How to decorate a 23sqm studio with a Parisian vibe?
23sqm studio with a Parisian vibe, featuring a metal mezzanine, restored brick, and a quirky interior in a former building
A 1917 building in Eastern Europe, long used as office space, has been converted into a residence of small apartments. Among them is a 23sqm studio named “Paris,” which reflects this part of Europe’s love for the French capital.
The historic building was renovated by an investment firm. From the outset, the firm entrusted the project to designer Varvara Golovko, with whom it has worked for many years. Her mission was to create livable apartments, ranging from 14 to 35 square meters, out of a labyrinth of plaster partitions and coffered false ceilings.
The designer chose to name each apartment after a major capital city and developed a unique atmosphere in each one. This one is called “Paris,” measures 23sqm and is full of Western European charm, even if it’s a bit idealized. In a “Emily in Paris” style (true Parisians will understand).
The ceiling soars to nearly 3.50 meters. This is the apartment’s main asset, and the interior designer capitalizes on it immediately. Thanks to this valuable feature, she installed an 8sqm metal-framed mezzanine, accessed by a comfortable staircase. The steps are practical because they conceal built-in storage along their entire depth. At the top of the staircase, a double bed occupies the mezzanine. Downstairs, the space is dedicated to the living area.
This is the most interesting choice of the entire project. Without the mezzanine, 23 square meters is really small. With it, the apartment gains a bedroom without sacrificing a single centimeter of floor space. You build upward, making use of volume rather than surface area.
The original brick walls have weathered a century of renovations. The interior designer chose to reveal them rather than cover them up. She restored them by sandblasting, and the result is immediate. Because the exposed brick brings a mineral warmth and a historical depth that no plaster can match.
This decision is undoubtedly the right one. The old brick decorates the apartment all on its own. It calls for a subdued color palette for everything else, dark wood and beige tones. It is also visible from the mezzanine.
Opposite the real windows, a large arched mirror spans an entire wall. Its shape evokes the rounded mullions characteristic of Haussmann-style apartments. Positioned directly opposite the natural light, it reflects and distributes brightness throughout the room. It visually doubles the depth of the living room. You instinctively looks for the opening onto the street.
It is a classic of interior design, but rarely executed so well. Its imposing size, the curved shape, and the precise positioning transform the mirror into an architectural element in its own right that amplifies the sense of space.
The chandelier is deliberately offset from the original stucco medallion. This move replicates a typical practice in old Parisian bourgeois apartments. When rooms were reconfigured, light fixtures were often moved without altering the ceiling decorations. The medallion remained in place. The chandelier adapted to the new layout of the home. Here, the goal isn’t to create a Parisian style with posters evoking the city. Instead, this 23sqm studio replicates the way Parisian apartments are lived in.
In front of the large window, the designer placed a wrought-iron-style armchair, originally designed for outdoor use. The highly durable artificial quartz windowsill completes the setup and transforms into a cozy reading nook. The ensemble creates the illusion of a Parisian balcony without actually having one.
Choosing outdoor furniture for indoor use introduces a kind of graphic lightness that classic living room armchairs would not have provided. As for the window sill repurposed as a seat or shelf, it’s a simple idea that can be easily replicated.
The transition between spaces occurs without the need to open a door. A frame lined with beveled mirrors facilitates movement and multiplies the reflections. An old bricked-up bay window has been transformed into a built-in bookshelf, with indirect lighting at the back of the niche that casts a soft glow into the living room in the evening. Storage solutions make use of every nook and cranny. They can be found in the stair risers, behind the swivel TV in the kitchen, and in the built-in cupboards along the walls.
The bathroom is just 3 square meters and plays on matte/glossy contrasts, with a wood-effect painted wall contrasting with the glossy floor. A rain shower is built into the partition. Because just because you have a small space doesn’t mean you don’t want the best in your daily life.
The living room features a sandy beige color scheme and a sofa that serves as the room’s focal point. Its light upholstery blends naturally with the warm hue of the restored brick.
This sandy color also dominates the cushions and textiles. The designer opted for restraint, focusing on shades and textures rather than color contrasts. In a 23sqm space, a saturated color draws the eye and visually reduces the volume. Beige, on the other hand, recedes and expands the space.
This beige living room is a success precisely because it doesn’t try to do too much. In an apartment with strong character, century-old brick, a metal mezzanine, a monumental mirror, the living room cleverly serves as a neutral space.
This apartment can’t expand its walls, but its high ceilings allow it to feel like a nearly two-room apartment with its mezzanine. Its decor, which evokes Paris, is more reminiscent of the city in the 19th century than the one we know today. It is nonetheless very successful, original, and full of charm. Because every choice the designer makes references something recognizable.
