A TINY PARISIAN JEWEL

One really needs to get creative when space becomes a luxury. I'm amazed how this micro apartment in Paris was designed to fit everything needed to live comfortably. French design firm betillon / dorval-bory used a minimalist approach in its design where light becomes an important element to compartmentalize the space. Using white as its primary color was key in making the apartment look more spacious than it actually is. This proves that square footage doesn't actually matter that much, and it's how you take advantage of it that counts.

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Luxe Nomadic

By looking at these beautiful images you're probably thinking today's post features a small, but stylish studio apartment. Not so! These are the interiors of a renovated 1969 Airstream trailer. Interior designer and owner Rachel Horn took Moroccan and Persian design as the inspiration for the decor, which she likes to call “Luxe Nomadic.” This compact, 180-square-feet trailer is proof that lack of space should not stop anyone from having a swell-looking space, giving to the word trailer new meaning. Enjoy your weekend!

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A Small Parisian Jewel

As you know, good things come in small packages, like this 540 square-feet Parisian flat designed by interior architects Manuel and Agnes Bonnemazou Cambus from Element. The original layout was compartmentalized and poorly distributed, the reason why the two roommates who share the pad sought professional guidance to help them maximize their tiny space. Every inch of the apartment has been optimized by incorporating custom storage that keeps the pad clutter-free and only leaves the essential objects visible. Color was also key in making the apartment look more spacious. With a palette ranging from purple and blue to gray and taupe, the designers played with contrast to create depth. Another neat solution was to divide the living and sleeping areas by raising the hallway floor. Like I always say, space should never stop you from living très chic. Happy weekend :)

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A Parisian Diamond in the Rough

The moment I started my love affair with Paris, I knew right away I wanted to live in this magical city at one point in my life. That dream hasn't come true yet, but I know deep in my heart it will someday. But for New York interior designer Kein Cross, it already did. When I was browsing through The New York Times Home & Garden section yesterday, as I routinely do on Thursdays, I came across his wonderful story telling how he was able to make his longtime dream of moving to Paris come true. He was lucky to find this adorable 18th century courtyard house near Notre Dame, ”it was a diamond in the rough.” With the help of a contractor, his design expertise and the use of black, white and gray, he was able to transform this 19 feet wide by 6 1/2 feet deep two-story tiny house into a gem. Of course, with lots of ingenuity and the clever use of mirrors, Cross made it look more spacious than it actually is. But don't take my word for it. You must see the before pictures to fully appreciate the incredible transformation. His story got me all excited and got me thinking, and it reaffirms what I've always believed: we must follow our heart and live our dreams. Happy weekend!!

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Living In 500 Sq. Feet • The Bedroom

So here it is: the final details on our pad's renovation. But before I start with all the juicy details, I'm very excited to tell you our tiny place made it into Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool Contest. So it would be sweet if I could count with your support to win our category and be able to go to the finals. All you need to do is go to this LINK and make it your favorite. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the love :)

Now, let's get back to business. Although it's the last room in the series, the bedroom is the one I'm proudest of because it presented the biggest challenge due to it's teeny-tiny size (7'7"wide  x 15'3"long). Besides the bed and nightstands, we needed to create room for as many closets as we could fit. The best solution we found was to knock down the existing wall to open up the room into the living area. That's when we came up with the idea to build an L-shaped partition that would house the closets. 

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Style For Rent

When traveling I prefer to stay in design hotels because they're always a great source of inspiration, plus they're usually located in some of the hottest areas of town. However, another wonderful alternative to boutique hotels —and a trend that's blooming around the world— is design rentals, which at times can be more convenient when vacationing with friends. This luxurious Dutch gem in The Hague's city center is a great find to spend a few days away surrounded by sophistication and style. Housed in the top floor of an 1890 historic mansion, the minimalist Maff Apartment has everything you would need, and more. The architect was very clever to use curvilinear and multifunctional furniture in his design, maximizing the square footage and visually making it seem larger than what it actually is. The use of black and white with a splash of orange makes it very bold and dramatic. Most definitely a pretty dashing place for a rental. Wouldn't you say?

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A Greek Delight

Combining her passion for drawing with her architectural background, Joanna Burtenshaw brings spaces to life with her breathtaking atmospheric chalk murals — with her apartment in Athens, Greece, as proof. A trained architect in London, Joanne decided to move to the Greek capital in order to follow her long time interest in art. Now, she is graciously opening up the doors of her beautiful 645 square-feet pad —which she shares with her architect boyfriend Dimitris and their cat— and invites us to take a peek at their exquisite retreat. The place is a perfect marriage of styles, so let's get the scoop on how they did it.

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Living In 500 Sq. Feet • The Bathroom

I know, it has taken me a while to post more juicy details about our pad's renovation. But don't worry. Today I'm giving you all the fun background on our itty-bitty (4’6” x 7’8”) bathroom facelift. For me, the bathroom is one of the most important spaces in a home. I remember when we went to see the apartment for the first time and took a glance at the bathroom , I almost fainted. It was sooooo 70's. The bathtub and toilet were olive green and the vanity white Formica. But wait, the best part: the toilet seat was black, yeap, BLACK! I knew right away everything had to go.

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