in.
01:33It hadn't been renovated for over 40 years and the utilities needed to be updated.
01:40The apartment's original layout was very closed off. We chose to retain the original function of each
01:47room in the renovation. The biggest change we made was to open up the kitchen and hallway into
01:55the rest of the apartment. We replaced it with a glass partition that helped bring natural light into
02:01the middle of the apartment. We created a custom piece of furniture that wraps around the partition.
02:09Besides the bedroom, we installed a built-in closet that matched the one that was already there.
02:15We curved the hallway corner to help create a more fluid transition between spaces.
02:21And to make better use of the space, we changed the bedroom door to a sliding door.
02:32As we enter the apartment, we are greeted by the warm terracotta curved walls of the hallway.
02:40Beside the door, there is a built-in closet for shoes,
02:43as well as a closet that hides the water heater and cleaning supplies.
02:49The striking terracotta walls define the box that holds the bedroom and bathrooms.
02:57On this wall, we installed a set of brass hooks for guests to hang on their coats.
03:03They are also double as handles for the closets that store most of our clients' clothes.
03:10The hallway is connected to the kitchen through a glass partition that allows natural light into
03:17this small transition space. We designed the custom storage piece that wraps around the partition
03:24and further defines the area. The living room was made to feel like a wide relaxing space.
03:33We installed a built-in wall-to-wall storage unit, specifically for the client's needs,
03:39with a designated drawer that perfectly fits his electric piano. The beige tone of this piece
03:47closely matches the flooring, creating a sense of spatial continuity.
03:53Behind it, we hid all the new electricity. A frame TV was chosen so it's less distracting when not in
04:01use.
04:03On the adjacent wall, the clients wanted to add some texture,
04:07so we created a piece of art made out of green and brown ceramic that reflects the lights coming
04:14from the windows. We placed a big sofa by Bobo Chic in the middle of the large room to mark
04:21separation
04:22and create a conversation area. We paired it with two director chairs and a Pierre Poland chair,
04:29which we re-postured in a burnt orange to add contrast and texture to this room.
04:34I personally designed the two small tables. They are made of wood, ceramic and brushed brass.
04:46Two very large windows flood the space with natural light and give this apartment lovely views of the
04:53Paris skyline. The large terrace was left untouched and is the next place the clients wants to renovate.
05:03We took advantage of a small corner that gets a lot of natural light to add a discreet desk.
05:12Instead of a piece of art, we tied this space with a sconce from Elements Lighting.
05:18A custom-made plywood and steel dining set with a Valcoma top feels light, yet warm and inviting.
05:27In order to make this dining area placement feel intentional, we placed the hanging pendant
05:34from HK Living directly above the table. The shape of the floor mirrors the ceiling above,
05:42visually connecting the two spaces while still distinguishing them from the rest of the apartment.
05:50The L-shaped kitchen is compact but still perfect for cooking or even having breakfast with a view.
06:00We needed a place to hide all the new electricals, so we decided to add a dropped ceiling
06:06that mirrors the shape on the floor and hides all the wires.
06:11A breakfast counter was created to connect the kitchen and the hallway.
06:18We built this kitchen with IKEA cabinetry and customized it with fonts from Plum Living.
06:25We chose a dark wood for the lower cabinets to add warmth and contrast to the stone colored floors.
06:32We installed the fridge and dishwasher within the cabinetry. And for the upper cabinets,
06:39we chose this green-gray hue that we continued on the ceiling and walls.
06:46During the summertime, the window gets direct sunlight and we chose wood blinds that don't absorb
06:52kitchen smell like a fabric curtain would. The bedroom was kept simple with a single statement element.
07:03The custom terracotta bed blends into the wall, making this space feel like an intimate cozy nook.
07:11We designed a deep headboard with integrated sockets that replace the need for bedside tables.
07:18The door that reaches to the first corner of the bed stores luggage and other large items.
07:26We designed the bed with proper aeration and tons of storage underneath.
07:32And the stairs have smaller storage areas.
07:36We really wanted to create an accent wall to add depth to the space, so we decided to do wallpaper.
07:44The client had found some of his family fashion drawings, so we thought it would be nice to create
07:50this design and incorporate them into the space. The painting of the horse had previously been placed
07:57in almost the exact same spot. And after the renovation, we realized that was still the perfect spot for it.
08:06A set of drawers he had contrast with the modern bed frame. The mix between hall pieces
08:13and the modern renovation gives personality to the apartment.
08:21The bathroom and toilets are hidden behind the terracotta wall. We chose a sunny yellow tile with irregular texture.
08:30It is reminiscent of the Mediterranean sunshine where the client's family lives.
08:36We replaced the old bath tube with a large walk-in shower. The curved wall from the hallway makes this
08:43shower feel like it hugs you. For the cabinet, we also decided to use IKEA frames with plum living fronts.
08:51We decided to create a ledge behind the sink so that the client would have a place to display
08:58personal objects. Behind the door, we added extra storage for the washing machine and shelf for extra soap
09:05and detergent. The separate toilet is great for guests so the bathroom can remain private. An old lion sculpture,
09:16the honor inherited from his family, hangs on the wall as an unexpected detail for guests.
09:23I think designing a small space asks you to really consider the habits of the person who lives there and
09:31how they
09:31use the space. The challenge lies in combining aesthetic functionality and simplicity.
09:39I think the future of urban living is not about constructing new buildings but renovating and upgrading
09:48what already exists. In large cities, tiny spaces are very common so understanding how people live and
09:56what they truly need is essential to any project.
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