Apartment in a historic building, Riga centre
This is a project by Valerija Gelfere for an apartment in a historic building in Riga city centre, and the renovation is still in progress. The timber windows and ceiling cornices are kept, walnut parquet is laid, the walls have mouldings and a dark accent wall, one bathroom has botanical wallpaper and the kids room has a starry wall. The page shows the rooms before the renovation, during the works and what is already finished.
- Location
- Riga city centre
- Status
- In progress
- Designer
- Valerija Gelfere
Result photos are retouched: framing, light, protective film and small items removed. The interior is unchanged. Before and during-renovation photos are not retouched.
Renovating an apartment in a historic Riga centre building: what is done so far
Before the renovation the main room was empty, with three windows. Now it has walnut parquet, a crystal chandelier and the original timber windows.
The works are still going on, so some photos show the process.
How to keep timber windows, cornices and parquet in an old building
In a historic building the windows, ceilings and floor set the character of the interior. In this apartment the timber windows are kept, including in the bathroom, and the white ceiling cornices stay in place.
Walnut parquet was chosen for the floor because it suits the old timber windows and the architecture of the building. The new finishes add to what the building already has rather than replace it.
Wall mouldings and a dark accent wall
Mouldings decorate the hallway walls. One room has a dark accent wall with wall lamps, against which the white ceiling cornice stands out clearly.
In the kids room one wall is finished as a starry sky.
Bathroom design: botanical wallpaper and large-format tiles
Before the renovation the old bathroom had a damaged ceiling. The apartment now has two different rooms with a basin: one with botanical wallpaper, a round mirror and a timber vanity shelf, the other a spacious bathroom with large-format tiles and a historic timber window.
Renovation progress: new partitions and a white floor-to-ceiling kitchen
The old kitchen had a tiled floor. During the renovation the framing for new partitions went up, the kitchen carcasses were installed, and a white kitchen reaching the ceiling is being fitted.
The renovation is done by trusted crews and companies Valerija works with regularly, and she supervises the work herself.
What you can order for an apartment in a historic building
An interior design project costs from 10 € per m², and 3D visualisation from 5 € per m². The exact price depends on the apartment.
Valerija Gelfere also helps choose furniture and decor and organises the renovation with her trusted crews. She works in Riga, Jūrmala and Pierīga in Latvian, Russian and English.
Result
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Room in a historic Riga centre building with walnut parquet, a chandelier and timber windows -
Dark accent wall with wall lamps and a white ceiling cornice -
Hallway with wall mouldings -
Bathroom with botanical wallpaper, a round mirror and a timber vanity shelf -
Kids room wall with a starry-sky finish -
Spacious bathroom with large-format tiles and a historic timber window
During renovation
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Renovation in progress: a white floor-to-ceiling kitchen being fitted -
Renovation in progress: kitchen carcasses being installed -
Renovation in progress: framing for new partitions
Before renovation
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Before renovation: an empty room with three windows in a historic building -
Before renovation: the old kitchen with a tiled floor -
Before renovation: the old bathroom with a damaged ceiling
Questions about this project
How much does interior design cost for an apartment in a historic building in Riga centre?
An interior design project by Valerija Gelfere costs from 10 € per m², and 3D visualisation from 5 € per m². The final price depends on the apartment and the scope of work.
How do you keep the original timber windows and cornices when renovating an old apartment?
Windows and cornices should be part of the design from the very start, so the new finishes are planned around them. In this Riga centre apartment the timber windows and white ceiling cornices are kept, and the rest of the interior is built around them.
What parquet suits an apartment in a historic building?
The parquet should match the windows, doors and character of the building. In this project walnut parquet is laid, which adds warmth next to the original timber windows.
What does a historic apartment renovation look like before and after?
Before the renovation there was an empty room with three windows, an old kitchen with a tiled floor and a bathroom with a damaged ceiling. During the works new partitions were framed and the kitchen installed, and the finished rooms already have parquet, mouldings and an accent wall.
Can you build new partitions in an old building?
In this apartment the new partitions are built on framing. Whether and where they can go depends on the building and the layout, so this is discussed at the very start of planning.
How do you design a kids room with a starry wall?
One wall finished as a starry sky is enough, and the other walls can stay calm. That is exactly how the kids room in this apartment is done.
Does the designer supervise the renovation in a historic building?
Yes, Valerija Gelfere supervises the works. The renovation is done by trusted crews and companies she works with regularly.
Where does Valerija Gelfere work and in which languages?
Valerija Gelfere, working under the name designv, has served Riga, Jūrmala and Pierīga since 2020. She works in Latvian, Russian and English.
Want a similar project? Write to Valerija.