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Houzz Tour: The Genius Transformation of a Tiny City Flat
Before and after photos show the clever way this small studio home was created on a tight budget
This small flat in a quiet cul-de-sac in Paris was the perfect project for a young homeowner looking for his first step on the property ladder. Although the flat was dilapidated after years of being rented out, he decided to renovate it with the help of interior designer Véronique Bertholon of Mis en Chantier and bring it back to life. After browsing a number of small-space layouts on social networks, he came across a 10 sq m apartment cleverly optimised by Véronique, which prompted him to contact her straight away.
With a tiny 23 sq m floor plan – seen here before works – and a budget of €40,000, designer Véronique Bertholon was immediately interested in taking up this challenge.
On her first visit to the second floor of the faubourg building, in the company of the homeowner, she noted, “There was nothing to keep. The previous owners had had this property in their family for 40 years and had rented it out all the time. The advantage was that you could easily clear out the entire space.
“The entrance was ideally placed at a corner, the drains were to the right of the entrance, and we benefited from three beautiful windows overlooking the cul-de-sac, which made the space very light, especially as there is only one distant neighbour,” she says.
On her first visit to the second floor of the faubourg building, in the company of the homeowner, she noted, “There was nothing to keep. The previous owners had had this property in their family for 40 years and had rented it out all the time. The advantage was that you could easily clear out the entire space.
“The entrance was ideally placed at a corner, the drains were to the right of the entrance, and we benefited from three beautiful windows overlooking the cul-de-sac, which made the space very light, especially as there is only one distant neighbour,” she says.
The tight budget of €40,000 set by the homeowner – for the complete renovation and custom fitting of his studio – represented a major challenge, particularly given his desire for built-in furniture.
Faced with this constraint, Véronique came up with a clever solution. “I suggested the possibility of fitting out the entire space with semi-customised Metod carcasses from Ikea, while still achieving a personalised, top-of-the-range result,” she says.
Véronique’s professional know-how, backed up by her 3D design skills, combined with the clever adaptations of her joiner, have taken this ‘Ikea hack’ away from DIY and produced a stunning result, as meticulous as made-to-measure pieces, and for a saving per square metre of around €500 (around £417).
Faced with this constraint, Véronique came up with a clever solution. “I suggested the possibility of fitting out the entire space with semi-customised Metod carcasses from Ikea, while still achieving a personalised, top-of-the-range result,” she says.
Véronique’s professional know-how, backed up by her 3D design skills, combined with the clever adaptations of her joiner, have taken this ‘Ikea hack’ away from DIY and produced a stunning result, as meticulous as made-to-measure pieces, and for a saving per square metre of around €500 (around £417).
Before Photo
This is the flat as Véronique discovered it. The small space formed a rectangle, with a kitchen on the entrance side and, behind the wardrobe with its mirrored doors, a shower room. Most of the space was taken up by a square living room with a fireplace.
The first piece of good news was that the three windows had recently been replaced, so there was no need to add those to the budget.
The first piece of good news was that the three windows had recently been replaced, so there was no need to add those to the budget.
Before Photo
There was a second piece of good news: once the flat had been completely cleaned out (seen here), the 23 sq m footprint turned into 25 sq m, because it was possible to find centimetres everywhere behind the lining.
This means the homeowner should be able to recoup roughly €20,000 (around £16,676) on resale, given the price per square metre in the area.
This means the homeowner should be able to recoup roughly €20,000 (around £16,676) on resale, given the price per square metre in the area.
Thanks to Véronique’s expertise, the layout of the studio was then optimised with the greatest of care, without neglecting an entrance hall. The original kitchen and bathroom were reversed to create a recess for the new kitchen and give it the best possible position near the windows.
The L-shaped kitchen was fitted with Metod carcasses, finished with Ikea fronts and sides. “The splashback is also an Ikea Sibbarp panel in ash-effect melamine, to match the worktop,” Véronique says.
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The L-shaped kitchen was fitted with Metod carcasses, finished with Ikea fronts and sides. “The splashback is also an Ikea Sibbarp panel in ash-effect melamine, to match the worktop,” Véronique says.
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Before Photo
The location of the original bathroom became that of the new kitchen.
The bathroom has been rebuilt to the right of the kitchen as a minimalist box (more of which shortly), but one that contains everything the owner needs.
During the preliminary phase of the works, the electrical, plumbing and electric heating systems were completely refurbished.
The bathroom has been rebuilt to the right of the kitchen as a minimalist box (more of which shortly), but one that contains everything the owner needs.
During the preliminary phase of the works, the electrical, plumbing and electric heating systems were completely refurbished.
The two-tone treatment in green (Ikea Bodarp) and wood effect (Ikea Sibbarp) was deliberately chosen by Véronique to brighten up the small area. “The combination of green, wood and pure white always creates a bubble of serenity,” she says. “It’s a [timeless combination].”
The kitchen has a full range of appliances: induction hob, fan-assisted oven, microwave, fridge-freezer and washing machine. “The only thing missing is a dishwasher,” Véronique says. “We’d planned to place it under the sink with a dedicated drain, but for the moment the owner prefers to store the bins there, so they’re not visible from the living area.”
The kitchen has a full range of appliances: induction hob, fan-assisted oven, microwave, fridge-freezer and washing machine. “The only thing missing is a dishwasher,” Véronique says. “We’d planned to place it under the sink with a dedicated drain, but for the moment the owner prefers to store the bins there, so they’re not visible from the living area.”
