Kim’s Sunny Small Space in Paris
Name: Kim Laidlaw
Location: Paris, France
Size: 40 square meters (approx. 430 square feet)
Years lived in: 5 years
Kim, a freelance writer and the author of Unlock Paris, an insider’s guide to the City of Light, may be an import from London, but her home feels quintessentially Parisian. It’s small by American standards — only 430 square feet — but blessed with floor-to-ceiling french doors that open onto a balcony which overlooks the city. Add to this a mix of modern pieces and flea market finds, against a backdrop of wood floors and gorgeous moldings, and you have something special that could only happen in Paris.
This is an apartment that makes good use of its small footprint. While the bathroom is seriously tiny — I’m talking fold-yourself-in-half-to-sit-on-the-toilet tiny — and the kitchen is sized for one, the living room and bedroom feel nice and spacious. Kim has just enough stuff to make the space feel cozy without being crowded, and everything holds its own, from the Verner Panton chair to the bunny lamp in the bedroom. It’s clear that everything here is well-considered and well-loved — and it all comes together to create a truly timeless mix.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Old and new and timeless.
Inspiration: My parents and my friends – I’m surrounded by impeccable taste.
Favorite Element: Styling – I like bringing individual items together to create something (hopefully) greater than the sum of its parts.
Biggest Challenge: Fitting things into such a small space!
What Friends Say: “C’est vachement lumineux!” (“It’s very bright!”)
Biggest Embarrassment: The size of the bathroom – it’s so tiny that it couldn’t even be photographed for this piece!
Proudest DIY: Reupholstering the dining chairs that I found with mustard velvet from the Paris fabric market, Marché St Pierre.
Biggest Indulgence: Scented candles – I love a bit of Cire Trudon and Diptyque.
Best Advice: If you love it, buy it.
Dream Sources: Contemporary Paris dealers: Jousse Entreprise, Galerie Kreo, Le Bon Marché, Astier de Villatte, the Paris flea market (Marché aux Puces de St Ouen).
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- Sofa: Habitat
- Cushions on sofa: Conran, Hema, Rouge du Rhin
- White chair: Verner Panton
- Cushions on white chair: Murakami, Donna Wilson
- Red chair: Konstantin Grcic
- Yellow chairs: vintage
- Coffee table: Robin Day
- Wooden platter: Storie Shop
- Cactus: Les Succulents Cactus
- Dining table: vintage mid-century
- Bar cart: Vintage (1940s)
- Stool: Tam Tam
- Media unit: IKEA
- Side tables: Habitat
- Chandelier: Habitat
- Artwork: David Shrigley, Lucie Hugary, Sadhu le Serbe, Christian Marclay, Roxane Borugerdi, Paul van der Eerden, Geneviève d’Andréis-Colladant, Sandrine Marc, Rainier Lericolais, Ihatedlc
- Record boxes: Schweizer Design
- Statuette: Lobi
- Lamps: Eileen Grey, Charlotte Perriand
- Vases: Alvar Aalto and vintage
KITCHEN
- Tea towel: Ferm Living
- Bread board: vintage
- Spice rack and rails: IKEA
- Counter: IKEA
BEDROOM
- Bed: IKEA
- Bedlinen: John Lewis and The White Company
- Cushions: Merci and homemade
- Bedspread: Ferm living
- Wardrobe: IKEA
- Chest of drawers: IKEA
- Sheepskin rug: IKEA
- Mirror: Habitat
- Rabbit lamp: BonTon
- Lamp on floor: Konstantin Grcic
- Stool: 5.5 Designers
- Lamps on mantelpiece: Habitat
- Wooden boxes: Habitat
- Artwork: Nina Fowler, Alexandre Leger, French Fries, Diogo Pimentao
- Mobile: Clara von Zweigbergk
Thanks, Kim!
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