Sure, a fireplace and balcony don't hurt, but Schönning's real genius for space can be seen in the unifying black and white color palette and in his decision to demolish most of the original interior walls to achieve a more open floor plan. In doing so, he has created a series of stand-alone spaces that easily flow from one to the other.
Functionality is the key to this apartment's success:
Entry - A small coat closet made of MDF was added to the hallway. Oversized knobs act as a handle and a place to store bags at the entry. The decision to hang on old wooden box on the wall for storage rather than resting it on the floor meant that valuable floor space could be used to store Schönning's bike - an urban imperative.
Living room - An Ikea chaise has been transformed with cover made of worn old sailor hammocks, rough linen and grommets, resulting in a contemporary piece that feels lovely, old and worn.
Bedroom - Storage flanks both sides of a large bed, while a dividing wall at the foot separates the bedroom area from the dining area. The reverse side features a metal clock face that acts as a memo board, and a curtain hung to the side of the bed provides the ability to completely close off the area for privacy.
Office - A compact workspace is tucked in between the bed and the fireplace, topped with dramatic artwork and surrounded by open storage.
Kitchen - Counters and appliances were pushed against the walls to create a large dining area that's perfect for entertaining Jimmy's many friends and family.
Bathroom - The bathroom has been made into a combination washroom/laundry room with the addition of a stackable washer and dryer. Black and white tile has been used to create a graphic, yet unifying statement. An Ikea sink sits atop a sideboard designed by Schönning that features a granite top made by his grandfather.
More Jimmy Schönning on Apartment Therapy:
• Jimmy Schönning Stylish Apartment
• Jimmy Schönning's Bathroom
(Images:1-5., 7-9., 10b. Gripsholms, 6 &10a. Jimmy Schönning)
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I love the monochromatic look, and how you've utilized the space. It's small, but very, very functional.
I think it looks great.
Very open now. Very Swedish feeling like Ikea.... I Like the tile built-ins, a neat Euro thing!
Beautiful, I would love to have such a functional space. More time for living, less time spent on cleaning/maintaining.
I am surprised in myself at how much I like this colour scheme! It feels a little too deliberate with all the mismatched chairs & light fixtures, rather than something which came together organically with use and need (which is where real eclectic comes from, IMHO), but still -- I'd live there!
This is a great space, but I really wish design media would stop referring to designs as masculine or manly. Dwell Magazine has a section this month too on decorating for "Gentlemen" which included a sidebar called Bros on a budget. There's a nice opportunity here to stop perpetuating sex stereotypes by assuming that leather, industrial, wood, clean spaces = masculine while flowery, fabric-y, etc = feminine. Good design is art that can be appreciated regardless of sex.
Nice space, and I completely agree with Heathah!
I also find myself wondering how all that white tile in the bathroom and kitchen would look with white grout instead of the dark color he used.
This might come down to being a choice of style, but doesn't anyone think the place looks a bit cluttered?
@HTONE83 - exactly what I thought.
I usually dislike those square tiles with dark grout, but they are used so well here they look just right for the space. I think they carry a bad association for me because they are used in public restrooms so often, and so badly.
@HTONE83, one person's clutter is another's tidiness. I was struck by how clan and tidy the place is. You'd probably faint if you saw my cluttered home.
This place is ridiculously amazing!! I couldn't seem to pull myself away from this post!!
The black and white tile is stunning.
Why is the bathroom sink so big? That slider thing is usually in bathtubs. It looks like a bathtub. A bathtub trough.
Love it! I live in a studio about the same size (I think mine is 450sq ft) and this place looks so much bigger than mine. I wish I could knock down my kitchen wall to open the place up, but I'm renting... Probably can't do that. Ha! At my old house (also rented), the bathroom was similar to this one- shower floor was the same as the rest of the bathroom. I hated it!! Maybe it was because that house was always settling, but the water always went all over the bathroom and would pool up in random spots. Always had to wipe the floor after every shower!
All that open shelving in the kitchen, I would lose my mind, good for him that he can handle it because it makes me twitch. The bathroom is very interesting design wise. Nice job.
Beautiful! But between my house, this one is big