H
ow can you not fall in love with a home with archways, plasterwork, high ceilings, fireplace and terrace. This is exactly what happened to our two creative professionals, trained to understand the needs of different kinds of people. Our new owners fell in love with this apartment after seeing it only once, even though it was extremely run down and in a state of utter neglect. Nonetheless, they could see passed this and picture its true potential.
We are in the spa town of Wiesbaden, a few kilometres from Frankfurt, Germany’s financial centre. Spared from bombing during the Second World War, Wiesbaden has still its elegant neoclassical appearance. Throughout history, it was favoured by many intellectuals like Brahms and Wagner. And Dostoyevsky, was inspired by the town’s splendid Casino to write the main character of “The Gambler” and possibly during his walks, he ended up looking at this building, wondering who could afford such a luxury.
During the renovation project, all period details were carefully restored, just like the plasterwork, which in this case isn’t white on white, but instead white on a striking dark grey background. On both ceilings and floors, accents in dark colours (the blue carpet) visually open up the room; this creates the illusion of a much larger space. White sofas and shelves, occasionally broken up by a pop of colour, give depth and lightness to the whole scheme.
The entire project focused on a juxtaposition between the old and the new, namely between neoclassicism and modernity. Being modern art and design enthusiasts, our couple mixed together great icons and contemporary designs from the fifties onwards. And a strikingly original colour scheme: yellow and blue, which respectively evoke the warm sun and the cool sea. The outcome is a Greek-inspired vibe, amidst the columns and the arches of this neoclassical German building.
The kitchen is an extremely functional space, which faces the terrace on one side. The dining table is the natural progression of the central island and around it, two comfortable office chairs, so you can carry on working while the dinner is on the hob. Streamlined storage instead of conventional units; this conceals all the necessary equipment.
This renovation gives a modern spin to a charming period apartment, the result of a happy partnership between owners and the interior design store PurPur. Immediately on the same wave length, both owners and architect have given much thought to this project, from the colour scheme to the choice of materials and lights. Furthermore, helped by their immense sensitivity, they have enhanced the old through the new and vice versa. And to quote the architect, “Thanks to the owners everything was simply wonderful”.
Design project
Renovation of a period apartment
Location: Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany
Client: private
Floors: one
Interior design consultation and furniture sourcing: Purpur GmbH Interior Concepts, Neue Mainzer Straße 1, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: 00 49 69 96 21 94 – 0
Email: info@purpur.de
Photos: Courtesy Purpur Interior Concepts
