Olivier, the incognito journalist-owner of this Paris apartment, describes his newly overhauled digs as “an unexpected synthesis of Oscar Niemeyer’s French Communist Party headquarters and my late grandparents’ house.” The 70-square meter (approximately 753-square-foot) space is situated on the top floor of a 19th-century two-story structure that had been a milking parlor.
Wanting to live in a Paris suburb that hadn’t been “conquered by gentrifying strollers,” Olivier said friends beckoned him to Saint-Denis and that his flat was the first he looked at. Long ago converted to living quarters, the apartment was last occupied by someone in the theater business who introduced its most prominent feature: a nearly six-foot wide porthole passageway. Other existing details blocked the natural light and “lacked common sense.” Architects Suleïma Ben Achour and Antoine Lallement of Studio Classico were hired to not only remedy the layout, but to find a place for Olivier’s books—”17 linear meters [55.7 feet] of them,” notes Suleïma—while lending the space an orderly, modern feel.
Join us for a look at the results, with nods throughout to Olivier’s wide-ranging design references. Scroll to the end for a glimpse of the historic structure and what the apartment looked like before.
Photography courtesy of Studio Classico (@studio_classico).
Living Area
![the porthole divides the apartment\2\17;s living area and the bedroom an 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-1-733x1098.jpg)
![the public half of the apartment is u shaped with an open living room on one si 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-2-733x1104.jpg)
![to lend the design softness and cohesion, the architects applied curved lines t 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-7-733x1103.jpg)
![the kitchen has a plywood and formica counter with exposed wood edging and a wa 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-6-733x1101.jpg)
![suleïma describes the design as \2\20;a \1970s, very simple kitchen 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-4-733x1095.jpg)
![the porthole is visible from just about everywhere in the apartment. 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-3-733x488.jpg)
![ab0ve: the architects designed a built in niche alongside the dining table with 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-8-733x918.jpg)
The orange Ra ceiling light is a 1969 Piet Hein design; the vintage Rey chairs by Bruno Rey are back in production from Hay.
![the bookcases are made of stained pine plywood and easily slide to open. the ex 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-9-733x1104.jpg)
Bedroom/Bath
![the en suite bathroom is on the other side of the divide—with enough cle 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-10-733x1101.jpg)
![the wall to wall carpeting in the en suite bath was inspired by olivier\ 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-11a-733x920.jpg)
“I wanted to break away from the standardized bathrooms found in most new buildings,” says Olivier, noting that early in the project Suleïma showed him Balineum’s line of tiles, and he fell in love with a checkerboard of Victorian-style Mottled Tiles and classic Hanley Tiles with a canvas skirt like the one used in the kitchen. The vintage yellow plastic towel holders by Makio Hasuike add to the 1970s undercurrent running through the apartment.
![the balineum tiles were also applied to the shower floor. \2\20;the bath 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-11b-733x921.jpg)
![the gold carpeting from balsan extends into the bedroom, which has its own buil 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/st-denis-apartment-paris-studio-classico-12-733x920.jpg)
Floor Plan
![when we do interior renovations, we never have predefined styles or colors we w 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stdenis-floor-plan-studio-classico-733x497.jpg)
Exterior
![the historic structure is on a cobblestone street in saint denis, one of 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stdenis-apartment-building-paris-exterior-1-733x630.png)
Before
![the kitchen, says olivier, \2\20;had unnecessary angles and the light di 33](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/stdenis-apt-paris-before-3.png)
We have presented just about all of Studio Classico’s projects to date:
- Before/After: Order and Pattern in a Spirited Paris Apartment Remodel Designed by Two Young Architects
- A Room of One’s Own: An En Suite Retreat in Paris
- American-Style in Marseille: Studio Classico Designs a Shaker-Inspired Bakery
Frequently asked questions
Who did the Paris apartment remodel?
The Paris apartment remodel was done by Studio Classico.
What makes the Paris apartment remodel unique?
The remodel features moving bookshelves that can be used to divide the living space or create a hidden bedroom.
What was the inspiration behind the Paris apartment remodel?
The inspiration behind the Paris apartment remodel was to create a space that was both functional and beautiful, while incorporating elements of surprise and innovation.
What materials were used in the Paris apartment remodel?
The Paris apartment remodel used a variety of materials, including wood, glass, and metal.
How long did the Paris apartment remodel take?
The length of time it took to complete the Paris apartment remodel is not specified in the article.
How much did the Paris apartment remodel cost?
The cost of the Paris apartment remodel is not specified in the article.
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