Renovating an old two-bedroom attic apartment to turn it into a one-bedroom apartment with a double exposure and a focus on reuse: in Montmartre, Parisian architect Flore Bellanger has created a striking space that combines common sense with aesthetic sensibility.
Tucked away behind Butte Montmartre, this 41-square-meter apartment feels like a well-kept secret. A few flights of stairs, a narrow walkway, then the silence of the rooftops. Up there, light fills the space and Paris seems to breathe. Once compartmentalized, the space has been opened up into a light-filled one-bedroom apartment, piloted by designer/resident Flore.
As her own client, she wanted to optimize everything by adding more storage space so that clutter would never be visible; as an architect, she made it a rule to make the most of reused materials and secondhand furniture. Traces of the original space were preserved and then reinvented : the original bathroom tiles now form four wall niches, while the cabinets from the old kitchen have been incorporated into the new one. Elsewhere, fragments from other projects have found their place: a patchwork of terracotta tiles highlights the missing partitions, a sideboard has been transformed into a bathroom cabinet, and a piece of seagrass has become a headboard... For the architect, “each material tells a fragment of a story, each piece seems to have found its rightful place.”
The renovation itself follows this logic by revealing the best the space had to offer. The kitchen was installed in the former bedroom, the partitions were removed, and the living room was extended, flooding it with light. The original beams reappeared were stripped of its plasterboard, restoring the room’s hidden charm. As the light glides over the materials, the space takes on gentle warmth. Second-hand pieces and deliberate imperfections combine to create an interior that awakens fond memories, evoking a place that feels both new and familiar.
The attic apartment is located on the seventh floor. The soft blue of the steps and the weathered banister hint at what lies ahead, as the light guides the eye towards Flore Bellanger’s nest.
From the doorway, the apartment opens up into the living room.
The boldly patterned rug brings energy to the living room. The carefully selected furnishings surrounding it create a simple and welcoming atmosphere.
Opposite the sofa, the terracotta-colored alcove structures the space and houses a custom-made walnut bookcase. Its lower, closed section provides storage that keeps clutter at bay.
The old fireplace fits into this harmonious composition, blending contemporary lines with traces of the past.
On the floor, a patchwork of salvaged terracotta tiles highlights the location of the former partition wall.
Windows offer a view of the rooftops. Light, the central theme of the project, flows in freely, filling the newly open space.
Walnut steps lead to the ultimate luxury …
… a cozy terrace overlooking the rooftops of Paris.
The kitchen flows naturally from the living room, beneath the original beams. It stretches out lengthwise, punctuated by warm walnut fronts that cover the reused cabinets.
Framed by the sloping roof, the cast iron fireplace stands out as the centerpiece of the dining area.
At the end of the linear layout, full-height storage units discreetly complete the kitchen. Their soft color blends naturally with the warmth of the parquet flooring and the raw wood of the beams.
Around the weathered antique table, the space becomes a true gathering place, in keeping with Flore’s design philosophy. At her side, her friend and business partner Éloïse Soubeyran, who has helped her with several projects, including this one.
The piano takes center stage in the space, which is extended by the custom storage’s mirrored doors.
In the bedroom, the woven headboard is made from reused seagrass. Its natural texture warms up the deep blue of the wall and creates a cocoon that draws attention to its materials. At the foot of the bed, cream-colored Componibili units serve as bedside tables, punctuated with antique ceramic switches.
The wardrobe’s continuous oak façade is extended by open shelves that lighten the overall effect.
The completely redesigned bathroom features soft-hued polished concrete. Behind the fluted glass wall, the shower offers privacy without compromising on natural light.
The carefully recovered original tiles have been given a new home in built-in niches.
An old workbench stands guard alongside, supporting a stone basin, further proof that thoughtful reuse can create spaces that are both coherent and welcoming.
Flore’s Neighborhood Favorites: For Japanese street food NAKATSU
25 rue Ramey, 75018 Paris
Comfort food for every mood, whether it’s the morning after a night out or a Sunday evening. @nakatsu_paris For Sunday lunch or drinks with friends AU BON COIN
49 rue des Cloys, 75018 Paris
A typically French neighborhood bistro with a family atmosphere and communal tables, run by pioneering 18th arrondissement restaurateurs who offer generous portions at reasonable prices. @auboncoin18 To enjoy a drink year-round LA NICHE DE CAULAINCORT
48 rue Caulaincourt, 75018 Paris
A pleasant “bistro-disco” open all year round, founded by friends, where the music gets louder on weekends and the atmosphere follows suit. @lanicheparis
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