Optimizing old apartments to be family-friendly has become a specialty of IFUB*. In the case of

apartment O,

a number of conversions were possible in consultation with the listed building authorities. The space-saving redesign of the kitchen, living room and bathroom made it possible to create a much-needed additional room. At the same time, storage space was optimized, enabling the family of four to enjoy an airy and bright living area of approximately 84m². From a design perspective, we went all out, collaborating with the residents to develop a vibrant color and material concept that’s truly a joy to behold!

The most significant change was the removal of the partition wall and the old unused chimney flue to create a spacious room for

living, cooking and eating.

Also important: a bathroom and a storage room were turned into a new bathroom and an additional shower room. Despite this, it was possible to move the wall and create more space for the new kitchen with dining table. The course of the old walls can still be seen in the flooring.

The living room

before the renovation.

Where the parents' new bedroom is now, the kitchen used to be.

The kitchen

before the renovation

The room was much narrower and therefore only suitable as a small living room. The new spacious kitchen is now located here.

On the floor made of old and new

oiled oak parquet,

the positions of the old walls were left visible or only filled with new parquet in order to preserve as much of the original parquet as possible.

The hallway

was fitted with a large built-in unit that solves almost all of the family's storage space problems.

The hallway furniture

was designed to match the color of the kitchen furniture and the bathrooms and surprises with open, colored indentations at the passageways to the bathroom and front door.

The bathroom

is now accessed from the kitchen. It is positioned in the same place as the old bathroom, but has been significantly optimized in terms of space. Every square centimetre has been optimally utilized, so that despite the significant reduction in size compared to the previous bathroom, there is still room for a small bathtub. The colors white, light blue, dark blue and coral as an accent color were also combined here.

The compact bath has been integrated into a niche in such a way that it does not require a shower curtain.

The mirror cabinet

above the washbasin is set into the wall. Optimal use of space, even if not ideal in terms of sound insulation.

The bathrooms were visually divided into three parts. As in the kitchen, the lower area is white. The middle area is painted in a light shade of blue. White tiles with dark blue grouting complement the lower levels. The ceiling and the ceiling frieze were painted dark blue. Coral was also used here as an accent color. Where possible, old components were also integrated into the new concept - such as here

the existing shelving

which was simply given a new coat of paint.

Attention was paid to even the smallest

details

- including the vanity unit of the washbasin and the towel rail.

The transition between new and old can be seen next to the old

bathroom window

. The tiles were connected to the plaster with a coving, as was customary in buildings of this age. The natural stone window sill from an earlier renovation was also retained.

The shower room

is compact and tidy. The shower tray has been overlapped with the bathtub in the bath, saving space. The built-in cabinet is also the rear wall to the bath and the side wall to the shower. Here, too, the planning was absolutely space-saving. The two skylights provide the interior bathroom with natural light.

A large

mirror

integrated into the tiles visually enlarges the room. All elements in the room are also color-coordinated and contribute to the harmonious overall look. Despite its compact size, the bathroom does not feel cramped.

The last structural change was a small anteroom separated from the largest room in the apartment. This provides space for the laundry area as well as additional storage space. This also brought the room sizes of the two children to a similar size. Also nice to see here - all

existing doors

were saved and installed in new positions or in new walls.