Full Apartment Renovation

The apartment — purchased by a Norwegian couple as a rental investment — had last been renovated in the early 2000s and showed every year of its age. The dark laminate floor absorbed light; the closed kitchen made entertaining impossible; the bathrooms had small-format mosaic tiles with blackened grout that no amount of cleaning could restore. The client's brief was pragmatic: maximum rental appeal at a sensible budget, with finishes that would photograph well for short-term rental platforms and withstand heavy use from multiple tenants. Our project manager recommended a comprehensive scope (floor, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, electrics) rather than a cosmetic refresh: a partial renovation would have felt inconsistent, and the rental premium from a fully renovated property would recover the additional investment within three rental seasons.

Technical Specifications

The showroom session lasted three hours and was conducted via video call with our interior designer (the clients were based in Oslo). Floor samples were photographed in the showroom under natural and artificial light and sent via WhatsApp in real time. The clients chose Azteca Ceramica Lincoln Ivory 80×80 cm — a warm ivory-beige rectified porcelain with a subtle natural texture that conceals sand and everyday wear far better than polished finishes. For the kitchen, all cabinetry was specified in white lacquer with the same push-to-open handleless system used in our other projects: the timeless palette ensures the apartment never dates. The bathroom wall and floor tiles were chosen from the same session: Porcelanosa Calacatta 60×120 cm large-format panels in a soft white with grey veining — a contemporary look that also photographs exceptionally well. Both bathrooms share the same tiles to create a unified feel across the apartment.

Technical Specifications

The dividing wall between the kitchen and living room was the first element to come down. A structural engineer confirmed it was non-load-bearing; removal opened a 3.2 m wide aperture that merged the two spaces without the need for a steel lintel. The entire apartment was then stripped back: all flooring removed, all bathroom tiles stripped to the block/concrete substrate, kitchen units stripped out, all plumbing first-fix exposed and checked. The electrical system was found to be a 1990s single-circuit arrangement — completely inadequate for modern appliance loads — and was completely rewired: a new 12-way consumer unit was installed, with separate circuits for kitchen appliances, oven, hob, bathroom extractor fans, external terrace sockets, and the main lighting ring. All new concealed plumbing in copper was installed for the kitchen and both bathrooms before walls were boarded. The concrete floor slab was diamond-ground and a 5 mm self-levelling compound applied throughout, eliminating a 22 mm height difference between the original kitchen and living room.

Technical Specifications

The 80×80 cm ivory porcelain floor was laid first — in a grid pattern continuous through all rooms including bedrooms and hallway — creating the visual foundation for the entire apartment. The grout colour (Mapei Ultracolor Plus Ivory 111) was chosen to be nearly invisible against the tile, maintaining the seamless floor effect. The kitchen peninsula (L-configuration, 2.0 m run + 1.0 m peninsula) was installed with the Samsung appliance suite — all fridge and dishwasher panels identical to the cabinet doors, completely invisible. The two bathrooms each received the Porcelanosa Calacatta 60×120 cm tile on all walls (full height to the 2.6 m ceiling) and floor, creating a large-format stone look that makes both compact bathrooms feel spacious. Both bathrooms were fitted with Roca Access wall-hung sanitaryware (white, soft-close seat, concealed cistern), backlit LED mirrors (Roper Rhodes 800×600 mm, anti-fog, touch-dimmer) and matte black Grohe Lineare tapware.

Technical Specifications

The single most impactful visual change in the apartment was replacing the old 1.2 m wide aluminium-frame windows with two pairs of anthracite grey aluminium floor-to-ceiling sliding doors (each pair 2.0 m wide × 2.3 m high) opening fully onto the terrace. This tripled the glazed area and transformed the light quality — the apartment now reads as bright and contemporary rather than dark and compartmentalised. All walls were painted in Dulux Natural Hints White Cotton — a warm off-white that works with the ivory floor rather than fighting it. Ceiling lighting is a dimmable recessed GU10 grid (24 downlights, 3000 K, three circuits with dimmers) supplemented by pendants over the dining table (two Muuto E27 pendant lights in brass, 2700 K). The terrace received matching ivory-tone outdoor porcelain (same tile collection, outdoor grade) to extend the visual continuity from inside to outside. A complete snagging visit at day 84 confirmed only two minor items, both resolved same day.

Technical Specifications

Every Magnum Reformas project begins with a free site visit from a dedicated project manager — no obligation, within 48 hours of enquiry. We provide a fully itemised fixed-price quote: every line of work is listed, nothing is hidden. Once approved, our team manages every trade on site so you never coordinate subcontractors yourself. A dedicated WhatsApp group keeps you updated with photos and videos throughout. At handover, we walk you through every installation and leave you a full documentation pack.

Technical Specifications