Welcoming and simple, a Berlin attic apartment in Scandinavian style

“L

et’s remove the superfluous and see what we actually need” our home owner gave this indication to Dopo-Domani, the historic interior design store in Berlin that was appointed to redesign the interiors of his attic apartment. This resulted in the concept for this spacious attic apartment, full of light and with a free-flowing space, in which a few carefully selected pieces of furniture are displayed as tiny clusters. 

A spacious living room with a kitchen, a large dining table in oak, similarly to the floor and in the background, the living room. Facing the courtyard, extensive glazing opens onto the terrace.

So straightforward and sincere to be bewitching, the refurbishment of this attic apartment in Berlin illustrates, in its refined spontaneity, a simple and authentic lifestyle with an undeniable Scandinavian appeal. A stone’s throw away from the noisy and perpetually fun-loving Kurfürstendamm, the new space disseminates in the air a mix of a light, fresh energy, precision and moderation, warm hospitality and extreme serenity.

Opposite the fireplace, the main living area delineated by a bold carpet. A traditional “granny-style” sofa contrasts with the CH25 armchairs and the Peacock reading chair, designed by Hans J. Wegner in ’50 and ’47 respectively. In the centre, several Indian-inspired coffee tables in mango wood.

The honey-coloured oak floor instantly transmits a feeling of warmth, while the white-washed walls capture all the light possible (we are in Berlin after all). In addition to a winning combination of white and wood, there’s a bold, sharp contrast of black (the carpet and the sofa) and several splashes of colour, a wonderful dark red that appears among the cushions and on several stools, here and there. 

For a degree of privacy, an extremely comfy, tiny living room. On the left, the LC14 coffee tables designed by Le Corbusier.

The bedroom area has a nearly monastic feel with simple materials and furniture as well as a few refined splashes of colour. Here, white and wood rule and the few pieces of furniture that decorate the space are linear and functional. The project couldn’t be complete without pieces from the fifties that decorate the entire home, such as the wonderful, rare lamps by Serge Mouille.

In the bedroom, simple and practical furniture is combined with pieces from the fifties. In the corridor, you are able to reach the top of the cupboards thanks to a sliding bookcase ladder.

Pure lines and refined details. Serge Mouille ‘s bewitching lamps from the fifties have recently been brought back in a numbered limited-edition series.

Soft, complementary colours in the bathroom and the second bedroom too. In the bathroom, the fold of the roof is transformed into a dramatic piece, similarly to an up-down pyramid.

The projection that the iron column draws on the floor, references the apartment’s simple aesthetic, yet with bold contrasts. The cupboard with its front clad in wooden shingles, evokes the silhouette of the furniture from the fifties.

Certain houses are astonishingly beautiful as they give the impression of always having been there and besides, are pristine and clear and have a pure classicism that outlives any fashion. Apparently effortless, they hide an extensive and competent attention to detail, in fact you have to achieve perfection in order to be simple. In this instance, perfection lies in successfully combining refined minimal furniture with its “clusters” – the living room, the dining area, a reading corner – scattered in small groups and an overall warm and welcoming feel. Everything is created with a sort of lightness with a gentle soul that desires neither to be visible nor to be put on display, as it merely invites you and welcomes you in.

Design project

The interior design of a city apartment  
Location: Fasanenstrasse, Berlin, Germany

Interior design project and furniture sourcing:
>> Store Channel
dopo_domani, International Interior Design
Kantstr. 148, Berlin, Germany

www.dopo-domani.de

Photos:
Courtesy dopo_domani