Amsterdam Wenslauerstraat

Converted garage

This former garage and upstairs apartment dating from 1921 was in a run-down state. Seeing its potential, the new owner decided to completely strip the building. Through an intensive renovation and conversion, in which it was extended, insulated and given a new floor plan, the converted garage was given a new life as the perfect family home in this vibrant Amsterdam neighbourhood.

Spacious and bright

The garage is transformed into a comfortable living area. As the house is quite narrow and long the living room layout aims to accentuate and visually stretch the width. Adding to this and to atmosphere, the floor beams are kept visible. The bar not only invites to gather around during dinner parties, but also defines space, while allowing light and space to flow freely. Daylight enters the heart of the house through the open stairs and large glass walls. A generous entrance both offers space to comfortably enter, and increases privacy by hindering views from the street. The custom-made oak wardrobe offers ample space to invisibly store all the family’s coats, bags, shoes and hockey sticks.

Heart of the home

At the heart of the home is the open plan kitchen, that opens up to the sunny garden through slender aluminium sliding doors. The kitchen layout optimises the use of space. The bench seating not only offers a nice spot to sit and read the paper, but also that little bit of extra space to comfortably fit the kitchen and dining area next to each other.

Tranquillity and balance

Great care was given to details and materialization. The pared-down colour palette brings tranquillity and balance to the interior. On the ground floor the warm oak joinery complements the industrial feel of the power floated concrete floor. The height difference between the street side and the garden side is also bridged in the concrete floor. The walls have a concrete-coloured shade, and bright white ceilings and details complete the palette.

Eyecatcher

In the living room the open staircase, that combines the same materials, catches the eye. Due to its slender detailing, the full width of the space remains tangible. The lower part of the staircase is poured along with the concrete floor, incorporating it in the flow of the design. Furthermore this allows for a clean an simple design of the wooden part of the stairs, with a straight cut string.

Bathed in light

Because of the large windows the upper floors are bathed in light. Here wide oak floor boards are combined with concrete-coloured walls and joinery, and bright white ceilings and details. The richly materialized bathrooms exude serenity and comfort, oozing a luxury hotel feeling. They follow the same material palette, with large concrete-look tiles, oak cabinets, clear white Corian washbasins and black details.

Smart optimization

Through clever optimization we are able to fit five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate toilet and even a sauna upstairs. Two adjoining bedrooms were designed as ‘twins room’: a wide pocket door allows the twins to flexibly use the rooms. They can easily open or close the door whenever they want to play together or prefer to retreat to their own private space.

Photography

ISABEL NABUURS

Program

162 M² LIVING

Project type

RENOVATION

Status

DELIVERED

Datum

March 1, 2023

Converted garage

This former garage and upstairs apartment dating from 1921 was in a run-down state. Seeing its potential, the new owner decided to completely strip the building. Through an intensive renovation and conversion, in which it was extended, insulated and given a new floor plan, the converted garage was given a new life as the perfect family home in this vibrant Amsterdam neighbourhood.

Spacious and bright

The garage is transformed into a comfortable living area. As the house is quite narrow and long the living room layout aims to accentuate and visually stretch the width. Adding to this and to atmosphere, the floor beams are kept visible. The bar not only invites to gather around during dinner parties, but also defines space, while allowing light and space to flow freely. Daylight enters the heart of the house through the open stairs and large glass walls. A generous entrance both offers space to comfortably enter, and increases privacy by hindering views from the street. The custom-made oak wardrobe offers ample space to invisibly store all the family’s coats, bags, shoes and hockey sticks.

Photography

ISABEL NABUURS

Program

162 M² LIVING

Heart of the home

At the heart of the home is the open plan kitchen, that opens up to the sunny garden through slender aluminium sliding doors. The kitchen layout optimises the use of space. The bench seating not only offers a nice spot to sit and read the paper, but also that little bit of extra space to comfortably fit the kitchen and dining area next to each other.

Tranquillity and balance

Great care was given to details and materialization. The pared-down colour palette brings tranquillity and balance to the interior. On the ground floor the warm oak joinery complements the industrial feel of the power floated concrete floor. The height difference between the street side and the garden side is also bridged in the concrete floor. The walls have a concrete-coloured shade, and bright white ceilings and details complete the palette.

Eyecatcher

In the living room the open staircase, that combines the same materials, catches the eye. Due to its slender detailing, the full width of the space remains tangible. The lower part of the staircase is poured along with the concrete floor, incorporating it in the flow of the design. Furthermore this allows for a clean an simple design of the wooden part of the stairs, with a straight cut string.

Project type

RENOVATION

Status

DELIVERED

Bathed in light

Because of the large windows the upper floors are bathed in light. Here wide oak floor boards are combined with concrete-coloured walls and joinery, and bright white ceilings and details. The richly materialized bathrooms exude serenity and comfort, oozing a luxury hotel feeling. They follow the same material palette, with large concrete-look tiles, oak cabinets, clear white Corian washbasins and black details.

Smart optimization

Through clever optimization we are able to fit five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a separate toilet and even a sauna upstairs. Two adjoining bedrooms were designed as ‘twins room’: a wide pocket door allows the twins to flexibly use the rooms. They can easily open or close the door whenever they want to play together or prefer to retreat to their own private space.