In a Haussmann-style building in Paris, "away from the hustle and bustle" of the city, there is a very, very small "maid room" apartment, (barely) fit for one.
The functional apartment, possibly one of the smallest in the city, is "accessible by a simple service door, after climbing seven floors, and crossing a long and narrow corridor."
The 86-square-foot apartment has been transformed by China-based architecture firm Kitoko Studio for a client's au pair, and made not only livable, but quite charming.
According to Design Boom, increase in property costs have reinvigorated an interest in these tiny forgotten spaces.
They write:
Maid rooms in paris have long been considered unattractive and secluded spaces in the beautiful Haussmann buildings, renovations commissioned [by] Napoleon III and led by Georges-Eugène Haussmann. Always located on the top level under the roof, they are characterized by their small size, with a rudimentary interior aesthetic and common circulations difficult to access. Over time, the rooms have known different usages, therefore losing their original purpose and becoming attics or storage closets.
The room, which Refinery 29 aptly described as "the Swiss army knife of spaces," has tons of hidden nooks and crannies for storage and necessities.
For starters, a pull-out bookcase serves as a set of stairs.
The bookcase stairs lead to a tucked-away (yet spacious) bed cubby.
There's a table with suspended chairs that can be taken down.
A wardrobe and other hidden storage drawers.
A kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and a removable stovetop, plus a folding shelf that covers the sink for extra storage.
And, last but not least, a bathroom hiding behind a small door.
Being a neat freak with few possessions is probably a must for the cramped space.
Could you live there?
More pictures at Design Boom.