Small spaces
By demolishing a wall in the bedroom, the couple turned an inefficient walk-in into a cozy nook without losing any storage. A small nook that provides space for getting dressed still sits toward the back, but now the room feels a lot bigger. Staying in line with her self-described eclectic style, Garcia contrasts shiny chrome furniture against the raw finish of the exposed-brick demising wall. The utilitarian fan and the classic Marcel Breuer Wassily Chair give the room all the style it needs.
In the kitchen, the couple installed a soft polished-quartz countertop and a new undermount sink. The sculptural pewter vase in the window was a 30th-birthday present to Af Ström, purchased in Stockholm at the well-known Svenskt Tenn. They want to install undercabinet lighting and a white glass tile backsplash next. Sink, faucet: Rubi, Ramacieri Soligo
t the end of the entry hall, the wooden ceiling band continues to wrap down to the floor to create a closet, where the couple hides jackets, winter boots and a washer and dryer. "The washer and dryer are probably my favorite pieces in the whole unit," jokes Garcia. A back-painted glass door, from Ikea, has a soft shadow, adding visual depth and interest. The overhead lights continue from the entry to bring much-needed task lighting into the other inner spaces.
The minimally furnished living room gains comfort with a versatile gray microfiber sectional from Mobilia. Its two pieces can be separated, and the couple can place the loveseat in a guest bedroom or the entryway. The Matisse print on the far wall has been in Af Ström’s family for years. Garcia painted the large green oil painting of fruit.
Garcia and Af Ström love to spend their evenings and weekends on the outdoor terrace, facing a courtyard, where the late-afternoon light filters through the trees. Cedar cladding gives the terrace a rustic feel and a pleasant smell. Although most varieties of cedar are naturally rot resistant, the couple chose a natural Sikkens stain to protect the wood from UV damage. A rustic debarked poplar trunk, given to Garcia by a close friend who passed away, is a meaningful piece used as a side table and a seat.
Garcia designed the floating vanity in the flat's only bathroom. The couple decided to forgo a shower curtain to make the small space feel bigger. They splurged on the bathroom's turquoise tiles and fixtures. They used the turquoise tiles sparsely and filled out the rest of the bathroom with more affordable white tiles from Centura. The back-painted glass has beautiful reflective properties. Faucets, showerhead: Rubi, Ramacieri Soligo; sink: Pacific Collection, Incepa; bathtub: Lancia, Sherlic
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