Room at a Glance
Who lives here A family with three children
Location XVII district of Paris, France
Size 5.5 sq m (about 54 sq ft)
Renovation cost About €5,000-€7,000 (£4,239-£5,935)
Architect Tristan Ponsot of Atelier Sagitta
‘After’ photos by Meero
BEFORE Originally, the second level of the duplex housed the parents’ room, which you could access via a staircase behind the headboard. Opening to the bedroom, a bathroom already existed on the second floor with a bath and basins. The size of the master suite has now been reduced to make room for a new shower room without compromising one of the three bedrooms upstairs. (See plans at the end.)
Who lives here A family with three children
Location XVII district of Paris, France
Size 5.5 sq m (about 54 sq ft)
Renovation cost About €5,000-€7,000 (£4,239-£5,935)
Architect Tristan Ponsot of Atelier Sagitta
‘After’ photos by Meero
BEFORE Originally, the second level of the duplex housed the parents’ room, which you could access via a staircase behind the headboard. Opening to the bedroom, a bathroom already existed on the second floor with a bath and basins. The size of the master suite has now been reduced to make room for a new shower room without compromising one of the three bedrooms upstairs. (See plans at the end.)
The position of the existing staircase did not suit the new arrangement of the rooms, so it’s been moved to the place where the old bath used to be. The bedroom, where one of the three children now sleeps, has been moved to the area once occupied by the staircase.
The insulation has been redone with care, especially around the window in the new bathroom, seen in the foreground of this photo. “The insulation has been installed from the inside,� says architect Tristan Ponsot. “It had to be thick enough to meet regulations without reducing too much ceiling height, which was already quite limited. So, we crossed layers to optimise the result. The pipes for the new bathroom also had to be at a good height to create a pleasant space.�
The insulation has been redone with care, especially around the window in the new bathroom, seen in the foreground of this photo. “The insulation has been installed from the inside,� says architect Tristan Ponsot. “It had to be thick enough to meet regulations without reducing too much ceiling height, which was already quite limited. So, we crossed layers to optimise the result. The pipes for the new bathroom also had to be at a good height to create a pleasant space.�
The main constraint of this project was the very steep slope of the roof. To bypass it, the architect made use of the dormer area and fitted the new bathroom around it. He built partitions on both sides for the new room.
The right partition is a direct extension of the window wall, making the slope of the roof disappear. “You have the feeling of a rectangular space and easily forget the room is an attic,� Ponsot says.
How to curate ideas for your bathroom project
The right partition is a direct extension of the window wall, making the slope of the roof disappear. “You have the feeling of a rectangular space and easily forget the room is an attic,� Ponsot says.
How to curate ideas for your bathroom project
AFTER The new bathroom is organised around the window, drawing the eye outside and giving an impression of width.
Faced with the challenge of limited space, the architect had to be thorough in his design. “The ergonomics of the room were optimised to the nearest centimetre to allow for the comfortable use of all the elements,� he says. “The position of the partitions was adjusted with precision, so as not to obstruct the window, drawers or cupboard openings.�
Faced with the challenge of limited space, the architect had to be thorough in his design. “The ergonomics of the room were optimised to the nearest centimetre to allow for the comfortable use of all the elements,� he says. “The position of the partitions was adjusted with precision, so as not to obstruct the window, drawers or cupboard openings.�
The owner, who took a sabbatical year to follow along with the project, was really involved in the décor of the room. She wanted to use a combination of concrete and wood to achieve a natural effect. However, her first idea of covering the walls with waxed concrete was abandoned because she feared cracks. “Together, we decided on wood and shades of grey to get as close as possible to her ‘natural’ vision,� Ponsot says.
The oak parquet flooring, bought from a large retailer, is covered with a layer of classic varnish and another layer of boat varnish. Such treatment prevents the wood from warping and makes it resistant to moisture.
The oak parquet flooring, bought from a large retailer, is covered with a layer of classic varnish and another layer of boat varnish. Such treatment prevents the wood from warping and makes it resistant to moisture.
The wall on the right is large enough to house a double basin and circular mirrors. At this end of the room, the ceiling height rises. “Without this arrangement, the slope would have made it impossible to hang mirrors and install a 120cm-long piece of furniture,� says Ponsot .
Basin cabinet, Lapeyre. Basins, Benissimo. Parquet flooring, Décorasol.
Basin cabinet, Lapeyre. Basins, Benissimo. Parquet flooring, Décorasol.
The pocket door into the room doesn’t take up space unnecessarily and optimises circulation. It also features a window that allows natural light into the corridor when the bathroom’s closed; when it’s unoccupied, the door can be left open to give a pleasant view of the corridor and staircase.
Door, Leroy Merlin.
Door, Leroy Merlin.
The shower stands to the left of the window. It’s partitioned by a standard door that was found at a large retailer to limit the total renovation cost. “It saved us from having to custom-make it,� says Ponsot.
The rest of the facade is composed of standard glazing, which has been cut to fit the slope of the roof. The interior of the shower is covered in grey tiles.
Think you haven’t got space for a statement bathroom? Think again…
The rest of the facade is composed of standard glazing, which has been cut to fit the slope of the roof. The interior of the shower is covered in grey tiles.
Think you haven’t got space for a statement bathroom? Think again…
The colour of the shower is intentionally darker than the rest of the room to create a contrast between the two spaces. “Considering that the whole volume of the bathroom is occupied, the shower built in a hollow space almost disappears, while at the same time emphasising the window,� says Ponsot. It means the eye is drawn to the outside view of Paris’s rooftops.
The lighting also slightly varies in different areas of the bathroom, being softer above the basins and stronger in the shower where the hues are dark. Thanks to its position on the top floor of the building, the room also benefits from great natural light.
The lighting also slightly varies in different areas of the bathroom, being softer above the basins and stronger in the shower where the hues are dark. Thanks to its position on the top floor of the building, the room also benefits from great natural light.
The lowest part of the slope is used for storage. The cupboard on the left is furnished with drawers, which fully exploit the 90cm-deep space. The one on the right, nestled under the mansard with a very limited height, serves as a laundry basket for the whole family. Both are closed with wooden shutters. The towel rail was bought by the owner in Auvergne, her native region.
The whole room gives the impression of having always existed and makes you forget the very pronounced slope of the roof while enhancing the view outside.
The whole room gives the impression of having always existed and makes you forget the very pronounced slope of the roof while enhancing the view outside.
The plan before the restoration.
The plan after the restoration.
What do you think of this transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Lovely conversion however I'd have lost the double sink to gain a toilet within the same space rather than have it separately.
Really great work! This little bathroom become very comfortable room!