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Véronique wanted to include a table that could also be used as a desk for working from home. It fits perfectly against the bathroom partition and the end of the kitchen units – and it can be extended to seat six. “I really like this model, which, when folded up, makes it easy to move around,” she says.
Origamy half-moon table, Alinéa.
Origamy half-moon table, Alinéa.
This is the view on entering the flat. The Ikea hack continues with this full-height storage partition/wardrobe straight ahead. “We created it using only 60cm- and 40cm-wide Ikea Metod kitchen carcasses to fill the ceiling height as closely as possible. The rest was adapted by the joiner using Ikea finishing panels,” Véronique says.
The casing for the electrical panel has been disguised behind an Ikea panel on the left, while Ikea Trones shoe racks below have been topped with a piece of ash laminate to create a console. The mirror is also from Ikea.
The casing for the electrical panel has been disguised behind an Ikea panel on the left, while Ikea Trones shoe racks below have been topped with a piece of ash laminate to create a console. The mirror is also from Ikea.
Whether or not to include a real bedroom was one of the questions raised, but they decided on an alcove bed. This can be just as functional as a real bedroom, because you don’t have to fold up your bed every day, and it can be placed at the back of the room. It also has less impact on space than would a real 9 sq m bedroom, which would inevitably have cut into the living area and required a window.
The joiner adapted the partition kitchen cabinets to create a wardrobe by adding rails and shelves inside, while on the outside an end piece was created using a wood-effect finishing panel.
This decision was taken for a specific reason. “As it was necessary to use two panels to obtain the desired height, it was important not to opt for a uniform colour, as the junction would have been much more visible than with an irregular woodgrain pattern,” Véronique says.
This decision was taken for a specific reason. “As it was necessary to use two panels to obtain the desired height, it was important not to opt for a uniform colour, as the junction would have been much more visible than with an irregular woodgrain pattern,” Véronique says.
The compact sleeping space measures 180cm x 220cm. It was created entirely from 80cm-high Metod carcasses, covered with a sheet of OSB to form the base for the 140cm x 200cm mattress. The height is comfortable enough to dispense with the need for a ladder.
To the right, a door allows access under the mezzanine. “Inside, there’s 3 sq m of storage space and we’ve added shelves to all the carcasses,” Véronique says. “Although the space is quite low, having so much storage in a small room is a real luxury.” An automatic LED strip lights up as soon as the door is opened.
To the right, a door allows access under the mezzanine. “Inside, there’s 3 sq m of storage space and we’ve added shelves to all the carcasses,” Véronique says. “Although the space is quite low, having so much storage in a small room is a real luxury.” An automatic LED strip lights up as soon as the door is opened.
In the alcove, the installation of a woodland wallpaper creates a “bubble of nature”. Véronique likes the serenity and depth it creates.
Slats divide the bed from the living space without making the sleeping area too dark. “The slatted wooden screen is an Ikea Mandal headboard that we stripped of its shelves, installed at the right height and slightly reworked,” Véronique says.
Scandinavian Woodland’ wallpaper, Photowall.
Slats divide the bed from the living space without making the sleeping area too dark. “The slatted wooden screen is an Ikea Mandal headboard that we stripped of its shelves, installed at the right height and slightly reworked,” Véronique says.
Scandinavian Woodland’ wallpaper, Photowall.
The living room isn’t very big, but it is cosy, with an Ikea sofa topped by a picture shelf, also from Ikea, meaning artworks can easily be swapped around.
Although space is necessarily limited in this studio, the layout could be changed if required. “The fireplace [behind the sofa] is still functional and the sofa could easily be turned around,” Véronique says.
As for the coffee table, it’s a genuine Eames, found second-hand for €50 (around £42) on a lucky day. “An unbeatable price,” Véronique says.
More: 8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Small Living Room
Although space is necessarily limited in this studio, the layout could be changed if required. “The fireplace [behind the sofa] is still functional and the sofa could easily be turned around,” Véronique says.
As for the coffee table, it’s a genuine Eames, found second-hand for €50 (around £42) on a lucky day. “An unbeatable price,” Véronique says.
More: 8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Small Living Room
Before Photo
The original kitchenette is now the shower room.
Positioning the shower room door in the hallway avoids a direct view into the living area. “The bespoke effect is accentuated by the green paint in the hallway and [on the wardrobes],” Véronique says. “It’s exactly the same shade as the furniture. I simply took a Bodarp drawer front to a [paint] shop to have it colour-matched.”
In such a tight space, Véronique chose a compact 80cm x 80cm shower and a shallow Ikea Enhet basin. Thanks to her 3D design, the space has been worked on both sides: the recess needed for the toilet forms the column on the kitchen side.
“An extra-flat, 80-litre Ariston water heater has been included above the toilet support frame. There’s even storage space inside for toilet paper,” Véronique says.
“An extra-flat, 80-litre Ariston water heater has been included above the toilet support frame. There’s even storage space inside for toilet paper,” Véronique says.
Passionate about her mission, Véronique gave her all to meet the challenge of this ultimate Ikea hack. “It was great fun working with this Ikea constraint and I really enjoyed it,” she says.
Tell us…
What do you think of this clever transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you think of this clever transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A young professional man
Location Paris, France
Property A studio apartment
Size 25 sq m
Project duration and year 1 month of planning, 2 months of works; completed in 2023
Interior designer Véronique Bertholon of Mis en Chantier
Budget (excluding fees) €40,000 (around £33,351);
Ikea invoice: Carpentry supplies + crockery, bed linen etc, €22,000 (around £18,343)
Work and labour: €18,000 (around £15,008)
Photos by Élodie Gutbrod @creatividie