Frederikke Stolbjerg and the rest of the family now have a private little spa area that invites them to escape daily life and forget all about chores, to-do lists and responsibilities. It’s located in an extension of their elegant, architect-designed villa in Vedbæk. The extension contains a beautiful big lounge, a bedroom on a galleried first floor, and the new wellness oasis. The family had dreamed of this relaxation space since they moved here in 2017.
Carefully renovated with respect for the original architecture
Frederikke and her husband Anders have meticulously renovated their new home, which was designed by the architect Ole Helveg in 1956. It’s a beautiful example of modernism – a white brick-built house with clean lines, black woodwork, concrete floors, and shutters. It’s a very graphic, Japanese-inspired, soulful house, and a dream home for this family with three children.
There was just one little challenge! There was only one small bathroom when the family moved in. They needed another bathroom, as well as some more storage space. The main house is 166 m2, while the black wooden extension is 48 m2. The extension was added as a studio and office in 1965, and was originally separate. The couple came up with a great idea – they decided to create a modern parent zone in the extension and connect it to the main house with a new 13 m2 corridor.
Frederikke and Anders are both very handy, with a level of skill that enabled them to take care of much of the rebuilding work themselves. The couple are well known from the Danish TV property development programmes Nybyggerne and Huse med Hemmeligheder. They have tried to respect and preserve the original architecture as much as possible, and succeeded so well that the house received the 2022 Conservation Award from Rudersdal Municipality.
Bespoke solutions for the new spa area
The softer styling of the spa area contrasts with the sober, stringent look of the house.
– In the main house, we’ve stayed true to the original architecture, almost with a sense of reverence. But in the extension, after careful consideration, we chose to be a bit more unsentimental and created a more contemporary vibe. White tiles and steel would have been in keeping with the modernist style, but we wanted a warmer, more sensual feel for the new bathroom zone, Frederikke explains.
The couple therefore chose brown ceramic tiles from Fliseuniverset Traverto, which are practical for a family with three children. They also chose a washbasin unit from Nettoline, along with a one-piece vanity top and washbasin – not a standard solution!
– The washbasin is 30 cm wide, and we were keen to find an alternative to a regular drain. Ideally, we wanted something streamlined, like in the shower, where we have a Glassline shower screen and a Custom drain by Unidrain from edge to edge. So we ‘pimped’ the washbasin with a Custom drain. A brilliant and beautiful solution that’s easy to do yourself. The assembly kit comes with a rail, a heightener set and glue, and you attach your tile yourself. So simple, but such an exclusive look, as it blends in with the rest of the floor and the washbasin. No visible edges or interruptions, just a seamless transition that makes the drain an integrated part of the design, Frederikke enthuses.
Practical accessories that match the style of the villa
The couple also chose brass accessories by Unidrain from the Reframe Collection. Pedal bin, towel bar, hooks, toilet brush and shower wiper, shelf etc. Brass has a discreetly elegant, exclusive look, not too “bling”. So these products fit in perfectly with this setting.
– I absolutely love the shower wiper and shelf. It’s immensely practical and I appreciate it every day. To me, aesthetics and practicality should go hand in hand, says Frederikke. She also chose Unidrain products for the original bathroom in the main house, which is now used by the children (and guests). Here, they have maintained the 1950s style with steel fittings.
The results of the couple’s creative process speak for themselves. The new bathroom suits contemporary family life, but still and respects the surroundings and the house, which was designed back in the 1950s for the artist and sculptor Torsten Johansson. Both personally and as an artist, he preferred the simple, clear, rational, industrial and geometric forms of constructivism. But he would undoubtedly also have given a nod of approval to Frederikke and Anders’ tasteful, practical use of the extension.
