00:01We were inspired by our travels and Scandinavian design and wanted to
00:08create a home where we could live and work that feels beautiful, calm and
00:12inspiring. A space we enjoy spending time in. We follow a minimalist approach to
00:23both life and home and wanted an apartment that is more open and long
00:27lasting. A space where every square meter has a purpose and every detail feels
00:34intentional. The apartment is designed as a light open space for both everyday
00:45living and hosting centered around cooking and gathering. A consistent
00:52material palette defines the interior with custom oak furniture, handcrafted
00:57in Central Europe, bringing a strong sense of detail and cohesion.
01:04My name is Bara. I'm an architect and the founder of Studio Bara Nielsen, an
01:09architecture studio based in Copenhagen.
01:14This apartment is located in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the older part of the Sulhoun
01:20neighborhood. Sulhoun has become a neighborhood where many young people and
01:25families have settled. The construction of a metro has transformed it into one of
01:30Copenhagen's emerging residential districts. Despite this growth, it still
01:35maintains a strong sense of community with plenty of greenery parks and access to
01:41the nearby waterfront. Its balance of urban convenience and quieter residential
01:47life makes it an especially appealing place to live.
01:52The apartment is located on the ground floor of a classic three-story building from 1936.
02:00The original apartment was dark and the layout was typical of its time.
02:06The finishes were outdated and had an inefficient use of space due to the walls that enclosed it.
02:13It had a small closed kitchen followed by a living room and a bedroom.
02:19We started by removing all of the non-bearing walls to make the layout feel more open and continuous.
02:26The bedroom originally had two entrances. We decided to keep the opening from the living area
02:32and close off the hallway entrance instead. This allowed us to enlarge the bathroom and introduce a
02:39dedicated shower space. On the bedroom side, the extension created enough room for wardrobe.
02:46Between the columns, concealing the technical installations, we introduced an island kitchen
02:52to place the kitchen more centrally within the home and make it a stronger social place.
02:58The living and dining areas were then reorganized with new furniture,
03:02creating a more flexible shared space for everyday living and working from home.
03:10We took our outdated shooting guide and gave it a whole new look with Gamma 5.
03:15All it took were a few clicks. Before filming any never-too-small home,
03:20we send the architect a presentation, walking them through our filming process.
03:25So everyone knows what to expect on the day.
03:28With Gamma, we can simply drag and drop our old PowerPoint.
03:32It keeps the formatting intact so we don't have to start from scratch.
03:37Gamma offers different design styles to give our presentation a whole new look.
03:42We can customize the colors and fonts in just a few clicks,
03:46and use Gamma's agent to help us add new slides.
03:50So we can add updated details about our filming process.
03:55And just like that, our old presentation is looking better and more professional than ever.
04:13The entrance of the apartment is a small hallway directly connected to the main living area,
04:22creating an immediate sense of openness when entering the home.
04:28There is a niche in the wall where the former doorway to the bedroom once was.
04:33Here we placed a wooden hanging rack by Kristina Damm Studio for hanging jackets
04:38and storing shoes on the metal bar below.
04:43On the opposite side there is a custom building cabinet with a large full height mirror on the exterior.
04:51This conceals the electrical fuse board which we were unable to relocate while also providing additional storage.
05:00Beneath it we added a small wire shoe rack for everyday shoes.
05:06The wood used throughout the apartment is oak with the cabinetry finished in oak veneer to create a consistent material
05:14palette across the space.
05:17The kitchen connects the entrance and living area intentionally designed as an open generous space that encourages both cooking and
05:26gathering.
05:29The kitchen storage is organized into a single wall of cabinetry integrating a full height fridge and freezer alongside the
05:38washing machine and dryer with overhead cabinets for additional storage.
05:46The worktop is made of durable engineered stone in a warm beige tone with a subtle stone-like texture.
05:55The main cooking area is by the window with a stove and worktop taking advantage of natural light.
06:04There is a pullout drawer for oils and bottles, an integrated oven and drawers for cutlery and other kitchen utensils.
