Meow Meow

Ever wondered how to make a compact city apartment feel truly expansive and full of personality? Well, prepare to be inspired, because in the heart of bustling Paris, architect Pierre, the brilliant mind behind PS Studio, has done just that! His 60-square-meter (that’s about 645 square feet for our North American friends!) apartment, which he shares with his boyfriend, a fashion digital designer, is not just a home, but a living, breathing testament to ingenious design and joyful functionality.

You see, this isn’t just any Parisian flat. It started life as two separate apartments, meaning the kitchen was at one end and the bathroom at the other – a real design challenge, right? But Pierre had a bold vision: he completely removed all the interior walls to create one magnificent open canvas. Influenced by the grand, sweeping proportions of European architecture and the serene, furniture-free aesthetic of Japanese minimalism, this move instantly gifted the apartment a “sensation of a generous and extensible space” thanks to its high ceilings and large windows.

Designing for Dynamic Living: A Parisian Playground of Possibilities
Pierre’s ultimate goal was clear: to create a space that was both “playful and functional”. His mantra? To “optimize the layout by combining five modular spaces where they can be open, but also partitioned off when needed”. Think of it as a meticulously choreographed dance of spaces!

Central Hub, Private Ends: The vibrant living area, the sleek kitchen, and the smart office are all nestled centrally, while the bathroom and toilets are discreetly tucked away at the ends of the apartment. This thoughtful placement creates a seamless flow, allowing for both connection and privacy.
The Chameleon Office: What looks like a dedicated workspace with two desks for both Pierre and his boyfriend can effortlessly transform into a comfortable guest bedroom for overnight visitors. This clever division ensures an ‘office atmosphere’ during work hours while providing comfort when company calls. Bonus? From this space, you can enjoy a “great view of the bamboo garden in the courtyard.”
Elevated Escape: Accessible from the office via a retractable pine staircase, an elevated mezzanine houses a large bed, offering an additional, truly private sleeping area for guests. Even the mezzanine windows are round, adding a touch of softness and continuity.
Smart Solutions & Hidden Delights: Maximizing Every Square Foot
Every design choice in this Parisian apartment serves a purpose, often multiple!

Welcome & Storage: Stepping into the apartment under the mezzanine, you immediately notice the ample, integrated storage for shoes, coats, and even bike helmets – truly essential in a compact space! Along another wall, a long storage unit holds everything from documents and board games to where they even store their hammock.
Guest-Friendly Amenities: A truly thoughtful detail for city living, a toilet separate from the main bathroom ensures guests can use it without intruding on private areas.
The Heart of the Home: The living room, bright and open in contrast to the entrance, is designed for comfort and coziness. They love spending time here, and their second-hand Muji sofa is often moved around to suit any occasion. Here’s a cool trick: the window surrounds and the sofa were purposefully designed to be the same height, creating a uniform, clean line that enhances the sense of order.
A Brazilian Touch: Drawing from Pierre’s time in Brazil, a dedicated spot for a hammock, hooked between a column and the office wall, offers a perfect nook for reading or simply swinging away.
Kitchen Goals: The kitchen, an Ikea base with genius custom modifications to fit perfectly lengthwise, is designed as a single module along the wall. This makes it ideal for multiple people preparing meals. All appliances are seamlessly integrated. And how charming is the bookshelf in the kitchen area? It just makes the space feel more “fun”!
Seamless Aesthetics & Clever Details:Identical tiles throughout the apartment create a continuous, expansive look.
Behind the sink, a recessed tile area is specifically designed for drying dishes – genius!
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 is utilized as an “ideal way to create integrated furniture at low cost,” providing bespoke spots for plants, books, and vases.
Hidden access: A section of the kitchen is movable, concealing a clever trompe-l’oeil door! When moved, it allows guests direct access to the bathroom without having to pass through the bedroom – talk about smart hospitality!
The Bedroom Oasis: Stepping into the bedroom is “a bit of a surprise” with its walls painted in bright yellow and khaki, creating a lively contrast. White curtains, reminiscent of those in the living room, can be drawn to create an open or closed system, providing privacy. The bathroom, lacking a window, beautifully borrows natural light from the bedroom through a large circular window. And by night, the warm orange hue from the bathroom adds a rich, solid color to the overall palette. Even the “cheap tiles” in the bathroom are elevated by a colored join that matches the ceiling – a simple yet effective trick to make them “look great”!
Smart Bathroom Functionality: On one side of the bathroom, the ceiling height was intentionally maintained 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 is more than just a place to live; it’s a vibrant manifesto for how thoughtful, flexible, and playful design can transform even the most constrained spaces into a haven of comfort, style, and personal expression. As Pierre himself puts it, “The more playful, the better”! He 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.” And we couldn’t agree more!