The Dice

The Dice: Île-de-France

This Parisian studio is small, but it sure packs a mighty punch. We loved the eye-catching red patterned sofa that acts as a centrepiece and the bold choice of artwork hanging on the walls. The rustic tiling on the floor and exposed stonework on one wall nod to the city's rich history, but there are contemporary touches in the shape of the transparent plastic stools and the greyscale kitchen that cleverly utilises the available space, making it feel fresh and modern. And of course, we should probably mention the fact that the location is tres, tres bien. It takes less than five minutes to walk over Pont Neuf and you're on Ile de la Cité, on which you can see the Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. Alternatively, you can simply walk along the banks of the Seine all the way to the Eiffel Tower if you're feeling sprightly — it should take you under an hour, providing you don't stop at a boulangerie on the way.

Home truths:
*Two people will be sleeping on the sofa bed, although with four guests, it's a bit of a squeeze
*The mezzanine bed is a great space, but it's only 90cm high so watch your heads
*There's no air conditioning throughout the home but there's a big fan on the ceiling
*While there's a lift to reach this second-floor home, there are a total of fifty-six steps up to the entrance that means it's not wheelchair-accessible
*You might have difficulty parking your car in the streets nearby, as you're right in the centre of Paris – it can also be quite expensive