The owners of this cozy two-bedroom apartment in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine knew exactly which elements of their home were in need of updating—because they had rented the unit prior to purchasing it. Now, as homeowners, they had a laundry list of "all the defects" to be remedied. Once a garage, the first floor flat had been converted into an apartment before they had originally moved in, and the tight 807-square-foot floor plan was missing several crucial elements of a livable home as a result. There was only one bathroom and the second bedroom was very small—just 75 square feet—in addition, the living space lacked natural light, and there wasn't any built-in storage space.

To tackle these concerns, the family tapped Atelier Pierre-Louis Gerlier, led by architect Pierre Louis Gerlier, who worked in collaboration with interior designer Eleonore Satger to completely transform the apartment. Giving the space "color to compensate for the lack of light", the renovation added a sunny yellow kitchen, revamped the bathroom, and provided the unit with additional storage in the form of a standout wall of cabinetry with circular nooks. The nooks are designed to fit speakers and a computer desk, but the pièce de résistance is the oversized round nook large enough for someone to curl up inside.

"I think we made a smart plan. We reduced the living spaces in favor of a larger bedroom, added more storage space, and renovated the bathrooms," shares architect Pierre-Louis Gerlier. "And I'm very flattered when their kid tells me he loves to settle in 'his bubble'."

Before: The Living Room

After: The Living Room

Shop The Look

Before: The Kitchen and Living Room

After: The Kitchen and Living Room

This Tiny Home in Paris Unfolds Like a Children's Pop-Up Book

Project Credits:
Architect of record: Atelier Pierre-Louis Gerlier
Interior Designer: Elenore Satger

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Before & After: This Former Garage Is Now a Functional, Colorful Flat With Bubbly Built-Ins