French architecture firm turns little storage room into a tidy Paris apartment

How small can you go? French architects Kitoko studio have turned an eight-square-metre storage room into a usable – and quite cute – Paris micro-apartment.

It had once been a maid’s room, a space usually located on the top floor just under the roof. The clients, anticipating the arrival of an au-pair, needed it converted back from storage into an independent living space. 

What they had to work with was the narrow space, a sink and a window. What they came up with was a “Swiss army knife” of storage – a cupboard that can do, and hold, almost everything.

The storage unit serves as a base for a sleeping space which mimics a loft bed, with stairs you can pull out to access it. The stairs are also a bookshelf, and doubles as seating too.

Next to the stairs/shelves/seats is a section that pulls out to reveal a hanging rack and a spot for your clothes. Further along there is a table that folds out with chairs tucked underneath, and then an entire modern bathroom, tiled in grey and white with shower, basin and toilet. There’s even a hot water tank underneath a bookshelf tucked in there somewhere as well. 

And unlike some micro-apartments this one does come with a kitchen, or at least a kitchenette. The original sink was removed and in its place a new one with a microwave, small fridge and removable cooktop slotted in.

With everything folded away a good half of the room is free to use, and as the architect points out, the need to make a multi-functional space “became the real strength of the project”.

The designated clothing area. Photo: Fabienne Delafray/Kitoko Studio

The kitchenette is positioned under the window. Photo: Fabienne Delafray/Kitoko Studio

Inside the bathroom. Photo: Fabienne Delafray/Kitoko Studio

Tiny apartment in Paris (8sqm only) from Kitoko Studio on Vimeo.