00:02The design idea was to transform this worn-out space into a vibrant practical apartment.
00:10I wanted to demonstrate that living in a small apartment can also be grand.
00:18I'm Camille, an interior designer and founder of Fasson Camille, based in Ghent, Belgium.
00:28My clients are a retired couple in their 70s that have lived on three continents throughout their professional career.
00:36They were looking for a slower way of living, a place by the sea with a different vibe from their
00:42daily lives.
00:45They wanted to turn the old tired apartment into a chic Scandinavian home that is comfortable and has lots of
00:52storage space.
01:03The apartment is located in the seaside resort of the Haan. It means rooster in Dutch.
01:10A small town on the Belgian coast known for its unique belle époque villas and cottages.
01:17The apartment was constructed in 1970. It really stands out with its vivid red bricks as it's the only apartment
01:25building on the street.
01:29The apartment is 29 square meters.
01:33What makes this project unique and special was the opportunity to design for retirees.
01:40For example, the placement of storage and appliances was planned with their input to ensure accessibility and convenience.
01:51I was inspired by the surroundings of the apartments such as the sea, the terracotta roof tiles of the nearby
01:57cottages and the green of the trees in the neighborhood.
02:05The apartment had never been renovated and was completely worn out with a dirty linoleum floor and a tight kitchen.
02:13The bathroom had no daylight. The bedroom was really small and was designed with a single bed.
02:22For the renovation I kept the original floor plan, only making changes to let in more light and add storage.
02:30The wall between the bedroom and bathroom was removed and a new steel and glass partition with the door was
02:37added.
02:37In the dining area I found some extra space around the window after removing some old rolling shutters.
02:45This allowed me to add an integrated dining bench and lots of storage.
02:57As you enter the apartment you are greeted by black and white striped walls echoing the striped beach windsails common
03:05on the Belgian coast.
03:06The corridor is an area that is often overlooked so I wanted to highlight the space and make it fun.
03:14The striped wall also helps to hide the electricity closets.
03:19We repurposed some bathroom hooks and used them as coat hangers by the entrance.
03:26We added a storage bench. This was added away from the narrow entrance to give the clients a spacious and
03:33stable spot to put on or take off their shoes.
03:41Upon entering the living room you'll find a bright and spacious open living and dining room with a kitchen.
03:48A neutral color sofa was chosen so that it would blend in and not take too much attention away from
03:55the colored elements in the room.
03:57It can also convert into a bed when guests stay over.
04:02I added floating shelves about the sofa for books and items such as Rooster, which is the meaning of the
04:08name of the town.
04:11An adjustable wall lights from DCW Editions served as a reading light when sitting on the sofa.
04:19The client had a North Sea painting from the 50s matching an armchair from the same period.
04:25They were delighted that they could finally have it up on the wall. I think it fits in so well
04:30in the space.
04:33Along the windows I created a shelf to place drinks, books and speakers. It also helps to hide the heater.
04:45The kitchen is small but practical. I used a Phoenix matte finish and a deep grey green.
04:52It works well with the terracotta and helps to zone the kitchen area as the color is not used anywhere
04:58else in the apartment.
05:01We raised the fridge off the ground. Since it is the most used appliance, it was important that it was
05:08at a comfortable height for the clients.
05:10The cabinet below contains the hidden bins and the cabinet above is a pantry for breakfast items.
05:18Connected to the splashback there is a rail with some versatile hooks for hanging different kinds of kitchen accessories.
05:24A wall niche holds the kettle and there are two wooden-like shelves above the worktop.
05:31The clients had a small wooden trolley that serves as an extra worktop and can roll away to the side
05:38when not needed.
05:42The dining area is on the other side of the living room. The dining table is from TACT. The color
05:49and finish matches the floor.
05:51I found metallic chairs by Petite Friture that also match the table and the pendant lamp above.
05:58These terracotta elements can be found throughout the apartment.
06:04In front of the window we added a bench to create a reading nook.
06:09The reading nook also serves as extra seating for dinner guests.
06:14A slim storage unit provides space for commonly used items.
06:19For the blinds in the living area I chose white bamboo because of the natural material and you can adjust
06:25the light and level of privacy depending on the time of the day.
06:29A custom storage unit surrounds the reading nook.
06:34To maximize the use of space I made shelves and cupboards in all shapes and sides to accommodate pretty much
06:41everything the client needs.
06:44Larger storage unit has space for vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies.
06:49The position of the power socket was also higher up than usual so that it is more accessible as it
06:55is usually a challenge for all the people to bend down.
06:59On the floor we added an ethnic Turkish kilim rug to add some color and warmth to the living area.
07:07I was able to add an extra shelf as a result of having a shallower shelf on the other side.
07:14I added cladding to one of the doors to give it a beach vibe but more importantly it allows you
07:20to easily identify what is behind the door.
07:24This section is used as a pantry for the kitchen.
07:28To help with easier access I designed it to be shallow which allows you to see everything and not to
07:35have to reach all the way at the back and have things fall on you.
07:42The bedroom is compact but I managed to fit a double bed with some circulation space to spare.
07:50The top of the headboard provides space for decoration and two switches control the terracotta wall lights.
07:59On the wall I applied a custom soft grey and white dune patterned wallpaper from Isidore Leroy as a reference
08:07to the seaside.
08:09I love wallpaper and use it wherever I can. It gives the space depth and really elevates a room.
08:18To enhance the cozy feeling I painted the ceiling in a dark terracotta and extended it down a bit of
08:25the wall.
08:25It's a simple way to change the perspective of the room and adds some coziness.
08:31Soft grey linen curtains were lined to shut off the light and add thermal comfort.
08:41Above the door I created extra storage that links the original wall to the beam above the window so it
08:48blends into the wall.
08:52The bathroom has terrazzo style tiles on the floor that extends up behind the toilet.
08:58So I created a steel and glass partition with a door to bring natural light from the bedroom window.
09:04The door is a mix of fluted glass and steel. The top left window is open for better ventilation.
09:13A light pink vanity cabinet was chosen to soften up the space.
09:19Above the toilet the custom cabinets for storage are painted in three shades for a playful touch.
09:29The shower has a view of the outdoors through the bedroom window.
09:34A small foldable seat was added for more shower comfort.
09:38I wanted the tiles to match with the floor and for the terracotta ones to be the extension of the
09:43terracotta thread.
09:46Small tailored changes can really make a big difference.
09:50I love to create different atmosphere in small spaces so that you can experience a sense of discovery and wonder
09:57when moving from one area to another.
10:01Living in a small apartment can absolutely be grand.
10:04Living in a small apartment can really be grand.
10:21Living in a small apartment can really be grand.
10:21Living in a small apartment can really be grand and small workers,
Comments