An Elegant Pied-à-Terre in Paris’s Fifth Arrondissement
“What is challenging in this kind of building is that you don’t have any straight angles”, interior designer Thomas Christiaen explained of Projet Malebranche, the 40sqm/430sqft pied-à-terre in Paris he recently retrofitted for his clients. “Everything had to be made to measure or built from scratch”. The founder of Atelier Philibert used these limitations as propellers for creating the apartment of his clients’ dreams while maximising the unique architectural challenges presented by the historic building. “The owners wanted to be at the heart of Paris and feel its history,” said Christiaen, continuing “they wanted to give it an elegant Parisian feel with rich materials and serene colours”.
Open, Connected, and Elegant
The apartment, which is located in the city’s fifth arrondissement, originally had two bedrooms but lacked a dedicated living room – a “surprising” choice amended during the renovations. Christiaen began by removing the interior partition walls, excepting the one separating the bedroom and the bathroom wall was moved to gain extra space for laundry. These minor but impactful changes were the first major pieces required for creating a more spacious, connected, and elegant atmosphere. The next pieces involved material, palette, and layout.
Upon entry, the kitchen is immediately to your right along the back wall of the space. It is a generous size given the overall footprint and is fully equipped with all necessary appliances. Christiaen used dark oak cabinetry to realise his clients wishes to create some contrast against the light walls; this choice in material also lends itself nicely to the sophisticated ambiance of the area as a whole, which has a mirrored splashback and a built-in dining bench with storage. One of our favourite elements of the kitchen, though, is the frosted glass wall Christiaen added between the kitchen and bedroom to further brighten the dark area, by allowing natural light to filter through from the bedroom window.
The Design is in the Details
The living area is compact but comfortable, with two large windows inviting plenty of sunlight in. Christiaen refurbished the original oak floors to contribute to a sense of warmth and maintain a connection to history. This concept is furthered through choices like the wall-mounted electrical heaters, which were chosen for their retro aesthetic and ability to serve as sculptural elements in and of themselves. Thoughtful considerations of space can be found in decisions like the stylish sofa-bed (for when guests need to stay) or the custom-built bookshelves that utilise “dead space” beneath the windows.
A hidden door in the living room leads to the modest yet sophisticated bedroom and ultimately Christiaen’s favourite space in the home: the bathroom, which was really cramped and awkwardly shaped. “My clients were completely lost when they saw it, they didn’t know what to do with it”, he joked. Christiaen was up to the challenge, creating a serene spa-like space with a bespoke Corian washbasin, dark oak shelves (the same as the kitchen), and a shower lined with Bejmat tiles to evoke a hammam feel. “The result is really astonishing”, said Christiaen, “it’s probably the best place for them to be in this flat”.
Small Space Design in Paris
Christiaen work in Projet Malebranche exemplifies how limitations can inspire innovative design solutions. “Small spaces are often the most challenging projects,” Christiaen observes. “They require smart ideas to combine aesthetics and functionality into a compact area. I like to start from these limitations and push the solutions as far as possible to create dramatic spaces”.
