The Carrez Law listed the area as 52 square meters; however, the top floor told a different story… Working with Elau Studio, Margot and Stan are reimagining this three-room apartment from the 1930s, located in Asnières-sur-Seine, to reveal its full potential. More fluid and softer in feel, the apartment is gradually taking on the character of a house perched high above, where every meter gained finds a new purpose.
At first glance, the apartment already possessed that rare quality found in top-floor units: natural light streaming through, unobstructed views, and an attic that promised a place to escape. But behind this brightness, the layout remained fixed in a star-shaped design typical of the 1930s. From the entryway, each space was accessed separately. Even the living room—created by combining two former rooms—still retained two separate doors, as if the old layout were holding on.
The owners’ brief, therefore, called for a clear action:
“Move the kitchen into the living room to free up space where the old kitchen used to be” and “make the living area more inviting.” Margot and Stan then envisioned installing a walk-in closet in place of the old kitchen. But as the sketches progressed, Elau Studio flipped the logic. Since the room had a window, they figured they might as well slip the bathroom in there and treat it to the luxury of natural light. With that decision, the apartment’s layout fell into place. The walk-in closet is tucked into the former bathroom, while the kitchen merges with the living room and extends under the existing staircase. The project doesn’t seek to radically transform the apartment, but rather to resolve what was holding it back: “By modifying this star-shaped layout, the interior has gained a sense of flow and space,” summarize the design duo, Élise Mariani and Laurine Petitjean.
This new balance is achieved through a light, almost understated color palette that allows the spaces to breathe. The white kitchen nestles under the stairs, the bathroom takes on a softer look in shades of beige, and the hardwood floors regain their original hue. Upstairs, the white-painted fir tree catches the light in the attic. Then it’s up to Margot and Stan to infuse the space with a little extra soul. Margot hunts for treasures, Stan tags along, and the objects find their place without ever making the decor feel static. Furniture crafted from warm materials, a few carefully chosen pieces, and elegant linens break up the whiteness and infuse the space with warmth. Little by little, the apartment sheds its image as a simple urban three-room apartment. It becomes, in the studio’s words: “A country house, but perched at the top of a building, where you immediately feel at home!”
