Capturing the atmosphere of the Baltic Sea with HIMACS

Where heritage meets modern living

The renovation aimed to preserve the apartment’s historic charm while seamlessly adapting it for contemporary life — without turning it into a museum. Architects from Unicreations carefully balanced a clean yet inviting minimalist aesthetic with the character of this nearly century-old space, ensuring that modern updates complemented rather than overshadowed its original features.

Originally designed in the ‘enfilade’ style, the apartment featured a series of adjoining rooms. This layout was largely preserved, with minor adjustments — an extra opening was added between the kitchen and living room to improve flow, while the connection between two bedrooms was closed for more privacy. Original features like the oak parquet floors, glazed doors, and rounded ceiling edges were carefully restored and maintained. The major transformation took place in the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet, which were completely reimagined with contemporary materials and fixtures.

The selection of furniture follows the theme of blending old and new, with minimalist custom-made joinery mixed with vintage treasures. Throughout the design process, the homeowners developed a passion for mid-century design classics, which were seamlessly integrated into the space, creating a joyful and eclectic mix.

Crafting Harmony with colours and materials

The harmonious colour and material palette draws inspiration from one of the client’s wedding photos, taken on a dune by the Baltic Sea — capturing their beloved getaway spot.

Shades of sky and sea, pine forests, and sand were seamlessly translated into the design, creating a soothing and natural ambiance. A thoughtful mix of materials, such as oak (featured in the original parquet floors) and American walnut (used in the new joinery), brings warmth and continuity to the space. Complementing these earthy tones are the blue resin floors in the bathroom and kitchen, paired with HIMACS Sapphire surfaces in the kitchen, adding a sophisticated, modern edge while remaining grounded in the coastal inspiration.

The kitchen in shades of blue

In the fully renovated, contemporary kitchen, two key principles guided the architects' design choices. "First, we wanted to create a monolithic kitchen unit with uniform surfaces that would be durable and non-porous — and HIMACS was the perfect material for this.Second, color played a crucial role: we were looking for a soft, pale blue, and the  HIMACS  Sapphire offered the most beautiful shade we could find among all solid surface manufacturers.”

The lower cabinets create a horizontal, uniform, and sleek volume. All surfaces — fronts, worktop, and skirting boards — are crafted from HIMACS Sapphire from the Lucent collection. The seamlessly integrated, recessed sinks are made from the same material, ensuring a flawless, easy-to-clean surface. A series of milled grooves in the counter serve as a draining board, redirecting water back into the sink. HIMACS offers remarkable versatility, combining the qualities of stone with the smooth, non-porous properties of a homogeneous material that can be worked like wood.

The vertical, floor-to-ceiling walnut cabinet contrasts beautifully with the blue volume of the kitchen. This striking storage tower, which houses the pantry, fridge, and freezer, retains the same minimal, clean lines as the rest of the kitchen. Clad in rich walnut, it adds a touch of warmth and depth, balancing the cool tones of the space.

The bold, seamless blue resin floor is both a daring design choice and a perfect expression of the owners’ personal style. Initially, they considered a classic black-and-white chequered tile to honor the flat’s period charm but were equally drawn to a vibrant, colorful statement. Sensing their hesitation, Magda Stanescu of Unicreations asked a simple yet decisive question: “If you could have any colour in the world for the floor, what would it be?” Without a second thought, they answered: “The colour of our car!” And just like that, the striking blue resin floor was born.

A hidden retreat

There is one more fully reimagined space in this apartment — one you might walk past without even noticing. Discreetly tucked behind a floor-to-ceiling mirrored door, the bathroom remains hidden at first glance. Its design is defined by three key materials, each adding its own texture and character.

Two key elements from the kitchen are carried over here — the tall walnut cabinet and the bold blue resin floor. The third material, stone tiles, provides a solid, grounding presence to the shower niche. Together, these elements form a harmonious composition in a spacious room, bathed in natural light and framed by high ceilings.

The homeowners' dream of blending historical charm with modern comfort has come to life — down to every detail. Even Jazz, their Border Collie, approves, happily lounging on the vibrant blue floor!