Oscar’s Swedish Inspired Renovation

published Jan 7, 2010
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Name: Oscar Skold
Location: Calgary Alberta, Canada
Size: 3000 square feet
Years lived in: Five

We received these photos of Oscar’s Canadian home and love the beautiful job he has done renovating it with a Scandinavian approach. Oscar grew up in the southwest of Sweden. As the son of an architectural engineer, he was exposed to minimalism, large open areas, natural materials and indoor/outdoor living. He was able to translate these “modest living” principles into his mid-century residence.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Oscar is the Senior Reservoir Advisor at Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd..When he bought the house it was largely untouched from its original design. Everything was meticulously maintained and kept but awfully outdated and very impractical. There were dark walls, carpet, small windows, and bad access to different areas in the home (as seen in several of the *before* pictures in the tour gallery). In five months he did a complete renovation down to the trusses of the main floor, new insulation, new electrical, new floor, new layout and access to the outside in the form of a large deck overlooking the city skyline. The house still looks unassuming from the outside, but upon entering the front door everything is different.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

AT Survey:

My style: Open layout, bright, natural materials, mid-century-modern, Scandinavian

Inspiration: Alvar Aalto

Favorite Element: Fireplace

Biggest Challenge: Budget

What Friends Say: OMG! I love the view and the light… Soooo Scandinavian

Biggest Embarrassment: Oops, the fridge doesn’t fit…

Proudest DIY: The concept

Biggest Indulgence: That’s too personal

Best advice: Trust your instincts

Dream source: The unknown mid-century-modern antique store

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources:
Architects: PlaceWorks Design, Calgary
Builder: Warbleton Development, Calgary
All cabinetry, custom-made by Warbleton Development
All Windows by LUX except the glass blocks which are vintage and original to the house
Floors are white oak with oil-buffed finish
Front door is vintage and original to the house

Kitchen
Fridge:LG
Dishwasher: Asko
Espresso machine: Krups
Blender: Wareng
Cooktop: Viking 5-burner gas
Oven: Gaggenau
Microwave: SHARP
Water kettle: Alessi
Tea kettle: Swedish vintage from Moderna Kök, design by Sigvard Bernadotte (1960)
White oak butcher block counters: IKEA
Faucets: VOLA
Fan: custom made
Island bar stools from Killians
Countertop backsplash is white back painted glass by Urban Glassworks

Dining
Table: White oak Danish from Jysk
Chairs: Herman Miller vintage
Light: Glo-Ball2 by Flos

Living
Chairs and coffee table, Warren Platner vintage by Knoll
Sofa: Chris Falkner Design, Kit Interior Objects
Lounge chaise by LeCorbusier
Eames side table
Wheeled tea tray by Kartell
Jonathan Adler pottery
Light by LeKlint

Entry hallway

Leather bench from Kit Interior Objects

Study
Chairs from Herman Miller: Aeron and Eames executive aluminium group chair in black leather
Nelson bench by Herman Miller
Bookcase from Chintz
Filing cabinet (red) from IKEA
Curtains from 1953. Swedish vintage
Office desk from IKEA

Master bedroom

Chair: Eva by Bruno Mathsson
Bed from IKEA
Curtains from IKEA
Side tables from Pure Design
Light: Glo-Ball2 by Jasper Morrison from Flos and Tolomeo bedside lights by Artemide

Master bath

Faucets by VOLA
Light fixture from Robinson Lighting
Grohe shower fixture
Dal-Tile 4″ white
Olympia Tile’s Vitreous series of blue glass tile
White carrara marble top and shower bench
Glass shower by Urban Glassworks

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Thanks, Oscar!)

Images: Lori Andrews

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