Goodbye bathtub, wellcome sauna

A family had been longing for a sauna for a while but did not have available space. As years passed it became evident that children had outgrown the bath stage and the bathtub was no longer in use.
A bathtub takes up asurprisingly big space especially if it is integrated. That meant that there is enough space in their existing bathroom for a sauna.

With careful planning the space now looks as if the sauna had always been there. The cabinet had to be taken away, but now there is even more storage space in mirror cabinet which was installed on top of existing mirror. The laundry baskets were integrated in the sauna structure so that the space under the benches has now built in laundry baskets. Sauna itself is big enough to have two adults and one child enjoying the heat at one time.                                                   

                           

Bathroom before

Bathroom before

New curtains, help!

I have found that buying curtains in Luxembourg is not easy. There is not that much where to choose, Nordic taste is sometimes different than what is available and just when you finally found the perfect fabric...the cost is way over your budget. One does not have the time to search. One does not want to make them. One does not want to think the whole thing but still the room would look so much nicer with proper curtains.

My clever customer asked me for help. According to her wishes I scouted maybe 20 different options that would work in her home (compared to hundreds in the showroom). Then we visited the shop together to see the fabrics "live" and I helped her with all the sewing details etc and she placed the order. It took only a month from the day I visited her to the moment she had new beautiful curtains perfecting her home.

So why not ask for help with curtains!

Small change, big effect

Sometimes a change in one place leads to a change in another. I have earlier presented a bedroom make over. That change left a need to find a new storage solution for some papers, letters, albums etc. A space in front of window was a little bit underused even though it was the first view one sees when entering home.
Together with the client we found a furniture originally meant for television to have all the required elements. It was not too high, just the right length and it allowed vacuuming under. Now it holds all the important mementos behind doors and ties together other dark colors used in living room (sorry, did not take photo of the whole room, my fault...)

                                                               

Before the change

Teenager and school boy rooms

Time flies and rooms should change with the age of their occupants. I got an assignment to update a girly room into a teenage room and a play room to be a school boy's room. Providing both rooms with proper working places was first priority but close behind were that hobbies should be visible in the rooms.

The daughter is a keen dancer and therefore one good sized mirror was attached to the wall and the space in front of it was kept open. A new wardrobe system was designed to service all storage purposes: clothes, toys, books etc. The idea was to have a storage space that would blend into the wall, be discreet and calm. All the interior shelving was designed specifically for her purposes.

Son hoped that in his room football would be visible. But at the same time it should be done so that the room would last time. Also the room should have plenty of open floor space for games, plays and gymnastic training.
A challenge in the room was that it is under the sloping roof, how to use the height so that you do not loose the opportunities it offers but still that the room is cosy and not a chapel. A powdery green wallpaper with net graphics is attached to wall/ceiling which brings football goal in mind and gives solidness into the otherwise light room. The idea behind subdued color scheme was that toys will bring color to the room. Furniture is deliberately scarce and light to give room for play and for future needs and changes.
 

Office in living room

Office room was needed for other purposes but the need of office did not disappear. New location was found in the living room. It only meant that we also needed to find new home for all the books...

As the office space is part of the living room it must fit the style. The table is customized from IKEA kitchen table top and also other items are from the IKEA kitchen line The office had to include enough space for folders, printer, routers, memory units etc. The "invisibility" is particularly important as this space is the first one you see when you enter the flat. Care was taken to hide all the cords and they are hidden behind the furniture and special cover. Additionally a home movie system unit was integrated under the table. The wall behind was painted to give a background that ties the furniture together as an office but also to "hide" the black computer screen so that it does not stand out so much from the whiteness. A nice work of art showing birch tree trunks was installed on the wall to tie all the colors together and make the space softer. Now the office is a good looking solid part of living room and not a cramped eye sore corner.

...and the books found a new home over the sofa in custom made shelves :-)

Before the change

Before the change

Peaceful bedroom

My lovely customer decided that it was finally time to have the bedroom of her dreams. Everything had to go except for a painting. Ceiling was painted, walls were lined with Marimekko wallpaper and a parquet was installed to the floor. The silk curtains were made by measure to compliment the wallpaper. In the end we found the perfect bed from Grange as well as the bedside table. Storage system was made by customer's specifications and fits in nicely to a room that has rather difficult corners and which is not spoiled with space. The room is now a sanctuary and feels much more spacious than before.

Before

Before

Storage system to meet the need

I was given a task to slightly upgrade a young girl's room into a teenager's room. Main target was to make the room less cluttered and unify storaging. The aim was to collect all storage units on one side of the room so that it would not stand out but rather look like a wall. This way one dream was fulfilled as it was possible to hang a big mirror where one storage unit used to be. The interiors of the storage units where carefully planned in order to fit everything that was needed. With rather small steps a big change was accomplished. The atmosphere is now more calm and grown up. And wait until we get the curtains and ceiling lamp changed as well...

Before

Before