Projecting yourself into a dated interior, especially when darkness reigns supreme, is not easy. Far from being impressed by the scale of the challenge, architect Rémy Bardin took it up brilliantly, transforming this dark kitchen into a real cocoon of life.
Perched on the third floor of a 1930s building, in the bustling Parmentier district (Paris 11th), this 60 m² apartment was, it must be admitted, a bit austere. In its juice, excessively compartmentalized and frankly dark, it required a lot of freshening. For this young couple of executives, calling on Rémy Bardin was obvious: clarity was needed, a lot of clarity, and quickly.
The slogan was clear: let there be light, and in every corner! In terms of specifications, the duo had specific desires: plenty of storage capacity, an integrated wine cellar, a bathtub for relaxation and a convertible desk, capable of transforming into a child’s bedroom when the time comes. Over the course of a project that went wonderfully, the ideas of its “cool customers” – as Rémy likes to point out – took shape to give birth to the project “1, 2, 3, sun” ! A name which, as you will have understood, makes sense.
Among the highlights of the construction site, a crucial step emerged: the connection to a second column of the building. Why such a maneuver? Quite simply to release the breath of the future living room, which until now was stifled by the forced cohabitation of the mini kitchen, the bathroom and the living space. Too cramped, the original kitchen could not be preserved as it was: Rémy Bardin therefore decided by opening it generously onto the living room. Same sentence for the bathroom: stuck in a corner of the living room, it has bowed out to make way for a new, much more fluid organization.
A true hymn to conviviality, the new kitchen – an IKEA model with matt lacquered fronts – takes up residence facing the living room. Perfectly integrated into this reception area, it is built around a generous cream Dekton worktop and concentrates all the necessary equipment. The wall units, in immaculate white, punctuate the whole with lightness, offering a perfect atmosphere for a few plants and decorative objects which add the final touch.
Continuing on, there’s room for conviviality with a white bench with a walnut seat, enhanced with colorful cushions and high storage. Enough to sit down with ease, whether you are in a duo or in a larger company. The secret to this flexibility? A clever table, extendable as desired, to adapt, in the blink of an eye, to all the couple’s reception desires, hats off!
