The luminous dome-shaped window, reminiscent of a crystal, which opens up endless possibilities for natural light to flow, plays a pivotal role in transforming the attic space HG-31 in the heart of Oslo into a true architectural gem. This unique renovation project is the result of the joint efforts of the development company Predio and the Ukrainian architectural firm IK-architects.
One of the main goals of the project team was to create a functional and cosy space that would allow residents to infuse their personal elements into the interior. Through carefully thought-out planning, the lower level of the apartment is divided into two main zones: the public zone (with a foyer and a kitchen-living area) and the private zone (with two bedrooms and a bathroom). In the central part of the upper level, there is a mezzanine – a relaxation area and an open terrace, perfect for barbecues and relaxation with incredible views of the city and the fjord.
However, the main highlight of the apartment is the polygonal window, which became a key architectural element. Its crystal-like form not only adds uniqueness and sophistication to the space but also allows abundant natural light to enter, giving the living space a distinctive character. Moreover, this window opens up breathtaking views of the historic part of the city and the modern residential quarter.
In the HG-31 project, a strong emphasis was placed on using natural materials such as parquet flooring and wooden decorative elements. These details add warmth and a natural feel to the apartment, as well as unify all the rooms into a single, organic space.
This project serves as a shining example of collaboration between two outstanding teams – Predio and IK-architects – who have combined their knowledge and creative talents to create a modern, stylish, and functional living space in the historic heart of Oslo. This realisation is not only a testament to high quality but also an embodiment of the aspiration to improve the quality of life in cities through sustainable development and the enhancement of design and functionality in real estate.
Development company Predio focuses on loft conversions in Oslo. The capital’s best locations are selected for new developments, and luxury apartments, penthouses and townhouses that are outstanding property investments are built with design, specification and purpose in mind.
Predio aims to improve the quality of life in cities through sustainable development, through deep knowledge and experience in residential and commercial real estate development.
The Ukrainian architectural bureau IK-architects has been developing design projects for more than 10 years. Key stylistic trends: Scandinavian design, minimalism, eclectic combination of current styles and trends. IK-architects has been cooperating with Predio for several years. The HG-31 project was created in collaboration between leading Predio architects and IK-architects designers.
Developer company Predio Svein Stokke, Andrii Soloviov, Andriy Ponomarenko
Interior design by IK-architects Kateryna Yarova, Khrystyna Stavytska
Furniture manufacturing Lachma Construction physics – COWI
Year: 2022 Location Oslo, Norway Area: 87 m2. The year of construction is 1988
About IK-architects Good design is not visible, good architecture is imperceptible – it’s just a comfortable state and space for the user; but this is a colossal effort and knowledge for the designer.
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Charlie Smallbone’s designs can be seen throughout this Kensington home, where he and the Ledbury Studio team were tasked with creating furniture for several spaces. Harnessing a style his client coined as ‘Australian Scandi’, Charlie designed beautiful and harmonious pieces for the kitchen, dining area, TV snug, home office, utility room and hallway.
Reoccurring themes such as the use of pale oak, fluted finishes, brass handles and marble countertops tie the rooms together. As such, far from being a collection of rooms under one roof, the spaces are united by the warmth of the materials and the pleasing lines of finely crafted bespoke furniture.
Highlights of the kitchen include natural and painted oak cabinetry, which has been book matched on the drawers, as well as fluted on the outside of the island. All the handles are patinated brass, as are the kickplates, furniture surrounds and the sculptural brass hanging structure above the island.
Over in the dining area, the enviable drinks cabinet ties in with the kitchen design, featuring fluted oak and glass, along with a Statuario marble worktop and panelling. The glass cabinet is lit from within to create a display of the contents, while the open shelves have a mirrored panel behind to reflect the displayed bottles and decanters. An eye-catching wall-hung fluted TV cabinet continues the aesthetic at the other end of the room, in the TV snug.
Stunning floor-to-ceiling cabinetry ensures the home office downstairs is kept clutter free and takes advantage of the high ceilings. The furniture, like the kitchen design, features fluted oak doors, an internally lit fluted glass cabinet and hand-made patinated brass handles. However, to create a contrast with the oak, Charlie chose walnut for the desk and lower section of the cabinetry. A lovely detail is the burnt orange leather inset on the desk, the colour of which is mirrored in the orange paint finish at the back of the fluted glass cupboard.
