Renovation of a 28sqm apartment near Paris transformed by Ameo Concept
The renovation of a 28sqm apartment near Paris, which had been abandoned for decades, transformed it into an elegant pied-à-terre
You wouldn’t necessarily expect to find a pied-à-terre with a garden near Paris. Especially right behind the towers of the La Défense business district. And yet this former studio, which hadn’t seen any renovations in decades, managed to charm its new owner from Marseille, who recognized its full potential. And if you look at the “before” photos of the apartment, it was far from obvious. She entrusted the renovation of this dilapidated 28sqm apartment to Ameo Concept, which transformed it into a serene and bright haven.
The old burgundy carpet, peeling wallpaper, and yellowed ceiling have given way to a lovely contemporary retreat with its own garden, a real bonus right in the heart of the city. Discover this space, whose renovation far exceeded anyone’s expectations.
The first decision is also the most surprising one. The professionals decided to block off access through the common areas. You now enter from the outside, from the garden and its wooden deck, directly into the living room. This change alone transforms the feel of the space.
The terrace is an integral part of the project. A Fatboy lounger in the sun, a French door open, and the square footage suddenly seems to expand at the first ray of sunlight. It’s psychologically uplifting to live in the city with access to such an outdoor space.
For the renovation of this 28sqm apartment, the L-shaped kitchen runs along two walls. It features discreet, smooth white cabinet fronts at the bottom and a warmer sand-colored tone at the top. The concrete-effect countertop and the backsplash, finished in a waxed concrete style, are neutral and well-suited to this contemporary setting. Convenience features like the dishwasher and refrigerator are concealed behind cabinet fronts, with nothing protruding. It’s perfect for an open kitchen in a small 28sqm apartment.
The dining table is set up right next to it, designed for three people. That’s all you need for a pied-à-terre. A white globe pendant light illuminates it when needed.
In the living area, the beige sofa is placed against a wall paneled with beige-striped wainscoting. The white glass partition on the right lets light flow into the bedroom through a second window. Parquet-effect tile covers the entire floor of the living space. Easy to maintain and durable, this wood-look flooring adds warmth to the atmosphere.
In a small apartment, it’s essential to plan for storage, even if you don’t live there year-round. For the renovation of this 28sqm apartment, every centimeter counts, and Ameo Concept understood this well. The low white bench running along the glass wall on the living room side serves as a TV stand and storage unit, reinforcing the visual separation between the two spaces. The open niches at the bottom hold books and objects without cluttering the room.
In the kitchen, the only visible appliances are those used daily, such as the toaster and kettle sitting on the countertop. The rest disappears behind the cabinet doors, preserving the apartment’s aesthetic. This disciplined approach to storage has been fully integrated into the project from the very beginning.
The bedroom, at the far end, is lit by indirect light. Light comes from the glass partition that separates it from the living room. Cleverly, this glass partition also serves as a headboard, giving the room the feel of a charming hotel suite.
The low bed, in white linen, is set within this sort of alcove. This room can be completely enclosed thanks to a sliding pocket door that disappears into the partition. If left open, it doesn’t feel cramped at all. And the glass partition further enhances this impression. The room’s decor remains neutral, creating a sense of serenity.
Opposite the bed is a built-in bookshelf with indirect lighting, crafted from warm natural wood. It holds small white ceramic sculptures and a few books stored flat. A white walk-in closet spanning the full height of the wall completes the space. The bathroom opens seamlessly into the room, accessible only from the bedroom.
It is a pleasant and well-appointed room. It features a large walk-in shower, an unusual size for a small apartment at 130 x 90 cm. A niche is recessed into the taupe-colored tilework, illuminated by an LED strip. Lime plaster covers the walls above the tiles, providing that soft, mineral texture the owner, who lives in Marseille, wanted to recreate. The washing machine was installed in this room.
The chosen color palette keeps this small 28sqm apartment very bright, whereas it used to feel quite dark. White, beige, sand, taupe, and concrete gray are in perfect chromatic harmony. It’s an almost Mediterranean choice, a wish of the owner’s when she is far from Marseille.
The materials are textured to give depth to this compact space. We find polished concrete, lime paint, wood-look tiles, and light wood.
Indirect lighting is everywhere, from the LED strip on the bookshelf to the shower niches, and even the bathroom mirror. Because the warmth also comes from the quality of the evening lighting, and nothing beats using multiple light sources for that. And above all, avoid neon or overhead lighting, which can make the space feel cramped. Except, of course, above the dining table, which needs to be well-lit when in use.
This pied-à-terre meets a specific request from its owner, a woman from Marseille who wanted to recreate, in the Paris region, the style of her home in the south. The mineral tones, the lime plaster, the spacious shower, the sunny terrace. Everything is designed to make her feel at home when she stays in the capital. This isn’t the renovation of a 28sqm rental unit, but a private project.
You can sense a genuine dialogue between the studio and the client, a reflection of a lifestyle unconcerned with what’s “trendy” or not. And it shows. The apartment has a real personality.
This is a beautiful project that has been carried out here, and it was executed perfectly. Ameo Concept addressed every constraint point by point. The goal in this compact space was to improve access, optimize outdoor use, and create a welcoming atmosphere for the owner.
What stands out most is the unusual decision to create an entrance through the garden by removing the original one. This is what transforms a basic studio into a true pied-à-terre with its own distinct character, almost like a small detached house. Without this initial idea, the result and the optimization would have been very different.
