PRETTY IN PINK

COOL COMBO Taking a few pointers from Miamiinspired interiors, pink and green should always be seen as far as homeowners Chantal Assinck and Tom Klomberg are concerned. Pink is said to create nurturing feelings while green is said to be restorative and peaceful.

PRETTY

IN Life is looking rosy for an apartmentdwelling couple who have an eye for colour and design PINK

Chantal Assinck and her partner Tom Klomberg live on the third floor of an apartment building located in the heart of busy city situated near a picturesque, storied river.

After a nine-month period of travelling around the world, the couple moved from the metropolis to a different region because of the cheaper house prices, more living space and tranquility. Known for its parks and museums, the new location also has a nice city vibe.

Tipped off by a local real estate friend, from the outside the 58sqm apartment didn’t spark their enthusiasm at first, but after viewing they began to see the potential. Built in 1955, in a functionalist style, the building had been devastated by a fire in the ’90s, destroying all its original details. But from the ashes, it also created an opportunity to rebuild and modernise the apartment to the couple’s taste.

The apartment layout was redesigned and adapted to their needs.

The most important change was the removal of the wall between the kitchen and living room to create one big space, bringing in daylight from both sides. The lowered ceilings were removed and central heating installed. A bathroom was created in a part of the original hall – and they wanted a bedroom with just enough space for their bed.

All the structural renovations were done by a contractor, but a lot of the finishing was done by Chantal and Tom. The talented pair created bespoke cabinets, furniture – and their pride and joy – the kitchen.

For this they used the most budget-friendly wall tiles from a DIY store, plus the frame of an Ikea kitchen. The fronts of the doors were redone by an interior builder and have been made thicker.

Once the builder left, the couple focused on the finishing details, such as paint. Pink is the dominant colour, even the doors and the ceiling were painted in a rosy palette. This bold statement indicates how the residents live: audaciously – with an eclectic sense of style and love for modern art.

Meet & greet Chantal Assinck (location agency owner) and Tom Klomberg (HR consultancy owner).

KITCHEN/DINING Tom and Chantal tiled the kitchen island and counter themselves using an Ikea kitchen form as the base. The grey Lyon Beton concrete chair is from the Hauteville collection, the vintage Tulip table is by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, and the pink chair by Sebastian Herkner for Linteloo.

Painting door frames, window sills and skirting boards in the same colour effectively makes them ‘disappear’ , drawing more attention to furniture and artworks.

LIVING The still life photograph on the window sill is Stripe by Mirella Sahetapy, the vintage Bachelor chairs are by Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen and the Cord lamp by Design House Stockholm. The Jasper Morrison stool for Moooi is made of agglomerated cork and the graphic lollipop-shaped Paper Lamp is by Rene Barba for Ligne Roset. The large vintage Berber Beni Ourain wool rug helps to soften the area.

A bathroom was created in a part of the original hall – and they wanted a bedroom with just enough space for their bed.

ON THE TILES After the building contractor left, the couple did the tiling in the bathroom and kitchen, themselves. The concrete Lyon Beton bar stools are part of the Hauteville collection and the Wiggle side chair is by Frank Gehry for Vitra. On the sideboard is a miniature Gerrit Rietveld chair, an heirloom Oriental vase, a vintage abstract white vase and Lotek lamp by Benno Premsela..

LOUNGE TIME The daybed-like sofa was built by Tom and Chantal and the round artwork is by Studio Mieke Lucia.

Tip Fitted cupboards and storage units with doors help to streamline a room, making a compact space like a home office easy to keep free of clutter.

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KEY 1 Living room 2 Kitchen 3 Bedroom 4 Balcony 5 Hall 6 Cupboard 7 Bathroom 8 Office

SHOP THEIR STYLE

Millennial pink meets chequered chic in this effortlessly cool abode

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1 Cord floor lamp, $683, from Finnish Design Shop. 2 Anne Nowak Blue Interstellar print, $82.90, from The Poster Club. 3 Kuzina coffee table, $1400, from Iris Studio. 4 Cushion in grey stripes, $45, from Foxtrot Home. 5 Thomas Maxam Abomination bud vase, $180, from Infinite/Definite. 6 Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii plant, $36.99, from The Plant Project. 7 Arnold circus stool, $260, from Scout Home. 8 Resene Cupid paint, $4.90 (testpot) from ColorShops. 9 Harmie vase, $14.99, from Urban Stock. 10 Slim retro colour one-door bedside table, $999, from Mood. 11 Melting disco ball sculpture, around $10,500, from France & Son.