In the hallway on the lower ground floor, furniture has once again been used to make the most of the space available. Here, Charlie designed a boot area with racks and built-in seat, plus floor-to-ceiling wardrobes and cupboards to store all outdoor wear in one place. Once again, fluted oak and brass handles unite the design with the spaces upstairs. Meanwhile, there are pale oak cabinets in the compact utility room. These have been teamed with a rich but practoical ombre quartz and complemented by deep green tiles in the cloakroom.
About Ledbury Studio
Charlie Smallbone needs little introduction. The founder of iconic brand Smallbone of Devizes, he has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s latest venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of original materials whilst creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
In collaboration with C.P. Hart’s professionally qualified Design team, the owners of Sundridge Park, a residential property in Kent, created three distinct bathrooms: a primary suite, a playful cloakroom, and a marble-adorned shower room.
“The vision for Sundridge Park’s primary suite revolved around their brief of a generous freestanding bath and a spacious walk-in shower,” the Design team recalls. “Favouring contemporary interiors with classical elements, they opted for the striking Amazzonite tiles from our Cosmopolitan collection, juxtaposed with a traditional cast iron bath and accompanying brassware.”
The owners specified C.P. Hart’s exclusive Camden bath, painted in a muted sage to accentuate the green highlights from the Amazzonite tiles. The suite’s brassware – a combination of our classical Original and Waterloo ranges – is finished in ‘Unlacquered Brass’, a characterful finish that will develop a unique patina over time.
For the vanity unit, IdeaGroup’s Smyle was a natural choice, specified for its meticulously fluted wooden fronts and impressive storage capacity. Twin Cielo Era washbowls, finished in ‘Lino’, were chosen for their unassuming simplicity, allowing the textures of the brass taps, vanity fronts, and stacked tile backdrop to sing.
“The shower room was conceived with meticulous attention to detail,” shares the Design team. “We extended the gold theme into this space, incorporating brassware selections from our Original and Waterloo ranges. To maintain a cohesive aesthetic, we colour-matched the brassware’s finish with the basin stand, towel radiator, and Matki Eauzone shower screens, strategically installed in the corner to optimise space.”
To add to the bathroom’s grandeur, the owners chose our Cosmopolitan Arabescato Oro marble-effect tiles. Crafted from rectified porcelain, these tiles not only exude the luxurious appearance of natural stone but also provide enhanced durability in a wet environment.
In contrast to the shower room, the cloakroom’s design draws on contemporary influences centred around the fluted concrete basin by British makers Kast. “The Kast Elm Mini basin is a true masterpiece. Specified in ‘Sage’ and mounted against soft blue stacked tiling, it perfectly sets the tone for the cloakroom.”
“We completed the basin with bespoke Samuel Heath unlacquered brass taps. Underfoot, wooden flooring owes the space its warmth whilst proving a functional choice for its hardwearing properties in a high traffic area.”
C.P. Hart’s award-winning Design Service offers a seamless client experience at every step. Two individuals are assigned to every project: a qualified designer to make the best possible use of available space, propose creative solutions, and interpret each customer’s vision, and a sales consultant to manage the process. To find out more, please call C.P. Hart on 020 7902 1020, email [email protected], or download a brochure here.
About C.P. Hart
C.P. Hart are an established bathroom supplier with over 80 years’ experience of specifying and sourcing the world’s most innovative and durable premium bathroom products. A successful Contracts division works for architects, interior designers and builders, often on major commercial property developments and hotels. While a highly qualified in-house design team works with individual and private clients, ensuring that each of these bespoke bathrooms is unique.
This traditional cottage in Cheshire has been adapted to meet the exact preferences and lifestyle needs of our clients. The existing kitchen was cramped with a very low ceiling meaning they couldn’t properly enjoy cooking and entertaining – something that was really important to them. Our solution was to build a bespoke contemporary extension that integrates with the existing property.
This single storey rear extension steps down from the existing ground floor entrance level opening out into a large open plan kitchen, sitting and dining area. We incorporated the existing kitchen space but dropped the internal floor level so that it connected seamlessly with the new extension. By building a brick wall along the boundary with the main road, we created a visual and acoustic barrier and reoriented the view towards the garden.