06:16Above the cooktop there is a concealed extractor hood and storage for plates and glasses.
06:25At the center of the kitchen the island defines the space and connects it to the living area.
06:31It is often used to cook and gather when people come over and is sometimes used as a bench to
06:36work from.
06:38It includes a full-size dishwasher, a centrally placed sink with a built-in waste bin underneath and a pantry
06:46with internal drawers for storage.
06:49The island benchtop is also made from the same engineered stone as the kitchen counter.
06:56On both columns there are power outlets that allow for placing a coffee machine on the kitchen island and use
07:02of appliances.
07:06The living room features a long custom-built shelf that runs along the wall and is used to display artwork
07:12and graphic prints,
07:14removing the need to hang pieces directly on the walls.
07:18Colour in the apartment is mainly introduced through these artworks and smaller decorative objects.
07:26The custom modular sofa is upholstered in a light beige cotton fabric.
07:32It is used frequently for watching films, reading or gaming and is where the owner likes to spend much of
07:39their time.
07:44The dining area is located in the corner of the living space, close to a large window facing a quiet
07:51street and a nearby park.
07:55The curved curtain rail wraps a semi-transparent beige curtain around the dining area, softening the space and creating a
08:04soft backdrop.
08:06Other textiles throughout the apartment, including rugs, upholstery and curtains, are kept in earthy tones to maintain a consistent atmosphere.
08:18The dining table seats up to four people and the kitchen island provides additional seating, making the apartment flexible for
08:26both everyday use and hosting.
08:30An overhead dining lamp from MUTO hangs above the table and is paired with bar lighting from the same brand
08:38in the kitchen.
08:40The slight variation in shape and scale between the fixtures helps distinguish the different zones within the open plan space.
08:53A door in the living room opens onto a small balcony.
08:58During warmer months, it is often left open, helping connect the interior with the outside space.
09:10The bedroom is accessed from the living room.
09:16Upon entering, there is a full height building closet used for everyday clothing and general storage.
09:29On the opposite side, a custom wood and steel hanging rail provides space for frequently used items,
09:36keeping them easily accessible within the room.
09:43Further into the room, a freestanding bed is positioned along the wall.
09:48It is paired with two metal wall-mounted breathing lights, with custom installed switches,
09:54placed within the easy reach of the bed for convenience.
10:01Next to the bed, a custom steel nightstand provides a simple surface for everyday items.
10:09Behind the door, there is a robot vacuum station, often used by the owner to clean the apartment when they
10:16are out.
10:20Custom curtains were made for the bedroom, combining a sheer layer with a blackout layer in matching soft brown tones.
10:29Windows in all the apartments throughout Denmark have a unique hook system,
10:34latching the windows at two points and allowing the window to open outwards.
10:44The bedroom window looks out onto a shared courtyard accessible to all residents of the building.
10:51The courtyard includes a playground, barbecue area and communal spaces,
10:56as well as access to shared facilities such as a hobby room and laundry room.
11:07The bathroom is located next to the entrance.
11:11The layout is compact, with the toilet positioned centrally between the main elements.
11:16A sink with a drawer cabinet sits alongside a towel radiator, while the shower is set into a recessed niche.
11:25As part of the renovation, the space was extended to allow for a dedicated shower area.
11:33Because it was not permitted to build a closed shaft to conceal the existing plumbing,
11:40all pipes needed to remain accessible.
11:43To work around this, a custom oak furniture wall system was designed to integrate the installations into the space.
11:54For many people in Copenhagen, smaller apartments are not just a temporary solution, they are the norm.
12:01But compact doesn't have to mean temporary or low quality.
12:05I believe that maintaining and upgrading the existing building stock is a key part of sustainable urban development.
12:14With this project, the intention was to show that things can be done properly,
12:19creating a solid foundation that will last for many years to come.
12:25For more small home inspiration, check out our magazine.
12:29Now available in digital and print.
12:32Visit nevertosmall.com slash magazine.
