Chic Apartment by Jooca Studio Combines Elements of French Design

Chic is an artsy French apartment with retro elements, relatively small in size at 50 square meters (538 square feet). It’s located in Bucharest, Romania and designed by Jooca Studio in 2024.

Though small, the myriad details and their strategic positioning make it feel larger. The eye moves through the entire space gradually, transitioning from one point of interest to another, as if following the red thread of a story.

The open space comprises several functions: the kitchen area separated from the living room by an island, the home office area, and the main storage areas of the apartment.

We positioned the modular sofa from Omhuchp in the center of the living room to create a fluid flow through the space. To further enhance the flow towards the bedroom, we rounded the corners of the two large pieces of furniture: the bookcase and the closed storage unit next to the desk.

The office area in the living room is partially masked to avoid visual clutter. More specifically, the monitor is hidden behind a door that slides upwards.

A solution to the small bedroom was to build a platform around the bed with storage. Both residents occasionally work from home, so we also integrated a small desk in the bedroom.

We proposed a bold color scheme—earthy, rich, saturated colors dominate, with the most striking element being the long burgundy wall that runs from the entrance of the apartment to the bedroom door. It forms the backdrop for two main pieces of furniture in the interior: the mirror-paneled wardrobe and the spacious family library.

Using large furniture strategically is a trick we often use to make what could be overwhelming, almost invisible. In this design, we chose a perimeter-framed mirror to add a touch of elegance and turn the wardrobe into a decorative element.

The whole color scheme is complemented by gold accents in the lighting and hardware.

Throughout the apartment, there are also a few vintage items, such as the refurbished dresser next to the island and the lamp in the center of the living room.

The apartment is on the ground floor and features a spacious terrace accessible from both rooms. Surrounded by greenery, we opted to bring the outdoors in by painting the bedroom walls with a decorative greenish paint, complemented by a black and white wallpaper with botanical motifs. This visually divides the bedroom walls vertically into two zones, separated by wooden rods matching the desktop.

Linen curtains complete the natural look, complemented by granite, wood, and small rattan accents on the island seating.