The only possible drawback (though it’s a minor detail) is the lack of a direct window in the bedroom. Compensated by the glass partition in the living room, it doesn’t really get in the way. It’s a choice that’s both functional and aesthetic, requiring the installation of a curtain or blind if one wants to sleep without light from the living room filtering in. Photo: © Julien Pépy
BEFORE
The old burgundy carpet, peeling wallpaper, and yellowed ceiling have given way to a lovely contemporary retreat with its own garden, a real bonus right in the heart of the city. Discover this space, whose renovation far exceeded anyone’s expectations.
Entering through the garden
The first decision is also the most surprising one. The professionals decided to block off access through the common areas. You now enter from the outside, from the garden and its wooden deck, directly into the living room. This change alone transforms the feel of the space.
The terrace is an integral part of the project. A Fatboy lounger in the sun, a French door open, and the square footage suddenly seems to expand at the first ray of sunlight. It’s psychologically uplifting to live in the city with access to such an outdoor space.
A perfectly optimized living space
For the renovation of this 28sqm apartment, the L-shaped kitchen runs along two walls. It features discreet, smooth white cabinet fronts at the bottom and a warmer sand-colored tone at the top. The concrete-effect countertop and the backsplash, finished in a waxed concrete style, are neutral and well-suited to this contemporary setting. Convenience features like the dishwasher and refrigerator are concealed behind cabinet fronts, with nothing protruding. It’s perfect for an open kitchen in a small 28sqm apartment.
The dining table is set up right next to it, designed for three people. That’s all you need for a pied-à-terre. A white globe pendant light illuminates it when needed.
In the living area, the beige sofa is placed against a wall paneled with beige-striped wainscoting. The white glass partition on the right lets light flow into the bedroom through a second window. Parquet-effect tile covers the entire floor of the living space. Easy to maintain and durable, this wood-look flooring adds warmth to the atmosphere.
Storage: a must in a small space
In a small apartment, it’s essential to plan for storage, even if you don’t live there year-round. For the renovation of this 28sqm apartment, every centimeter counts, and Ameo Concept understood this well. The low white bench running along the glass wall on the living room side serves as a TV stand and storage unit, reinforcing the visual separation between the two spaces. The open niches at the bottom hold books and objects without cluttering the room.
In the kitchen, the only visible appliances are those used daily, such as the toaster and kettle sitting on the countertop. The rest disappears behind the cabinet doors, preserving the apartment’s aesthetic. This disciplined approach to storage has been fully integrated into the project from the very beginning.
The bedroom as a suite
The bedroom, at the far end, is lit by indirect light. Light comes from the glass partition that separates it from the living room. Cleverly, this glass partition also serves as a headboard, giving the room the feel of a charming hotel suite.
The low bed, in white linen, is set within this sort of alcove. This room can be completely enclosed thanks to a sliding pocket door that disappears into the partition. If left open, it doesn’t feel cramped at all. And the glass partition further enhances this impression. The room’s decor remains neutral, creating a sense of serenity.
Opposite the bed is a built-in bookshelf with indirect lighting, crafted from warm natural wood. It holds small white ceramic sculptures and a few books stored flat. A white walk-in closet spanning the full height of the wall completes the space. The bathroom opens seamlessly into the room, accessible only from the bedroom.
The bathroom, small but well-designed
It is a pleasant and well-appointed room. It features a large walk-in shower, an unusual size for a small apartment at 130 x 90 cm. A niche is recessed into the taupe-colored tilework, illuminated by an LED strip. Lime plaster covers the walls above the tiles, providing that soft, mineral texture the owner, who lives in Marseille, wanted to recreate. The washing machine was installed in this room.
A soft color palette throughout
The chosen color palette keeps this small 28sqm apartment very bright, whereas it used to feel quite dark. White, beige, sand, taupe, and concrete gray are in perfect chromatic harmony. It’s an almost Mediterranean choice, a wish of the owner’s when she is far from Marseille.
The materials are textured to give depth to this compact space. We find polished concrete, lime paint, wood-look tiles, and light wood.
Indirect lighting is everywhere, from the LED strip on the bookshelf to the shower niches, and even the bathroom mirror. Because the warmth also comes from the quality of the evening lighting, and nothing beats using multiple light sources for that. And above all, avoid neon or overhead lighting, which can make the space feel cramped. Except, of course, above the dining table, which needs to be well-lit when in use.
A project designed for the owner’s enjoyment
This pied-à-terre meets a specific request from its owner, a woman from Marseille who wanted to recreate, in the Paris region, the style of her home in the south. The mineral tones, the lime plaster, the spacious shower, the sunny terrace. Everything is designed to make her feel at home when she stays in the capital. This isn’t the renovation of a 28sqm rental unit, but a private project.
You can sense a genuine dialogue between the studio and the client, a reflection of a lifestyle unconcerned with what’s “trendy” or not. And it shows. The apartment has a real personality.
What Planète déco takes away from this renovation of a nearly 28-square-meter Parisian studio
This is a beautiful project that has been carried out here, and it was executed perfectly. Ameo Concept addressed every constraint point by point. The goal in this compact space was to improve access, optimize outdoor use, and create a welcoming atmosphere for the owner.
What stands out most is the unusual decision to create an entrance through the garden by removing the original one. This is what transforms a basic studio into a true pied-à-terre with its own distinct character, almost like a small detached house. Without this initial idea, the result and the optimization would have been very different.
The only possible drawback (though it’s a minor detail) is the lack of a direct window in the bedroom. Compensated by the glass partition in the living room, it doesn’t really get in the way. It’s a choice that’s both functional and aesthetic, requiring the installation of a curtain or blind if one wants to sleep without light from the living room filtering in. Photo: © Julien Pépy
BEFORE
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