History of Interior Design in a Historic Apartment

The apartment not only boasts a beautiful interior but also an enviable surrounding. The four-story building, featuring half-round columns and decorated with gypsum ornamental plasterwork, was constructed in 1889. Exactly one year later, a beautiful city church—the Church of Saint John—was completed nearby. Such picturesque exterior is surely reason enough to bring the interior into classical style.

Designers from real estate agency Erik Olsson reasoned similarly and designed a four-room apartment with a predominance of classical style in its interior.

It features 121 square meters, two bathrooms, one of which includes a separate shower and laundry area, a balcony with a view of an inner courtyard, and a small walk-in closet for each bedroom. Storage in the hallway was provided by built-in wardrobes. Indeed, they made the corridor narrower to mask an inconvenient semi-circular wall structure.

Generally, the curved and disproportionate layout of the apartment needed correction, at least for stylistic reasons: classic style does not tolerate asymmetrical walls. Likewise, it does not embrace small spaces, so bedrooms were decorated in a neutral tone, while the classical style was highlighted in public areas: living room, kitchen and dining room.

Except for the hallway, there is also an awkward semi-circular gap on the wall in the living room. It was hidden behind a false door. Similarly, ornate interior doors were installed throughout the public area. The high ceilings—3.4 meters tall—helped the ornate plasterwork and imposing doors fit into the space.

While the finishing is strict classical, the furniture is eclectic. Neutral and more modern in style sofas and tables are mixed with neoclassicism: armchairs, sideboards, and dining sets in the dining room.

The final touch—long candles. Here, they are not only a decorative element but also a subtle reference to the nearby atmospheric Gothic church. Why not?

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