300-Year-Old Scandinavian Loft Gets Wood And Marble Makeover

A Danish designer based in London has converted the upper floors of a 300-year-old building in Stockholm to create two unique stunning 200 square metre apartments. The architectural design and wood features produce a contemporary feel whilst retaining some of the original elements.

DESIGN
Designer and Co-Founder Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama stripped the old back to reveal the protected building’s original beams and features.

True to Ms Tolstrup's Scandinavian roots, simplicity and integrity are the trademarks of her work; a pared-down, contemporary but characterful aesthetic combined with a democratic belief in good design for all.

New materials were then fitted around the irregularly shaped beams, with the goal to create a contemporary feel that still complemented the old features.

"It was important to maintain the special atmosphere and charm that this old house embedded, but also create two flats that would be attractive for a modern-day life," Ms Tolstrup told

Dezeen Magazine.

One unique feature of the development is the different design approach taken with each apartment. One approach wasn’t applied to create identical apartments, which is so common with apartment developments.

A traditional approach was chosen for apartment one, featuring a wood-burning stove.

Apartment two focuses on "bold design statements" that include a bookshelf that stretches up through the two storey height of the home.

"Apartment one is all on one level and is more conventional in its layout due the constraint on movement of walls, whereas apartment two is on two levels with generous height which allowed us to play with volumes and changes in scale," explained Ms Tolstrup.

A common feature through both apartments are the white walls, pale wooden floors and fittings with marble accents.

The original eaves in the loft ceilings were painted white to emphasise the height of the space and reflect the light from the skylights.

The bathrooms in both apartments have marble tiles and fittings with gold taps, but with different layouts.

WOOD AND MARBLE
"We wanted to work with materials that were sympathetic to the old house and its long-lasting legacy," Ms Tolstrup said.

"We like the idea of contrasting the use of wood with a more dense but also natural material that would be suitable to use in all the surfaces of bathrooms and wet rooms, for that reason we chose marble."

A wooden staircase and walkway provide access from the living room to an annex above the lower-floor bedroom.

"The house has always had wooden floors – but over the years of less good quality. We put 30-centimetre-wide Douglas fir planks in with a Lye finishing, which is an old Scandinavian tradition," Ms Tolstrup said.

The floorboards continue onto the kitchen island with a marble top and onto the back wall of the kitchen, creating concealed storage for utensils and appliances.