46sqm in Paris with a single unifying theme: blue
The renovation of this 46sqm Haussmann-style apartment in Klein blue in Paris was carried out by Alicia Oustry of Ameo Concept
Located across from the town hall of Paris’s 14th arrondissement, nestled on the corner of a building made of cut stone, this 46sqm Haussmann-style apartment was in need of renovation. A father bought this small three-room apartment for his son and entrusted its renovation to Alicia Oustry, founder of the Ameo Concept agency. Five months of work later, the apartment looks nothing like it used to.
The original apartment boasted the decorative features typical of this type of building. It featured marble fireplaces, solid oak flooring with straight-grained planks, and stucco moldings and rosettes. But its layout fell short, with a central hallway leading to three small rooms facing the street. A cramped kitchen facing the courtyard, a tiny bathroom, every square meter is partitioned off in the old-fashioned way, and to be honest: underutilized.
The architect made her assessment during the very first visit. The kitchen and bathroom are too small. Its partitioned layout stifles the light. She made a radical decision and completely reconfigured the entire apartment.
This is the boldest decorative choice in this project, and likely the most daring: Klein blue runs through the apartment from end to end. Not as a subtle accent, but as a bold, solid color, in texture and volume.
The open kitchen features low cabinets in deep matte blue, paired with a black granite countertop. Above, the upper cabinets remain white to balance the space and blend into the wall. In between, the backsplash is a true statement of originality. Geometric zellige tiles blend Klein blue with white, and even incorporate silver accents. It’s almost a work of art. It brings to mind Mondrian reimagined by a Moroccan ceramist. It’s graphic, unexpected, and frankly stunning.
The living room continues this theme. The navy blue velvet sofa bed is the focal point of the living area. Opposite it, a wall painted in deep blue features a bookshelf made of oak shelves supported by black metal posts. The contrast between light oak, deep blue, and black metal works perfectly.
Its entryway features a softer blue, celadon tinged with gray. The color palette cools slightly to mark the transition. A storage bench in heathered gray fabric and a black metal coat rack create a look that is understated, functional, and harmonious.
Between the dining area and the living room, a custom-made low cabinet acts as a divider without blocking the light. Mirrors integrated into the structure create a sense of depth. The white round Tulip table and the Bertoia wire chairs, two design classics from the 1950s, face the original marble fireplace. The blend of mid-century design and Haussmannian heritage strikes a beautiful balance between the eras.
A sand-colored lime-plastered wall unexpectedly warms up one of the living room walls. The large arched windows let light flood in. Its cornices are off-white, as are the ceiling medallions.
The bedroom offers two configurations as it features a fold-away bed that tucks into a sage-green lacquered walk-in closet. This shift in color brings a sense of calm to a space dedicated to rest or work. An office area is tucked into the corner, featuring oak shelves and a brushed brass pendant light. The arched window bathes the entire space in natural light.
The bathroom deserves a whole paragraph to itself. Alicia Oustry uses zellige tiles everywhere, and she doesn’t hold back. The walk-in shower features two distinct styles side by side: a solid Klein blue square zellige wall on one side, and a pattern of elongated blue-white-black diamonds on the other. This contrast in sizes, sheens, and patterns is a rare choice in a room of this size.
The white stone vanity stretches out lengthwise. The base cabinets echo the same electric blue as the kitchen, like a design thread carried through to the end. A full-height mirror amplifies the space. The laundry room is concealed behind a flush-mounted door.
14th arrondissement isn’t the most talked-about in the capital. Yet this quiet neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from Montparnasse and Montsouris Park, boasts a rich concentration of well-preserved Haussmannian architecture. Buildings of light-colored stone, arched windows, and high ceilings.
This project does not seek to erase the apartment’s past. It preserves it while modernizing it with an open kitchen and color. Klein blue is a bold choice that gives character to every room.
