Reviving an Architectural jewel

Local firm Note Design Studio has completely overhauled a historic 350 m² residence in central Stockholm.

The apartment is located within a magnificent building designed in the early 1920s by Höög & Morsing, an influential architecture practice largely responsible for the area’s present character. This building was a particularly ambitious project and seen by many as the crowning jewel in its context. Previous residents of the apartment had compromised the original interior, removing integral detailing so that what remained felt detached from the overall architecture. Note therefore set out to bring the apartment back to its former glory, creating an interior that might pass for the original – while still feeling contemporary and exceptionally comfortable today, adding sound-absorbing marble floors, mouldings informed by the eaves of the building and custom-made furniture. The residence needed to be updated with a new floor plan, making the most of the six large rooms behind the building’s facade, as well as rejuvenating the inner spaces in terms of light and function. The biggest changes were made to the practical spaces and the reception rooms. The entrance was awfully tight in relation to the size of the residence, so the design team rearranged the floor plan in order to create a generous atrium with clear guidance in how to navigate the apartment. In addition, the design team was very inspired by the style of the building and its context. For example, the radiator covers are balcony railings from the neighbouring building, the ceiling mouldings are similar to the eaves of the building, and the floor patterns are inspired by entrance door ornaments in the area. Since the client desired the highest standard for internal acoustics, all floors were removed, and sound-absorbing marble pebbles were incorporated. Suspended ceilings were created in all rooms. Furthermore, Note Design Studio used greyed wood to mark the private spaces in the flat and separate them from the atrium. In the living room two sofas with soft curves surround the sculptural wooden table. Next, we find the path one of the two fireplaces that are made of Brännlyckan marble in two contrasting patterns, sourced from Närke to the south of Stockholm.

Never before have we had the opportunity to design across such a diversity of touchpoints. From the overarching strategies of space design, right down to the minutiae of the fixtures and fittings; we ensured that every single part of the interior answered to a higher purpose than a brief or concept. This was a dream project in many ways – one that challenged our creative skills on a daily basis, pushing us to the next level as a team and studio.

The kitchen and dining area are accessed through the essential aesthetic glass doors. The white kitchen is functional and hosts many storage spaces. The dining area is characterised by the grey colour: a round table with a cone-shaped base goes perfectly with chairs with soft seats.

Walking through the apartment is very much a journey of discovery where every space has unique qualities influencing its design.

Note Design Studio custom-made a number of the furniture pieces for the home, including the wooden desk for the office, nightstands, mirrors, tables and washstands. Overall, the shared ambition of the studio and their client was to achieve an interior that sets high international standards using local materials and craft techniques to celebrate and renew a treasured space that will now live for many generations to come.

The master bedroom includes a grey bed than stands out thanks to the emerald green sheets used. A sculptural floor lamp and a patterned wooden bedside table complete the design. LED light strips hidden beneath the ceiling mouldings were used to create gradients of light and shadow on the walls.

The en-suite bathroom can be accessed from the office and the bedroom. here a single Swedish marble was used as in the other two bathrooms. While in the smallest bathroom in the house the design team opted for a distinctive patchwork of waste pieces left over from the tiling of the others.