Vienna Apartment: A Dialogue Between History and Modernity

Vienna Apartment, located in the Third district of Vienna, Austria, is an apartment built in the late 19th century. The history of the space goes back to the ancestors of designer Hana Salley's family. It was originally owned by the uncle of Salley's grandfather, a Jew who survived the Holocaust and passed the apartment on to his descendants as a treasured family legacy. For decades, however, the apartment existed mostly as a rental until recently, when Salley converted the house, located in the city's historic center and near the Danube River, into his own home.

Hana Salley's renovation focuses on preserving historical elements while injecting modern functionality, reflecting her keen sense of spatial balance and diversity.

Many of the original elements of the apartment have been cleverly preserved, including paneled ceilings, beech herringbone floors, and details featuring Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. For these historical traces, Salley took a respectful and integrated approach to the design, demonstrating the designer's ability to speak to the original space.

The kitchen was the only space in the apartment that needed a complete renovation. The kitchen, which was originally narrow and dark, has been completely transformed to become open, bright and functional. The Design is minimalist, with grey custom cabinetry (courtesy of Nowak Design Kuchen) paired with herringbones oak flooring, creating a Scandinavian-inspired modern atmosphere. To add character to the monochrome space, Salley also created an ultramarine art painting himself as a decoration.

In the living room design, Salley chose to respect the original red wood panels of the ceiling and used this as inspiration, using furniture in jewel tones such as Westwing's mustard yellow sofa and Made sage green armchairs. This design language Bridges the gap between Art Nouveau, Art Deco and mid-century modern, giving the space a retro and elegant atmosphere.

The pink wallpaper and old wallpaper in the bedroom are the decoration left by the previous tenant, which is full of drama. Salley has skillfully embraced these unexpected elements and created a cozy French boudoir atmosphere through modern light fixtures combined with wallpaper. This acceptance and creativity of heterogeneous elements make the space unique in personality and vitality.

The single bathroom has been renovated and expanded with terrazzo tiles from Gierer Stein on the floor and white tiles from Aparici on the walls, both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The preserved lemon tree pattern tile at the entrance is one of the highlights of the space, adding a light and playful touch of color to the apartment.

Vienna Apartment is designed as a dialogue between history and modernity, retaining the grandeur and elegance of the original building while enhancing the comfort and functionality of living with a modern design. This respect and renewal of the space shows Hana Salley's unique perspective as a designer and gives new life and relevance to the family heritage.

Vienna Apartment, with its rich history and Hana Salley's masterful blend of historical elements and modern functionality, serves as the perfect backdrop to introduce Domvitus' Matera Charming Exquisite Floral Print Pillow Cover. This exquisite pillow cover, with its vibrant floral prints, not only complements the apartment's Art Nouveau and Art Deco details but also adds a touch of contemporary elegance to the space. Imagine the Matera's floral motifs dancing alongside the jewel-toned furniture in the living room, creating a bridge between the past and present, just as Salley's design language does. The pillow cover's intricate patterns and colors would enhance the retro yet elegant atmosphere, making it a harmonious addition to the Vienna Apartment's unique personality and vitality. Embrace the fusion of history and modernity in your own home with Domvitus' Matera Floral Print Pillow Cover, a piece that resonates with the timeless charm and innovative spirit of Vienna Apartment.