Houzz Tour: Smart Design Reinvents a Compact Urban Apartment
Despite its petite dimensions, this one-bedroom apartment has been reborn as a two-bed family home, brimming with smart storage
Now based in Dublin, Dana Kallo of Black Fox Interiors is originally from Romania. The redesign of this compact apartment in northern Bucharest was the last project she tackled before relocating. The owners had chosen it for its great location rather than its looks, and it badly needed updating and improving. “We came up with a design that would accommodate a young family in need of a functional home, with plenty of storage and an extra bedroom,” she says. “Despite a small budget, we created a pleasant and functional place, using local craftsmen to build bespoke furniture that made use of every bit of space.” And the flat is now brimming with great solutions for small-space living that would work in many homes.
“The apartment was lived in before the clients bought it, so it had visible marks of time and usage,” says Kallo. “As it was built so long ago, the electrical and plumbing systems had to be replaced and adapted to suit modern appliances and devices.”
This is how the living room looked once Kallo and her team had gutted it. “The hardwood floor was also in very bad shape and had to be replaced, and in the end all the interior finishes had to be renewed,” she says.
This is how the living room looked once Kallo and her team had gutted it. “The hardwood floor was also in very bad shape and had to be replaced, and in the end all the interior finishes had to be renewed,” she says.
“One of the most significant interventions was redesigning the living room as an open-space that includes a relaxation area with a generous sectional sofa, a cooking area and a dining area,” says Kallo. “In short, the new living room became the focal point of the apartment.”
The sofa came from a local retailer. “The main idea was that it was L-shaped, to create a lot of seating space and also to zone the seating area, dividing it a little from the dining table,” says Kallo.
The sofa came from a local retailer. “The main idea was that it was L-shaped, to create a lot of seating space and also to zone the seating area, dividing it a little from the dining table,” says Kallo.
Another key change was to turn the old kitchen into a master bedroom with walk-in dressing area. Colourful wallpaper brings personality to the space, while the large bespoke horizontal mirror helps to boost light levels and increase the sense of space.
The pipes by the bed are still in service and had to remain. “They were white,” says Kallo. “We thought, we can’t hide them, so let’s be playful with them and paint them a bright colour.”
Kaleido wallpaper, Eijffinger.
The pipes by the bed are still in service and had to remain. “They were white,” says Kallo. “We thought, we can’t hide them, so let’s be playful with them and paint them a bright colour.”
Kaleido wallpaper, Eijffinger.
The first major change was to move all the plumbing that ran between the old kitchen and living room. “It ran within that partition wall,” says Kallo. “We were lucky that we just had to move the access points to the pipework, but kept the pipes in the same position. If we had had to completely move them it would have required a lot of permits and permission and that would have complicated the project.”
The next step was to create the extra storage space needed for various rarely used objects, including some out-of-season clothes and books. “The master bed is designed to sit on a raised floor in order to create storage space for the owners’ vast collection of books,” says Kallo. “The bed mattress was placed directly on top of this raised floor to amplify the space in the room.”
The raised floor in the master bedroom also has box spaces designed within it, under and around the bed. They are easily accessible by lifting different lids.
The dos and don’ts of planning a small bedroom
The dos and don’ts of planning a small bedroom
“We worked with a local carpenter who made most of the furniture around the house, including the kitchen units, the living room units, the wardrobe in the baby’s bedroom and the hallway storage,” says Kallo. “These pieces are all our designs, created so that every little corner would be used to its full potential.”
A projector was fitted in the ceiling above the sofa to work with a screen fitted on the wall next to the door. “It was a special request from the owners and because the room is rather long, there’s a good distance between the projector and screen so it works,” says Kallo.
A projector was fitted in the ceiling above the sofa to work with a screen fitted on the wall next to the door. “It was a special request from the owners and because the room is rather long, there’s a good distance between the projector and screen so it works,” says Kallo.
In the kitchen, all the appliances were integrated and the splashback was created with a printed glass. “In the last few years, a lot of young Romanian couples have got back into the idea of cooking and making traditional dishes at home, rather than eating out,” says Kallo. “So it was very important to give the owners all the appliances they needed.” They have an oven, microwave, full-size sink, hob, extractor and fridge-freezer.
10 little details to make your kitchen sing
10 little details to make your kitchen sing
The original balcony which was adjacent to the old kitchen has now been converted into a walk-in wardrobe off the master bedroom.
In the former balcony, Kallo installed an open-shelf modular storage structure to create a spacious walk-in wardrobe. “Instead of doors, we used airy white drapes to hide the structure and preserve the nice natural light that was coming into the room through the large windows of the balcony,” says Kallo.
Stolmen storage system, Ikea.
Stolmen storage system, Ikea.
Here you can see clearly how the floaty white drapes softly conceal the wardrobe area.
The same fluid white drapes are used to subtly mask the bookshelves on the wall opposite the bed. “We improved the modular shelving system by adding a hinged worktop that can be used as a small laptop desk or a vanity table,” says Kallo.
Algot shelving system, Ikea.
Algot shelving system, Ikea.
The apartment’s existing bedroom was redesigned for the owners’ baby. Pops of colour, pretty wallpaper by the cot and a large wardrobe are key elements, so that the room is colourful, playful but also functional. The sofa bed (just seen) has been recycled from the owners’ former home and placed near the cot for convenience. “Recently, we were delighted that, two years after designing the apartment, the owners got in touch again asking us to prepare this room for the arrival of a second baby!” says Kallo.
Backyard Friends stickers, Hits for Kids collection, Eijffinger.
Backyard Friends stickers, Hits for Kids collection, Eijffinger.
Fully refurbished, the bathroom has new sanitaryware, tiles and floor. “We designed a large mirrored cabinet where the clients store everything from towels to make-up,” says Kallo.
In addition to this storage, the shower wall has three alcoves covered in mosaic, where more toiletries can be stored, within easy reach.
A lot of storage space was designed to go in the hallway. “All the cleaning products, ironing board, laundry rack, bags and luggage, winter clothes and other useful small items for the house were brought in here,” says Kallo. The unit near the bathroom door at the far end accommodates the washing machine and dryer.
Kallo worked in mirrors to most of the rooms, to help boost the sense of space and disguise some of the storage. “This one in the hallway is the only full-length mirror in the apartment,” she says. “It’s useful for a final look before you go out!”
Centigrad ceiling lights with spots, both Ikea.
Kallo worked in mirrors to most of the rooms, to help boost the sense of space and disguise some of the storage. “This one in the hallway is the only full-length mirror in the apartment,” she says. “It’s useful for a final look before you go out!”
Centigrad ceiling lights with spots, both Ikea.
This is the entrance hall, before it was fitted with bespoke storage and decorated.
Modernising the apartment, replacing all the gas and electrics and fitting bespoke furniture to make best use of space took up most of the budget. “We then tried to find inexpensive furniture that would complete the space, but which the owners could replace in the future for something bigger or better!” says Kallo.
TELL US…
Inspired by this compact home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Inspired by this compact home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A family with a baby and young son
Location Bucharest, Romania
Property An apartment in a block built in the 1980s
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Dimensions Less than 55sq m
Designers Dana Kallo at Black Fox Interiors
This small one-bedroom flat was cleverly converted into a two-bedroom home for a young family who were expecting their first child. The living room is now a multifunctional open space with a kitchen and dining area, while the old kitchen became a small but cosy bedroom. “With the baby in mind, we tried to keep this room as uncluttered as possible,” says Kallo. “So all the furniture was designed to go around the walls, leaving plenty of free space in the middle.”