If you've ever dreamt of living in Paris, this romantic, cozy space might just be what you had in mind. Working with only 200 square feet, these newlywed dwellers makeover their Paris flat with rich color, popping textiles and simple décor. Head below the jump for one of our sweetest Before & Afters yet.
The Color Cure: How long have you lived in your home?
Ashley: We have been living in our petit palais since March, 2011.
The Color Cure: When did you overhaul the space?
Ashley: One of the reasons we moved into this flat in the 7th arrondissement (from the 11th) was because we felt like being in a foreign city we really needed to make our house a home. Therefore, there was piscine on the wall (that sounds dirty) before we even moved in.
The Color Cure: How long did it take?
Ashley: Thanks to my wonderful husband/slave, the painting was done in about two days. I did a grand job of supervising and buying pizza. The accessories and furniture followed for the next two months.
The Color Cure: Where did you find your color and design inspiration?
Ashley: Living in France and not speaking French has been quite daunting. I knew that my paint would be coming "off the rack" as there was no way I was capable of asking for a mixed color. When we went to Castorama (kind of like a French Home Depot), we initially chose a darker aqua as I was channeling Tiffany blue due to our wooden ceiling beams and red accent pieces salvaged from our former apartment. However, upon returning home when I held the container up to the wall, it seemed like it would be too dark. I am now guessing that returning the paint may have actually been less difficult than having had the right color mixed. Luckily there was a softer blue (piscine, meaning pool), and off we went to create our new space.
The Color Cure: How much planning did you put into the project?
Ashley: Although we didn't have much time to ponder the overall project, we did have a month for my husband to listen to me obsess about pillows. What really became the amusing component to our décor, was trying to work with IKEA.fr. I now lay in bed every night thankful that they finally figured a way to get our bed/couch up the stairs. Once the furniture was assembled and the paint dry, it took another month or so to buy curtains and have my coveted pillows arrive from the States (Jonathan Adler should really consider going global). We also see our home as a mini-showcase for our travels so we are also collecting pieces as we go along. As I am a reorganizer par excellence, I am sure new improvements will always be on the horizon.
The Color Cure: What was the most challenging part of the project?
Ashley: I wanted it all to be done the day we moved in. However, there was definitely the issue of feeling like it all needed to be perfect due to the size of the space, and having only my vision dictating what to buy ahead of time. The only decorating issue we ran up against was the slanted walls that compost one half of the room. I hadn't realized this when planning out the space, and it looked too monotone without anything on it. Luckily we found planters that were a perfect fit for slanted walls and really pop against the piscine color. Getting them in a straight line was definitely a job to do sober.
The Color Cure: Did you learn a new skill during your home improvement project?
Ashley: As one of the components of this project was the utilizaiton of 200 square feet for our living/dining/storage/bathing needs, I think I have learned the difference between necessity and excess.
The Color Cure: Are you happy with the outcome?
Ashley: We are thrilled to come home to such an uplifting space. We felt that our first apartment in Paris was too dark and unwelcoming. When I look around this tiny space, I have many memories of not only building it with my husband, but also of numerous wonderful adventures we have been on together. It is amazing what you can fit into a cary-on if you know it would look fantastic on your wall or floor.
The Color Cure: What, if anything, would you do differently next time around?
Ashley: Due to my need for cleanliness, the white couch is a bit of a sore spot (no pun intended). But, overall, we are quite content and happy with how quickly we were able to streamline the process. Many thanks to my in-laws who sherpa-ed all my initial "visions" from the US to Paris.
The Color Cure: If you had one piece of advice for Apartment Therapy readers, what would it be?
Ashley: Be proud of your space. We have such a small space, but we have chosen color to make it inviting and our own. Paris can be dark and gray, our home is an oasis and a UV-free dose of Vitamin D. With color, you can really transform a space and your well-being.
Do you have a Before & After or a Color Inspiration Story to share with The Color Cure? Go ahead and get your entries in soon—The Color Cure ends next week. We can't wait to hear from you!
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I love this space, you did such a good job.
love it! and you have a balcony! awesome!
If you ever want to visit Chicago, I would LOVE to swap places with you. This is just the cutest place!
And if you ever want to visit Sydney, Australia, I would LOVE to swap with you :)
I am currently in San Antonio, TX...know a tiny bit of French but am thinking of moving to Paris...how did you guys go about finding your place? Any websites I should check out?
just to be sure, you sleep on the sofa, right?
i don't see any room for a bed.
aprilheartsaaron, I thought that too. But then I looked at the before photo again, and I'm thinking perhaps that big cupboard area on the right involves a murphy bed. Maybe?
when i think of Parisian, i think of apartments just like this one. :) fabulous job!
and by "Parisian," i mean "Paris." oy.
In the comments she says bed/couch so I assume it is a sleeper. Also, I'm in NYC if you ever want to swap. As a bonus a Jonathan Adler store is across the street so you could score more pillows.
This is great, I'd love to see more pictures!
Such a sweet place.
I can't help but think "Barefoot in the Park."
I. Die.
Love love love! Can I move in. PUh-lease?
Sorry, but I disagree. Who moves to a place globally recognised as flea market heaven then furnishes their pad entirely from IKEA? And gets their pillows shipped in from Jonathan Adler?
I think Ashley's writing is brilliant, laugh-out-loud. And the apartment rocks.
The break line of paint colour in the "kitchen" from the other area must have been difficult to place. Clever use of colour.