Alicia Oustry designed this apartment for a young man who hadn’t seen the construction site. When the keys were handed over, he discovered 46 square meters combining handcrafted zellige tiles, designer furniture, and period moldings. Who wouldn’t dream of such a gift at the start of their adult life? To discover the renovation of a 46sqm apartment and all the projects completed by Ameo Concept, click on this link! Photo: ©Agathe Tissier
The before: an uninviting layout
The original apartment boasted the decorative features typical of this type of building. It featured marble fireplaces, solid oak flooring with straight-grained planks, and stucco moldings and rosettes. But its layout fell short, with a central hallway leading to three small rooms facing the street. A cramped kitchen facing the courtyard, a tiny bathroom, every square meter is partitioned off in the old-fashioned way, and to be honest: underutilized.
The architect made her assessment during the very first visit. The kitchen and bathroom are too small. Its partitioned layout stifles the light. She made a radical decision and completely reconfigured the entire apartment.
Color as the backbone
This is the boldest decorative choice in this project, and likely the most daring: Klein blue runs through the apartment from end to end. Not as a subtle accent, but as a bold, solid color, in texture and volume.
The open kitchen features low cabinets in deep matte blue, paired with a black granite countertop. Above, the upper cabinets remain white to balance the space and blend into the wall. In between, the backsplash is a true statement of originality. Geometric zellige tiles blend Klein blue with white, and even incorporate silver accents. It’s almost a work of art. It brings to mind Mondrian reimagined by a Moroccan ceramist. It’s graphic, unexpected, and frankly stunning.
The living room continues this theme. The navy blue velvet sofa bed is the focal point of the living area. Opposite it, a wall painted in deep blue features a bookshelf made of oak shelves supported by black metal posts. The contrast between light oak, deep blue, and black metal works perfectly.
Its entryway features a softer blue, celadon tinged with gray. The color palette cools slightly to mark the transition. A storage bench in heathered gray fabric and a black metal coat rack create a look that is understated, functional, and harmonious.
In the dining area, design meets moldings
Between the dining area and the living room, a custom-made low cabinet acts as a divider without blocking the light. Mirrors integrated into the structure create a sense of depth. The white round Tulip table and the Bertoia wire chairs, two design classics from the 1950s, face the original marble fireplace. The blend of mid-century design and Haussmannian heritage strikes a beautiful balance between the eras.
A sand-colored lime-plastered wall unexpectedly warms up one of the living room walls. The large arched windows let light flood in. Its cornices are off-white, as are the ceiling medallions.
The bedroom that can be tucked away when desired
The bedroom offers two configurations as it features a fold-away bed that tucks into a sage-green lacquered walk-in closet. This shift in color brings a sense of calm to a space dedicated to rest or work. An office area is tucked into the corner, featuring oak shelves and a brushed brass pendant light. The arched window bathes the entire space in natural light.
Zellige tiles from floor to ceiling in the bathroom
The bathroom deserves a whole paragraph to itself. Alicia Oustry uses zellige tiles everywhere, and she doesn’t hold back. The walk-in shower features two distinct styles side by side: a solid Klein blue square zellige wall on one side, and a pattern of elongated blue-white-black diamonds on the other. This contrast in sizes, sheens, and patterns is a rare choice in a room of this size.
The white stone vanity stretches out lengthwise. The base cabinets echo the same electric blue as the kitchen, like a design thread carried through to the end. A full-height mirror amplifies the space. The laundry room is concealed behind a flush-mounted door.
The apartment’s surroundings
14th arrondissement isn’t the most talked-about in the capital. Yet this quiet neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from Montparnasse and Montsouris Park, boasts a rich concentration of well-preserved Haussmannian architecture. Buildings of light-colored stone, arched windows, and high ceilings.
What Planète déco takes away from the renovation of a 46sqm Haussmann-style apartment like this one
This project does not seek to erase the apartment’s past. It preserves it while modernizing it with an open kitchen and color. Klein blue is a bold choice that gives character to every room.
Alicia Oustry designed this apartment for a young man who hadn’t seen the construction site. When the keys were handed over, he discovered 46 square meters combining handcrafted zellige tiles, designer furniture, and period moldings. Who wouldn’t dream of such a gift at the start of their adult life? To discover the renovation of a 46sqm apartment and all the projects completed by Ameo Concept, click on this link! Photo: ©Agathe Tissier
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