A stunning 700-square-foot apartment renovation in Paris's 10th arrondissement has transformed two small units into a light-filled sanctuary that seems to float above the urban bustle. Located on the fifth floor of a building on Rue Pierre Dupont, just steps from the Canal Saint-Martin, the blue and white residence showcases how thoughtful design can maximize space while creating a timeless aesthetic.
Architect Pierre Savajol of PS Studio led the extensive renovation, combining two separate apartments into one cohesive living space. The design centers around a thick load-bearing wall that incorporates old chimneys, which became the heart of the project. "We decided to design our layout around this structural element, with a sleeping area on one side and a living area on the other, south-facing side," Savajol explains.
The homeowners, a couple in their thirties, provided simple but specific guidance for the project's aesthetic direction. They requested the extensive use of light wood and plenty of blue throughout the space. "Those were our only requirements regarding the project's aesthetics," the architect notes. "We designed the entire sleeping area in blue, with a color transition that begins in the bathroom, continues through the hallway, and ends in the bedroom."
The living area presents a striking contrast to the blue entrance, painted entirely in white using Farrow & Ball paint. Original oak parquet flooring runs throughout the apartment, having been sanded and refinished. In this ensemble of white and wood, a custom-made large table from blue-stained oak by Kann Design sets the tone for the entire space. "Everything started with this table," reveals architect Savajol.
The dining area features Rey chairs by Bruno Rey x Dietiker surrounding the striking blue table, topped with a Drip metal chandelier from Polspotten and Tulipe glasses by Ulysse Sauvage. A Brueghel Silver pendant light from Sammode illuminates the space. The bookshelf displays an eclectic collection including works by Alex Foxton, a drawing by Jacques Merle, a print by Jean Mallard, and a Snoopy lamp by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos.
The apartment's layout cleverly separates private and public spaces while maintaining visual flow. On one side lie the sleeping area and functional rooms, while the other houses the light-filled living room oriented from east to west, offering unobstructed views of the sky and city. The bright oak parquet connects both areas seamlessly.
The large living area showcases an open structure that allows the living room, kitchen, and small work area to blend into a single space. Along the central dividing wall, a bench extends along a nearly 16-foot-long bookshelf. This bench transitions into an upholstered window seat with integrated storage before continuing as a desk, all crafted from ash wood. The natural wood tone is preserved through treatment with colorless lacquer, creating a consistent thread throughout the interior.
Colorful accents punctuate the neutral palette, including orange-yellow dining chairs and the blue dining table that echoes the bedroom's color scheme. "We discovered this table together with the owners at Kann Design. We then built everything else around this blue tone, which is really beautiful – an intense blue around which we conceived the color palette," Savajol explains. The rich, matte blue tones are enhanced through oiled surfaces, creating depth and texture.
The apartment's open design continues with the living room bench extending in front of south-facing windows, transitioning into a floor-to-ceiling wall cabinet connected to a desk. This continuous built-in furniture maximizes both storage and functionality while maintaining clean lines throughout the space.
The entrance area of the 700-square-foot apartment functions like an airlock, providing access to both the bedroom and bathroom. The intermediate space houses a wardrobe, toilet, storage, laundry facilities, and technical equipment – all finished in calming blue tones. In the bedroom, the wall behind the bed, flanked by pink nightstands, is painted blue up to hip height, simultaneously forming the headboard.
The bathroom floods the space with light that flows through the entrance into the bedroom. The room features a large shower clad in Winckelmans tiles and a wall with integrated glass blocks. Glossy stainless steel details, including a round washbasin, create striking focal points. "We created a mix of blue tones with different textures and nuances, from the tile mosaic in the bathroom to the ultra-glossy blue in the entrance area and the matte tone in the bedroom," the architect describes.
Savajol's minimalist approach reflects his philosophy of creating unique, timeless design through simple forms. "The idea is not to follow a trend, quite the contrary – it's about creating something individual and timeless," he states. "I worked with Flavin Judd, Donald Judd's son, and there we really worked on this idea of minimalism. That's something I've retained and try to implement in all my projects."
Despite the limited living space, the apartment incorporates numerous hidden storage solutions, utilizing every corner of the structure. The omnipresent wood dialogues with porcelain stoneware and mineral surfaces, particularly in the kitchen where the central island combines light ash and ceramic. The kitchen continues the ash wood theme with upper and lower cabinets, while white ceramic countertops match the light wall color from Farrow & Ball.
The workspace area features a Young Lady chair by Paolo Rizzatto in light wood tones, complementing the original oak parquet. The desk and bench are crafted from light-lacquered ash wood, with seat cushions covered in light blue linen. La Redoute curtains add softness to the space. A dark Sett LN12 coffee table designed by Luca Nichetto anchors the seating area.
The sleeping and entrance areas showcase a sophisticated palette of different blue tones. Farrow & Ball's Blueground No. 210 with a glossy finish was chosen for these spaces. The bedroom continues the original oak parquet, with ceilings and upper walls painted in Kittiwake No. 307 in a silk-matte finish, while lower walls feature Belvedere Blue No. 215 in a matte finish. A Radar Side Table from Nomess Copenhagen and bedding from Bonsoirs complete the serene sleeping space.
The bathroom design incorporates blue mosaic tiles from Winckelmans and glass blocks from La Rochère. A stainless steel washbasin from neoro n40 sits atop a Havback vanity from IKEA, with a Grohe faucet. A Mini Glo-Ball wall light by Jasper Morrison for Flos provides ambient lighting.
"I see this apartment as an oasis of calm at an airy height," says the architect, "a bubble above the city's hustle and bustle that is both airy and warm." The transformation demonstrates how thoughtful design can create a sophisticated, functional home that maximizes every square foot while maintaining an sense of spaciousness and tranquility above the Parisian streets.
