Before and After: Glass Partition Enhances a Parisian Studio
A French student’s apartment gets an upgrade, with a new bedroom, sound insulation and a more refined style
Agnès Carpentier
February 17, 2018
A father bought this Parisian studio apartment for his daughter, a student. Situated in the center of Paris in a 1970s building, the studio consisted of a bright living room with an open kitchen and a disproportionately large bathroom.
While living in the apartment for two months, the young woman came to realize two things: The noise from the street and the other floors was awful, and sleeping in the living room (and therefore having to remake the couch every morning) was very annoying. So she and her father asked architect Emily Melin, whose projects they had seen on Houzz, to come up with solutions. The result is enhanced sound insulation and a new bedroom separated from the living room by a glass partition.
While living in the apartment for two months, the young woman came to realize two things: The noise from the street and the other floors was awful, and sleeping in the living room (and therefore having to remake the couch every morning) was very annoying. So she and her father asked architect Emily Melin, whose projects they had seen on Houzz, to come up with solutions. The result is enhanced sound insulation and a new bedroom separated from the living room by a glass partition.
“Before” photos by Emilie Melin; “after” photos by Stéphane Vasco
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: A student
Location: Eighth arrondissement of Paris
Size: 388 square feet (36 square meters)
Architect: Emilie Melin
Before. The relatively square apartment had its original 1970s layout when the student moved in. The front door is in the background of this “before” shot, the open kitchen is on the right, and the bathroom is on the left behind the closet. Behind the photographer and outside of the shot, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the street (see third photo down).
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: A student
Location: Eighth arrondissement of Paris
Size: 388 square feet (36 square meters)
Architect: Emilie Melin
Before. The relatively square apartment had its original 1970s layout when the student moved in. The front door is in the background of this “before” shot, the open kitchen is on the right, and the bathroom is on the left behind the closet. Behind the photographer and outside of the shot, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the street (see third photo down).
After. The original 54-square-foot bathroom was disproportionately large for the 388-square-foot apartment. The owners asked Melin to turn some of that space into a new sleeping area.
The owners wanted a steel-framed glass wall in order to open up the sleeping area and bring in light from the living room windows. “It’s a really great solution that creates a pleasant and bright sleeping area,” Melin says.
Open-Plan Living: Partition Your Way to Comfortable Spaces
Open-Plan Living: Partition Your Way to Comfortable Spaces
The new bedroom takes up a bit of space from the former bathroom and living room. This made it possible to place a double bed with incorporated storage, as well as shelving and a closet (on the left of the photo), in the now 75-square-foot room.
The headboard also divides the sleeping area from the 22-square-foot bathroom.
The headboard also divides the sleeping area from the 22-square-foot bathroom.
Before. The old bathroom included a 6-foot-long bathtub, a large vanity and a toilet.
After. Melin recouped some floor space with a narrow vanity and a walk-in shower. What this new version lacks in square footage, it makes up for in refined details: oak-finish cabinets, an enameled sink, black Moroccan zellige tile on the shower wall and marble-look tile on the floor.
The toilet is now separated by a partition and can be accessed from the entrance area of the apartment. “This arrangement was more practical than having to go through the sleeping area and the bathroom to get to the toilet,” the architect says.
Enameled sink: Jacob Delafon; bathroom fixtures: Grohe; marble-look tile: Porcelanosa; zellige tile: Mosaic del Sur
The toilet is now separated by a partition and can be accessed from the entrance area of the apartment. “This arrangement was more practical than having to go through the sleeping area and the bathroom to get to the toilet,” the architect says.
Enameled sink: Jacob Delafon; bathroom fixtures: Grohe; marble-look tile: Porcelanosa; zellige tile: Mosaic del Sur
Before. The second major challenge in the apartment was soundproofing. The student could hear the neighbors above and below her as clearly as if they were inside her home, and noise from the street was an additional problem.
After. Melin tackled this issue by padding the walls and ceiling with 1¾ inches of rock wool and two soundproofing plates from the French company Placo. She also laid oak floors on a one-fifth-inch cork underlay.
“It’s impressively effective. The owner doesn’t hear noise from other parts of the building anymore,” Melin says. “On the other hand, the renovation company really had to put a lot of work into it: We had to cover the whole apartment with two layers of plasterboard sheets and carry each of them up the stairs because the elevator was too small. Two out of the 10 weeks of the renovation were devoted to insulation-related work.”
In addition, double-paned soundproof windows were put in to block the noise from the street.
“It’s impressively effective. The owner doesn’t hear noise from other parts of the building anymore,” Melin says. “On the other hand, the renovation company really had to put a lot of work into it: We had to cover the whole apartment with two layers of plasterboard sheets and carry each of them up the stairs because the elevator was too small. Two out of the 10 weeks of the renovation were devoted to insulation-related work.”
In addition, double-paned soundproof windows were put in to block the noise from the street.
Before. The kitchen was on the left when viewed from the entrance. The counter jutted into the space, making it narrower and slightly impeding movement.
The owners wanted to modernize this area, but they liked the idea of the kitchen being open to the living room and wanted to keep a similar layout.
The owners wanted to modernize this area, but they liked the idea of the kitchen being open to the living room and wanted to keep a similar layout.