Love your place....If all those cold days and grey skies in Paris become too much for you. I live near Death Valley, CA and would swap places. LOL
Paris can be dark and gray? Sometimes, sure, but what a strange way to describe one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I lived in Paris for two years and had lots of great weather too. I find it strange how people say this looks "parisian", I think its nice, but I never would've guessed it was Paris. Most people keep their walls white over there, it is quite rare to see an apartment with colorful walls.
The piscine paint is welcoming like a pool and makes you want to dive into your adorable apartment. Channeling Tiffany blue was a great reference point to start with because good things do come in small packages and what you’ve created a fantastic French fantasy flat with only 200 sq ft.
The planters were an interesting solution for the slanted wall, but you might want to consider covering that couch wall with mirror or mirrored tiles. It would create visual roominess and reflect in that precious Parisian sunlight from the balcony. If the ceiling is high enough, you could accent in a simple white or red shelf above the balcony door for example. It would allow you to store your books and eliminate the need for your bookcase. Maybe the pictures on top of it could find a new home hung on the “B” wall? Your boxes or anything else could also benefit from this concept of implementing shelf storage. Essentially the idea is to utilize high shelves to free up more floor space. But don’t mind me if you prefer the cozy comfort of your petit palais, because after all …you are newlyweds. Congrats!
Lee Collett beat me to it! If you want to visit Sydney, Australia, and it doesn't work out to swap with Lee, we'd love to swap with you! :) I used to live in Paris (in the 12th arrondissement) and miss it! What a lovely place to live!
I agree with Blandwagon and agef - Very nice, but I would never have guessed Paris. I just feel that it is like a lived-in IKEA showroom. Sorry.
And while I love the color on the wall, I think it feels a lot smaller and more cluttered than it had too... White walls might be boring, but they definitely bring more light into a room...
Then again, all tastes are different. :-)
The apartment is very pretty and the colors you chose are beautiful! My only suggestion would be to cut down on the clutter. It becomes visually distracting.
To those naysayers, apartments in Paris are all different colors and styles. And there is no requirement that Parisians furnish with brocante finds. I do think a 1930's -50's advertising sign that sports some of the piscine/red colors would be fun.
And if you ever want to trade for a month in California's Napa Valley,let me know!
PS Watch the French evening news casts on TV to help you if you're learning French. The journalists tend to articulate clearly and you can actually watch their mouths move as they enunciate.
I live in an officially bilingual country.I do not speak french!Not every francophone speaks english.Many people come to live here and have no reason to learn both languages.I have yet to visit any European city and not be able to find excellent english speakers.I'll take that even further.Many Europeans learn enough english to get along anywhere.
People with preconceived ideas about what to expect from any major city will most likely bed sorely disappointed by the reality.Ikea is international.Expect to see Ikea interiors anywhere in the world.In my own travels I have noticed this to be indisputable fact.
I would love to see more as well!
I think blandwagon, agef and deathandfood are jealous... might be time to find a hobby or post pictures of your own home so people can be rude to you. namaste.
I like it. Yeah, that's hilarious that some think a flat in Paris has to have a certain style. You have light on two sides, that's very lucky and helps the color work rather than being forced to keep the walls all-white. I think I'd get a near-counter-height cabinet and put the fridge on top - I hate bending over alla time! The cabinet could have one shelf so the microwave is at a reasonable height; the lower cubby then for pantry items or whatever. Not sure where the coffee makers would go then...
Oh to be living in Paris! I am so envious. I adore your darling space, you've done a lovely job. Love the color, love the large window. I love that you have proven that style can be done in a small home. Do you have plans to travel to other places? Do you have a blog? I'd love to follow your adventures.
Bonjour from Paris! We have loved reading the comments and thank you for the fantastic suggestions. As we are not lifers (but we are on a nasty little budget) our apartment was decorated with the idea that sadly we can't take anything back with us furniture-wise (as I love the brocante just as much as the Parisians do!). And oui -- the couch is also our bed so we were really limited with pieces that have the dual function. However, we have had a blast decorating with items from all of our travels. A steerhead from Berlin, pictures from a botanical exhibit in Madrid, vintage porcelain and butterflies from Portugal, a goat skin from Bosnia, a gold horse from Slovenia (which has amazing design shops), a donkey print from an education museum in Prague, and the list goes on. We also figured the French touch comes from the fact that we can see the Eiffel Tower out of our front window. At night it outshines all colors and decor choices! :) We do blog (sort of) at www.thebenzesinparis.blogspot.com. Bon weekend and thanks again!
"Ashley: Thanks to my wonderful husband/slave" ok i couldn't get over this. maybe i'm just jealous tho.
Jo Li beautiful apartment!!!!
I love your space and Ashley, so many of your responses are quotable...well done.
The light coming thru from your balconey french doors (or window?) is fantastic, I'm a bit envious.
Kudos to how you were able to transform your space into a chic and cozy home. The wall color is beautiful and you seem to have a good grasp on how to keep things organized.
Discordant... Just a very awkward space.
Great job!
I agree with blandwagon, agef and deathandfood; nothing parisian about this flat. Not that it has to be a certain way to be parisian but you could put this place anywhere...Yes IKEA is international and great but it's not the only game in any town. Despite what Diff thinks, no one was rude and despite what hello123 thinks, speaking the language of your hosts is always polite and the words MERCI and BONJOUR are not hard to learn.