For this cottage transformation, we kept continuity between the old and new interior, with an open aspect from the front door that led through the existing entrance room and through to the new extension. The rhythm of the existing oak beams are translated into the new glulam frame accentuating the connection, and the contrast between the existing space and the light filled extension creates a visual and physical link the minute you come through the front door.
With full height bi-fold doors to the rear and side, the new kitchen now feels part of their lovely garden and gives them a sense of being immersed in their surroundings – in all weathers. Nestled within the embrace of nature, this kitchen exudes a sense of belonging, as if it were an integral part of its lush surroundings making it the perfect place for dinner parties and family get-togethers.
The main part of the structure is a glulam frame which we have left exposed internally, with a long slot roof light centrally over the space which helps define the kitchen, dining and sitting zones. Because the glazed element of the elevation is south facing, we introduced a deep overhang creating a covered walkway and ensuring solar shading in summer time.
By leaving the wood structure exposed, with its natural grains and hues, and also leaving the brick wall exposed internally we have created a warm and textured backdrop for the interiors. We have used a contemporary colour palette that complement these materials, elevating the design and creating focal points within the extension. The dark green kitchen echoes the tones of the garden whilst the timber accents tie in with the structural frame. The stone effect porcelain tile runs from the inside to the outside further under pinning the sense of being immersed within the garden.
This residential project beautifully illustrates the art of blending contemporary design with traditional charm to create a space that is both visually stunning and highly functional. By carefully considering the clients’ desires, architectural constraints, and environmental factors, we have succeeded in crafting an extension that seamlessly integrates with the existing property while meeting the needs of modern living. Every detail of this extension has been thoughtfully planned to enhance the overall living experience and breathe new life into a traditional home.
About Kimble Roden Architects & Designers
Kimble Roden’s practise mission is to create outstanding architecture and interior projects tailored to meet the needs of our clients. We will bring an outstanding level of creativity and technical brilliance to residential projects. Whether you are building a new home, renovating, extending or have an interior design project we can offer a turnkey solution for your project and bring a level of professionalism that sets the standards in client care. We will provide you with complete peace of mind and add value to your home.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a retro styled residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Harmony World Consultant & Design.
Harmony World Consultant & Design was commissioned to design interior space for The Catania Wuhan project.
SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1M
Practice: Harmony World Consultant & Design
Project: The Catania Wuhan
Location: Wuhan, China
In a globalised city, art and life have never been separated. Under the trend of the overall environment, the design of this project tends to create an artistic living space, which can better experience the architectural form and space volume by emphasising artistic decoration and infiltrating art.
We provide each viewer with a certain identity of presence in this immersive space, which means that they have various possibilities to reconstruct their feelings as individuals and continue to write stories. This is the meaning of our design.
The integration of various design elements in the space has become our main design consideration. In order to continue the cultural attribute of the integration of multiple cultures, we also focused on the retro style of multi focus, artistic and cultural heritage and French elegance when creating this house style.
The overall beige tone shows its elegance to the audience. At the same time, the entrance is a master sculpture from the Paris. Through the appreciation of artistic sculpture and the continuity of metal chandelier space, the audience is constantly attracted to explore the space, to re-establish their feelings of space in their minds and create the artistic atmosphere of Home Gallery. It shows the collision and integration of modern and classical art in space as a whole, and the experience of “crossing multi-dimensional space” is completed by the design. Innovation and retro, collision and blending, thus reflecting the instantaneous eternity of the concept of art space.
As one of the most prestigious awards in the world, SBID has attracted the attention and participation of many internationally renowned designers with its strict selection criteria. From a professional perspective, SBID focuses on exploring, summarising and exploring the latest trends in the field of design. It also has high standards and requirements for the design works participating in the awards. Every year, authoritative experts in the industry assess the technical content and aesthetic creativity of the entries, and is committed to commendation, reward and publicity of various excellent designs.
The SBID Design Award has a very high competitiveness and influence in the international design industry. Being shortlisted for the SBID Design Award is not only a recognition of designers’ professional ability, but also a recognition of their design achievements in the world.
