HOME WITH HEART

Exuding a calm befitting its natural setting, this peaceful home is the result of thoughtful design and holistic attention to detail

- SUE RAMSEY

Sense of zen There's an atmosphere of serenity and softness to the living area of this Norwegian home, designed by Ellen and Tim Luhukay of Studio Océan. A vintage Naga coffee table sits atop a rugby Indivipro. The armchairs are by Maxalto, while the floor lamp is a vintage find. Curtains by Lizzo frame expansive windows and nearby is a candelabra by Kate Hume.

THERE ARE NO COOKIE-CUTTER solutions for Studio Océan's Tim and Ellen Luhukay. For each project they work on, the Dutch design duo take a deep dive to create custom-made interiors that reflect the owners' personality, building and environment. The interiors of this home in Bergen, Norway, were created with great attention to detail. “You don't always see those details, but you do feel them," Ellen says. “It helps to make a room feel good. An outlet that is out of sight, the right door handle. They are not striking interventions, but they are the things that make you enter a place and think, 'It feels good in here."

WORKING TOGETHER “This house was the oldest house on the avenue - a kind of Hansel and Gretel house," Ellen says. The owners wanted to turn it into a cosy family home where guests could spend the night. "With a serene colour palette and many customised carvings, we have achieved a classic atmosphere that is still contemporary," she says.

SUNNY SIDE UP The choice of yellow for the kitchen in the family home is proof that inspiration can be found anywhere. During a visit to the owners' home, Ellen saw a yellow hair ribbon belonging to one of the children and instantly felt they had to use it somehow. It turned out to be just the right shade of yellow for the fully custom-made kitchen designed by the pair. "If we can't find something, or if it's not in the right proportions, we just design it ourselves," Tim says.