00:07The goal was to create a calm sunny place where light could flow through the space.
00:13In order to address the brief of light and calmness, we created the concept of Le Lieu clair,
00:20which translates to in the light space. To achieve this feeling of Le Lieu clair,
00:27we were heavily influenced by Japanese design.
00:39The apartment is located in the north of Paris, in the 18th district, at the foot of Montmartre.
00:47The name of this area is La Goute d'Or. It's very popular and animated.
00:54The streets are full of people shopping for food at the market and local shops.
00:59My name is Édouard Roulet-Mafféis. I'm the co-founder of Space Factory,
01:04a multidisciplinary creative studio that offers interior and furniture design here in Paris.
01:11Our clients wanted a space that reminded them of the place they grew up in, in the south of France.
01:18Curved pieces and a well-thought-out layout make it feel like light can flow through this space without interruption.
01:27When we found this apartment, we knew it had potential, as it is on the top floor with a good
01:33layout.
01:33However, it hadn't been renovated since the 80s, and the materials and appliances were old.
01:40The layout of the apartment remained more or less the same, but everything else was changed.
01:46The old U-shaped kitchen was torn down in order to create a larger kitchen with cabinets
01:52that took up the entire back wall. We added a novel kitchen island for more storage and prep space.
02:00In the bedroom, we designed a custom platform for the low Japanese tile bed, some built-in storage and a
02:08desk.
02:08We shifted the walls of the toilet to create more space in the bathroom and make space for a laundry
02:15closet.
02:16We took the opportunity to curve the toilet wall in order to allow for better movement in the hallway.
02:23Finally, we tore down the ceiling and revealed a 3.5 meter high.
02:27It allowed us to add a lot of skylights to the apartment.
02:36The building is from around the 1900s and it was originally a residential building for workers in the area.
02:44Upon entering the apartment, you are greeted by a small entrance.
02:49The space is defined by the terracotta arch, which has storage on either side and hides the electricity box.
02:57In order to give utility to every inch of this apartment, we extended the entrance to the hallway
03:04and created a custom storage bench for shoes.
03:08The bench is simple and sleek with the same terracotta paint as the arch.
03:14This was the only space in the entire house that didn't have natural light.
03:19So we installed recessed lighting as well as a plateau sconce that doubles as an art piece.
03:26You enter the sand-filled living room through the terracotta arch frame.
03:31We took advantage of the height of the room and created a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf,
03:37made out of a white-coated steel and plywood.
03:40This large piece displays the owner prized possessions, such as books, artworks and objects
03:47that hold special meaning.
03:50The only artificial lighting in this area is the wallpaper lantern and blends perfectly into the space.
03:58A projector screen was installed on the ceiling and can be lowered in front of the window.
04:05A reupholstered togo sofa sits right below the angled skylight and in front of one of the windows,
04:12making it a nice sunny spot to relax and enjoy the Parisian view.
04:19The owners love to sew and create things in their spare time.
04:24So we added close storage to the bottom of the shelf for their materials and sewing machine.
04:30The corner was the perfect place to add a curved desk and D for working from home.
04:36We updated the windows to double glass paints that make this a totally quiet space in the middle of the
04:42busy city.
04:45In between the two windows, we took advantage of the slanted walls to create some close storage
04:51that doubles as a space to display personal objects and artwork.
04:55We created a magnetic cover to hide the radiator below the window.
05:00It can be easily removed for quick access.
05:04The vibrant yellow kitchen was designed to feel like you're in a cafe.
05:09The different shades of yellow add depth to the space.
05:13In the space around the whole fireplace, we added a niche with open shelves and a designated coffee corner.
05:21The cabinetry comes from IKEA with custom fronts from Plum Living.
05:28Installing upper cabinets was always out of the question.
05:31It would have made this place feel very crowded.
05:34Instead, we kept the wall minimal and added some simple white wall lights.
05:41The owners are both big on cooking.
05:44So it was important that the kitchen could have full-size kitchen appliances.
05:48So the kitchen has a large sink, a full-size oven and an induction hob with integrated exhaust fan.
05:56The centerpiece of the kitchen is the yellow curved kitchen island.
06:01It has a lot of storage below and a lot of space to prepare meals above.
06:06Both of the countertops and the backsplash are made out of light-colored quartz stone.
06:12It works well with the yellow and is heat-resistant and easy to clean.
06:19Above the island are some red pendants that the owners brought back from a trip to Hong Kong.
06:25The kitchen is a step up from the living room.
06:27The step gives a sense of separation between the areas.
06:31The mirror reflects the parquet floor and softens the transition between spaces.
06:37The dining area sits on the other side of the kitchen island.
06:41It features an extendable IKEA table that can host up to four people.
06:50The bedroom is on the other side of the hallway.
06:53Away from the noise and activities of the rest of the house.
06:58The integrated bed frame and closet are made entirely out of plywood.
07:03We installed a large top-to-bottom closet that took advantage of the high ceilings
07:09and goes down past the floor of the platform.
07:12Walking up the steps to the bed offers a sense of ritual and separation from everyday life.
07:20The bed was designed to make a regular queen-sized mattress look thinner, like a Japanese futon bed.
07:27Because it takes up most of the space in the room, it feels like one big piece that hugs you.
07:34On either side, push-to-open compartments act as side tables for phones and books.
07:41The bed is raised up through a hydraulic system to reveal generous amounts of storage and underneath.
07:48The owners needed a second desk for the rare times that both of them had to work from home.
07:54So we designed a slim table against the wall with a pull-out keyboard so they don't have to sit
07:59close up to the monitor.
08:02At the entrance to the bedroom, we installed mirrors to reflect the space and concealed the boiler.
08:10The bathroom was kept visually simple. The vanity is a floating cabinet made from waterproof waxed plywood.
08:19We integrated the curved mirror into the glass partition so the mirror can be used on both sides.
08:26The smooth waxed concrete flooring was also used for the steps leading up to the shower
08:32and the inside of the shower. Raising the entrance means that the owners can fill it like a bathtub
08:38and turn it into their own ensign. At the entrance to the bathroom, we hid a laundry space behind some
08:47plywood doors. It is a tall space that has storage for cleaning supplies.
08:56The toilet is behind a sliding door in the hallway. We installed the smallest Japanese toilet we could find,
09:04which features a heated seat and a bidet. We decided to anchor the rooms with furniture
09:11that were low and close to the ground and below high level. This made the space feel less visually dense
09:18and help bring attention to the tall ceilings and skylights coming from above. Our philosophy is
09:25to treat a small space not as a restraint but as a way to be creative. It is very joyful
09:31to design a
09:32small space where everything can find its own spot. Upgrading tiny spaces is like giving forgotten
09:40corners of the city a second life, with a splash of joy and imagination. It's a smart, sustainable way to
09:47create cozy, clever homes that make your urban living vibrant, affordable and full of character.
09:53Prove that a space can be more than small with big ideas.
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