Before & After: Big Changes for a Tiny Paris Apartment

Project by: Ann Huff & Paris Perfect
Project location: Paris, France

I’m pretty excited to share this project with you guys, because it brings together three things I love: Before & Afters, tiny apartments, and Paris. This is the story of how designer Ann Huff took a small, cramped 235-square-foot studio apartment and turned it into the perfect Parisian retreat.

Besides the bright blue walls, the apartment had other issues: it was split into two rooms by a small dividing wall, but furniture placement was difficult. The location of the kitchen meant that there was pretty much no way to fit both a bed and a couch in the apartment, since they would each have to go in the room on the left (marked séjour on above floor plan). A dividing wall between the kitchen and the rest of the space split up an already small apartment even further.

One simple (well, simple in theory, although probably not in execution) change opened up this apartment and completely transformed its functionality. Ann had the idea to move the kitchen from its former location by the front door to the long wall of the larger room. With this adjustment, the smaller room (formerly the kitchen) becomes the bedroom, and the larger room functions as kitchen, living room, and dining room.

Aesthetic changes made a big difference, too. Painting the walls and the ceiling beams a pale gray gives the space a much lighter, airier feel. The new wide-plank wood floors complement the new color scheme.

In the bedroom, a mirrored wall of wardrobes (on the left) almost seems to disappear. Ann filled in the partition, and added a pair of curtains that can be closed to provide a little privacy for the bedroom.

In the bathroom, curtains frame the shower and draw the eye up, emphasizing one thing this little room does have going for it: height. The simple, modern fixtures and finishes give the bathroom a clean, relaxing feel.

Unfortunately, we can’t all live in Paris — but if you’re in love with this apartment and want to try out small space living, it’s available to rent from Paris Perfect. Click through to their site to see more photos — and maybe to book your stay. You can read more about the apartment’s transformation on the Paris Perfect site here, here, and here.

Oh, and did we mention the view? Because this is the view.