This couple from Bordeaux was looking for a pied-à-terre in Paris for themselves, but also for their children. Their wish was to find a property to renovate, in order to personalize it according to their taste, while retaining the Parisian spirit, in particular thanks to the presence of old parquet floors and moldings on the ceiling. They also wanted to settle in a lively area of the capital. The apartment they found perfectly met their criteria. In Haussmann style, this bright 40 m² is located in the trendy district of Antwerp between the 9th and 18th arrondissements. Although meeting the couple’s expectations, the property, in poor condition, required a lot of work. There was no question of modifying the plan because of too many load-bearing walls in the accommodation. To carry out this project, the couple called on the architects of Atelier Fauves, whose work they appreciate.
Renovate without breaking everything
In addition to the decoration to be reviewed, the apartment was in very poor condition. “Everything had to be redone. We changed all the windows. We redid all the floors. Nothing was straight. Everything was sloping. Each room had a different floor: tiles, linoleum, parquet. There was no unity” explains Marion Mezure, one of the architects responsible for this project. The electricity and plumbing were also redone. Each room has been redesigned in relation to its surface area so that you do not feel cramped. In the living room, there was a large storage unit on one wall. It was kept because it was practical, but it was recycled to give it a more contemporary style. That’s also what renovation is, changing when necessary and succeeding in reusing what already exists. We let you see how each centimeter has been optimized with taste and simplicity.
© Sabine Serrad/Atelier Fauves