Questions answered by Hongjun Lin, Managing Director at Harmony World Consultant & Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a nature-inspired, family home design by Pia Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an Italian styled, modern residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Harmony World Consultant & Design.
Harmony World Consultant & Design was commissioned to design the interior spaces for Shenzhen Oct The One project.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M
Project: Shenzhen Oct The One
Location: Shenzhen, China
The project chooses the coastline of Shenzhen Bay. The unique geographical advantage of the peninsula endows the project with a natural landscape surrounded by the sea on three sides. The design of all floor to ceiling windows maximises the view. Every stay in different outdoor corners will be accompanied by mountains and seas outside the window. Every moment is romantic.
We extract humanistic ideas and spiritual pursuits from the project area, strive for natural, artistic and humanistic design concepts, inject romance and elegance into the coastal life, and create an era image with unique characteristics of the bay area city with diversified scenes.
In the design, we need to think about how to maximise the functionality of the space, and at the same time, have artistic aesthetics, so that the design can reflect the characteristics of the city, show the classic design model of coastal luxury houses, and create a comfortable space that integrates multiple attributes such as living, social, and aesthetics.
The overall space is dominated by Italian style. The simple and elegant tone of the living room is blended with retro orange, adding romantic Italian style to create a romantic comfort in the warm sun, which makes people sit down quietly and release a relaxed and fulfilling life state. The integrated design is adopted between the reception hall and the dining room, creating a sense of space integration, open and comfortable. The restaurant should be a place of comfort from the beginning of vision. Therefore, the restaurant is placed next to the seascape, and the whole floor to ceiling windows are used for lighting, so that the space is full of light and shadow vitality, while introducing endless scenery outside the window, and offering a feast of food. In the master bedroom space, the Italian style artistic atmosphere is fully displayed. With gray white as the bottom and warm caramel color as the decoration, the modern atmosphere spreads and grows, and the space becomes interesting. The master bedroom is equipped with independent cloakroom and master bathroom, so the master’s taste can be properly placed. The master bathtub facing the sea, with a design full of ritual and privacy, feels the daily life with the sea, pure and quiet.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a characterful and bold home design by Oakley Moore Interior Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful and bold home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Oakley Moore Interior Design.
Oakley Moore Interior Design was commissioned to carry out a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham in London. The brief was to bring the property to life with a focus on the client’s art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials and bold colours to deliver an expertly layered and characterful home. Kate Aslangul of Oakley Moore lead the design for the interior architecture, soft furnishings, bespoke furniture pieces and the hanging of all artwork.
Practice: Oakley Moore Interior Design
Project: SW6 Terraced House
Location: London, United Kingdom
Mandated to oversee a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham, our brief was to improve the flow of the property and breath new life into it with a focus on the client’s art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials, and bold colours.
Inspiration for the design of the project came from the client, his love of art and his collection; he has many interests and has not only lived in the UK but also in the USA and France, so it was important to find creative ways to reference this and weave the threads to tell a story. He’s collected throughout his travels, so we had some strong pieces and colour references to use as starting points for the design.
To infuse sunshine and Provencal colour all year round I decided to make a feature of the kitchen/dining room wall which is a key siteline throughout the ground floor by designing a mural inspired by the work of Etel Adnan, a Lebanese/American artist who lived in Paris whose work I admire. The spare bedroom has a distinctly traditional French feel and using bright, modern colour and unusual fabrics makes it feel more contemporary.
The toughest hurdle was getting supplies and artisans as we started work during the Covid pandemic, so logistics and planning were incredibly important for the smooth running of the project to ensure that we delivered on time and on budget.
This was such a special project for me as the client wanted something very layered and beautiful and allowed me the freedom to play with colour and fabric. His trust in me was a real highlight.
I’m honoured to be an accredited SBID designer and it’s always wonderful to be recognised within one’s industry.
It is thrilling and a huge honour to be singled out within one’s industry. These prestigious awards are internationally recognised and provide a rare platform to gain recognition in a competitive industry for all the work involved in interior design projects. The awards not only put designers in the spotlight, but they give value to the craft and the industry.
Questions answered by Kate Aslangul, Founder and Creative Director at Oakley Moore Interior Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an ocean-view residential design by Katja Kessler Kreation, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an ocean-view residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Katja Kessler Kreation.
