Once home to a rich Norwegian household, this stunning 19th-century Oslo mansion has since become two apartment units for two separate families — one occupying the top floor, along with the other carrying up the ground floor and basement levels. Despite its new two-part layout, the residents on the bottom portion desired the home’s authentic history to shine through its interiors and decor. Norwegian architect Anne Cecilie Ranke chose this directive and ran onto it, retaining as many of the home’s first details as possible and highlighting them via a modern color and material palette.
at a Glance
Location: Oslo, Norway
Who lives here: A household of 4 inhabiting the ground floor and basement. Another family lives on the top floor (pictures not shown).
Size: 600 square meters (6,458 square feet)
Price: About 2,000,000 Norwegian kroner (US$350,000), inside renovation only
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When the house was built 200 years ago, the area consisted of big houses on huge lots. Today the area is closer in style to urban Oslo, and the neighborhoods are more dense.
Prior to the renovation, two elderly sisters — grandchildren of the first owners — lived in the home. Though they were able to keep the interior in good shape, the outside eroded over the years. When Ranke began working on the project, trees were growing from the base.
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The plan preserves the main living room’s first trim, fireplace, ceiling information and floors, while a more modern color palette upgrades the look. Ranke used classic materials which could represent all the design eras the construction has survived, such as Carrara marble and classic furniture.
“The project management of historic houses usually involves teaching everyone involved in the project,” says Ranke. “I try to keep up to the historic elements at all times, but occasionally it’s important to improve the first and adapt to modern living.”
Sofa, armchairs: habit by designer; java table: Ikea; chandelier: flea market
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French doors in the neutral living room open to some smaller blue sitting room just outside the kitchen.
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An oil painting above the piano illustrates a scene in Norway’s Foynland island.
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Ranke had Ikea sofas custom tiled in fresh linen for a luxe look. Flea market accents — such as the coffee chandelier and table — add to the room’s storied feel.
Sofas: Ekeskog, Ikea in custom fabric by Bemz; carpeting: Ikea; java table: flea market
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The ornate fireplace in the corner of the room is actually a masonry heater made entirely of ceramic. While it isn’t first to the home, Ranke understood that this popular 19th-century Swedish design would feel right at home.
Fireplace: Rörstrand
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The blue wall color is motivated from the heater tile. Ranke modernized the blue with a gray undertone to offset the timber ceiling and parquet floors.
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Before the remodel, the little kitchen was set at the back of the home. Ranke joined the once-separate dining room and the kitchen, making a spacious living kitchen with a spacious eating area.
Granite countertops look current but are actually a reference to older Norwegian marble-topped baking cabinets.
Cabinetry: Kvik; stovetop: Gaggenau Vario; backsplash: Metro tiles, Stenprosjekt; dining table: classic; seats: Ikea, repainted
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Parts of the first pantry were eliminated for new storage, therefore Ranke reused a few of the pantry first shelving to generate a display shelf in the kitchen. Bare white walls draw the eye up to the first ceiling information as well as the contrasting Philippe Stark light.
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The dilapidated bathrooms needed to be modernized. On the ground floor, Ranke combined separate toilet and shower rooms to make a bigger bathroom with enough room for a little laundry area supporting this semi wall.
Tile: Inalco, Foster Gris Mate; sinks: Kvik
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As in the primary living spaces, the home’s original features within this ground-floor bedroom got a more modern color palette. Timeless furniture lines feel at home , while the light fixture provides a jolt of contemporary style.
Trim paint: Dark Linen, Jotun; bedding, curtains: Home & Cottage; art above bed: HagedornHagen; chandelier: Norm 69
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Ranke custom designed this bunk bed. Molded accents tie in with all the first trim.
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This basement kitchen and lounge area features a stone wall first to the home’s foundation. It had been made with local rock straight from the surrounding website.
Cabinetry, countertops: Ikea
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Linoleum tiles in this room pay tribute to materials from an earlier era.
Bed framework: Hemnes, Ikea; flooring: linoleum tiles, Forbo
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An Ikea dining table and seat set creates a cozy dining area on the front porch.