Terraced House Reloaded
A 1980s terraced house receives a Scandinavian-inspired redesign
A young father with a passion for Nordic design transformed his parents' 1980s terraced home in Bogenhausen into a deeply personal sanctuary for his young family. The parents and their two daughters are thrilled with the transformation created by Munich-based design firm Stylingroom – and it's no wonder. Owner and interior designer Bettina Wittenberg, herself Norwegian, instinctively understood exactly what the family was seeking.
After studying abroad in Oslo and Copenhagen, the homeowners fell in love with Scandinavian design and the bright, airy aesthetics of the North. Their vision aligned perfectly with Stylingroom's concept. The guiding principle: beautiful wood. This meant extra-wide, naturally oiled Douglas fir boards for the living room floor and oiled oak for the kitchen counter. The bathroom's standout feature is an olive wood vanity that nestles seamlessly into the space beside the bathtub. Expansive folding doors on the south side completely open the living area to natural light. Summer transforms the space – the doors slide away entirely, extending the living area through the homeowner's custom-built wooden terrace and into the garden. The renovation included new windows, electrical systems, plumbing, and a striking solid wood staircase with glass balustrade and oak handrail. For acoustic and thermal performance, sliding doors now enclose the stairwell when needed. The entrance area gained more functional space when the guest WC was relocated slightly deeper into the home. Several original elements remain: restored wooden floors, the existing fireplace, and the blue-grey wooden cladding on the façade, which was simply refreshed to give the exterior a contemporary edge. Colour proved equally important. Bettina Wittenberg offers colour and feng shui consultations as part of her redesign service. For this family, the consultation revealed a preference for softer palettes – think pastel greens and greys – with one bold exception: a striking red. "We wove this into the design through accessories and a vibrant guest bathroom," explains the designer. The feng shui principles governing fire, water, and air elements were carefully tailored to the family's needs, with furnishings positioned according to the cardinal directions. A Swiss pine bed in the master bedroom completes the sense of wellbeing that now pervades the home.
Photography Credits:
Omid Mahdawi
www.omidmahdawi.de
(Published in CUBE Munich 02|22)
