Interior architect Anthony Aoun has completed a comprehensive redesign of his 43sqm apartment within a late 19th-century building in the western suburbs of Paris. By stripping away nearly all internal partitions, the project demonstrates how precise spatial planning can elevate compact urban footprints.
How Hidden Spaces Make This Compact Paris Apartment Feel Bigger, 43sqm/463sqft — Never Too SmallSpatial Economy and Layout
Working with a footprint of 463 square feet requires strict discipline regarding circulation and spatial boundaries. Aoun removed almost all interior walls, converting a fragmented floor plan into a single continuous volume. This structural alteration allows natural light from the perimeter windows to penetrate deep into the core of the apartment, eliminating dark transitional hallways.
Functional zones are defined through furniture placement and built-in joinery rather than physical partitions. The kitchen was relocated directly into the primary living area, maintaining an open-plan flow that accommodates daily living without visual clutter.
Adaptive Joinery and Concealed Workspaces
In compact residences, millwork must perform multiple functions. A large custom bookshelf dominates the living zone, providing extensive library storage while ingeniously incorporating a hidden pull-out desk. This integration allows the space to transition seamlessly from a domestic living area to a functional home office.
Separation between the public and private quarters is managed via a full-height mirrored sliding door. When closed, it affords privacy to the bedroom; when retracted, it reflects ambient light and restores the uninterrupted perspective of the apartment’s full length.
Materiality, Heritage and Palette
During the demolition phase, an original timber beam was uncovered and subsequently restored, anchoring the modern intervention to the historical fabric of the 19th-century building. This structural element provides organic texture and warmth against cleaner contemporary surfaces.
The interior palette relies on warm wood tones, targeted green accents, and precise black metal details. Antique-style mirrors are deployed strategically to add depth and multiply light sources, counteracting the spatial limitations inherent to sub-50 square metre Parisian footprints.
- Remove non-load-bearing internal walls to maximise light penetration in compact footprints.
- Utilise full-height sliding doors with mirrored surfaces to create flexible room division.
- Incorporate pull-out desks and multi-use joinery to save floor space.
- Expose and restore original structural features such as timber beams to add historical depth.
- Apply a restrained palette of warm woods, matte black details, and targeted accent colours.
Compact apartments in well-connected Parisian suburbs consistently attract high demand from young professionals and pied-à-terre buyers. Architectural interventions that successfully increase perceived volume—such as open-plan layouts and custom built-in joinery—tend to command a premium over unmodernised stock of identical square meterage. While the initial capital expenditure on bespoke millwork is high, it directly addresses the primary buyer constraint in this market: lack of usable storage and functional workspace. Properties featuring authenticated historical details paired with modern utility represent highly liquid assets in the current Parisian market.
Related reads
Inside 7 Tiny Homes With Bold Ideas and Colourful Personalities (AD Middle East, 6 Oct 2026)
61 small living room ideas for characterful compact spaces (House & Garden, 11 Sep 2026)
The Smartest Small Apartment I’ve Seen In Paris | Every Inch Has A Purpose Essence (yH8W6OXnCq) (Unisba Media, 30 Sep 2026)
Sources & credits
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