In Milan, the founders of Paper Paper—Giovanni Cavalleri and Cecilia Bianchini—have turned a 45 sqm apartment into a home that adapts to work, meals and sleep without sacrificing style.
Designing a corridor that doubles as a gallery
At the entrance, a low metal shelf holds keys, sunglasses and wallets.
The hallway stretches into a narrow passage where a custom aluminium bookshelf runs the length of the corridor.
Made by specialist metalworkers, the unit hangs from the ceiling, keeping floor space open while housing the couple’s largest books.
Bianchini says, “The bookshelf is the backbone of the house.
It guides you all the way to the end of the corridor.”
Opposite the shelf, framed posters and artworks from friends line the wall, turning a walk to the kitchen into a daily gallery visit.
Kitchen as a cinema and pantry
The kitchen retains a full‑size feel despite the tight footprint.
A long run of stainless‑steel cabinets houses an oven, compact fridge and concealed storage behind minimalist fronts.
To avoid visual clutter, the extractor is built directly into the stovetop, freeing the wall above the benchtop.
That blank surface serves as a projection screen for movies and TV in the evenings.
A freestanding metal shelving unit on the opposite wall works as a flexible pantry and also holds the projector.
They really love having friends over and have been doing a lot of dinners, especially because of the way this room is organised.
Living and dining space that moves
The dining and living area shares the open kitchen zone.
At its centre sits a custom table on wheels that can be moved aside or repositioned.
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The tabletop flips from yellow to blue, a simple change that shifts the mood.
The sofa mirrors this flexibility; its backrest lowers to become a bed for overnight guests.
A floor‑length white curtain hangs from a taut metal wire rather than a conventional rail, an idea borrowed from the family home.
Bedroom and bathroom simplicity
The bedroom stays straightforward.
The bathroom follows the same minimal‑detail philosophy.
Comparing this project to other micro‑apartment makeovers, the emphasis on movable furniture and ceiling‑mounted storage feels more integrated than the typical “convertible” solutions.
Here the design treats the whole apartment as a single, fluid environment rather than a collection of isolated rooms.
Even with a modest footprint, the couple’s approach shows how a small home can support both creative work and social life.
By anchoring the layout around a continuous aluminium shelf and allowing key pieces to slide, roll or flip, the apartment remains functional without feeling cramped.
