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A Parisian Studio Apartment Reinvented as a Minimalist Cocoon

ByMyProperty Life

In the city of Paris, France, where living space is very much at a premium, BETH X EPISTĒMĒ STUDIO has transformed a micro-compact 248-square-foot (23-square-meter) studio apartment into a refined cocoon of minimalist design. This project demonstrates how small-space living can achieve both functionality and aesthetics without compromise.

Minimalist room with a sunken wooden table, bowls, fruit, cushions, a guitar, and large window showing a snowy outdoor scene with plants.

The studio’s centerpiece is a custom-built raised platform, crafted in okoumé wood, that acts as a multifunctional core where daily life unfolds. The structure seamlessly adapts to different needs: it becomes a sleeping nook, morphs into a dining table or desk, and conceals generous storage within. By integrating so many functions into one element, the designers maximize flexibility while keeping the floor open and uncluttered.

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Minimalist dining nook with light wood paneling, a small table with a white pitcher, bowl, fruit, and a blue lamp, plus patterned cushions on bench seating.

The built-in table recalls the spirit of a Japanese zataku, designed for floor seating, yet with a clever twist: the raised platform leaves space beneath so your feet can comfortably dangle instead of tucking under your body. This subtle detail combines traditional inspiration with modern ergonomics, making long meals or work sessions feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Person with red socks lies on their back with legs up in a minimalist wooden room, next to a window, a guitar, and a low table, with natural light coming in.

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Every piece within the apartment is custom-designed for efficiency and cohesion. A bookshelf transitions effortlessly into a headboard, while a retractable desk disappears into a storage module when not in use. A wall-mounted Murphy bed further liberates space with a single motion. The result is an interior that feels intentional and balanced, with each element performing multiple roles without visual noise.

A person stands on a wooden platform with built-in storage compartments, opening one lid in a minimalist room with large windows and light wood paneling.

Materiality anchors the project’s atmosphere. Light-toned wood, polished concrete, matte plywood, and aged brass form a soft, natural palette. The textures work together to create a calming environment that is serene yet tactile. Linear lighting and clean architectural lines reinforce the clarity of the space without making it feel rigid.

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A person lifts a foldaway bed integrated into a wooden platform in a minimalist, modern room with natural light.

Person lying on a raised bed reading a book in a minimalist bedroom with light wood paneling, built-in shelves, large window, and neutral-colored walls.

A man with red socks sits on the edge of a bed in a minimalist bedroom with wooden accents, holding a book and looking out a large window.

Rather than dividing the small apartment with walls, BETH X EPISTĒMĒ STUDIO used built-in storage and surface shifts to define areas. Light becomes a guiding element, encouraging movement while visually connecting zones in an uninterrupted flow.

A modern bedroom with light wood paneling, a built-in bookshelf, a bed with patterned cushions, and a small blue nightstand with a spherical lamp.

Wooden bookshelf built into a bedroom wall above the bed, holding books, manga, and small decorative items near a slatted wooden headboard.

A modern bedroom features light wood built-in shelves and cabinetry, with books and decor items, adjacent to a bed with patterned pillows.

A person stands at a built-in wooden desk with shelves and cabinets, working in a minimalist bedroom with light wood furniture and neutral walls.

Minimalist interiors often risk sterility, but this design embraces a warm minimalism inspired by Japanese aesthetics and desert landscapes. The apartment feels cocoon-like, wrapping its resident in quiet comfort while remaining adaptable to changing needs. This balance between precision and softness proves that small-scale design can be both highly functional and deeply human.

Minimalist interior with light wood panel walls, a built-in wooden bench with cushions, and a small shelf holding a French press and glass on the left side.

Minimalist wooden closet with an open door reveals shelves with folded clothing; a bed with cushions is visible to the right.

Minimalist room with light beige walls, built-in wood cabinetry, a small dark storage ottoman, and a door leading to another space with framed art on the wall.

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets, beige walls, a closed door, built-in appliances, and a small framed artwork above a vase on the countertop.

A small modern bathroom with beige walls, a black faucet over a dark wood vanity, a light wood cabinet, and framed wall art above a vase with dried plants.

A minimalist kitchen countertop with a cutting board holding sliced bread and an eggplant, a beige pitcher, two small potted plants, and a stovetop beneath a large window.

View from a kitchen into a minimalist bedroom with light wood furnishings, built-in shelves, and a neatly made bed.

Modern bathroom with a glass shower door, white sink, wall-mounted toilet, large wooden cabinet, mirror, and a small potted plant on the counter.

Modern bathroom sink with a rectangular white basin, black faucet, soap, and bottles on the counter. Vertical wall light and wooden cabinetry are visible in the background.

A cozy bedroom with a double bed and patterned pillows is seen through large glass doors, with snow covering the ground and window ledge outside.

Two people sit together in a minimalist, beige-toned apartment; one on a raised bed, the other on the step below. Kitchen counter with eggplants is visible in the foreground.

Bertrand Emgoué and Marie Fleur Samé of BETH X EPISTĒMĒ STUDIO

Black and white floor plan of a small apartment with labeled areas: terrace (24 m²), living room/bedroom (14 m²), entrance/kitchen (5 m²), bathroom (4 m²), and Murphy bed.

For more information on BETH X EPISTĒMĒ STUDIO, visit bethxepistemestudio.com.

Photography by Art-Milan Mazaud.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

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