ATTIC APARTMENT
project: Attic Apartment
location: Belgrade, Serbia
area: 70 m²
year: 2021
When designing this apartment, my goal was to blend modern with old, rustic elements, and to create an interior that will be timeless and not quickly go out of style. For that reason, I stuck to a trusted color and material palette—white, gray, beige tones, combined with wood and black accents. I left the original parts of the building as the attention-grabbing details—such as the brick wall and wooden beams.
STAIRS
The stairs had to be placed in that spot due to functionality, and since it's the most prominent location in the space—the center of the wall, and the first wall you see when you step into the room—I wanted them to be subtle, so they wouldn't draw attention away from other, existing rustic elements in the apartment.
On the other hand, because they're in such a key spot, they needed to be interesting enough. That's how I came up with the idea of a cantilevered staircase, with the thinnest possible treads, painted entirely in white to give them a light and airy appearance. The vertical rods provide additional stability and safety (instead of a handrail on that side), but also contribute to the aesthetic. The lower part of the stairs is a wooden element that replaces the first two steps and also serves as a storage unit. As for the construction of the stairs themselves, that was quite an adventure—I'll write about that next time.
In order to create these cantilevered stairs in a building nearly 100 years old, we had to make several modifications. The crumbling brick wall, which originally divided the living room from the bedrooms, couldn't support such stairs, so it was demolished. In its place, we installed a structure made of vertical steel boxes that support a 200x100mm steel box profile, which serves as the main support for the treads.
The treads are also made of box profiles, simply painted white. We didn't add any additional coverings in order to keep the treads as thin and elegant as possible.
KITCHEN
The kitchen. Always a gathering place, ever since kitchens were hearths. I wanted it to be a space that radiates warmth, while also blending rustic and modern elements (which is the overall theme of the apartment). That's why it was made from wood, a warm material, with solid wooden handles, balanced once again by white elements and details. The warmth is further enhanced by the accessories on the shelves—some of which I found in an old house in my village, and others I brought back from abroad.
Since the dining area is an extension of the kitchen, the question was how far to lay tiles and where to start the parquet, so that it makes sense visually and doesn't create a harsh division at the dining table—where one chair would be on parquet and another on tiles. This led me to the solution of blending parquet with hexagonal tiles, creating a gradual transition from the kitchen to the dining and living areas.
PLANTS
I've always had a deep love for plants, having grown up in an apartment filled with greenery—my mom had a real talent for nurturing them, and our home was always alive with nature. That influence stayed with me, and I knew from the start that I wanted to bring that same sense of warmth and life into my own space. Plants aren’t just decorative; they play a huge role in shaping the atmosphere of a home. They bring in a sense of calm, freshness, and connection to nature that makes any room feel more inviting and alive. Now, we have plants in nearly every corner of our apartment, creating that soothing ambiance I always dreamed of. We even brought back three olive trees from Greece, which not only remind us of our travels but also add a unique, personal touch to the space. These plants help create a harmonious environment where rustic elements blend with nature, enhancing the overall feel of the apartment.
BATHROOM
The bathroom follows the same design style and concept as the rest of the apartment—a neutral color palette that balances white and gray with the warmth of natural materials. We incorporated wood, rattan, and bamboo to add texture and an organic feel, creating a relaxing atmosphere. Of course, plants are a key element here as well, just as they are throughout the rest of the home. They bring a touch of life and freshness to the space, softening the minimalistic design and making the bathroom feel like a calm, natural retreat. The combination of these elements ensures that even the bathroom feels connected to the overall design of the apartment, blending modern simplicity with rustic warmth.
