A student pod – experimenting with space
This was a challenge. So much so that I’d been putting it off for months. I was so uninspired I was leaning towards just leaving the two studios in building II closed. But Mike gave me a little push and here we are. I’m so pleased I think I’m going to do the other one as well. Despite the space being just 25m2, it’s actually perfectly pleasant. And there are a number of schools (business management, hotel etc.) in Mazamet which means the demand for studios is quite high. Anyway here it is:
P.S. in excellent news, the summer girls have confirmed they’re coming again this year! 🙂
My Mazamet 
Beautiful use of space. I have, however, never wanted to be a landlord.
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From a responsibility perspective or because of the social connotations?
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Grand. I never realized what you could do with such a small living space. I know many single young people around here who would be delighted with that room. Hugs
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A couple of people have seen it so far and both said they’re interested, so I’m happy 🙂
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It looks like a designer studio – a lucky student to get this! 🙂 Very chic!
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The goal was to do it so it would be possible to rent in the 250€ per month range… I overspent pushing that up a little bit, but we’re still under 300 😀
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I like. My daughter came up with a plan I really like. She designed an island off-center the great room for the bath and laundry. I think it will flow pretty good. She’s a clever one I think. Pop over and take a look. We’re building it right now next door.
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Just had a look, it works really well practically; And will also make the space much more interesting visually.
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Trying to fit 4 bedrooms in a 1400sf house is a challenge. I think she nailed it pretty good. They wanted to downsize. This is a big step for them at half the footage.
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Why downsize? Aren’t they quite young still?
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They are mid 30’s. It seems Pink, that what used to be a normal size house has gotten bigger and bigger. My parents were quite happy with less, and big isn’t always better. Here, smaller is getting more attention as the lifestyles have started running the life. They decided a smaller house and some acreage and trails and wildlife, was better than having a big house in the city that owned them. And the traffic is another hatred altogether. Out here, we occasionally have to wait for a deer, but traffic is almost non existent. There were multiple considerations to…consider.
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I can see the attraction. We seriously considered downsizing when we left Spain but then I kind of panicked. I’m just not ready. And Mike thinks (knows) it takes a large property to keep me tethered and almost sane. Me with too much free time tends to go terribly wrong.
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I can imagine that! Lol
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Good news about the girls, and well done the use of space with the studio. I like the cream chair in particular.
– Esme nodding and patting Mr Pink on the back
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I love the face chair, reminds me of the Fornasetti faces:
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I have one wall wallpapered with them in the hallway. I absolutely love looking at them all every time I pass.
– Esme who has excellent taste upon the Cloud
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I’m crazy about that paper. I’m dying to have it in the ground floor wc – but things like that are only for when the major works are done
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I sourced the exact colour of paint for the background, then printed out high res circles of each face, cut them out and pasted them with spray fix to the painted wall, and everyone who saw it swore blind it was the wallpaper. This was because I didn’t need a large wall covering, and they would only sell one roll for £120.00. I don’t think so sunny Jim, said I, and very happy I am with the result, which has been in place for over seven years now because I won’t change it, I love it too much!
– Esme Cloud the inventive
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Very nice. When I read your subject line I was picturing you in a pod in OUTER space…context, context😬
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I haven’t been a student in a looooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooong time 😀
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Is there an application process to become a summer girl?
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LOL 😀 I think they’d have something to say about that. I think this is the 9th summer we spend together. Time flies…
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Thank goodness I own a house. That’s about as large an apartment I could afford in the city. It looks great for its size though 🙂
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I agree. Both apartments and big cities are not for me.
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Oh I think it came out great. The only thing I would have done perhaps a bit differently is I would have added color to the walls. Color would have made it like a little hideaway cocoon. I know white expands the space so that is probably why you went there.
I love it, I bet you will have no problem at all finding renters. Especially cool is the way you designed the table bordering the kitchenette. That came out really cool. Simple.
When you go to rev 2, when you are doing an upgrade between tenants, you could do a bed like this.
https://www.dezeen.com/2014/06/04/karin-matz-stockholm-apartment-renovation/
For rev1 I think it came out great. People will love to find such a nice place at a very low rent. Mike is right to just kick it out and get it going. After you have made some money and you are between tenants you can upgrade it.
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That apartment is amazing! Spectacularly good use of space.
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Esme, I love your faces idea. I might just have to steal that from you 🙂
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This is fantastic, Pinky! Back in the day we’d call these a bedsit, and I love how you’ve managed to turn one room into three. And there’s even a really nice bathroom. I really really like that bathroom.
Just one question, would you consider putting in a partition wall just next to the door [level with the top of the door], sliding the bed down to the partition wall and then putting in a single door cupboard [same height as the partition] between the ‘head’ of the bed and the end wall?
The under bed hanging space is fine for a guy, but I don’t know of a single woman who wouldn’t want more. Not being sexist or anything…:p
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We considered a cupboard but then hesitated as it would limit the options of moving things around for the tenant. The studio comes with an 8 m2 storage area on the ground floor so they can essentially choose what furniture they like and put away whatever they’re not using 🙂 Also, the chest fits between the bed and the door, so the whole under-bed area could be for hanging 🙂
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Ah! I didn’t realise there was some more storage somewhere. That does make a difference. 🙂
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Quite efficient use of space, Pink. I like it
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Thanks 😀
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Very cool. It’s sometimes more fun playing with smaller spaces and seeing what can be achieved. This is a perfect balance
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I completely agree. Also, working on a tight budget kind of forces us to find creative solutions.
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I really like what you’ve done. As a frequent renter of small spaces, I’ll say that you give more attention to seating than I do, but that’s because I don’t like having people in my house. Providing clothes hangers is an especially nice touch.
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The sofa is an Ikea sofa bed, because I presumed most people that age have an active *private life*, and that would be difficult on the mezzanine bed 🙂
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Yay to the girls 😉 Nicely minimalistic. All one needs, if that’s a fridge under the sink.
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It is a fridge! That cabinet/fridge/cooker combo is made by a German company and is the most compact version on the market. Only 1 metre in width.
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