When Thomas Hostache and Bertrand Chapus of Hoch Studio reimagined a studio apartment in the 18th arrondissement of Montmartre, Paris, they infused it plenty of sunlight, rich colors, and geometric forms that make the space feel fresh and chic—and much larger than its 193 square feet.

“Our client wanted a little palace of sorts,” says Hostache. “It was almost like a Cinderella story, turning what was once a chamber de bonne, a maid’s room, into something beautiful and fancy.” The client, a professional woman in her thirties, first consulted her friend Pierre Mounier, a Myanmar-based designer, who contributed a number of ideas. But soon enough, it became clear that she required Paris-based architects and designers to shape and implement the design.

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

“Our client is always out, working late or traveling abroad,” Hostache says. “This is the cozy place she needed when she’s ready to crash.”" layout="wide" credit="Yohann Fontaine" photoUserId=""/>

Inspired by the building and the neighborhood, Hostache and Chapus worked to create a design that’s as contemporary as it is classical. “The building is from the second half of the nineteenth century, complete with an old wooden elevator,” Chapus says. The neighborhood offers plenty of charm, too. “It’s situated on Rue des Saules, one of those streets with infinite stone stairs that take you up and down Montmartre,” Hostache says. “And it’s family-friendly, with lots of cafes, boulangeries, and restaurants. We loved drinking wine after construction meetings at nearby Francis Labutte.”

On the apartment’s interior, a striking jade-green tone marks the bedroom and the bath. “The client and the previous designer chose a dark green tone that’s classic and chic and pairs well with wood finishes and gold fixtures,” Hostache says. “The green tile in the bath was laid in a herringbone pattern that’s very classic.”

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathroom

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To delineate the bedroom space, Hostache and Chapus flanked the bed with built-in oak shelving. “It gives the impression of a nest, but allows sunlight and views to pass through,” Chapus says. They considered practicality as much as they did aesthetics. “The custom bathroom sink was chosen so we could integrate a washing machine and plumbing beneath it,” Hostache says. “The upper cabinet hides the water heating system.”

To keep things bright and open, the architects opted for light oak for the bedroom shelving, the bathroom vanity, and the kitchen cabinetry. And in their effort to create a feeling of timelessness, Hostache and Chapus outfitted the kitchen with black-and-white, checkerboard-style flooring. “It’s a classical Parisian floor,” Chapus says. “And the black-and-rose gold kitchen tap gives the entire room a contemporary touch that contrasts with the classical elements.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

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Hostache and Chapus maintained the original wood flooring in the rest of the studio apartment. “We discovered wood flooring under layers of carpet and glue during the demolition and decided to restore it,” Hostache says.

Removing the carpet helped to make the apartment feel brighter and more spacious, but the addition of a skylight in the bathroom had the most dramatic effect in terms of illuminating the interior. “It changed everything,” Chapus says.

More Before & After:

A French Norman–Style Home Ditches a Clumsy Addition

This Historic Midcentury With a Slinky Roofline Debuts at Modernism Week 2020

Curving Glass Walls Give This Traditional Beijing Home an Otherworldly Appeal

Project Credits:

Architecture and Design: Hoch Studio / @hoch_studio

Interior Design Consultant: Pierre Mounier

Construction: Iota Element

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Before & After: This Hip Parisian Apartment Makes the Most of 193 Square Feet