Meow Meow

You’re in Paris’s vibrant 18th district, right at the foot of Montmartre, in a bustling area called Lagora. Picture this: a 1900s worker’s residence, top floor, good bones, but stuck in a time warp since the ’80s. Outdated materials, tired appliances – you get the picture. But Edward and his team at Space Factory saw potential. Their clients, craving a slice of their sun-drenched South of France childhoods, tasked them with a seemingly impossible brief: light and calm.

This vision birthed “Luloclair,” a concept that literally translates to “in the light space”. Heavily influenced by Japanese design principles, the goal was simple: make light flow effortlessly, creating a genuinely tranquil and radiant home. And how did they achieve this? By tearing down the old ceiling, revealing an incredible 3.5-meter (over 11 feet) height, and flooding the apartment with numerous new skylights. That’s not just a renovation; it’s a revelation.

Let’s break down how every inch of this compact Parisian pad was meticulously crafted:

The Unveiling Act: A Terra Cotta Welcome Stepping inside, you’re immediately hit by a strategic design punch. A bold terra cotta arch isn’t just a visual statement; it’s a masterpiece of hidden utility. We’re talking storage on both sides and, get this, it even conceals the electricity box. This intelligent design extends into the hallway, where a custom, sleek storage bench, painted in the same warm terra cotta, handles shoe duty. Knowing this was the only space devoid of natural light, Space Factory brilliantly integrated recessed lighting and a unique “plateau sconce” that doubles as an art piece, ensuring a bright, welcoming transition.

The Luminous Lounge: Soaring Heights, Hidden Tech Through that arch, you’re enveloped in a sun-filled living room. To exploit that impressive ceiling height, a magnificent floor-to-ceiling bookshelf takes center stage. Crafted from white coated steel and plywood, it’s not just for books; it’s a curated display of the owners’ prized art and personal treasures. Artificial light is handled subtly by a wallpaper lantern that practically disappears into the space. And for movie nights? A projector screen drops discreetly from the ceiling. A reupholstered Togo sofa, perfectly positioned under an angled skylight, forms an inviting, sun-drenched relaxation spot. For the owners, who love to sew, clever, concealed storage for materials and their machine was integrated at the bottom of the shelf. A curved desk carves out a perfect work-from-home nook. Despite the bustling city outside, updated double-pane windows guarantee a “totally quiet space”. Even the slanted walls between windows were put to work, offering both closed storage and display areas, and a custom magnetic cover streamlines the radiator below. Every square inch earns its keep.

The “Café” Kitchen: A Burst of Yellow Genius This kitchen is a masterclass in infusing personality and serious function into a compact area. Designed to channel the cozy vibe of a café, its vibrant yellow hues, in varying shades, add incredible depth and character. A clever niche around the old fireplace offers open shelving and a dedicated coffee corner. They smartly used IKEA cabinetry, elevated with custom Plum Living fronts – a brilliant move for budget and bespoke aesthetics. Crucially, upper cabinets were a hard no, maintaining that open, minimal feel. Despite its size, this is no compromise kitchen, featuring full-size appliances: a large sink, oven, and an induction hob with an integrated exhaust fan. The showstopper? A curved yellow kitchen island that packs in extensive storage and ample prep space. Light-colored quartz countertops and backsplash, chosen for heat resistance and easy cleaning, perfectly complement the yellow. Above the island, red pendants, a personal touch from the owners’ trip to Hong Kong, deliver a delightful color pop. The kitchen’s subtle elevation by one step from the living room, coupled with a large mirror reflecting the parquet floor, brilliantly defines the zones and softens the transition. An extendable IKEA table beside the island comfortably seats up to four.
The Serene Sanctuary: Bedroom Secrets Tucked away from the main living buzz, the bedroom is pure calm. The integrated bed frame and closet, meticulously crafted from plywood, exploit the high ceilings with a top-to-bottom closet that extends past the platform floor. The low, Japanese-style tile bed is designed to make a standard queen-sized mattress appear thinner, channeling that futon feel. The intentional steps leading up to the bed create a sense of ritual and separation from daily life. Clever push-to-open compartments serve as discreet side tables. And for unparalleled hidden organization? The entire bed frame lifts via a hydraulic system, revealing a generous amount of storage underneath. A slim table with a pullout keyboard is integrated against the wall, ready for a second work-from-home setup. Even the mirrors at the bedroom entrance are multi-functional, reflecting the space while brilliantly concealing the boiler.
Bathroom Brilliance: Ingenuity in Every Detail The bathroom is a testament to visually simple design packed with innovation. A floating vanity, made from waterproofed waxed plywood, enhances the airy feel. The curved mirror is ingeniously integrated into the glass partition, allowing it to be used from both sides. Smooth waxed concrete flooring extends seamlessly into the shower and steps. And by raising the shower entrance, it can be filled like a bathtub, transforming it into a private bathing sanctuary. A tall laundry space is neatly hidden behind plywood doors adjacent to the bathroom entrance, offering storage for cleaning supplies. For the toilet, Space Factory went to extraordinary lengths, sourcing the smallest Japanese toilet available, complete with a heated seat and bidet. They even strategically shifted and curved the toilet wall to optimize space in the bathroom, accommodate the laundry closet, and improve movement in the hallway. That’s not just design; that’s surgical precision.
Space Factory’s overarching philosophy is crystal clear: a small space isn’t a limitation; it’s “a way to be creative”. By anchoring rooms with low, ground-level furniture and keeping elements below eye level, they minimized visual density, drawing the eye upwards to those magnificent tall ceilings and abundant skylights. As Edward aptly puts it, “It is very joyful to design a small space where everything can find its own spot”. This project is a compelling testament to how thoughtfully upgrading compact spaces can inject new life into urban environments, making living “vibrant, affordable and full of character”. It unequivocally proves that with intelligent design and a big vision, a compact space can transcend its size to become an extraordinary home.