Location: Paris, Montmartre
Type: Design consulting, kitchen
Clients: Young couple + baby, renters
When you rent an apartment in Paris, the kitchen comes with only a sink and one under-the-sink cabinet. That’s right: no appliances are included which is why parisian don’t change apartments as often as say New Yorkers.
Here, you take your appliances with you when you move and pray they’ll fit in your new space.
This young couple was moving to a bigger apartment following the arrival of their first-born. Between the sleepless nights and all the packing, they had no time or energy to figure out what to do with their kitchen.
Since it is a rental, they didn’t want to spend a lot of money so I help them plan a room that would work for them and their budget, re-using as much of their current appliances and furniture as possible.
the good: nice double window, freshly painted white walls, water hook-ups for dishwasher & washer, great condition terracotta-colored tiles.(All good news since renters aren’t allowed to change any of that.)
the bad: not a single right-angled wall, a top-loading washing machine and a large mural element
Initially, the clients wanted the range to be next to the sink but I convinced them it was a bad combo idea! I placed the range on the center of the opposite wall, flanked by the dishwasher and a new 3-drawer element with a birch countertop to match the client’s existing wall cabinet.
I found 3 vintage containers that we used to put utensils.
We put their top-loading washing machine by the sink and mounted the spice rack and dishdrainer.
A new free-standing shelving unit was added by the fridge, leaving just enough space for the grocery caddie. We also bought a pair of stack-able stools.
The result is a super functional space that the clients enjoy today and can re-use (safe for that custom cut countertop and shelves) when they move again.
shopping list:
IKEA
- ABSTRAKT 3-drawer base cabinet, white (L.60cm): 173€ / $202.97
- NUMERAR countertop, birch (126x62cm): 60€ / $89
- CAPITA legs (H. 16cm) 5€ / $12
- VARDE handles: 2 x 6,99€ / $8.99
- FASTBO wall panel 16,95€ /$19.99
- MARIUS stool: 2 x 4,50€ / 5.99$
- OMAR steel bookcase: 58€/ $69.98
LEROY MERLIN
- mdf board for under-counter shelf & hardware: 11€
TOTAL: 346,97€ / $438.90
Conclusion:
Live in the now: Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you can’t make it yours!
Add a few custom pieces to big-store items to achieve a stream-lined look even on a small budget.
