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Old Apartment Gets Renovation But Keeps Its Original Floor Plan

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Renovating an apartment in a building dating back to the 1930’s is not easy by any means yet the transformation is exciting and interesting because they’re always a decision to be made whether to preserve or to replace an old feature. Figuring out the answer to this question is a challenging task which architects and interior designers both fear and enjoy. Recently,Bogdan Ciocodeică Studio renovated one such space. The apartment is located at the center of Bucharest, the capital of Romania, in an old 1930’s building with a beautiful patina and a rich history.

Even though none of the interior walls could be removed, that didn't stop the designers from reorganizing the apartmentView in gallery
Even though none of the interior walls could be removed, that didn’t stop the designers from reorganizing the apartment
Originally, the apartment was divided into two main volumes, the master bedroom being one of the primary spacesView in gallery
Originally, the apartment was divided into two main volumes, the master bedroom being one of the primary spaces
To maximize the bright and open feel of the bedroom, an oversized mirror was placed on the wall opposite to the windowsView in gallery
To maximize the bright and open feel of the bedroom, an oversized mirror was placed on the wall opposite to the windows
The bathroom is not exactly spacious so a minimalist, black and white decor was the choice in this caseView in gallery
The bathroom is not exactly spacious so a minimalist, black and white decor was the choice in this case

Over the past 80 years the apartment didn’t go through many changes. It kept the original finishes and woodwork and the layout remained the same as well. Now, however, the original configuration doesn’t make sense anymore so a major renovation had to be planned. However, because it was impossible to change the layout of walls due to structural reasons, the studio had to find a different way of reorganizing the spaces. Their idea was to transform the service area into a home office and to treat the kitchen and the living room as a single large space. Of course, a lot of smaller changes were made too, their role being to make the space feel more fluid and to also refresh the decor and to adapt it for a contemporary and more social lifestyle.

Generally, the new color palette of the apartment is quite simple and neutral, with a few pops of color here and thereView in gallery
Generally, the new color palette of the apartment is quite simple and neutral, with a few pops of color here and there
The old flooring was removed and new hardwood floors were installed insteadView in gallery
The old flooring was removed and new hardwood floors were installed instead
The kitchen was simplified and revamped with modern furniture and chic brass and mirror finishesView in gallery
The kitchen was simplified and revamped with modern furniture and chic brass and mirror finishes
The living room has a very cozy and welcoming vibe and features a zebra rug at the centerView in gallery
The living room has a very cozy and welcoming vibe and features a zebra rug at the center
The white countertops, shelves and cabinets in the kitchen seem to disappear into the wallsView in gallery
The white countertops, shelves and cabinets in the kitchen seem to disappear into the walls
Some of the tiles throughout the apartment are old and some are new so there's a lovely connection between past and presentView in gallery
Some of the tiles throughout the apartment are old and some are new so there’s a lovely connection between past and present
The new interior design of the apartment is a reinterpretation of the original values and materialsView in gallery
The new interior design of the apartment is a reinterpretation of the original values and materials
The old, original windows were preserved and refreshed and they suit the apartment wonderfullyView in gallery
The old, original windows were preserved and refreshed and they suit the apartment wonderfully
The dining area is no longer a separate room but rather a built-in kitchen featureView in gallery
The dining area is no longer a separate room but rather a built-in kitchen feature
Different-colored chairs arranged around an oval dining table complement the kitchen perfectlyView in gallery
Different-colored chairs arranged around an oval dining table complement the kitchen perfectly
The new internal layout is infinitely better-suited for a modern and social lifestyleView in gallery
The new internal layout is infinitely better-suited for a modern and social lifestyle