Budget Breakdown: $91K and Vintage Flair Revive a Flat in One of Paris’s Coolest Buildings
A small apartment renovation in Orgues de Flandre—a brutalist ’70s development built as social housing—includes a kitchen-focused layout, storage solutions, and secondhand finds.
A small apartment renovation in Orgues de Flandre—a brutalist ’70s development built as social housing—includes a kitchen-focused layout, storage solutions, and secondhand finds.
When Marine Etoubleau and Thibault Pailloux were looking to buy an apartment in Paris, the art directors had big ideas for a contemporary, design-led home. But they weren’t sure exactly how far their modest budget would stretch. When they came across a rundown apartment in an iconic development in the 19th arrondissement, however, they saw a way forward.
In renovating an apartment in Orgues de Flandre, a ’70s brutalist development in Paris, Marine Etoubleau and Thibault Pailloux kept costs down by sourcing furniture and appliances secondhand. The light above the kitchen counter, for example, is an original Sammode LED light they found for $160.
Photo by Felix Grisé
It was located in Orgues de Flandre, the social housing project designed by German architect Martin Van Trek in the latter half of the 1970s. The brutalist complex comprises more than 2,000 apartments set across several mid-rise buildings and four towers that reach 30-stories tall. When Marine and Thibault found their apartment, located inside one of the towers, Tour Cantate, the one-bedroom had been sitting on the market for five months and was in need of a complete renovation.
The couple were able to look past its odd state—it was "covered in mirrors and very strange," they say—by focusing on its potential: a huge window overlooking a neighboring park, abundant natural light in the living areas, and impressive views over the complex. "We also saw the price," says Thibault. "It was pretty cheap for an apartment in Paris!"
| $19,480 Wall Finishes & Tiles | $6,160 Flooring | $8,980 Electrical & Lighting |
| $6,730 Plumbing & Bathroom Fixtures | $1,080 Kitchen Fixtures | $5,750 Countertops |
| $10,340 Doors | $13,130 Millwork | $5,750 Demolition |
| $13,680 Architect Fee | ||
| Grand Total: $91,080 | ||
The guest bedroom, which the couple rents out on Airbnb, has views over the development.
Photo by Felix Grisé
The prospect of renovating with an architect to entertain big ideas, however, once again brought up cost concerns. "We were unsure if we would have the budget," says Thibault. "We thought architects were only for big projects and rich people." When the couple saw the work of Paris practice Augure Studio in a design magazine, they felt an affinity with the way architect Iana Vicq celebrated the rawness of concrete, and reached out. "We saw that people like us could have a flat like this in Paris," recalls Thibault. "They gave us a quote, and we realized we could afford it."
Design work took place while the sale was still being finalized, and construction started the day the keys were handed over. (The entire renovation was documented on Instagram.) The first phase of the build—demolition—was the most challenging, as the contractors had to spend almost two months stripping paint and mirrors from the concrete. The phase also revealed a large concrete beam that had been concealed by a false ceiling. This discovery meant parts of the interior would be darker than anticipated, but Augure used the beam to define a new dining nook with banquette seating.
"One of the most important elements is the kitchen counter," says architect Iana Vicq. "We presented a tiled island with a tiled countertop, but they wanted something more practical as they cook so often. So we decided to use a Corian countertop." The high-performance surface cost $5,750.
Photo by Felix Grisé
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: $91K and Vintage Flair Revive a Flat in One of Paris’s Coolest Buildings
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