Meow Meow

When it comes to urban living, we’re always looking for innovative solutions to make the most of every square foot. Well, get ready to take notes, because in the heart of Paris, architect Pierre, the visionary behind PS Studio, has absolutely mastered the art of maximizing space. His 60-square-meter (that’s about 645 square feet for those of us stateside) apartment, which he shares with his boyfriend, a fashion digital designer, is a masterclass in flexible, functional, and frankly, fun design.

Pierre’s core objective for this renovation was ambitious yet clear: to craft a space that is both “playful and functional”. He aimed to leverage the apartment’s existing high ceilings, large windows, and interior perspective to create a “sensation of a generous and extensible space”. This wasn’t a simple facelift; the apartment actually began as two separate units, leading to a rather inconvenient layout with the kitchen at one end and the bathroom at the other. Pierre’s bold solution? He removed all interior walls to create one expansive open canvas. This radical move was influenced by the grand proportions of European architecture and the clean, furniture-free aesthetic often seen in Japanese minimalist designs.

The Art of Modular Living: Five Spaces in One Fluid Design
Pierre’s brilliance shines in his modular approach. He optimized the layout by combining five distinct spaces that can be either open or cleverly partitioned off as needed. The living area, kitchen, and office are centrally located, while the bathroom and toilets are compactly tucked away at the apartment’s ends, ensuring both flow and privacy.

Let’s break down some of the design highlights that make this apartment truly exceptional:

Smart Entry & Seamless Storage: Right as you step in under the mezzanine, you’re greeted by integrated storage solutions for shoes, coats, and even bike helmets – essential for compact city living. A long storage unit along another wall keeps documents, board games, and even their hammock neatly tucked away. Plus, a separate toilet from the main bathroom ensures guests can use facilities without intruding on private areas, a thoughtful touch.
The Heart of the Home: A Bright & Flexible Living Room: The living room stands out as open and bright, a deliberate contrast to the entrance. Designed for comfort and coziness, it features a second-hand Muji sofa that can be easily rearranged for any occasion. A subtle yet impactful design detail: the window surrounds were intentionally designed to match the sofa’s height, creating a clean, uniform line that enhances the room’s sense of order.
A Brazilian Retreat: Drawing from his time in Brazil, Pierre incorporated a dedicated spot for a hammock, perfect for reading or simply swinging. Hooks are strategically placed on a central column and the office wall.
Kitchen Goals: Efficiency Meets Charm: The kitchen itself is a testament to smart design. It’s configured as a single, efficient module along the wall, making it ideal for multiple people to prepare meals. While the base units are from Ikea, they were custom-modified to fit perfectly lengthwise, and all appliances are seamlessly integrated. What truly makes this kitchen unique is the bookshelf integrated into the area, adding a touch of “fun”.
Unified Aesthetics & Clever Details:Identical tiles run throughout the entire apartment, creating a continuous, expansive feel.
Behind the sink, a recessed tile area is specifically designed for drying dishes – a simple yet genius solution.
The dining area boasts a “theatrical” perspective between two columns, with a central lamp creating a spotlight effect that draws your eye directly to the table.
Plaster work was ingeniously used to create integrated, low-cost furniture, providing bespoke spots for plants, books, and vases.
Perhaps the most surprising detail: a movable section of the kitchen conceals a trompe-l’oeil door. When moved, it allows guests direct access to the bathroom without having to pass through the bedroom – talk about next-level hospitality!.
The Dynamic Office & Guest Quarters: From the living room, you enter the office, designed with two desks for both Pierre and his boyfriend to work from home. Crucially, this space seamlessly transforms into a guest bedroom when visitors stay over, maintaining a clear division between work and private areas. From here, you also get a great view of the bamboo garden in the courtyard.
Elevated Escape: The Mezzanine: Accessible from the office via a retractable pine staircase, an elevated mezzanine provides an additional, truly private sleeping area for guests with a large bed and a platform for personal effects. Even the mezzanine windows are round, adding a touch of softness and visual continuity.
Bedroom Oasis with a Twist: Stepping into the bedroom is described as “a bit of a surprise” due to its bright yellow and khaki walls, creating a vibrant contrast. White curtains, mirroring those in the living room, allow for an open or closed system, providing privacy. The bathroom, despite lacking a window, cleverly borrows natural light from the bedroom through a large circular window. At night, the warm orange hue from the bathroom adds a rich, solid color to the overall palette. Even the more affordable tiles in the bathroom are elevated by a colored joint that matches the ceiling, making them “look great”.
Smart Bathroom Functionality: On one side of the bathroom, the ceiling height was intentionally preserved for a removable clothes drying rack that can be lowered and lifted with a rope system, ensuring it takes up minimal space when not in use.
This Parisian apartment isn’t just a testament to clever design; it’s a vibrant proof of concept. Pierre believes that “making a compact space pleasant is a proof that we can comfortably coexist in a city like Paris which is the densest in Europe while maximizing our natural and communal space”. His philosophy that “the more playful, the better” permeates every thoughtfully designed corner. It’s a truly inspiring example of how thoughtful, flexible, and imaginative design can transform even the most challenging spaces into a haven of comfort, style, and personal expression.