the entrance area and its aubergine terrazzo floor
This project was designed to provide a fresh, retro-inspired look, to an existing worn-out apartment of the 1960s, located just opposite the Metropolis Church of Thessaloniki, without any demolition or changing its layout. To accomplish that, we renovated the wet areas, -kitchen and bathroom- and repainted the rest: entrance area, corridor, living room and bedroom. Our aim was to maintain and frame its unique and charming morphological characteristics, such as the stained glass rotating windows, arched openings, terrazzos and parquet flooring. To emphasize these powerful original architectural elements, we chose a matching pastel color palette, applied to walls, cabinets and doors.<
entrance: the DIY floating clothing rack
before-after:
First time we visited the apartment, we passed through its entrance door into a small hall, with a blind wall in front of us, and an apparently immured window.
The first impression is always important when introduced to an interior, so we decided to discover what exactly was hiding beneath. After removing several layers of paint and one sheet metal, a stained glass iron transom window, with a pattern of greenish circles, was unveiled!
A wardrobe right there would be a useful thing, but it'd also be bulky and would put out of sight -again- the filtered natural sunlight, coming through our delightful find. Therefore, in order to meet the need of storage and at the same time reframe the transom window, we made a DIY floating coat rack, from a solid wood curtain rod and two leather belts.<
First time we visited the apartment, we passed through its entrance door into a small hall, with a blind wall in front of us, and an apparently immured window.
The first impression is always important when introduced to an interior, so we decided to discover what exactly was hiding beneath. After removing several layers of paint and one sheet metal, a stained glass iron transom window, with a pattern of greenish circles, was unveiled!
A wardrobe right there would be a useful thing, but it'd also be bulky and would put out of sight -again- the filtered natural sunlight, coming through our delightful find. Therefore, in order to meet the need of storage and at the same time reframe the transom window, we made a DIY floating coat rack, from a solid wood curtain rod and two leather belts.<
the living room area
the living room area, featuring the original solid oak herringbone parque flooring
the kitchen: front view
the kitchen: looking outwards
the kitchen's sink area, bathed in natural light
close-up of the kitchen's armed glass rotating window
the backsplash was formed by white, matte, metro tiles, in a herringbone pattern
above the sink, a Finnish dish-drying cabinet was installed, saving counter space
the kitchen: looking inwards
the kitchen floating alcove shelves
the cooking area
before-after:
The existing kitchen was the biggest challenge we faced in this project. It was rather confined, worn-out, impractical and uninviting.
In order to make it aesthetically as well as ergonomically pleasing, the old site-built, masonry kitchen and cabinets were removed. We replaced them by new custom-made ones, on tall, stainless steel legs. We chose lacquered, matte finished doors, with round holes as handles, in a retro hue of pastel mint-green, paired with wood countertop, to add warmth and texture.
The yellowish, glossy, square ceramic wall tiles were also removed and a new backsplash was formed by white, matte, metro tiles, in a herringbone pattern.
The existing kitchen was the biggest challenge we faced in this project. It was rather confined, worn-out, impractical and uninviting.
In order to make it aesthetically as well as ergonomically pleasing, the old site-built, masonry kitchen and cabinets were removed. We replaced them by new custom-made ones, on tall, stainless steel legs. We chose lacquered, matte finished doors, with round holes as handles, in a retro hue of pastel mint-green, paired with wood countertop, to add warmth and texture.
The yellowish, glossy, square ceramic wall tiles were also removed and a new backsplash was formed by white, matte, metro tiles, in a herringbone pattern.
The old iron rotating window and external wooden door were preserved, and only their plain glass were replaced by armed ones.
Above the new, stainless steel sink, a Finnish dish-drying cabinet was installed, saving counter space and time.
New built-in appliances were installed, to give a sophisticated look and keep the uniformity of the new fitted kitchen, without disrupting its overall design: fridge, oven, domino cooktop and cooker hood.<
Above the new, stainless steel sink, a Finnish dish-drying cabinet was installed, saving counter space and time.
New built-in appliances were installed, to give a sophisticated look and keep the uniformity of the new fitted kitchen, without disrupting its overall design: fridge, oven, domino cooktop and cooker hood.<
the bathroom: looking inwards
bathroom: the sink area
a bathroom's terrazzo floor close up
mirror cabinet's detail
bathroom's detail; on the background the old stained glass rotating window
before-after:
Although it had later additions, this bathroom was a bit 'tired' and in need of a 'facelift'. After dismantling all its square tiles from the walls and floor, its original 60’s terrazzo floor beneath, was revealed and restored. Only the bathtub, the fitted cabinets and the lovely stained glass rotating window, remained in place. The hot-water tank was relocated and the rest were completely removed. The walls were tiled three quarters of height in new, subway, ceramic tiles, while their upper part, as well as the ceiling, were painted in a hue of mint. New faucets, sink, cabinets and toilet were installed, and some finishing touches -accessories and greenery- were added.<
Although it had later additions, this bathroom was a bit 'tired' and in need of a 'facelift'. After dismantling all its square tiles from the walls and floor, its original 60’s terrazzo floor beneath, was revealed and restored. Only the bathtub, the fitted cabinets and the lovely stained glass rotating window, remained in place. The hot-water tank was relocated and the rest were completely removed. The walls were tiled three quarters of height in new, subway, ceramic tiles, while their upper part, as well as the ceiling, were painted in a hue of mint. New faucets, sink, cabinets and toilet were installed, and some finishing touches -accessories and greenery- were added.<
view of the bedroom; in the foreground its old linear solid pine flooring
the bed corner
the bedroom with its old built-in closet