The historic building was renovated by an investment firm. From the outset, the firm entrusted the project to designer Varvara Golovko, with whom it has worked for many years. Her mission was to create livable apartments, ranging from 14 to 35 square meters, out of a labyrinth of plaster partitions and coffered false ceilings.
The designer chose to name each apartment after a major capital city and developed a unique atmosphere in each one. This one is called “Paris,” measures 23sqm and is full of Western European charm, even if it’s a bit idealized. In a “Emily in Paris” style (true Parisians will understand).
The ceiling height, a real asset to capitalize on
The ceiling soars to nearly 3.50 meters. This is the apartment’s main asset, and the interior designer capitalizes on it immediately. Thanks to this valuable feature, she installed an 8sqm metal-framed mezzanine, accessed by a comfortable staircase. The steps are practical because they conceal built-in storage along their entire depth. At the top of the staircase, a double bed occupies the mezzanine. Downstairs, the space is dedicated to the living area.
This is the most interesting choice of the entire project. Without the mezzanine, 23 square meters is really small. With it, the apartment gains a bedroom without sacrificing a single centimeter of floor space. You build upward, making use of volume rather than surface area.
Restored brick is the star material in this 23sqm studio
The original brick walls have weathered a century of renovations. The interior designer chose to reveal them rather than cover them up. She restored them by sandblasting, and the result is immediate. Because the exposed brick brings a mineral warmth and a historical depth that no plaster can match.
This decision is undoubtedly the right one. The old brick decorates the apartment all on its own. It calls for a subdued color palette for everything else, dark wood and beige tones. It is also visible from the mezzanine.
The large arched mirror designed to look like a faux window
Opposite the real windows, a large arched mirror spans an entire wall. Its shape evokes the rounded mullions characteristic of Haussmann-style apartments. Positioned directly opposite the natural light, it reflects and distributes brightness throughout the room. It visually doubles the depth of the living room. You instinctively looks for the opening onto the street.
It is a classic of interior design, but rarely executed so well. Its imposing size, the curved shape, and the precise positioning transform the mirror into an architectural element in its own right that amplifies the sense of space.
The offset chandelier, a true decorative choice
The chandelier is deliberately offset from the original stucco medallion. This move replicates a typical practice in old Parisian bourgeois apartments. When rooms were reconfigured, light fixtures were often moved without altering the ceiling decorations. The medallion remained in place. The chandelier adapted to the new layout of the home. Here, the goal isn’t to create a Parisian style with posters evoking the city. Instead, this 23sqm studio replicates the way Parisian apartments are lived in.
The wrought-iron armchair and the illusion of a balcony
In front of the large window, the designer placed a wrought-iron-style armchair, originally designed for outdoor use. The highly durable artificial quartz windowsill completes the setup and transforms into a cozy reading nook. The ensemble creates the illusion of a Parisian balcony without actually having one.
Choosing outdoor furniture for indoor use introduces a kind of graphic lightness that classic living room armchairs would not have provided. As for the window sill repurposed as a seat or shelf, it’s a simple idea that can be easily replicated.
Meticulous details in every space
The transition between spaces occurs without the need to open a door. A frame lined with beveled mirrors facilitates movement and multiplies the reflections. An old bricked-up bay window has been transformed into a built-in bookshelf, with indirect lighting at the back of the niche that casts a soft glow into the living room in the evening. Storage solutions make use of every nook and cranny. They can be found in the stair risers, behind the swivel TV in the kitchen, and in the built-in cupboards along the walls.
The bathroom is just 3 square meters and plays on matte/glossy contrasts, with a wood-effect painted wall contrasting with the glossy floor. A rain shower is built into the partition. Because just because you have a small space doesn’t mean you don’t want the best in your daily life.
The beige living room with its soft color palette
The living room features a sandy beige color scheme and a sofa that serves as the room’s focal point. Its light upholstery blends naturally with the warm hue of the restored brick.
This sandy color also dominates the cushions and textiles. The designer opted for restraint, focusing on shades and textures rather than color contrasts. In a 23sqm space, a saturated color draws the eye and visually reduces the volume. Beige, on the other hand, recedes and expands the space.
This beige living room is a success precisely because it doesn’t try to do too much. In an apartment with strong character, century-old brick, a metal mezzanine, a monumental mirror, the living room cleverly serves as a neutral space.
What Planète Déco thinks of this 23sqm studio with a Parisian vibe
This apartment can’t expand its walls, but its high ceilings allow it to feel like a nearly two-room apartment with its mezzanine. Its decor, which evokes Paris, is more reminiscent of the city in the 19th century than the one we know today. It is nonetheless very successful, original, and full of charm. Because every choice the designer makes references something recognizable.
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