Appartement Matthieu

I have seen a lot of different apartments between the cities we work in - converted from garages, combined with other flats to be larger, or cut from bigger flats to be smaller. But I have never seen as slick, stylish and functional of a garage conversion until I saw Matthieu's. It's original, it's artsy, and it appeals to the side of me that likes concrete floors and open layouts, and yet it is also cozy and bright with a nice, big kitchen. It's the kind of place I'd want to throw a party in - and it must have been designed with that in mind because Matthieu had commented on how parties always end up in the kitchen and how his place was essentially designed around the kitchen. To describe it: you enter the turn of the century building in a lively neighborhood full of cafes and restaurants, and pass through to the quiet, inner courtyard. In the center is a two story, freestanding structure that were all once garages but have since been dug out deeper and converted into living spaces. When you enter Matthieu's you go along a small hallway and have the option of going down the steps into the bedroom / bathroom area where this is a raised double bed (140 cm) and a bathroom with shower. Or you can take a few steps up onto the next level where there is a slightly raised eat-in kitchen to one side, and a living room with a wall of windows on the other. In the living room it was planned to make a kind of bench couch out of a single bed, so if you're traveling in a party of 3, the third person will have a proper single bed rather than a fold-out. There are also ceiling fans and guests are welcome to use the courtyard where there is table and a few chairs. Matthieu, who is a musician mostly for film scores, has an office next door (at mom's) where he goes when he rents his flat. He speaks very good English as well as Italian (and of course, French), and has a spare cell phone for guest's use.

About the area:

The 11th Arrondissement is one of the most densely populated quarters of Paris. Located on the right bank (North side) of the Siene, it borders the 3rd and 4th Arrondissement to the West and the 20th to the North East. Comprised of various sub-neighborhoods that are often described as up and coming, trendy, and "bobo" a mix of bourgeois and bohème. Although common for guides to comment on the variety of bars and restaurants in any particular Arrondissement, this is especially true for the 11th. The various neighborhoods create a mix of calm, residential streets and large, lively boulevards, as well as parks and a strong feeling of "local" community. It does not feel populated mostly by tourists as the areas closer to the Louvre and the Marais can, nor does it feel away from the action or that you're sacrificing being in the "center" of the city. There are also many notable sites in the 11th, such as the Place de la République, and the Opera Bastille. There's also an Edith Piaf museum and the long outdoor market at Blvd. Richard-Lenoir. The area around Oberkampf is trendier, more on the bohemian side, and a good bet for small cafés and restaurants. Just outside the 11th you have the Marais to the West and the Père-Lachaise cemetery to the East. There are many major Metro station and buses so the rest of Paris is very accessible.