The client owned a vacation home which was only an empty shell and asked for an interior design concept. The empty shell turned out to be a seven-metre-high postmodern recently built concrete building.
Practice: Katja Kessler Kreation
Project: Das Kulm
Location: Greifswald, Germany
My client dreamed of an interior design, that would bring together regional heritage and modern vibes, creating a powerful and emotional yet stylish space. A place to sense the refreshing breeze of the Baltic Sea during the day; a place to cuddle in front of the crackling fire, listening to the raging waves at night.
Entering the shell of the building I had the sensation of standing inside a modern, concrete-formed cathedral – an overwhelming feeling. One central idea was spiraling in my head: Why conceal anything here? The rough cold DNA of the building’s structure should be palpable at every point!
So, I left the seven-meter-high concrete walls completely unplastered and used them as a backdrop for a historic church staircase, proudly displaying its 200-year-old scarred woodworm patina skin. 150-year-old weathered iron windows from a nearby decommissioned distillery, repurposed as kitchen walls, also pay homage to past times. In contrast postmodern XL window fronts that can be folded open across their full width like an accordion serve as bridges between the past and the present, as well as between indoor and outdoor. These windows bring in sunlight, wind, and the calls of seagulls, turning the expansive terrace into an additional living room on beautiful days. A ceiling mounted 360-degree swiveling XL fireplace accentuates the cathedral-like height of the building’s structure, though sitting in front of the crackling fire, it simultaneously provides a cave-like ambiance.
Moving and fitting the old 1000 kg spiral staircase into the shell required the assistance of five hard-trained carpenters and the same amount of champagne bottles to celebrate what we had achieved.
Sitting on the ocean-view terrace for the very first time with the entire crew gazing beyond the horizon on a quiet Sunday afternoon, resembled the cathedral like spirit I had experienced when first visiting this place. It was a moment of reward for what we had accomplished together.
I’ve been following the SBID Awards for a long time and have repeatedly been inspired and impressed by the submitted projects. This year, I thought now or never and submitted my own application.
So many people congratulated us for the nomination via social media. It feels like participating in a kind of interior Oscar. That alone has been a great compliment for me and the rest of my team.
Questions answered by Dr. Katja Kessler, Interior Designer and Founder of Katja Kessler Kreation.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist laundry service design by 4SPACE Design, click here to read it.
Consult by FD were appointed to renovate this city apartment in central London, Angel N1.
Our clients approached us during the whirlwind of purchasing their new/old apartment tucked away from the bustling streets of central London.
Having previously rented the same home in former years they returned to buy it already armed with a vision and understanding of how it can be transformed to better suit their lifestyles.
As the purchase ambled on, we got busy behind the scenes developing the brief, especially lots of bespoke joinery to best serve our busy clients and their space.
After assembling our dream renovation team, and suppliers, our clients got the keys and we got busy project managing the build.
We’re super pleased with the results and can confidently vouch that the new layouts and details make it feel like a haven.
Step inside the bathroom and the verdant green wall tiles will have you thinking you’re in Morocco.
About Consult by FD
Our studio provides detailed and unique design solutions for a range of different project types, offering a flexible list of services to take your individual projects from concept to completion. We champion style, sustainability and comfort with a collaborative approach that responds to your brief, taste and personality, making sure we design the best spaces for you.
Rachel Usher Interior Design were commissioned to design a large contemporary family kitchen and open plan living space.
The multi-disciplinary interior architectural team re-defined the existing format, opening up apertures allowing an abundance of natural light to fill the property and playing to the scale of the buildings vernacular.
Synonymous with a Rachel Usher Interior Design is the interaction of materials evident throughout all of the bespoke hand-crafted joinery, including shadow gap detailing and hidden light sources to highlight texture and contrast.
The final scheme was brought together with the appropriate application of light, texture and materiality.
About Rachel Usher Interior Design
Rachel Usher Interior Design is a multi-award winning high-end interior design practice specialising in providing our clients with outstanding luxury interiors. Embracing with passion the individuality of each client is at the heart of the practices approach. The interior architectural team approaches each project with a technical appreciation for a buildings vernacular, constantly seeking to improve the way in which the emotional connectivity to the property can be maximised through the interpretation of thoughtful design.
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