A completely abandoned 35 sq.m. hidden gem was found in the heart of Exarcheia. Its proximity to urban amenities made it ideal for someone who loves both Athens city living and frequent travel. The existing layout was simple yet impractical, as its spaces were cramped. Entering the house, one would encounter two rooms with limited space divided by a typical large Athenian double door. At the back of the apartment, there was a small corridor leading to the bathroom and kitchen. Although the flat was tiny, old and excessively worn, its large balcony, with great views of the Lycabettus mountain, and dazzling sunshine made its new owner fall in love with it. The house is now completely transformed into a cozy pied à terre. This small apartment renovation project focused on layout transformation.

The owner was very involved in the renovation process, which evolved into a true collaboration between him and our team. He wished to make use of all the space down to the last centimeter and all possible openings. At the end of the process, the tiny apartment should cover all of the owner’s needs and allow for abundant natural light. The master plan our team designed involved a complete change of layout. The kitchen was modified to host enough room to accommodate a dining area, and the bathroom was altered in order to feel much larger than the original. The rest of the space was divided in half to create a small bedroom and a cozy living room.

Due to the limited amount of space we were dealing with, the design and layout had to be flexible and practical. We were also mindful of creating enough storage spaces, a key to comfortable living in a small home. While figuring out the layout, we divided the apartment into a public and a private section. Entering the apartment, there is an open-plan kitchen and the main living room. Both areas complement each other and form a comfortable and practical space. The kitchen cabinets incorporate a fridge, a dishwasher, and a full-size oven, while accommodating plenty of drawers for food storage and kitchenware. The waste disposal is below the main sink. The custom kitchen bar table seats two, but can be extended to seat up to four guests, perfect for days when it is too cold to dine on the balcony. The kitchen bar extends into the living room, harmoniously merging the two spaces. Rounding out the apartment is a spacious bathroom and cozy bedroom. The layout of the bedroom has a sense of privacy as the bedhead is not visible upon entrance.

The old bathroom became a part of the corridor and the old kitchen, a bedroom. The old entrance became the new kitchen. Due to these major changes to the layout, the installment of entirely new piping and electrical systems was necessary. Our client was very particular about the selection of materials and colours, aiming for a contemporary yet playful aesthetic. As most of the walls were demolished, we couldn’t retain the existing mosaic floors, so we installed completely new flooring. We used large warm grey tiles for the bathroom and the kitchen in order to lend a sense of continuity to the spaces, and wooden floors for the bedroom and living room for a sense of warmth.

Since the apartment was small and situated on the top floor of the building, we came across a lot of challenges during all stages of the renovation. Nevertheless, we succeeded in meeting our client’s expectations to create a sustainable and modern country-style 35 sq.m. home in the heart of Athens, an apartment that everyone would love to call their own.

Click here to view more Construction Projects by MI4, or here to browse available properties in Exarcheia, Athens.