{"id":2486,"date":"2025-09-11T22:23:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/2025\/09\/11\/kitchen-of-the-week-two-young-paris-architects-completely-redo-their-kitchen-for-under-4300\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T22:23:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:23:35","slug":"kitchen-of-the-week-two-young-paris-architects-completely-redo-their-kitchen-for-under-4300","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/fr\/kitchen-of-the-week-two-young-paris-architects-completely-redo-their-kitchen-for-under-4300\/","title":{"rendered":"Kitchen of the Week: Two Young Paris Architects Completely Redo Their Kitchen for Under $4,300"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s been a heady few years for architect couple H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann. The two, both 27, met as students at the Strasbourg National School of Architecture. After graduation in 2014, they moved to Paris and launched their firm, Heju, an abbreviation of their first names. They hit the ground running, designing apartments, boutiques, events, and a slew of clever DIYs: see, for instance, their Homemade Terrazzo Table, Metal Wall Organizer, and Tiled Plywood Side Table-Plant Stand with colored grout.<\/p>\n

All the while, they\u2019ve been living and working out of their own small apartment, a 538-square-foot garret near Place de la Republic. They sanded the wood floors and painted them white \u201cto gain some sun.\u201d And they overhauled the bedroom to their liking. But short on cash and time, they kept living with a Mediterranean-tiled kitchen that felt all wrong for them\u2014until they decided to approach the project as \u201ca giant DIY.\u201d Their vision? A \u201cminimalist design with clean lines and natural materials,\u201d homemade rather than Big Box. But being extremely budget minded, they turned to Leroy Merlin, the French equivalent of Home Depot, for materials and parts. Come see the results and scroll to the end for an accounting of costs and a look at the kitchen as it was.<\/p>\n

Photography by Heju (@hejustudio).<\/p>\n


Above: Located in a
\nchambre de bonne<\/em>\u2014translation: the top floor servant\u2019s quarters\u2014the light-suffused kitchen occupies the footprint of the 50-square-meter (approximately 540-square-foot) existing design. H\u00e9l\u00e8ne and Julien did all of the work themselves, including the demolition. \u201cThere were a lot of wires and cables on the walls, and the electricity was very old so we renewed everything.\u201d <\/p>\n

The enamelware pitcher is Ikea\u2019s $14.99 Sock\u00ebrart vase. For seating, they use four vintage Breuer chairs.<\/p>\n


Above: H\u00e9l\u00e8ne and Julien created their clean and simple setup using Delinia cabinet units from Leroy Merlin, which they faced with doors that they cut themselves from birch plywood: \u201cWe drilled little holes as handles and protected the doors by rolling on a matte varnish; they\u2019re hung with basic metal hinges.\u201d,

Above: So as not to \u201coverload the space,\u201d the architects applied cabinets below the counter only, and for additional storage added L-shaped birch plywood wall shelves that were \u201cdesigned to recall the doors.\u201d <\/p>\n

They say they chose Leroy Merlin\u2019s cabinets because the store offered more widths than they found at Ikea: \u201cWe were tight on both sides, so we needed precise sizes. And even then we had to saw the units a bit so that everything fit; it was a dull, hard job but worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: The L-shaped white counter is laminated plywood with its \u201cpretty slices\u201d left exposed. Note the subtle backsplash: a band of pale gray washable paint. <\/p>\n

The appliances are all by Smeg from Leroy Merlin and include an Elementi Oven (with an Elementi drawer underneath it) and an induction cooktop, plus a dishwasher, under-counter fridge, and washing machine hidden behind cabinet doors. (The perks of having a big following: knowing the project would be featured on Heju\u2019s website and social media channels, Leroy Merlin didn\u2019t charge for the latter three fixtures.)<\/p>\n


Above: A new wire-glass window\u2014made and installed by one of Heju\u2019s workers (\u201cthe only job we didn\u2019t do ourselves\u201d)\u2014draws morning light into the adjoining bathroom. \u201cWhen we have guests, we add a little curtain,\u201d says H\u00e9l\u00e8ne.,

Above: A pared-down selection of ceramics used daily are on display. The sconce next to the shelves is Areti\u2019s Cone Wall Light, which they already owned.
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Above: The couple got their sink at Ikea (\u201cthey stopped offering our model in France, but it\u2019s similar to the Havsen\u201c).  Their brass Tap Bath Tapwell faucet is from Ikea hack specialists Superfront.
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Above: The bottom shelf is detailed with brass rods that serve as hanging pegs to hold sink tools and pot holders. (Lola Tampico Bristle Dish Brushes, like this one, are $17.82 for a six pack on Amazon.)
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Above: The couple splurged on a round ash Profile Table from Remodelista favorite Stattmann Neue Moebel: see Pared-Back Furniture from a Fourth-Generation Company in Germany. \u201cEverything they make is solid wood with a pure design and well-thought-out details. Given the quality, we don\u2019t find their prices excessive.\u201d,<\/p>\n

The Tally: Heju\u2019s Kitchen Remodel Costs<\/h3>\n