How much can you do with 120 square feet? That seems like an incredibly small space and most people would just pass it up and say it would do best as a bedroom or large kitchen. But this particular aerie in Paris turns the idea of a small space on its head and turns 120 square feet into the most functional example of how space can be utilized and transformed into beauty.Â
This seventh floor space in a building in Paris wasn’t always this magical. When it was presented to Batiik Studio, a French interior design firm, it was unremarkable to say the least. As if that wasn’t enough, the owners wished for it to be turned into rentable space that could be listed via Airbnb; a herculean task, considering the competition it would be facing in other more eligible Parisian apartments.
But Rebecca Benichou of Batiik is not one to cower away in the face of Herculean tasks and she took on the project with all the enthusiasm in the world. By the time she was done with it, it was a masterpiece. Her chief inspiration was Moroccan architecture before Greek influence, and a keen eye can definitely spot the vibe in the many arches and the muted colors.
The space whispers quiet elegance into the mind of anyone who witnesses it, and feels like a secret hideout where you can escape from the world and have your own little honeymoon. The color scheme is muted, yet sophisticated, with a pure white on the walls and a smooth terra-cotta demarcating the kitchenette area. Elsewhere there is a silently bold blue to bring in an air of tranquil introspection. Different areas of the house, such as the bathroom and the kitchenette are distinguished by prominent arches that add a little softness to the predominantly straight lines of the walls. The most remarkable aspect of the house, however, is the furniture.
The way the designers of the aerie managed to fit so much function inside so little space is a tribute to the innovative lips taken by modern furniture design. A coffee table by the bedside can double as a nightstand. The bed itself is a bed by night and a very comfortable futon by day. Different cabinets house different utilities. One cabinet houses a mini-fridge while another reveals a microwave. Another set revolves outward to reveal a complete dining table with two comfortable stools. You wouldn’t even know a television exists if no one opened the cabinets containing it for you! The cabinets themselves open outwards instead of inwards for the most efficient use of space. The bathroom itself is hidden neatly in an archway with the entrance looking like a full mirror.
Few people would know what to do with a 120 square foot space. For Rebecca Benichou and her collaborators, however, it was the perfect opportunity to exercise their creativity. What they have come up with looks like it’s straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale. And the best part: you can rent it!
Via AD