After. The kitchen’s original L shape stayed the same, but the counter moved from the entrance to the living room to create more room for movement.
A large mirror now hangs in front of the kitchen. “It’s a nice trick to visually enlarge the space,” the architect says.
Like the bedroom, the kitchen was expanded into the living room slightly, freeing up space for a 22-square-foot closet.
A large mirror now hangs in front of the kitchen. “It’s a nice trick to visually enlarge the space,” the architect says.
Like the bedroom, the kitchen was expanded into the living room slightly, freeing up space for a 22-square-foot closet.
The new kitchen has modified Ikea cabinets and all the equipment of a much larger space: a combination microwave oven, an induction cooktop, a fridge with freezer, a dishwasher and a washing machine. The new bar counter provides a place to dine.
Voxtorp cabinets and Ekbacken countertops: Ikea
Voxtorp cabinets and Ekbacken countertops: Ikea
The young woman agreed to a black-and-white color scheme, with light wood finishes adding warmth. She particularly liked two of the details the architect proposed: cement floor tiles with a 3D motif that blends creatively with the parquet, and the zellige tile backsplash, which contrasts well with the kitchen’s smooth machine-processed surfaces.
Cement tile: Mosaic del Sur; wood floor: La Parqueterie Nouvelle
Cement tile: Mosaic del Sur; wood floor: La Parqueterie Nouvelle
The young woman wanted the upper kitchen cabinets to transition smoothly to the living room. Melin suggested using the Ikea cabinets for a TV stand and storage space. The neat finishes are made of birch plywood.
The new lighting is particularly noticeable in the living room. “Lighting always has a great impact on the atmosphere and general comfort, and I like to pay particular attention to it,” Melin says. “As we had soundproofed the ceiling, I didn’t want to make new holes for spotlights. We placed a single pendant light above the bar and instead installed wall lights and LED strips.”
The new lighting is particularly noticeable in the living room. “Lighting always has a great impact on the atmosphere and general comfort, and I like to pay particular attention to it,” Melin says. “As we had soundproofed the ceiling, I didn’t want to make new holes for spotlights. We placed a single pendant light above the bar and instead installed wall lights and LED strips.”
Despite being smaller, the living room still measures about 170 square feet, which gave Melin the space to include two sofas so that friends could be entertained in comfort. To optimize storage, a custom cabinet made of birch plywood borders the glass wall of the sleeping area.
The renovation’s budget of about $69,700 (56,000 euros), excluding tax, reflects the extensive changes that were made. “We have completely redone the soundproofing, electricity and plumbing, opting everywhere for high-end finishes: solid parquet, cement tiles [and] the zelliges,” Melin says.
Project manager: Maxime Gaffory of Mon Concept Habitation
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
The renovation’s budget of about $69,700 (56,000 euros), excluding tax, reflects the extensive changes that were made. “We have completely redone the soundproofing, electricity and plumbing, opting everywhere for high-end finishes: solid parquet, cement tiles [and] the zelliges,” Melin says.
Project manager: Maxime Gaffory of Mon Concept Habitation
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Haus Studio is a design studio that offers custom cabinetry, countertops and tile along with plumbing fixtures... Read More
Related Products
Hope Restoration is Central Ohio's only full-service, design/build general contractor capable of every facet of... Read More
Related Stories
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Boston Pied-à-Terre Designed for Evenings
By Becky Harris
A designer found on Houzz infuses a condo with a sultry vibe inspired by supper clubs and luxe boutique hotels
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Once-Bland Rental Now a Welcoming Home
By Kate Burt
A designer found on Houzz transforms a plain city apartment using color, texture and space planning
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Museum-Inspired Moments in a Beachfront High-Rise
By Becky Harris
A couple’s love of art guides these designers toward a warm neutral color palette and rich textures
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Two Small New York Apartments Become One
By Becky Harris
An architect combines a one-bedroom and an adjacent studio apartment to create a colorful and functional home
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Family Says No to Relocating in Favor of Remodeling
An architect helps a family in Rome bring light, color and natural materials into their apartment
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Spanish Penthouse Opens Up to City Views
By Isabel Núñez
A renovation brings in light and connects an apartment to its expansive balcony and sweeping views of Barcelona
Full Story
Contemporary Homes
Houzz Tour: Family Friendliness for a Manhattan Apartment
By Becky Harris
A designer creates multifunctional, bright and playful spaces for a couple and their two toddlers
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Neutral Decor Lets Period Features Shine
The simple, contemporary decor of this Spanish apartment complements its gorgeous stained glass and cement tile
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Colorful Spanish Apartment for Tapas and Relaxing
An architect found on Houzz uses bold color and small-space solutions to create a joyful pied-à-terre for a retiree
Full Story
Homes Around the World
Houzz Tour: Subtle Elegance Meets Period Features
By Elen Pouhaer
A designer found on Houzz pairs contemporary furniture with stunning traditional design in Paris
Full Story
Genious and stunning! What a lucky young woman!
Stunning! Incredible use of space. Very very clever!
Beautiful - love the idea of the mirrors making the space look bigger... no kids allowed in there though! Sticky fingerprints