This 323-Square-Foot Paris Studio Is So Good, Its Renter First Thought It Was a Scam
This rental apartment in Paris’ Le Marais area is so amazing, it literally seemed too good to be true at first glance to photographer Fabiola Paccieri. When she saw the studio’s listing on Le Bon Coin (France’s version of Facebook Marketplace), she “genuinely thought it was a scam.”
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“I almost didn’t believe it existed until I went to see it in person,” she admits. “I still remember the exact moment I found out — I was so happy I literally screamed in the bathroom.”
Fabiola was immediately struck by the atmosphere of the 323-square-foot studio apartment. “As soon as I walked through the front door, I was hit by the natural light and the ceiling height — it was an instant feeling of calm,” she writes.
“The entrance opens directly onto the living space, so you immediately get that ‘wow’ effect. I knew right away that I felt good there,” she continues of the space she’s rented for five years.
It wasn’t just the impeccable vibes that caught Fabiola’s attention; the studio’s layout was also a huge plus and was something she had never come across before.
“The entire space is structured around a central ‘box’ that contains the kitchen, with the bathroom integrated inside and a lofted sleeping area above,” Fabiola explains. “It almost feels like a small architectural structure placed within the apartment, creating a very unusual and functional flow.”
“When I first moved in, the apartment was furnished with a slightly ‘Airbnb-like’ feel — quite minimal, with a mix of neutral and slightly vintage pieces,” she writes. “The structure itself had already been thoughtfully designed by an interior architect [Laura Markman of Atelier Noun], so the space felt functional and well laid out, but not very personal yet.”
Laura Markman‘s clever and modern design of the home’s tiny interior, including the genius central box, the smart layout and the sleek material choices, obviously gave Fabiola an amazing canvas to work with when she moved in. But Fabiola’s use of decor in the one-room space deserves credit for the space’s style, as well.
Fabiola removed most of the existing furniture that was in the unit, replacing it with her own stylish picks, and it all started with the pink sofa. “I knew I wanted to build a strong color identity, and even the rug was chosen to match that vision,” she writes of her decor color palette that complements the beautiful green wall color, which is a part of Atelier Noun‘s original design of the space. “From there, the space naturally evolved into something much more colorful, eclectic, and personal, while still keeping a sense of balance and intention.”
Fabiola, who grew up in Canada and has been living in Paris for over 10 years, says that the entire home is a mix of different worlds, “some designer pieces, often from smaller or emerging designers, with vintage finds or thrifted objects that I sometimes reinterpret or transform myself.”
Resources
ENTRY
- Wavy Mirror — Sklum
LIVING ROOM
BEDROOM
- Lamp — Mana Objects
- Spiral Stand — Gustaf Westman
- Wall Light — Faro Barcelona
BATHROOM
- Colorful Bath Towels — Tarta Gelatina
- Graphic Bath Mat — Tarta Gelatina
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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Correction: The original article incorrectly understated the impact of interior architect Laura Markman of Atelier Noun on this project. It’s been corrected.