Christel Laporte of interior design studio Un Jour d’Avril has transformed the offices at the top of a building in Boulogne into a loft-style apartment. and this without giving up warmth and comfort.
Who hasn’t dreamed of having a secret room hidden behind furniture? Christel Laporte, founder of the Un Jour d’Avril interior design studio in Paris and Marseille, fulfilled this childhood wish for clients who purchased a space in Boulogne, with offices mostly organized in an open space. It was through Archik, a real estate agency that connects architects and clients according to project and stakeholder sensitivities, that the interior designer connected with the owner couple. This former art director in the field of advertising and communication, who founded his own structure in 2008, created his methodology for this project based on listening and the spirit of the place. Result: A 125 m² loft-style space with light and surprises… He opens his doors in this atypical place.
The starting point
“My clients fell in love with these 125 m² offices in Boulogne. We understand them! Located on the top floor of the building and flooded with light, they benefited from a wonderful unobstructed view, a large terrace and a roof terrace. In addition, all permits were ready to convert them into apartments. On the advice of “Archik” agency, the owners consulted with me about the feasibility of their project. The latter planned to transform this open space into an apartment with some divided offices, two bedrooms, an office, a living room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, a laundry room, enough storage… A challenge because there was. technical constraints such as a single water drain and a concrete support beam in the middle of the main span. Another obligation related to my clients. keep as much of the corridor as possible by avoiding installing or even removing walls. Because I realized that limitations force me to be creative, I accepted the challenge.”
Beam
Previously. For technical reasons, the support beam in the center of the area had to remain in place. photo press
Once covered with wood and fitted with a shelf, the support beam becomes a welcome accessory. Gabriel Voynot
“A concrete structural support beam faced the entrance. So we chose to make it a welcome item. We clad it in wood for warmth and fitted it with a little shelf where you can put your keys when you arrive. In this area, we have also installed a closed closet that allows you to store coats, shoes…”.
The rest
A previously small enclosed office overlooks the open space. Its partition will be demolished to create an integrated kitchen in the large living room. photo press
Then, an open area where the living room and kitchen are located near the balcony. Gabriel Voynot
“These offices were mostly organized in open space. But there were also many small partitions that could accommodate sound studios, the boss’s office… We knocked down almost all of them to reorganize the space and preserve the light that comes through. It was windows and technical limitations that guided the arrangement of accommodation. Thus, the living room is placed near the balcony to facilitate access and maximize the use of light. The dining room, little used, is placed in the center of the room. The kitchen is at the back because we need to be as close to the existing drain as possible. There is also an office space on the right. On the floor, we kept the flooring everywhere except in the kitchen where we put in waxed concrete.
The library
Formerly on the left, a split office will accommodate an open kitchen, and a storage unit will become a bookcase with a secret door. photo press
Then, a library with a hidden door leading to a toilet and a guest bathroom. Gabriel Voynot
“The library is the center of the living room. We see it as we come. We envisioned it fulfilling several needs. First of all, in practice we had to store many of our clients’ books. We also used it as a wall to avoid creating partitions. At the back we have a bathroom and a guest toilet. You enter through an integrated trompe-l’oeil door. It is surprising and joyful. The choice to paint it a strong blue-green brings a cozy effect to break up the white side of the box. Color choices evolved throughout the project. At first, my customers wanted orange. So I worked on a complementary color palette dominated by blue-green, which finally took over from orange (which, by the way, is completely gone). This color is repeated in the bedroom, but also on the polished concrete floor in the kitchen.
Office corner
Previously. too many partitions. The right side will fall to increase the open space converted into a living room, gain through light and place an open office. The left side will remain closed to accommodate the main pack. photo press
A wooden door in the living room then opens to the main room. An open, functional office space with custom-made furniture has been created along the bedroom wall. Gabriel Voynot
“The office is located in the living room to the right of the living room as you enter. We thought of leaving it separated, but finally, based on the intention of rotating the light, we opened it. It is adjacent to the master bedroom, which is closed. All of his custom furniture is integrated to blend in with the rest of the space. Everything is thought out so that we can easily store computers, papers…”.
The kitchen
Then, the kitchen is sober, with a bench along the windows. It brings warmth into the wood. Gabriel Voynot
“There was, as I told you, one drainage point, which limited the installation areas of the kitchen and bathrooms, otherwise you would have to think about a lot of hard work. Therefore, the kitchen is at the end of the living room and adjoins the lounge area. The floor is wax concrete with a slight blue tint. Since we were not dividing the room, we decided to delimit it graphically on the floor, creating a break with the parquet. The color of this floor resembles the color of the library. To create comfort in this kitchen area, we made a molding along the windows and thus placed a wooden bench that warms the very sober whole. This selection of thumbnails is a response to the current library itself. I didn’t want two strong elements in one room. Therefore, the elements of this kitchen are very discreet, but also extremely functional, for example with the door on the right that leads to a small cellar.
Parental suite
Then, a bedroom with a custom-made headboard that also serves as a partition wall from the bathroom. Gabriel Voynot
Then, a bright bathroom with a glass shower flanked by two symmetrical sinks. Gabriel Voynot
“You enter the master bedroom through the right door of the library. We have created a custom open hood that separates the bedroom from the bathroom without completely closing it off. The floor here also gives the opportunity to demarcate the areas: in the bedroom, with a floor, and in the bathroom, a kind of terrazzo. The bathroom is symmetrically designed. From the bedroom we see a basin integrated into a wooden cabinet. There is exactly the same block, on the right side, on the other side, near the window. Between these two elements, in the center of the room, is the shower, fully glazed, transparent, accessible from both sides. Our clients insisted on using beautiful materials, simple and raw.”
Contact one day in April. unjourdavril.com:
Contact with Archik. archik.fr:
Source: Le Figaro
