alexandra andreas norris sofa roselawn lounge chair

ROWICO HOME FURNISHES

TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY APARTMENT WITH ALEXANDRA NILSSON

THE DREAM OF A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY APARTMENT

Turn-of-the-century apartments possess a charm that is hard to resist – stucco, bay windows, herringbone parquet, and generous ceiling height are just some details that add character. But how should one think when it comes to interior design and furniture selection? Join us to see how influencer Alexandra and her partner Andreas's dream has become a reality.

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  • Turn-of-the-century apartment with Alexandra Nilsson

NEW START IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY APARTMENT IN ÖSTERMALM

Alexandra Nilsson, one of Sweden's biggest bloggers, and her partner Andreas Hellmers have just moved into a turn-of-the-century apartment in Östermalm, Stockholm. The apartment, at the top of the building, has a quiet, sunny south-facing balcony overlooking the courtyard. Its 81 square meters offer elegant bay windows, generous ceiling height, stucco, and herringbone parquet.

They were not entirely in agreement when they decided which furniture to furnish the apartment. Andreas prefers furniture that aligns with the feeling of solid and robust interior design. If Alexandra had her way, the choice would have been what looks best on Instagram—regardless of comfort. After a visit to Rowico Homes showroom and a brief interior consultation with Per Wennberg, they managed to reach a compromise where both visions could meet.

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The final result turned out much nicer in reality than we could imagine. We are so delighted!

”
— ALEXANDRA NILSSON

CHOOSING FURNITURE FOR A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY APARTMENT

For Alexandra and Andreas, preserving the turn-of-the-century feel was important and one of the reasons they bought the apartment. They were looking for timeless furniture that blended in without clashing with the apartment's charm. NORRIS sofa together with two ROSELAWN armchairs became an obvious choice – modern yet timeless, and they enhanced the entire feel of the room.

To enhance the apartment's charm, they chose to put up molding frames in certain rooms for a new-old dimension and hung a chandelier with a turn-of-the-century and vintage feel in the living room.

When moving into a turn-of-the-century apartment, there are several different paths to take in terms of interior design and furniture style, according to Per:

  • Recreate and embrace the original style with elegant furniture that reminds and harmonizes with the era when the apartment was built.
  • Break with modern elements to create an innovative interior and an exciting contrast between new and old, contemporary and elegant.
  • Keep the interior and furniture modern but let the home's details like moldings and floors speak for themselves.
livingroom alexandra nilsson sofa lounge chair coffee table

CHOOSING A COLOR PALETTE TO PRESERVE TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY CHARM

When selecting a color palette, according to Per, it's a good idea to first settle in to get a sense of which tones you believe will best suit the home and create the desired atmosphere. Alexandra and Andreas agreed to paint the bedrooms, hall, and living room in a custom-mixed white-beige tone. This choice creates a pleasant, calm, and warm feeling. Breaking with a color other than white from moldings and stucco creates a nice contrast that elegantly highlights the details.

Tips for those choosing wall colors in a turn-of-the-century apartment:

1. TEST PAINT. Paint the color on different walls and in different rooms to get an idea of how the color appears in different light exposures – this becomes especially important if you want the same color throughout the apartment.

2. DARE TO CREATE CONTRASTS. By painting moldings, door frames, and perhaps even the doors, you give the room a whole new life. Alternatively, you can let the walls have a strong color and keep the moldings white to highlight the details.

HOW TO DECORATE A LIVING ROOM WITH TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY FEEL

Opt for furniture with timeless elegance in natural materials, such as wood and upholstered furniture in soft textiles. Marble and dark wood are materials that truly evoke the turn-of-the-century feel and are perfect for creating the desired atmosphere.

In the apartment in Östermalm, Alexandra and Andreas have chosen to give the living room a modern interpretation, inspired by the open floor plan. By the bay window, they have placed the NORRIS sofa together with the MARSDEN coffee table and the ROSELAWN armchairs. Together, these pieces of furniture create an inviting social area reminiscent of the traditional salon.

A few meters away in the same room stands the TYLER dining table in brown wood, combined with the ALISON chairs that have matching brown wooden legs. The furniture elegantly harmonizes with the room's beige tones and contributes to a cohesive feel.

The generous ceiling height, typical of turn-of-the-century apartments, also allows for playing with different furniture heights. To complement the dining area, they have chosen two HAZELTON model display cabinets. They serve both as decorative elements and practical storage solutions for wine glasses, porcelain, and interior details. The cabinets offer a sleek display that reflects their personality and gives the home a personal touch.

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