In Pigalle, a 30m2 Japanese-style studio and its mini garden

In Pigalle, a quiet studio with garden

It is difficult to find calm in Paris, especially in a bustling district like the south of Pigalle, which is particularly festive. But at the bottom of a building courtyard, this 33 square meter studio and its private terrace form a haven of peace. In the heart of the romantic district, where George Sand and Alexandre Dumas lived, neoclassical architecture is legion. In resonance with this majestic tranquility, emblematic of the IX^e district, Hélène Lacombe worked in what she particularly masters: small spaces. Using polished concrete, mahogany and light tones, she transformed a small partitioned apartment into an open and bright living space (see plans at the end of the article).

If ground floor studios are rarely a dream come true, this one has it all: a spacious living room, a real bathroom, and above all a 15 square meter green terrace. Poorly distributed at the start with an unexploited entry — “we arrived in a very small box” –, the apartment has been reconfigured so as to open directly onto the living room and its large bay window, and to free up as much space as possible for storage. For this rental investment intended for luxury concierge services, “the objective was to create a beautiful effect, already present thanks to the terrace but reinforced by a new interior layout”presents Hélène Lacombe.

The living room transforms into a bedroom thanks to the sofa bed.

HERVE GOLUZA

The kitchen was designed in mahogany, chiseled tiles and lacquer.

HERVE GOLUZA

For this, the architect designed a clear, simple project with natural tones. Polished concrete on the floor, mahogany veneer on the wall, beige and wood furniture: we recognize its signature. All this within a limited budget, the studio not being intended for a long-term living space. So, the storage spaces were found at IKEA, like the white lacquered kitchen or the dressing room doors, then hacked for a custom rendering. “We also managed to recover the sapele wood from the windows which were painted, and they match the mahogany perfectly”, rejoices the architect. We find his favorite species on the wall, on several worktops as well as framing the kitchen area and the bathroom window. “This allows you to obtain a ‘luxury’ effect on a reduced budget”, she specifies. In the same spirit, chiseled tiling was installed in the water features in order to provide a play of textures; as well as a flute glass opening to bring natural light into the bathroom.

The IKEA dressing room has been hacked to appear tailor-made.

HERVE GOLUZA

The small private garden of 15m² brings a note of greenery.

HERVE GOLUZA

To avoid “too student style”, the mezzanine bed option was rejected, at the client’s request, in favor of an elegant sofa bed. The rest of the furniture alternates between light wood, dark wood and wicker. In the same search to limit costs, all the parts were sourced from Westwing or Zara Home “which offers alternatives that are truly pleasing to the eye”. Beautiful custom-made Kvadrat fabric curtains also adorn the windows. These choices of materials and colors give a Japanese aesthetic to the place. “The Japan effect took shape little by little over the course of the project, explains Hélène Lacombe. The use of wood and beige immediately creates a favorable setting, then we added other references. » Even in the decoration, turnkey thought for the needs of the owner. Raw and natural textures (ceramic, wool, wicker, marble) infuse a wabi-sabi spirit into the studio, which already has a lovely opening onto nature, almost reminiscent of a Japanese garden. To crown the whole, a Greek column was added and topped with an Asian vase, found at Selency. A stone’s throw from the cabarets of Pigalle, this studio is an island of tranquility.

The decoration was designed in a wabi-sabi style.

HERVE GOLUZA

The small bathroom has been optimized for more space.

HERVE GOLUZA

The plan of the studio before renovation.

Helene Lacombe