Drawn into the wraparound terrace and stunning view of Paris’ Left Bank, the home’s owner decided the panorama was worth the 485-square-foot apartment’s odd layout and funky decor. Husband and wife design duo Alon and Betsy Kasha gutted the distance, starting over with a blank slate. Matte oak floors, white walls and clean lines today visually expand the small space out onto the newly renovated terrace, embracing the Paris skyline.

in a Glance
Location: Saint-Germain-des-Prés place of Paris
Size: 485 square feet and a 355-square-foot terrace; 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Price: Around 200,000 euros ($260,000)

A+B KASHA Designs

Built in 1963 — recent by Paris standards — the original apartment had an embarrassing layout and odd built-ins in every room. Stripping the distance to the bones let its architectural beauty to shine. New oak-plank flooring has a matte water base to help preserve its initial colour. White walls emphasize the client’s art collection and the incredible perspective outside.

Lounge seats: Le Corbusier; coffee table: Pedrera; side tables: The Conran Shop

A+B KASHA Designs

Wassily seats in an odd navy blue leather match a large piece in the client’s artwork collection.

A+B KASHA Designs

The apartment’s original floor plan had the bedroom bordered between the living room and the bathroom. The Kashas switched the kitchen and bathroom places, allowing for a more open kitchen.

Today the kitchen takes up minimal space in the open dining and living room. The Kashas stuck using a very simple layout that complements the clean lines of the main living room. Custom matte white lacquer cabinets have a seamless look.

Coatrack: Hang It All, Eames; pendant: Amusement Lighting, The Conran Shop; table: Saarinen Tulip Table; dining seats: classic Italian

A+B KASHA Designs

The couple maintained this present door to the terrace, carefully designing the thickness of the kitchen so the grill could sit in precisely the exact same level as the chimney, linking the indoors and the outdoors.

Oven, undercounter fridge, microwave: Gaggenau; stovetop, dishwasher: Miele

A+B KASHA Designs

The kitchen opens onto a big terrace — almost two-thirds the magnitude of the apartment — adorned with blossom cherry trellises.

A+B KASHA Designs

The Kashas outfitted the new terrace with teak floors, planter boxes, a railway, power for light and a brand new watering system. They wanted simple, low-maintenance and sturdy plants for the terrace, thus a neighborhood garden designer picked boxwood, baby’s tears, white gaura and Mexican needle grass.

A+B KASHA Designs

In the old layout, the master bedroom opened into the living room. The designers included a brand new wall to divide the two rooms. Plain white walls and simple floor lamps serve as a background for daring artwork, in accord with the gallery style of the house.

A+B KASHA Designs

Simple cotton and linen bedding feels fresh and manly.

A+B KASHA Designs

Now accessed via the bedroom, the bath has gained distance, light and privacy in the terrace.

A+B KASHA Designs

The Kashas used a thick, limestone tile for the shower walls and flooring, extending it out for the rest of the bathroom’s flooring. A customized limestone sink sticks into the simple but luxe material palette.

Before Photo

A+B KASHA Designs

The Apartment Ahead of the Remodel (5 Photos)

The original living room was an unusual combination of mirrored walls, a tropical mural and a window seat serving as a sofa.

Before Photo

A+B KASHA Designs

Turquoise tile and chocolate-brown accents in the previous bathroom felt outdated. Its awkward place on the other side of the primary living room made the room hard to access in the bedroom.

Before Photo

A+B KASHA Designs

The kitchen, squished on one side of the kitchen and bedroom, felt closed off from the rest of the apartment.

Before Photo

A+B KASHA Designs

Tucked into a mirrored and peach-colored corner in the living room, the bed felt like an awkward afterthought.

Before Photo

A+B KASHA Designs

Even though it had some help, the terrace — rare in this part of Paris — is what attracted the client to this apartment. The Kashas were amazed to find it was structurally sound and required only cosmetic modifications.

A+B KASHA Designs

AFTER: Voilà!

Your turn: Have a great house makeover? Please post a photograph and tell us about it below!

See related